TAIHAPE NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9395, 16 March 1909, Page 2

TAIHAPE NOTES.

From Oar Own Correspondent. St. Margaret’s Oharoh which has been considerably enlarged and improved (both enlargement and improvement being the gift of the Tioar and Mrs Clarkson) was reopened on Sunday last. The congregations for all the services were large, and every one expressed great pleasure from the greatly improved appearatice of the ohnroh. The church can now hold 150, but with a little alteration of the seats 200 may be accommodated. One great feature in the improvements is|the innovation of eight beautiful memorial windows that have been put in whilst the alterations were being carried out. These are all beautiful windows, the designs being exceedingly pretty and appropriate. Altogether the church is now one that the parishioners of St. Margaret’s may feel justly proud, and the Vicar and his wife are indeed to be heartily congratulated on their great kindness. 1 feel -sure that their labours in this enlargement and beautification were a. labour of love, and sincerely echo the hope of tlmpanshioners that they will reap the reward of their labours. The fire which has been the chief topic of conversation since the memorable Ist of March is now getting and in the, course of a few weeks strangers will be asking “Where was the big fire?” a a in nearly all cases tenders have been let for the rebuilding of the premises. Mrs Barsby is about to build seven shops, and Messrs Garner and Co. have let a tender for a twostoried building to replace one storey that was burnt, so that in a little while there will be no evidence of the late fire.

We trust that burghers will not hesitate in the matter of the loan for water supply, which will shortly be before them, as, after the experience of ’the late conflagration the helplessness of our brigade without a sufficient supply of water must be evident. It is evidently fortunate tbat In Taihape we have very little wind, otherwise it would be a matter for consideration where the fire would have stopped that night, but supposing we had had a good supply of water, the fire may rot have got further than the building it originated in. So that X, for one, feel sure the vote will be carried. Im . spector Hugo says that there are too many fires in the Dominion, and puts the cause down to over insurance. That at any rate cannot be said of the late fire as the total insurances would not have totalled £II,OOO, whilst the property destroyed would probably total £35,000.

The hot dry weather that we have bad for the last six weeks ended here on Saturday night by a terrific thunderstorm and exceptionally heavy rain. Whilst the quite terrifying at times, and the lightning extremely vivid, we have not heard of any disastrous effects of the lightning or thunder. The splendid rain was anxiously looked for and was extremely welcome. The whole country will be benefited by the beautiful warm rain we have bad.