A COMING DISTRICT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 262, 15 March 1911, Page 3

A COMING DISTRICT

WHAN G AMOMONA. A representative of the "Taranaki 1 Daily News" who paid a visit to the Whangamomona district last week was greatly impressed with the improvements that have taken place in that rising and progressive township and in the district generally during the past twelve months. This improvement is not a spasmodic one, due merely to the temporary presence of large gangs of men ill tlie immediate neighborhood engaged in vigorously pushing forward the construction of the East road railway; it is due to the fact that Whangamomona is situated in the centre of some MAGNIFICENT COUNTRY, capable of carrying an immense number of sheep and cattle. Some of this country has been settled for a long time, but forty or fifty miles of road, mostly bad and much of it absolutely impassable in winter, had a retarding influence on its development. The riglit class of settlei was there. That is proved by the way in which they worked in the face of difficulties and hardships that would have disheartened all but the stoutest. The advance of the railway, which is now within seven miles of Whangamomona, has considerably altered matters. It has lightened the cost of transport, and, as a result, settlers are able to get their produce to market much easier and at a more payable figure than formerly. The result is increased bush-falling, with in creased carrying capacity and increased prosperity. A RISING TOWNSHIP. Twelve months ago Whangamomona was a small township containing a hotel, store, blacksmith's shop, butcher's shop, etc. Since that time the buildings have been more than doubled. The Whangamomona County Council has erected chambers, which are also used by the Bank of Australasia, which was recently opened. Six shops (all occupied), a large two-storeyed boarding-house, a smaller one and several cottages have also been erected. New businesses that have started include a saddler's, hairdresser's, two tailors', two drapery establishments, and a jeweller's. There are also other buildings in course of erection or about to be erected in the immediate future. Mr. Klce" is erecting two commodious shops in front of his present premises, and has tenants for both of them. He intends putting in plate-glass windows, the first in the district. A new school is also in course of erection. A policeman, who is apparently a very necessary adjunct to progress, has just been stationed here, and two police cells are to be erected at once. In fact, plans are out for them now. A police station, a post office and two banks will soon be established facts. MAIL DISABILITIES. Whangamomona is still very backward in the matter of communication with the outside world, only receiving and despatching a mail three times -per week; 1 The mail is a very large one, and will, before long, be doubled. A daily mail service is urgently needed. It is understood that this want will be remedied within a few weeks as soon as the railway line is opened to Pohokura,. It is hoped that the time-table will be framed so as to allow the mail from New Plymouth and Hawera arriving at Whangamomona each afternoon. About a year ago a public library was started. It now contains over a thousand books, and is free of debt. It is very well patronised by settlers and residents, and will, no doubt, prove a boon to the railway men when they get near enough to take advantage of it. THE RAILWAY is making good headway. A large number of men are encamped near the township, but when the tunnel is through they will lie all around the town. The first heading* of the tunnel will be through in about a month's time. It i will, however, be at least twelve months before the tunnel is completed. This will take all the heavy traffic off the main road and case the upkeep of the saddle. The road at present, despite heavy traffic, is in good order, as is evidenced by the fact that on the occasion of Mr. Newton King's sale day last Wednesday three motor ears went out, doing the journey from Stratford (41' miles) in rather more than two hours. To return to the railway. The Public Works Department are now erecting a cottage on the Whangamomona station site for service purposes. This cottage is an oldtimer, having done duty on the Main Trunk. To the uninitiated it would not appear to have been worth removing. The powers that be apparently think differently. The railway operations will cause a lot of work about the township, necessitating alterations to the l'oad levels, The Government is evidently earnest in its desire to push forward, this railway, as it is reported that a start is to be. made with the tunnel at Tahora, 71/, miles ahead. The surveyors also recently shifted camp, and are now at the Moki* road, about thirteen miles from Whangamomna. It is stated that the Vav the 23 miles now opened have paid has proved an eye-opener to the railway authorities. It- will" pay better still af the work progresses. Whangamomona is : PRETTILY SITUATED in a valley, practically surrounded by hills covered with bush. This will not allow a great deal of scope for the town-' ship to grow into a large city. Stilly it is surprising what can be done with hillsides when necessity arises, as is instanced in many towns in New Zealand. One business man remarked that all the flat, land would soon be required for business purposes, and the residences would have to be built wherever they could. About two miles further 011 the country widens out more and oilers more scope. TOWN CONVENIENCES. During the recent bush fires residents had an anxious time in preventing the destruction of the township, and as a result of that experience negotiations are in progress for a water supply for fire-extinguishing purposes. The idea is to raise the water from the river i-'.to a small reservoir on the hill. This \vou:d greatly miniiniM' the danger from lire, as at present if a fire once started it would probably demolish the whole business port-ion of the town. A doctor is also required. For some time past an endeavor has been made to have a doctor stationed here. The sum of ,-CL'O has been collected for this purpose and a gooil sum has been further guaranteed bv the settlers. Now it is proposed to combine with the railway men. and lhdillieiiltv should, be solved within a few month*. ROARING. RoadiiiLi is also being pushed ahead vigorously in every direction, but still mil. as fast as the progre.-s of settlement demands. The road through the Tamiarakau Gorge has been widened to the first crossing. As soon as its beauties ' are realised this gorge will be famoufor its scenic all taction o , as the Manawatu is ''not in it" for grandeur. The Moki road has been widened for two or three miles more. The bluff' 011 the Mangapapa road urgently requires wid- ' ening. This is in places only oft wide, • willi a sheer drop to destruction. Fami- • lies are now resiling in the district and i better roading is essential, or there will 1 be a death to chronicle. This road would . open up the whole district and dio away

with the present haulage difficulty. The metalling oil the Tahora saddle is also being completed. Mr. ,F. M. Grayling is building a traffic bridge over the Taugarakau river in the Mangaone block, and also one over the Whangamomona ri»er at Poarangi for the Roads Department. The dry season experienced has enabled a lot of clearing to be done, and a lot of grass has been sown. This should cause the district to be more heavily stocked. EVIDENCE OF PROGRESS. The progress of the district is evidenced by the fact that Mr. Newton King has found it necessary to erect additional saleyards for sheep. These are situated opposite Mr. McCluggage's cheese factory, which, by the way, has had a good season, turning out in the flush 20 cheeses daily, while the tests were equal to those elsewhere. The accommodation provided in Mr. Newton King's yards has been more than doubled, and provision has been made for further considerable enlargements, as the sheep fair last week proved that such will soon be required. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. have also secured a site at Kohuratahi, and intend erecting commodious and up-to-date sheep and cattle yards in hardwood. The contract will be let as soon as the timber can be got 011 the ground. The firm has also purchased a site at Te Wera, where yards will be erected at once. The difficulty of obtaining timber has to a large extent been overcome by the erection of Mr. Robson's mills at Pohokura. Orders have, however, come in so freely that this gentleman has been compelled to increase his plant to cope with them. There are also immense timber reserves 011 the Moki road, and it is understood that Mr. Robson has secured timber rights over tlicm and intends erecting a plant to exploit them at once.. This will be good news to settlers in tliat-'vieinity and should cause building operati.ofis -to continue briskly. It is also stated that good clay is available about two miles from Whangamomona,-and works-are to be erected for the manufacture, of bricks. Altogether, the whole distriet'appears to have entered upon an era of prosperity that has every indication of permanency.