OUR BACK COUNTRY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8, 10 September 1913, Page 5

OUR BACK COUNTRY.

MAIL, RAIL, AND ROAD.

COMMUNICATION URGED

The eastern hinterland lias always been a special care of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce, and at last night's meeting of the Chamber many matters connected therewith were discussed.

MAIN TRUNK CONNECTION

.Mr V. \V. Wake, who was appointed to attend the annual meeting of the Auckland Railway League as representing the Stratford Chamber, wrote that the League had passed a resolution urging the Government to spend £IOO,OOO on the Stratford-Main Trunk line. Mr Kirkwood said the resolution of the Auckland League was to the effect that the hulk of any money voted for the line should be spent on the .Main Trunk end of the line. ,Ho moved that a protest he sent to the Government against the course indicated.— Mr James said that a contract had been let for the Okahukara tunnel, fiie tunnel would take three years to make, and then the lino would only he in about five miles from the main line. At the end of the three years the line would nearly be at the hack door of the Ohura people, but it would

still be sonic distance from them. The route should be surveyed through the rangarakau gorge,—Mr Richards said the Opunake line was the most important to Stratford, but the main line connection was also important.—Mr Kennedy said he had been assured that the route now decided on as regards the Tangarakau would not he altered. The route turned off to the right past Tahora.—Alter some further discussion Mr Kirkw'ood withdrew his motion md substituted one merely urging on the Government that the rate of

expenditure on the southern' end be not decreased.—This was caried.— Mr Kennedy stated that it.would be fully three years before the railway readied Tahora, there' being much work to do in connection with the tunnel and filling at the present head of the works.—On the motion of Mr Young it was decided to ask the cooperation of other interested bodies.

MAIL AND TELEPHONE

The Clerk of the Whangamomona County Council (Mr A. Coleman) wrote that bis Council was taking action regarding the Ofrara-Tahora /mail service and 'was also making -representations for the establishment of a direct tele* plione service between the two places. Mr H. Geange, secretary of the Tatn Settlers' Association, wrote: Mail and telephone service between Ohura and Whangamomona: Steps have been taken by the Association tfshave the trade between these places connected, the Telegraph Department having sent two officials, to report. , They state that the line would be very expensive to construct, but they were favorable to its erection. Road, for coach or mail; It was in 1903 that J felled the first bush in Tatu and still we cannot boast of a twelve-foot road through the settlement. The greater part of the road has been made nine feet wide and has been left so. This is our arterial road. The neglect of the road T attribute to the fact that it has been handed over to the control

of the Te Kuiti Roads Department, the officials of which seldom come this way, as the road is at the extreme south of their district. There are also some very had corners on this side of the Papa rata saddle ' which should be attended to. It seems natural that a better road can he made from the Taranaki end. T wish to thank

your Chamber for their help in the matter, and can assure you that illß settlers of Tatu are fully alive to their interests. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

The Premier, in a note to Mr J. B. Hine. M.P., acknowledged receipt of repesontations regarding the opening of land in the Ponatu and Waro Survey Districts, and stated that the matter was being considered and that notification would be given when a decision was arrived at.