WHANGAMOMONA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 180, 29 January 1912, Page 7

WHANGAMOMONA.

NEWS AND NOTES. (By our Special Reporter). "Don't say anything about the wea'.her, for goodness sake," remarked a Will-known resident to me on Wednesday. It was raining hard at the time, and judging from appearances and remarks the inland town has been treated no bettor by the clerk of the weather than luis other portions of Taranaki. In fact, the weather has been simply scandalous. The roads have accordingly suffered, and extreme difficulty has been experienced in getting anything but the necessities of life over the saddle, as that has been well nigh impassable, rendering the cost of carriage prohibitive. As a result, building operations have been practically at a standstill owing to the want of building material.

As an instance of the effect of the weather it may be mentioned that it is usual for bullock waggons to be placed on the road about the first week of November. This year this was not found possible or expedient until the middle of January, just about a week ago. In these days of rapid transit, when nothing short of a fast motor car or flying machine will satisfy, one is inclined to look down on the old bullock dray, propelled by the patient oxen, but not so in the backblocks. That primitive method is still regarded as safe but sure; in fact, in many cases it is the only safe and sure conveyance, where the bottom of the mud-hole is sometimes an unknown quantity. The bullock waggons will be kept verv busy this summer, as there is a v • quantity of building material to b>/ over the saddle. Some of it is now hi ' 4 brought across as rapidly as possible, L . l a waggon drawn by ten bullocks can only bring about 600 feet. As there are about 100,000 feet of timber to be conveyed across it will mean either many trips or many teams. These bullock waggons in fine weather do not do the unmetalled roads any harm; on the -contrary, they do it good, as their wide tyres consolidate the mud and make it firm.

At present the saddle is said not to be too bad. There are some bad patches on either side; but it is possible to get a gig across. It has not been as bad at this of the year for some years past. Last year motor cars were able to get into Whanga., but it is doubtful if they will this year, as it will require a spell of fine weather of at least three weeks' duration, and it seems almost hopeless to expect that.

One of the worst effects that the wet weather will have is that there is a lot of bush down, and burning operations will be considerably retarded, rendering it almost impossible for much grass to be sown, that is, unless the weather improves. Shearing has also been hindered muchly. Despite these drawbacks, the township ajifl district appear to be still on the improve. There is a lot of building either going on or in contemplation. Mr. E. R. Hodder, contractor for the erection of the new hotel, has commenced operations, and has got the piles in. He is also the contractor for the new post l , office, which will be started shortly, and is also building a shop in the main street, ! part of which is to be occupied as a restaurant, and the remainder by Messrs Manoy and Hassell, diapers. The new building for the Hank of Australasia, which Mr. A. Meredith has to erect, will also be started as soon as the timber can be got across. There are also several cottages to be lmilt. CoUagos are at a premium. " Indeed, the demand is far ahead of the supply. Anything will rent, and two and threeroomed shanties realise from 7s 6d up to 12s per week. This scarcity is due to the fact that sites for building are 6carce, most of the lind around being too hilly. It is said that several sites are tied tip by the 'Land,' Board. An auction was held in New Plymouth some time ago for sections outside the town, but did not produce a bid. Had the sale been held in Whanga. it is said they would have been eagerly snapped up. That building sites right in the town are highly thought of is shown by the iact that two sections were submitted to auction in Stratford on Tuesday, each of a quarter of an acre, and realised respectively £450 and £2OO. The purchasers were Messrs'R. Campbell (New Plymouth) and F. Calgher.

