TARANAKI ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1258, 13 October 1911, Page 3

TARANAKI ITEMS.

(By TclceraDh.—Special Correspondent.) Stratford, October 12. A commercial traveller, who has just arrived hero by way of Ongarue and Whangamomona, states that ho saw no signs of any commencement of the Stral-ford-Ongaruc railway, from the Ongarue end. The Ongarue inhabitants are jiving in hopes. They have been in this happy anticipatory state for the. past six months, and they now express the opinion that as a general election will soon bo happening a few men with picks and 6hovels may loom up at any time. A sign of the progressive settlement of the district is that, beginning with next winter, there will bo daily coach communication between Ongarue and Ohura, a, thirty-mile span, and a day's journey on the present rough road. Prom Ohura tho traveller rode on horseback fifty miles to Whangamomona, another rough trip, relieved by the wonderful fifteen miles of scenery in the Tongaraku Gorge. The Whangamomona Tunnel has been pierced, and is now being bricked up. About ono hundred and-fifty men are on tho tunnel job alone, and the completion of this particular section is .variously estimated at Christmas or March next. The line should bo open to Whangamomona for the 1012 wool season. Rain, which is badly wanted here, commenced to fall in Taranaki yesterday, and to-day has continued in heavy downpour. Pastures in Taranaki are considerably greener than they are in the Waikalo, Hawkc's Bay, or the Mannwatu, but much more rain is required. Unless this happens very soon the season generally will be a very bad one for farmers. Consequent upon the introduction of English capital into tho oil business in Taranaki, the development of country north of Now Plymouth, and the pushing on of the Stratford-Onganie railway, there has been a considerable demand for town properties in New Plymouth and Stratford, and a fair amount of money is being put into town sections. Building is very brisk in both towns. At Inglcwood an English Oil Company with a capital of .£IOO,OOO is in full operation, and before tho end of tho year it is confidently stated that .£250,000 of English money will be operating amongst the New Plymouth oil wells.