DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 54, 22 July 1912, Page 6

DISTRICT NEWS.

I _ TAHORA. t (From our own correspondent.) The road between here and Whangamomona is just about the limit in the mud line. Hoir on earth the teamsters and their horses stand it is a mystery. If they continue on in the present state much longer, (here will evolve a new type of horse and driver, unless Darwin's theory is false. The horse will be a species having legs eighteen feet long, with great knee action, and a liking for heavy going, while., the driver will be au irate person with a tendency to stringhalt and an intimate knowledge of the cuss words of this and every other language.

A sight which, to say the least of it, was a little unusual, might have been seen in the main mud route through .the city of the east about daylight on a recent morning. An individual who had gazed upon the wine when it was red and various other colors, had evidently lain down with the dogs and got up with the ileas. Xow the ileas of Whangamomona are boys of the bulldog breed, and when they have dined there isn't much of a man left, and the person in question had discarded all his clothing, and with sundry insulting remarks concerning their parentage "proceeded to eject the unwelcome guests from the festive board.

It is a pity the Department cannot see its way clear to have an ambulance of some sort in connection with the works. _ The present method of rendering first aid is of a hair-raising nature. When a. lump of national debt in the form of about a ton of papa falls on the wielder of the "banjo" he is pulled out from beneath it by whatever position of his anatomy his willing rescuers can laj their hands on. Then lie is carried up hill, down hill, across bogs, logs, slips, and gorges till he reaches the road. Then if he has survived what, under the circumstances, is unavoidable rough handling, he starts on a twelvemile journey through the mud to Whangamomona. V-hen there it. is a case of Stratford or the local cemeter}'. So far the numbers who have chosen the cemetery produce food for thought. One of the crying needs of the district is a doctor. The Government and the local bodies have done all in their power, but the medicine man is still conspicuous by his absence. Evidently the only way to get a doctor to come out here is to choloroform .him first.

Mr. Atliol Heron, of Invercargill, who is 011 a visit to his uncle, Mr. W. L. Kennedy, of Tnhora. met with a painful accident 011 that gentleman's section one day last week. While assisting at the clearing of a fence line he had the misfortune to have the top of one of his fingers chopped off with a slasher. Fortunately first aid requisites were available and the injured member was attended to. The patient is progressing natisfactorilv. 0

The wife of the average lmshman is often called upon to perform deeds of heroism that would find a weak place in the courage of some of the sterner sex. The children of ail East road settler were returning across their parents' section on their way from school when tlieir mother, who happened to look in the direction from win'cli they were coming, saw a stray bull that had wr'ulered on to the place, making towards I hem with hostile intentions. The men folk were away at work, and she was alone, but. nothing daunted, she seized a pitchfork and went to the assistance of her little ones. The bull turned on her, but his rush was met by a well-directed jab on the nose with the fork. With a mingled bellow of rage and pain he turned bodily round. As he did so lie received another vigorous prod in the rear, which caused him to propel himself forward with great suddenness. When last seen Lord tie Jerssy was about to have a mortal

combat with Count <le Ilolstein, evidently thinking tin; latter was a safer proposition to tackle than a biif ; h mother armed with a pitchfork and lighting for her bairns.