WHANGAMOMONA NOTES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 87, 12 August 1915, Page 3

WHANGAMOMONA NOTES.

(By Newcomer).

I write those notes in August after] the Hood—not the deluge that over-! whelmed the earth in the days of| Xoah, but one of more importance in the opinion of the dwellers in thesej parts—the Hood which caused a place which was in the van of progress to ho' suddenly transformed into a back-, block settlement by the blocking of the road and railway by slips. To the cre- ( dit of the resources of the district, it, might be said that no great hardship was experienced through the lack of food supplies, the great matter of concern being when the “Stratford Evening Post” would arrive bringing news of the progress of the great war. The usual train service is now in full force and the main roads are cleared of slips to allow of an experienced driver being able to negotiate what a little child once termed “a one-sided road.” The settlers in the branch, roads are finding a difficulty in driv-j ing their carriage and pair into the ( town, but are able with care to get ( their supplies and mails in by pack horse. A stranger arriving in Whan-; gamomona has his attention arrested by two big things of the place, viz., the name (which stretches a long way across the railway station), and the hotel (which appears to be a commodious structure). The town lies in valley through which runs a stream of, the same name, the waters of which j empty itself into the lordly Wanganui] River. With the expenditure of a.j comparative small sum of money] Whangamomona could he made an im-j pregnable position in these days of] military activities. It is shut in with] high hills, and can only he reached hy j rail through a tunnel or hy road across! a high ridge. The road across the, range has its scenic advantages, and, as it is not used much for heavy tra-j file, is usually fit for motor and hike traffic, although it is uumetalled in many plac os . Owing to the limited area in the valley and the danger off the land slipping away on the hill- ( sides, there is not much room great expansion of the town. However, when the great war is over and peace is proclaimed upon a satisfac-, tory basis, the city fathers should con- i aider the obtaining gratis a large stock of the enemy’s explosives with the object of reducing the height of the hills] and producing more level country for j building and farming purposes. Some ( of the lii][s are rejoicing in being; clothed in natural bush, while others., having had the hush felled and sown] with gras.s and properly stocked with] sheep or cattle, have a good sward of i grass right up to the very top. This is a proof of the natural fertility of the soil, which, even though it should overstep the angle of repose and fall from its high position a few hundred feet, is ready to grow luxuriant grass upon its naked surface. To farmers who prefer the more congenial life of a grazier to that of the drurgery of extracting the lacteal fluid from;;,. the dairy cow, Whangamomona district offers great attractions. Although dairying is carried on in |ome of the neighbouring valleys’, the whole district is more suitable for grazing sheep.

The Kohuratahi Overseas’ Club Ladies’ Committee have arranged a monster concert and dance for Friday, 27 th August, the proceeds to go towards the King Kole Karnival Wounded Soldiers’ Distress Relief Fund. Posters are out all over the district, and special trains from Whanga and trains from Tahora have been arranged. A most comprehensive programme of songs, recitations, farces, etc., will be put on, and given fine weather, an easy record for Kohuratahi Hall will be established.