OUT EAST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 56, 1 March 1912, Page 2

OUT EAST.

(13y Our Trtiveiling Reporter.) Quite a large number of young men wore seen congregated on the road in the vicinity of the Toko Hall on Tuesday m'orning, and one began to wonder why. Sergeant-Major Ballinger alighting from the train and proceeding in that direction soon revealed the fact that a parade of the Territorials was in progress. Recent visitors to Whanga wore very much surprised to hear the cheery chug-chug of a motor engine, and on further inquiry ascertained that the sound emanated from an up-to-date motor bicycle which had been brought into the district by Mr R. G. Fawkner, the enterprising and energetic manager of the Bank of Australasia. Mr Fawkner is getting a good deal of pleasure as tv'ell as practical use out of his new, purchase, whilst causing interest, and at times consternation amongst the inhabitants of the back block settlement. The introduction of the motor bicycle is an innovation in this district.

A Leap Year 1 Ball is to be held in the Strathmore Hall on March Ist. Mrs Newman is acting as secretary. Mr AV. J). Anderson paid his usual monthly visit to Whangamomona on Tuesday last.

Mr Hive, ex-AI.P. for Egmont, was a visitor to Whangamom.bna on Tuesday, and proceeded as far as the Tangarakau Gorge. The necessary • material for the construction of the railway bridges into AVhangamomona, comprising steel girders and joists, has arrived at the .'•.( 1 J ;• 33-mile siding, and is how 'getting overhauled, and a- commencement has already been made at the first site by putting in concrete piers and abutments, and now, with the permanent rails having been laid throughout the tunnel, the time is not far distant when a train service between AVhangamomona and Stratford will be in evidence. Nominations for the St. Patrick’s picnic to be held at Kohuratahi bn March 18th, close on March 10th with the joint secretaries, Messrs E. AVilfcon and T. Ronowden. The following dates have been drawn in the cricket competition for Mr Bishara’s cup: March 3rd, Pohokura v. Alangare Road; 10th, Mangare Road v. AVhanga; 17th, Pohokura v. AVhanga; 24th, Pohokura v. Alangare Road; 31st, Alangare Road v. AVhanga. A heavy thunderstorm passed over AVhangamomona on Aldnday'afternoon lasting only a few Injurs, ,a fall of three-quarters of an inch being recorded. 1

Aliss Price, who has been assistant teacher at the AVhangamomona school for the past four months applied for a transfer from that district op the gii'ound that she was unable to. pro-

cure private board and lodgings-. ■ Miss Price made a liouse to bouse canvass in and around the town without success, and lias been notified of her transfer to Lepperton. Mise Fanny Hill, of Kjbhuratahi, is to" fill Hie vacancy at Whangamomona,

Mr and Mrs Towler left Whangamomonna on a brief ' visit to Sttatfiord.

Mr Jack McCluggage, who lias been spending a three months’ holiday at Dunedin and Christchurch,{ returned to Whangamornona on Tuesday last.-.

Several married business men at Whangamombna on account of the shortage of houses, purpose immediately erecting canvas homos. The 'boardinghouses are full, and board of any description is utterly unprocurable.

Tiie Whangamornona Cricket Club have been unfortunate in losing their present grounds through the railway cutting through the centre of it, and are now moving the pitch to the Whangamornona Domain. IA full complement of cricketers’ requisites have been procured. The pitch is now being prepared, and will shortly be in full going order. The netessary material for the addition to the Whangamornona school is now on the grounds, and the work of erection will soon be well in hand.

Mr R. Scott is the contractor, and the contract price is £260. The ad-

dition is to be built in sections, in order that it can be shifted further on

as the lino'' progresses. The expense of the erection is borne by the Public Works Department.

Mrs Dean is leaving Whangamo-

mona next week for a month’s holiday in the South Canterbury district. Miss B. Dean also leaves for Taumarunui the same day.

