FROM HAWERA TO NEW PLYMOUTH.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 974, 20 December 1882, Page 2

FROM HAWERA TO NEW PLYMOUTH.

(By Rover.) Leaving Hawera, by train at 3.30 p.ra., I arrived in New Plymouth at ten minutes post seven, the distance from station to station (48 miles) being done in 3 hoars 40 minutes. There are no less than 21 stations on the road between Hawera and New Plymouth, only 4 of which (Normanby, Stratford, Inglewood and Sentry Hill) are of any importance. The country between Hawera and New Plymouth is really grand ; in fact, I believe it would’compare favorably with any in the colony, NORMANDY is the first township of any note, and presents a very picturesque appearance from a distance, surrounded, as it is, by a fringe of bush. Normanby has improved considerably during the last few years, and instead of the unpainted huts erected by the pioneer settlers, it can new boast of neat and comfortable cottages, surrounded by nice gardens. There are three hotels, three general stores, a draper’s, two butchers’, and two bakers’ shops, besides several other less. important business places. It can also boast of a nice little police-station. There are two railway stations at Normanby, one called the Normanby Extension (situate just outside the township), and the other Normanby. The latter is the chief station, and is a wellbuilt and commodious building. It is also used as post and telegraph office. After passing Te Roti, Eltham, and Ngaire, we reach STRATFORD , (19 miles from Hawera) at 4,40 p.m. ' Stratford possesses a station-house of about the same dimensions as the Normanby one; the postal and telegraph business being also carried on in it. There is only one hotel, a couple of stores, and about a dozen dwellinghouses in Strafford-proper at present; but those who have cast their lot there are confident that it will shortly develop j into an influential inland town. The Pates River flows through the township, which accounts for it being called £ t rat for d-on-Patea, The river is very shallow here, and is only about twenty yards wide. Midhirst, Manganui, Waipnkn, Tariki road, Norfolk road, and Durham road are passed, and at 5.39 INGLEWOOD is reached. It is situated 32 miles from Hawera and 16 from New Plymonth. Inglewood is a comparatively young township, being formed in 1874, when emigration was at its height. A. large proportion of the population is German, a class of people noted for their thrift and industry. There are only two hotels here, which (considering the fact that there are throe and four hotels in some townships only half its size (speaks well for the sobriety of its inhabitants. There are two or three nice churches, and a handsome school. The station is the most important on the line, and the trains from Hawera and New Plymouth meet there. After a stoppage of six minutes, we again proceed, passing Waiongona, Aikenbead’s, and Lepperton stations, and at 6.26 we arrive at SENTRY HILL. This station, which is 8 miles from Inglewood, 8 from New Plymouth, 4 from Waitara, and 40 from Hawera, is the junction of the Waitara, Hawera, and New Plymouth lines. WAITARA is a very promising- little town, and possessing, as it does, a railway and port, should ere long take a prominent position among the northern When the improvements to the river are completed, tolerably large vessels will be able to enter, and Waitara should then do a large import and export trade, being the head-quarters of the Taranaki Co-operative Association, and the place from whence farmers and country settlers are most likely to ship their cattle and produce. There are generally four or five craft in the river, the cattle steamer Macgregor running regularly between Waitara and Manakau. There are three hotels and a brewery, three bakers, two butchers* two drapers, and one or two general stores, besides banks,post and telegraph offices,churches, schools, &c. Waitara is 11 miles by - rail, and 12 miles by road from NEW PLYMOUTH, which is a pretty town of 4,000 inhabitants, pleasantly situated < near the sea, with Mount Egmont towering in the back-ground. New Plymouth has considerably improved during the last 12 months, and now appears determined to shake off its proverbial sleepiness, and make up for long years of inactivity. The pipes for the water-works are being laid, buildings are being erected, and the harbor-works are proceeding satisfactorily. A splendid new hall (the Alexandra) has been erected, and will be opened early in the new year. It • will seat 800 people, and the exterior and interior decorations are firstclass. There are three shops in the front of the building, which . will doubtless yield a good income to the company. The recreation grounds are being improved daily, and are now the favourite Sunday retreat of old and young. The racecourse reserve has been considerably improved, and a nice cricket-ground has been formed in its centre. A new grand-stand would not be out of place, but as there appears to be some misunderstanding between the Jockey Club and the Borough Council, I daresay the former will rest satisfied with the improvements already made. The harbor works are being carried on in an energetic and workmanlike manner (in favourable contrast to a year ago), and competent persons are of opinion that they will be a success. It is expected that a fortnight’s work will give 10ft of water at the end of breakwater allow tide—a very good result. I left New Plymouth highly pleased with the improved appearance of the town, and arrived at Hawera perfectly satisfied with my pleasure trip.