DISTRICT DOINGS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3194, 13 April 1911, Page 2

DISTRICT DOINGS.

TE AHAROA NOTES. tFROiI OUR OWN CORRESPON DENT.] The weather seems to have turned topsy-turvy up this way this year. Last year it was fairly wet in January. This year very little rain fell. La.st year Eebruary was the driest month. 'This year over 12 inches of rain fell. Last year 16 inches of rain fell in March and we had 23 wet days. This year the fall was only a few inches. Last year only 5 inches fell in April. This year it Las rained continuously from the Ist to the sth, and no less than 7 inches have 'been recorded to date. Luckily we have had no wind with the present downpour, so no damage has been done. About £6O was collected at a hui held here after the big hui at Waiomatatini, the money pooling in with the large sum gathered there. Messrs McConnell Bros., road contractors here, were unfortunate enough to lose a valuable draught stallion last week. . The animal was tied up, when it suddenly reared up and fell over a bank, choking itself to death. Bushfelling is now in full swing here, and a large number of men are contracting in different sections. Altogether, about 3000 acres will be felled. A number of sections have yet to be let. and there seems to be a difficulty in getting men. 'There is also room for a. number of good farmers. The contractors (Messrs McConnell Bros., for the formation of the road at Maraehara are just putting the finishing touches to their contract. The heavy downfall in February played havoc with the new fillings and cuttings, slips and caves-in being numerous. At one place the road broke right away and a new cutting had to be formed lower down the hill. RAKAUROA NOTES. (Contributed by “Slabs.'’) From an unknown village consisting of a store, a blacksmith’s forge, and a few shanties, Rakauroa is now advancing to the pretensions of an im- ' portant town. Building is going on apace. On Friday night last a largely-at-tended meeting was held at Halket’s store to consider the advisability or otherwise: of building a town hall for the purpose of holding meetings, dances .etc. An enthusiastic crowd attended, and if was decided to build. Canvassers wore appointed to collect towards a building fund, also a general committee was appointed. Our canvassers arc yed hot on the golden scent, and some hundreds of pounds have already been promised, settlers and other responding gamely. Next summer we hope to see some good opera companies per- ' forming here. Some ,first-class timber is now being sent from Mr Bees’ sawmill to Gisborne. Operations at the mill are, at. present, somewhat slow on account of work being confined to a few dead j trees which, although they do not yield

a great quantity of timber, are firstclass timber trees. In a few weeks’ time, I am informed, the proprietor of ’the mill intends removing the plant back to the green bush, where millions of feet of good timber can be easily got. A few days ago one of'the local magnates issued invitations to other local magnates, inviting their attendance at a card party to be given in honour ol two young Gisborne ladies, at the time visiting llakauroa. Instead of the footnote being “R.5.V.P.,” it was “Please put on your best clothes.” Alas! the two Gislaornc' ladies sent excuses. The sheep farmers of the district have , lately been busy . putting their flocks through the dip. Last Saturday afternoon was spent by many fathers erecting swings, etc., in the school grounds for the use of the youngsters. Our local school mistress —Miss Kane —being a believer in cultivating the physical as well as the mental ,capacities of our children, arranged a working bee for the above purpose.