OUT THE EAST LINE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 31, 23 September 1914, Page 3

OUT THE EAST LINE.

(Xews and Notes by our Travelling Representative.) All the way out the line there is evidence that a few days of good spring rain would do a lot of good, and fro'u points beyond where the railway runs there come demands for rain. As one farmer put it: "The place is as dry now as ist was at the beginning of last December." The only consolation, which is a big one, though by no means big enough to make up for the want of feed, is that the "mud" roads, which hereabouts are more plentiful than is pleasant, are in very good order. Settlers, no doubt, would welcome some mud on the roads for the sake of having their paddocks freshened up. The Whaiigamomona township paths are getting "more like London" eve.;. day. A good foundation was put on them with the papa taken off the mam road when re-metalling was done, and now they have been topped off witn screenings. After the next downpoiu of rain (whenever it comes) the paths will have an excellent surface.

The new bridge is coming along wcli and promises to be a substantial structure. With this bridge completed, its twin replaced by a concrete arch, and the street metalled for its full width, the good people of Whangamomona will have to cast around for some new matter to grumble aboui. A'o doubt one will be easily enough discoveiable.

The Kohuratahi correspondent, of the "Post" recently told of the shifting of the railway workers from Whangamomona to Kohuratahi; and.the proceedings at the County Council meeting seem to indicate that, like the workers, the Council's quarrel with the P.W.I), also moved on—not disappeared, of course, but merely shifted 'ts ground. For a long time the Council hammered at the Department regarding the state of Whangamomona township, and now the scene of the quarrel has been shifted to the vicinity of Kohuratahi: By the time the railway workers move on again the present quarrel may be fixed up, and if Cr. McOutchan has his way lie will see that "it doesn't occur again." Both the P.W.D. and the Council mamdifficulties to contend with, and it is hardly fair to call their arguments "quarrels"—they are merely necessary adjustments—but surely much argument could be spared if the adjustment were made before the P.W.D. started to chew up a road or throw it over the fence into the next paddock. The moving on of the railway workers in its turn pushes civilisation ui.ead, and Tahora is now busying itself in bringing itself up-to-date, »y erecting a public hall and laying down a tennis court. By the way, the Whangamomona tennis court has now been asphalted and the club should have a good season this year.

Last week the Whangamomona and ivohuratahi cricket teams tried conclusions at Whangamomona tlio home team scoring an easy victory. The chief scorers for Whangamomona were McMeekin (33), CI. Court (21), and .Mills (21).

On Saturday a branch of the Oddfollows' Lodge (American), already es tablished in Whangainomona, is to bo opened at Tahora. Another sign of progress.

On Wednesday next another social in aid of the Patriotic Fund is to be held at To Wera.

The rainfall record at tlie Whanganiomona station, which is in charge er Mr It. (j!. Fawkner, makes interesting reading. It shows that so far the aggregate fall is just about normal. the total fall at the end of Angus'/ being 48.55ih, as against 43.23 in at the same time in 1913 and 51in in 1912. For the same period the number of wet days was 112, as against 96 in 1913. In 1913 the wettest months were October, November and December, and in the* previous year November .vas the wettest month. For the past five weeks less than half an inch of rain has been recorded, while in the first fortnight of September last year the fall was in the vicinity of six inches The aggregate fall for the year to date has, no doubt, been kept in the vicinity of the standard by the fall in April ;;.ui May, which wi\* 21 inches, as agaiihs-. 9 inches last year.

A big heap of metal near the Huiroa station is much in evidence just no.v, but a. continuance of the prese it weather should see it soon put where it will do most good. Burns on a small scale are to he seen along the line—a good evidence, if anv were needed, of the dryness of the season.