COUNTRY NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2594, 31 August 1909, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS.

RAIvAUROA NOTES. ■ . :'A. (Prom Our Own Correspondent.) Through Mr. J. J. Piggot’e efforts, and also the kindness of the Motu Valley-road Settlers, church of England services are conducted by this gentleman weekly at different settlers’ residences. Mr. Piggot has also formed a Sunday School at Mr. .Flemming’s place and hopes to' secure a fair attendance. The Rakauroa-Whakarau mail man was unfortunate enough to lose a valuable horse* on on-c of his recent- trips to Whakarau, 'the animal dropping down on the road. It was his packhorse and he unhesitatingly the mails on his own hack and walked into Rakaurpa (a distance- of 6 miles), being in good time for the mails to proceed to Matawai. On returning to the animal, late that night, lie found it some distance from where it liad fallen, and apparently looking none the worse. But on going to it at eight o’clock next morning it was fofind dead some distance from the road] some internal complaint being the cause of the- death. MATAWAI SETTLERS ASSOCIATION The Matawai Settlers’ Association held their annual meeting at Mr. liaisman’s residence, on Thursday, 26 inst. Mr. Baird presided and there were present:—Messrs. Piggot, Haisman (joint secretaries to the Association), Buscke, Korte, Bulst, Johnston, Marshall) Simpson and Woolford. The Association showed a very good report of work done and it is to be congratulated on the manner in which it has forced progress in the district. It was undeniable that if the settlers had not united in this manner their roads 7 , bridges, etc.,-would have been much more limited than they are. Mr. J. G. Johnstone was specially mentioned for his excellent work in the interests of the Association. Mr. J. Pigott read the correspondence and apologies from Messrs. Doyle and Bryant for non-attendance. Mr. Johnstone thanked the officers for the manner in which they conducted their duties and also congratulated the Association on its most satisfactory vear. The joint secretaries, Messrs. J Piggot, Haisman, and Marshall replied. . In regard to a statement m the “Times’ ” August 3rd issue, which stated that the bridge to Messrs. Johnstone and Baird’s properties would not only suit these settlers but would be of vital importance to settlers beyond, seeing it is a very dangerous crossing at the best of times, it was decided to get the'' statement contradicted, as it had accidentally been mis-reported. The . following motions were agreed to;—Secretaries to write to Mr. W. I) S. MacDonald asking him to attend the next meeting; to communicate with the Lands Office re throwing open for selection the forest reserve next- to Mr. J. G. Johnstone's property; to write to the Wnikchu County Council re procuring a stock paddc-ck at Otoka, and also for the purpose of urging the necessity of a stock bridge across the .Waikoh'u stream. The following officers were elected for the forthcoming year: Messrs W. Baird (chairman), A. PI. Korte (vice-chair-man), J. Piggot (secretary), and J. Haisman (treasurer).