WHANGAMOMONA NOTES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 68, 28 March 1913, Page 8

WHANGAMOMONA NOTES.

Mr Wilson, Inspector of Police, visited Whangamomona on Tuesday evening, and returned on Wednesday. Next week will in all probability see the piercing of the first neading ot the Tahora tunnel. A start on No. 2 tunnel in close proximity will be made almost immediately. Hurimoana is now almost reached by the tram line. This will prove a boon to the settlers in the outlying districts, as the approaching winter will no doubt see the heavy traffic transferred from the road to the tram line.

Mr C. 'J. McKenzie, Public Woi'ks Engineer, paid his final tour of inspection Out East on Tuesday before leaving the district to take up his new duty as Inspecting Engineer at Wellington. Ho was accompanied by Ml’ Cl. T. Murray, who succeeds him, and Mr Kelleher, assistant engineer. Excellent progress is being made with the construction of the railway bridges between Mangdre Hoad And Whanga. Between these two places well within a mile and three-quarters, seven bridges had to be built. Of this number, Nos. 1,2, and 3 have b'een completed; No. 4 is practically finished; No. 5 is complete; No. G is practically done, and No. 7 is well on toward scomplotion, it will take, about two months yet to see the end.

Sergt.-Major Bonar held a Territorial parade at Te Wera on Tuesday. The Whanga. “Terries” were put through their facings on Wednesday.

Fully sixty persons made the through journey to Whangamomona on Tuesday evening. It was necessary to hook on a truck, in addition to the ordinary vans, at Pohokura, on the Pubilc Works section, in order to cope with the traffic. The horse tram at Mangare Road Riding had to make a second trip, while a number “padded the hoof” into town. The

accommodation at both the hotel and boarding houses was fully taxed.

Mr and Mrs Moss and family, who have recently arrived from the Old Country, arrived at Whangamomona cn Tuesday evening and proceeded further East on Wednesday, where they intend settling down on his brother’s farm. The roads all over the district are in splendid condition. The main road, as well as the Whanga Saddle, are better now than they have been for some time.

The Makahu school children were treated on Tuesday last to their annual, picnic and sports. Children’s races and games were held during tli© day, gnd a dance was held in schoolroom in the evening. The music vvas supplied by Mr C. Simmons, while Mr . It. , Mitchell acted as master of ceremonies.

The Whanga town arid suburban sections lately surveyed by Mr Sole, ot Nfew Plymouth, along with those passed ia at last sale, were on Tuesday offered at auction in the local Hall by the Commisisoner of Crown Lands, Mr Bullard. The sale was a disappointment to those who have been looking forward to a boom in town lots, the majority of the sections being passed in, and those that were sold realised only about their upset price. The principal buyers were Mrs Dean, (two sections), Messrs. P. Long (three sections), L. Klee (two sections), K. J. Fawkner, H. Henry and J. Rcthery (one section each). The balance were held over, and "ill be offered at at a later date.

The Sunday school library has received a very useful gift from the Picton Sunday school in the shape of a large case of books to form the nucleus of a reading library for the Sunday school children. It is a splendid gif(, and will undoubtedly be keenly appreciated by the scholars.

The Rev. Mr Bailey, of Christchurch, has -been appointed by the Presbyterian Assembly to the Whanga charge, and has commenced his duties. Mr Bailey will make Whanga his headquarters, and will travel from there to Matau in one direction and Tahoj’a in the other, holding services everywhere within that radius.

Messrs K. Sellar, D. H. Hanna, and W. Hallett, lights of the legal profession at Ha wera, started from Whanga on Good Friday on a walkingtour to Taumaranui. They travelled light, having only a small knapsack each, and made the Tangarakau Gorge by mid-day, and reached Taumaranui on, Saturday night. They were fortunate enough to strike splendid weathere and good roads. They speak very highly of the trip through.

