STRATFORD DAY BY DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 339, 15 March 1910, Page 8

STRATFORD DAY BY DAY.

(FrcV'i Our Resident Correspondent.) THE STRATFORD-OXGARI'E RAIL- ' WAY. | Stratford, March 14. j Periodically the Prime Minister of; Railways recounts' in flowery language j and congratulatory phrase the enter-'; prise of the Dominion and the progress that is being made in. the development of the country by means of railways. , Figures are quoted plentifully, and the ■ listener, who came to curse, whilst de- | parting not entirely in the mood to j bless—especially if one of the pioneers*, ot settlement, to whom a good road or i railway presents the consummation <>f j his wishes and hopes—is beguiled into ' a complacent mood. To read, for instance of the speed with which the jew traiis'-continenta) railway is being pushed on across Canada, outshadowing almost to elimination the progress of the railing of this country, must; make the back country settler envious of his cousins in the other Dominion, j What period of time would elaps'e in' New Zealand ere a railway of 3561 miles was completed, if the rate, of pro-j gress was the same .as has character- \ feed the extension of the line (from Stratford to Ongarue? Yet in a few years Canada has' laid down SS4 miles, and of the Western division of this great undertaking about 1300 miles remain, which it is expected will be com-' pleted in three years. The "battle of the rival routes" need not "be referred | to, but though the Stratford-Ongarue line may now be regarded as one of the! Chief railways under Construction it is' not safe to sit .s'till and dream that in a few years direct communication,' ■without a- tedious deviation, with Auckland will be un fait accompli. If you', listen to the man in tlie street you will be told that this will happen at any '. time between five and a hundred years I —his opinion is swayed by his pofitocal | convictions. Ask the engineer or the' man who knows' the country, and the I work and various other little things ! which have to do with the progress of' railways, how long it will take, and he will shrug his shoulders. He could tell you, if he liked, how long it should, take; but his experience of the Depart-' hient has taught him that the strings which are pulled upset all calculations, and he holds his peace. Hitherto, on account of the line being pushed in from this end Taranaki has had all the advantage. Auckland has not been un-! observant of the fact, nor blind to the benefits' which would ensue should work be commenced at the Ongarue end. Nor are those interested, and it must not be forgotten or overlooked that they embrace the commercial and influential' section of the northern city, content to sit still; they are using every means at hand to bring about their end. What is Taranaki doing? Has it ever been considered what would be the effect oa | the railway should Auckland succeed? (Would it mean that only the same vote ' would be placed on the Estimates every ■ rear ? Taranaki must remember the importance of the opening up of communication With the hinterland. I was' told the other day by a man who na9 the reputation of gaining inside information that the line would go very little past Whangamomona, for when it' had reached that township a commencement would be made with the construction of the line from the Ongarue end. I give the statement as it was told me, and would only say in comment that more impossible things have happened. Should Hiis' come to> pass, would it suit Taranaki? Stratford, as the nearest centre, has the greatest interest, and should be the most alive to the importance and necessity of watching every movement. Other centres have their Chambers of Commerce—the gathering , of representatives of the country whose particular function it is' to foster any scheme or movement which tends to the development of town or district. There has been some talk of the establishment of a Chamber of Commerce ■but as vet it bns not passed that stage. The hour has come: the man to take upon lrms'elf the task of awakening citizens from their apathy to carry the scheme to » success is wanted.

Wet can hardly be said to adequately describe the weather to-day. It has simplv poured, though there is the sonsola tion Mint it cannot keen up long. TBie .v.oi>n;*'st Kon of Mr W. >H. Young met with an accident to his' eye last week, and this morning was sent to Wellington to be attended to by an oculist. I am sorrv to hear that the youngest daughter r\f Mr F. Cones.iake, of Stratford, is seriously ill. After consultation Drs. Blaokley and Menzies' ordered her removal to a private hospital in New Plymouth, where an operation is to be ■performed. Yesterday Mr J. Henry, of Stratford, took his four-year-old son to his farm on the Gordon road. Having occasion to get some cattle out of the bush he told the liov to sit down by a tree and await his return. On com'ng out from the hush he found that the child had movdL and he was unable to find any traces. Upturning home, search parties) were ov*i vised, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Tn the meantime the little fellow had strayed awav some three ■miles, and as the evening was setting in hf was found bv Mr P. Murphy, of Huiroa, crying. This' morning his par ents were advised that the missing one was found. Mr and Mrs R. IT. Robinson leave on their trip to the Old Country on Friday. """' Mr E. A. Osmond, of Stratford, Ims 'been .appointed fceewtary of the National Sweet Pea Association of New Zealand, the first show in connection with w!hich will be held in Palmers'ton on December 14.