DUBBO TO LONDON.

Shannon News, 11 July 1924, Page 4

DUBBO TO LONDON.

"SNOWY" THOMPSON ARMVES. STOCKMAN'S ODYSSEY. Londoners stared in wonderment one morning recently, when a bewildered and self-conscious figure, in riding breeches and leggings, with a stockman's four-buckie belt, and carrying two saddles and riding gear, with his luggage in newspapers, threaded his way through the densest traffic in the Strand, towards Australia House. , ',. -' It was "Snowy" Thompson, the champion Australian buckjumper, who came to England at the invitation | of Mr. H. D. Mcintosh, who was backing him in a challenge to the American riders at rodeo for £IOOO a side. Thompson, who is Dubbo born and bred, and is scarcely 22, -travelled alone. He disembarked at Marseilles and traversed Prance, though he cannot read or write English, let alone French.

On being interviewed by the representative of the "Sydney Daily Guardi- , an," when still trembling after ais ordeal with a group of English pressmen, whose accents he could not com- . prehend, Thompson confessed that he had "had a thin time." , | "When a bloke can't speak the lingo," he said, " he is bound to have a rough spin. Gripes, I couldn't ask for a plain meat pie, and I nearly-starved to death.

"Only that some kind cove gave me a list, pf the stations, where I must change trains, I'd be still coming." Tho'mpson wore a cloth cap, scorning the sombrero with which the Yanks are mesmerising London. He said that he was confident that he -would give any ' cowboy a "good go." , ■ ' Thompson brought his own Australian stock saddle, which Mr. Mcintosh stipulated must be used in uhe world riding challenge in preference to the x\merican "cradle" cow-saddle. Though obviously overwhelmed with London's hugeness, Thompson's only comment was: "Dubbo's safer."

type of nridge was not suitable and mat mere was no use throwing good moiiej alter bad. The present bridge was nuiit in 1904 hy a special loan, the uiaiii Riding contributing £IOO to the cost. MANAWATU RIVER BRIDGES,. The Wirqkino and Shannon bridges were constructed in 1903 and 1908 respectively by co-operation between die Manawatu and Horowhenua Counties and the Government, contributions being at the rate of 5-l-2th froin each oi. the counties and 2-12th from the Government.

TE HORO. FINISHES STRONGLY. Te Horo had meantime maintained its policy Qf holding out for Government grants, and, encouraged by ihe success of its roading application, had for seVeral years worried the Government for a grant for bridges. The policy was not unanimous in the riding and more than one election was fought on the issue of whether loans should or should not be raised lor the work. The leaders of those who wished to go on with the work were Mir A. Monk, father of the present chairman of the County Council, and Mr F. C. Jones, Mr H. J. Richards leading the opposition. The Government was prepared to admit liability but not to the extent of the whole amount and first made an offer of £1 for £1 towards the cost. This was looked upon as a liberal offer by the loan faction who had in mind title fact that the other ridings in the County were finding the whole of the money for bridges within their boundaries. , The other party remained firm, however, land after an offer of 24s to the £l, had been turned down, eventually the Government agreed to supply the whole of the money needed, grants being received for the erection -of the Otaki (completed May, 1901), Waikanae, and Reikorangi bridges. CONCLUSION. With the completion of bridges tfoe work may be said to have been "irought up-to its present state. Any work done since that date may be classed as maintenance, and the next phase, in the progress of the roading of the district will be that which it is proposed to initiate within the-next few months. Important as this is,—and in view of the growing demands of. motor traffic, no one will deny its importance—it must be ranked as of only secondary importance to the work which has been already done, and whilst the greatest credit is due to the initiative and enterprise of those responsible for the sealing scheme, even greater credit must be given to the hardy pioneers of the coastal district, who carried out a big and difficult work under very adverse circumstances.