There is a river running through here. It looks more lik,e a sludge channel now, particularly since the Public Works Department are dumping the spoil from the station yard into it. There is a river reserve on either side of it, a narrow one where it runs through the' township, but a chain wide beyond. At last month's county meeting a local resident applied to lease about a mile of this, but'the matter was deferred, and. at Wednesday's meeting various residents .made application for the portions adjoining their secapplicants for the one piece outside the township. The Council dealt with each case on its merits, and subject to right' of resumption within one month, granted the following applications at £1 each per year:—River reserves, Mrs. A. Dean, Court and Cottier, A. Klee, and F. Calglier; road reserve, opposite hotel site, !''• Calgher. Messrs Court and Cottier and W. H. Reader applied for a river reserve near the slaughterhouse, and lots being drawn, Messrs Court and Cottier were successful. In the majority of cases the applications ' were for imall strips and were merely made so that the owners of the adjoining seetions could retain Their privacy by preventing anyone getting on the sites, which are too small for building purposes. .. There is a scarcity of carpenters at Whangamomona. We have now a resident painter, M. H. W. Reader,.of Stratford, haying taken up his residence here. There, are two brick kilns in full swing here, yet there is still difficulty in coping with the demand. One owned by Mr. A. H. Cleaver is fitted with machinery and is situated on the main road about two nriles from here. The other, of which Mr. Geo. Smith is the owner, is situated on the Prospect road. Both turn out a highly creditable article, and prospective builders much appreciate the lessening in the cost of this material owing to the heavy cartage charges bein« done away with. 0 Ihe railway construction is being vigorously proceeded with, although the pays last week were not so large owing to the break caused by the holidays and also by the wet weather. The tunnel is almost completed ;md should be ready for the platelayers by the time this is in print. The platelayers will not be long doing their work.' .At the Whanga. side of the tunnel there are two block cuttings to complete, which should take a fortnight, and then there is nothing to prevent the rails being laid to the Mangare road, about a quarter of a mile from Wliangnmomona. where a temporary siding will be erected. What a boon that will be when the dav comes that the last of the saddle is overcome (which is an Irishism, as they have been tunnelled), and how long iias it not been looked forward to by settlers here? The welcome tootle of the engine's whistle should soon awake the echoes as it reverberates through out mountainous countrr.

After the engine reaches Mnngere road its progress will he checked for a while, as there are several bridges to build. Still the formation goes on. The forma-

tion is under way about three miles ahead. A big gang of men are at work excavating for the station site. A house, occupied by Mr. Armstrong, has been excavated around, and will shortly be removed, to make, room 'for an en-gine-shed probably. For Whangamornona station yard is going to be an important one, and will contain goodssheds, engine sheds, etc., as well as about half-a-dozen cottages, for the use of the officials. 'Gangs of men are being sent from the completed portions of the line to the front every day, and waggons passing loaded with timber and canvas, with various other goods and chattels, show that another family is going further into the beyond, edging away from the steel ribbons that form so tangible a link with civilisation. As they move on, so do some of our enterprising trades"Rn supply them with the necessaries of life. , Messrs Court and Cottier have just erected a branch at Hurimoana, about eight miles from here. There the tunnel works to pierce the Taliora saddle will commence. This will be a undertaking. At Kohuratahi another butcher has iu'st opened up, viz., Mr. O'Neill. ■ ' . .

There is a big improvement in the tone of Whangainonoma on pay days as compared to what was in evidence some time ago. i Constable Scannel, aided by Constable Liston, has effectively dealt with the rowdy element, who now know what to expect if over-indulgence makes them too forgetful. The loek-up is handy, and a visit to Stratford, or an appearance before either of the local •1.1.'5, Messrs MeCutchan or T. Bradley, has a particularly salutary effect. The township is also progressing. Mr. W, D. Anderson, solicitor, intends to open a permanent office out here, and to place someone in charge. When the post pffice is erected it is understood that there will be a daily mail, That the telegraph will be.installed, greatly facilitating business, and also that a telephone exchange will.be established. The post office has been well conducted in the local store under Mr. A. Ivlee as postmaster, and for whom everybody has a good word, but there is no doubt whatever that the town has outgrown the stage when the post office should be run as part of another business. A domain of about five acres has been gazetted, situated almost opposite the school on the Whanga, road. It is fairly level, and when improved should prove very useful for recreative purposes. A Domain Board has been appointed, consisting of Messrs ,F. TV. Court (chairman), W. A. MeCutchan, T. Bradley, L. T. Aylward and A. Klee (secretary). They are a live, energetic body of men, and intend holding a meeting to consider various improvements, such as fencing and planting. A tennis club has been formed, with Mr. W. H. Reader as secretary, and a court is being put down in the domain. The intention was to put down a clay court this season, and an asphalt one next season, but the rail had delayed progress.

