COUNTRY NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2686, 16 December 1909, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

RAKAUROA NOTES

(From Our Own Correspondent.) At last we have had! a fine day oi two, and) the poor cocklesi are no doubt hoping it may continue, as such excep Sally wet weather as we have ha 1lately is quite heart-breaking, especi ally for those who wish to push on with their shearing. , i \ meeting of the Rakauroa branch of the New Zealand Farmers Union lapsed on the 27th ult. and also on the 4th inst., as Both nights were very m However fresh notices were issued, ami 32 notice of a public meeting as well, to consider the advisability of eiideavorino- to obtain a doctor for Motu, Matawai, and Rakauroa districts. Hus meeting was held on ilth inst., m the school, Rakauroa. The delegates present from Motu iverc Messrs C. H. Bridge and E. B. Thompson, and- from Matawai Messrs C. Buscke J B. Clark, and Marshall. After hearing the delegates from the other centres, it was unanimously resolved to appoint delegates to work in conjunction with Motu and Matawai, the representatives to try and secure a suitable man . for the district. Ihe delegates appointed for Rakauroa were Messrs A. T. Smith, T. Shaw, and W. Graham. H is to lie hoped that this effort to secure a medical man for the locality will succeed, as owing to the increase of population m. a very shpit time there is no doubt liis time would be quite fully occupied. . It was also decided that the Minister of Public Works he written to, thanking him for his assurance that the vote for the Gisborne-Rotnrua railway would not be divided with Waihi, and urging upon his notice the desirability of pushing on the railway from 'the' Gisborne end only until it shall at least reach the Motu. . It was resolved to send copies of the resolution to the Minister, and also to advise our local member, Mr. W. D. S. MacDonald, of the same. *. It was also resolved to circulate a petition in the district for signature, urging upon tlie Minister of # 1 none Works the desirability of starting the construction, of the Opato Road from the Matawai end, and also for the speedy construction of the same. Ibis road,’ as has been previously pointed out, will be as short as the Pakehi .Road as a through road to Opotiki, but independently of that it reduces the distance to the Waioeke. settlers by from 75 to '4O miles as compared with the present means of access, and as all stock, at least as far as sheep are concerned, must come from Gisborne side, this is a serious handicap to new settlers. . Further, the settlers here realise that, given an easy access to Matawai, this district would reap a decided benefit as well. With regard to railway matters, it was resolved to send a deputation to wait upon Mr. Armstrong to see what chance there was of having a tempor•ary siding erected at the viaduct at Otoko, so that "the general public might benefit by the line until the viaduct. is- completed. Also, to urge upon the Public Works Department the necessity of tlieir assisting to keep the Rakauroa-Waikohu Road in fair condition during the wool season, as on account of the ruts made by the heavy traffic in connection with the railway £ too ay prof oq. 9[qt!un o.n? sieqaeo sipioAv it being always a ton-heavy load. Of course, if the weather now continues fine everyone will soon forget the bad roads for. a few months. This last wet weather has been very unfortunate, as on account of tlie extra work m the district the • clay roads are in some, parts almost impassable. We now have three sawmills at work in, Rakauroa, and" judging from appearances at present, they would-be kept quite busy if only the fine weather was there. ’ ...■ ~ . , , c I have heard it said that heart or rimu from the Tahora Milling 00. s Mill was to figure largely m the new Gisborne High School: This ought to lie a good advertisement tor the ivLotu rimu, but I suppose there is little hope <>f a large trade in timber until the iron horse reaches Rakauroa. ■ . >