The sports committee met on Saturday evening for the purpose of considering further arrangements fior Easter Monday’s sports, to be hold mid-way between Whangamomona and Kohuratahi. It was resolved to call

tenders for refreshment and confec-

tionery booths, and also chopping blocks. The gathering promises to he the largest ever held in the district. The programme is thoroughly comprehensive, and the prize-money large. Messrs Manoy and Hassall contemplate shifting into their new shop in about a fortnight’s time. The building is now practically finished, and will be rpiite up-to-date. Large plateglass windows will be put in, 'and the rooms being large, the firm will be able to show their goods to advantage. Their stock is a large and a varied one, and just suited for the district. A Maori concert and dance is to be

held in the Whangamomona Hall on March 2nd. T 1 !0 programme is a varied one, and comprises Maori war dances, poi dances, Samoan songs, and a waltzing competition. Had the work of building the hotel cellar proceeded without accident, the roofing of the new structure would have been finished 'before now but Mr Rodder has been most unfortunate, the wet weather being the chief cause of trouble. The sides of the cellar fell in and got

filled with water, and for some days the public were treated to a water bailing competition, all hands, carpenters, bricklayers, and workmen lowering and raising buckets like machines. A pump was then tried and found more satisfactory. The worst is over now, arid the cellar should be finished by the end of this week. After that, Whangamomona wilt soon rejoice in a brand new and up-to-date hotel.

The building of the new Bank of Australasia at Whangamomona is to strike a new line from the old, till now inevitable, corrugated iron. Men are busy now putting in the foundations, which are of good solid concrete and brick, with a layer of asphalt on the top of that. Everything of the best is 'the specification, and Whanga will soon have a building to be proud of. Mr A. Meredith is the contractor, and has the work well in hand.

Constable Liston, of Te Wera, is at present relieving Constable Scannel at Whanga. Constable Scannel loft last week on a month’s holiday, which he intends spending in South Canterbury.

I-pte on Saturday night a Cortland waggon, driven by Mr W. Evans, of the Whangamomona stables, with two ladies and two gentlemen passengers, and some coffee, en route for Whanga met with an awkward accident on the saddle. Soon after passing the top, a bad part of the road, the night being dark, the Cortland struck a large hole and capsized. The occupants were fortunately thrown clear and escaped with nothing but a shaking and a coat of mud. The vehicle sustained little damage, and after a short delay the vehicle was uprighted and the journey resumed, the party arriving at Whangamomona shortly after midnight. On arrival another task was in store. Attention was drawn to the vfeinity of the bridge, and on reaching the spot they found a man in a very awkward position, and with assistance and a rope managed to haul him safely to the top. A working bee are now busily engaged preparing the Toko .Domain for its annual sports gathering to be held on March 28th, which promises to be a great success.

Arrangements are now being made for the Strathmore sports, which are to he held shortly. To travel on a slow train is not too good, and getting stuck in a tunnel into the bargain is no joke. Such was the experience of passengers on; the train from Te Wera to Stratford on. :■ Xhutsday. ' The little engine, hauling some . seven trucks, amt lav van made a bold attempt.up the jiicline to tho entrance of the Kjpre managed to get'the whole train mid-way into the tunnel when it came to a standstill. One began to wonder what was going to happen, but after a ipinute or so’s spell, and a considerable, amount of puffing and grunting and occasional bold attempts, the littlo engine plucked”",up’ courage aiid once more the .passengers saw daylight. I , Several . stiff grades .on the line have to b$ contended - against,, and with anything like a long train, or even a short full one, it is enough to'break the little engine’s heart. The time has surely arrived when larger engines should be substituted for the smaller ones. This is not the first occasion that similar incidents have happened. On returning from the picnic hold at New Plymouth a short time back the “little buster” got stuck on the incline near Huiroa, and two trips had to be made in order to get out of its difficulty, which resulted in about au hour’s delay. This is a matter that needs the authorities’ attention.