The library formed about two years ago is very live. It already contains about 1000 books, and 100 of the latest novels have just been procured and will be added to the list.

Additions are being made to the local school, Mr. R. J. Scott having tlie contract. The Education Board very wisely decided to erect the additions in such form that it can be removed and shifted along as the line advances, because quite a large percentage "of the scholars are drawn from children of workers on the line. The school will resume in about a week's time under Mr. Wells and' Miss Price, as assistant.

Messrs Court and Cottier have just installed a plant for manufacturing snjall goods, under the capable managership of Mr. Rickleben. The machinery is driven hy oil engine, which also operates the firm's corn crusher.

The district is still in/want of a doctor. When the train gets through residents will be able to get out to a doctor with more comfort than formerly, and a doctor will be able to get in more readily. Still, a resident doctor is an urgent neeessity. It seems strange tßat it is not filled, especially as there is a cash subsidy available in 'Addition to any fees: Apparently backblocks' life does not appeal. Mr, and Mrs, Hunter/of the staff of the local branch of the Hank of Australasia, both of whqm were very popular here, recently removed, Mr. Hunter having been appointed to Waverley. Mr. Collingwood has filled thp position here. Mr. F."London,'who' has been on a holiday for the Jast five i,ve.f,ksj returned hare with his bride on Tuesday, and received a hearty welcome. i Mr. Newton King holds sale here [ early next month. j The local boarding house, occupied by I Mrs. Court, late, of New Plymouth, is doing a fine business. Mr. Abbott,- formerly of the Whanga-. moraona Hotel, who now has a : farm on the road, has taken over the Tok6 Hotel. Quite, a number of .settlers are going m for fruit growing. Fruit does very jwell here, especially' apples, 'peaches -and «plums. In fact, iinythirig grow. 111'. W. H. Reader grew some strawberries which for size and flavor would compare with any grown outside. A yo.ung man representing an outside tirni was cycling down the Whanga. road on Tuesday when the bike and a camera went over a cliff about 40ft. He hurt his shoulder, the camera was smashed, but the bike escaped unharmed. It requires a very expert cyclist to negotiate this track, as it is only six feet wide at its best, and this narrows down in place to about one foot. The road through the Tangarakau f s being pushed ahead by the Public Works Department. The County Council had a very orolonged meeting on Wednesday. Com l mencing at 1.30 p.m., it was 9.30 p.m. before business was completed, and the only adjournment was half an hour for tea, A deputation took up a lot of time-nearly two hours—the chairman allowing them considerable latitude. Even aftei the conclusion one or two matters were brought up that councillors had forgotten during the meeting, but the chairman was firm. He had had quite enough for one day, and having formally adjourned, declined to resume. The lateness of the hour for finishing caused Cr.' Robertson to propose that the meeting should stat at 11 a.m. This was seconded by Cr. Cleland. Several members said that to do so would mean that tliev would have to arrive in Whanga. the previous day, thus losing three days instead of two, as some had over 28 miles to tide to attend the meetings. The motion was lost. The chairman said that the lengthy meetings could be obviated if members would formulate their resolutions, keep more to the point, and keep the deputations more to tlie point. Cr. MeCutchan. however, hit tlie mark «lifii lie said that whiic all the councillors admired the good nature and forbearance of the chairman at the meeting, they felt that he had the matter in his own hands.