FOUR RETURNED TAIHAPE SOLDIERS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 4 November 1916, Page 4

FOUR RETURNED TAIHAPE SOLDIERS.

Friday Olsen, Geo. Brice, Mr. Walsh, late of t-he railway, and Mr. Christianson, four Taihape men or whom all may be proud, as they have taken their turn at the front, and have been returned and honourably discharged, have been offered and have taken up land-in the Waipapa Valley, somewhere back ,of Ohakune, on the banks of the Wanganui River. They .have taken possession, and when an old friend with boundary-riding proclivities happened upon their tents on a recent evening he found them to be as happy as squirrels in a box of nuts. Long before the camp was reached a voice was warbling its sweetness to pigeons, wild pigs, and wagtails, except for the three listeners and the visitor, who relates the story. After the song George favoured the company with a cornet solo, which echoea sweetly through the huge matai and rimu denizens of the virgin forest. Never did a cornet solo played in any concert room conjure up such pleasant memories to the visiting tramp, nor did anything hold out such good prospects for a good meal a little later on. Men who can look happy, be happy, and make each other happy away back in the virgin bush as these four returned soldiers are doing, are beyond doubts about making their new venture a success. They have got well on with their hushfalling, at which they are working like good oldtime bushfallers, and there are already some nice little areas cleared May they have all the luck! ‘