Several vehicles have been through the Gorge lately, the only obstacles to a good journey being the negotiating of the old narrow bridges in the Gorge. By next summer the new traffic bridges will be open, thus completing on eof the finest roads from a scenic point of view in the Dominion. On Easter Monday, the Whanga. Sunday school held its annual picnic at the Purangi Road, and a very pleasant day was spent by all. Several picnics were held at the Gorge during the holidays, the weather bringing the people out. The Kohuratahi Road school held a second picnic at the Kohuratahi Falls on Monday, a very largo number being present. The Falls and adjoining reserve made an ideal picnic spot, and a long programme of sports was gone through. Miss IT. Peck, of Picton, is on a short visit to relatives in the district. Miss Ada Sly, of Palmerston North, is spending a few weeks with friends at Kohuratahi. Miss Bacon, from Wellington, is also on a holiday in the same district. The combined Rifle Clubs held their picnic at Whitianga on Good Friday, and enjoyed a very successful day,

there being representatives of all the local clubs present, along with a host of mends.

Tae Tahora Tennis Club held their carnival on Easter Monday at tne lahora courts. These have recently been improved by being lengthened, wl'icji tne players will greatly appreciate. Tna cricket match, Australians v. Tno World, played at Whanga, on Monday, resulted in a comfortable win for the Kangaroos. W. Nelson, for Australia, and Geo. Court, for The World, shewed the best form. in the evening a cricketers’ ball was held, making a good wind-up to the holidays. During the cricket match, Mr S. Bishara received a knock on the ankle from a speedy ball which nil! give him a “genteel limp” for a few days at least. (

Mrs Dean’s many friends "'id de glad to learn that she is making progress —lit)fortunately necessarily slow towards recovery, after undergoing a serious operation at New Plymouth* last week. Mr and Mrs Joseph Walker and family will arrive here about April 6th, to take up their permanent residence on their farm in the Maranga y alley, and Mrs and Miss Parsons, of Hawke’s Bay, are due to arrive a week later, and will settle on Messrs Parsons Bro’s. farm on the Kohuratahi Road,

Mr D. fl. Howard is removing Jiis branch store to.Kohuratahi rail-head, where it will bo used as a bulk store and chaff shed. Mr W. Nelson, who cut his hand badly at St. Patrick’s Day sports, is making satisfactory progress towards recovery. Mr and Mrs Hodder, sen., last night in the Whanga. Hall, gave a giand ball in honor of the marriage of their daughter, Miss Bessie Hodder, to Mr E. W. Hodder, of Whanga. The happy couple, who returned on Saturday from a short honeymoon, at New Plymouth, were present. The hall was packed, which fact bore testimony to the high esteen in which they are held in the district. Dancing was indulged in until the early hours of the morning, the music being supplied by Miss Baker, and Messrs Hatton, Marsh, Fawkner, Hodder, and Schneider, while Mr T. Hodder ably carried out the duty of M.C. Songs were contributed during the evening, and a first-class supper was provided.

While the dance was in progress, some mischevious individual scrambled upon the rqof and put a wet sack over the chimney, with the result that the hall was soon full of smoke, making things very unpleasant, while it lasted. But the;.joker was not content with that.!s .When supper was nearly ready—(the (exception, only being the making/of . .the tefi)- it was noticed that thp pater (beautiful snow-white head on it., It turned out that somebody, had put in a piece of soap (some say salt); at any rate, it was necessary tq postpone the supper until a fresh supply of water had been boiled. A team of terurif; players from Te Wera journeyed byijtram J< |o,.Tpko on Thursday to, try ...conclustqps with a team there. rj.The weather conditions were unfavourable,, a light rain falling during, ithe day. The noxious weeds inspectors have been paying - a . visit Out East lately, and several settlers have been served with notices to have their farms cleared.. a

A slight delay, is caused now on trie trip by tram from Mangare Road railhead to Whangamomona on account of the permanent way not being ballasted in places. . The result is that the horses have to walk on tiie outside of the rails instead of proceeding briskly on tho track. The Department would gain tho thanks of the many travellers bn the line if attention was given to the matter as soon as possilbe.