A VISIT TO OHAKUNE

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 September 1911, Page 2

A VISIT TO OHAKUNE

(.Specially written for Horow'liwuft L Chronicle). We arrived at the station «t 9,23 ; at night; wo then proceeded to hoard the coach to drive to tliotoMiship, Which is situated about t\\o miles from the station. Lhob. L we received during that drive would rouse the envy of any phrenologist. Betwon eaoli bump there was another bump. Till© traffic upon the roads is mostly timber lorries, and as the roads'arc comparatively newly-made, under conditions that will 'hardly allow of making anything of a job of them owing to the scarcity of metal, etc., the result of driving over them can be imagined; anyhow, the writer can vouch that they arc worse than the Horowlienua County roads—and that is saying something. On alighting from the coach at the .township our guide (who had torgotten to bring his lantern) informed us that :he would take us the shortest routo to our destination. Unsuspectingly we followed him through the darkness, only to encounter seas of mud inches d!eep. L might state hero that there are footpaths in some parts of the township, but they did not lie in the direction wo were bound; however, we eventually arrived at onr destination rather wet and coldj but we had the solace of a few 'drops of water with a. little "Johnny Walker" added', which our host thoughtfully provided and which enabled us to retire , for the night feeling warm although®' 1 the weather was extremely cold.Next morning we proceeded to view the township which is rather scattered. Our first call was upon Mr P. J. Dunne, the editor of the. O'iiakuno Times. Mr Dunne is a late resident of Levin, m also aro ; his two compositors —Mr Ohas. Ration. and Mr 11. Gregg. The Oh;v lame Times is a tri-weekly orgai\ politically inclined toward the pre* sent administration, and has a circulation of about 500 Copies. Wo then called 011 several business people, who informed us that there was good business doing, and they expressed groat faith, in the future 0.. ; Qlifiknuo, pointing -out fcli.it £400 ... was paid for a :J-acre section in the town, during the past week. The timber industry is the main business in the. district; we were informed thiat the output of the various mills in the district for the past year was something like 150,000,000 feet. . • Work is there in abundance ior bush-fellers, mill hands, carters, etc; one mill pavs out weekly the' sum of £300 in wages. We were inform- . o.d that timber for building purposes could be landed on the groiuid in Ohakune at the rate of /s per lUuit. Several of the enterprising mon,,iii the township are promoting a scheme, for the installation of an electric tramway between Baetihi, Kangataua and Ohakune; those townships a,ro within a radius of 10_ miles. The , conipnnv contemplates being able to cart all the timber to the station, illuminate the throe townships wltii. electric light, and carry all the mails. As there is considered to be twentyfive years cutting of timber to be done' in the bush, the company are confident of great success. Altogether the writer consider. 1 ? that thlpre ■are great opportunities in Ohakuno and the surrounding district.