WHANGAMOMONA NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 March 1918, Page 3

WHANGAMOMONA NOTES.

(From Onr Own Correspondent.) There is very little work being eftnrie.il out on Lhe railway here at present, though settlers are anxious that its construction should be pushed forward as fast as possible so as to linlc up this district with the Ohura. .There is no doubt whatever that the line will pay. One has only to sea the number of sheep and stock that now passes through from the Ohura en route to the freezing works at Smart road and Waitara to feel convinced of this, and there is no doubt that railway facilities will enormously increase the production of tliis district, as it has done in the district now tapped by the only has the production of sjtoek considerably Increased, but it is estimated that the wool output has doubled. Though the Railway Department has only recently taken over the .section of the line to •'Kchurntahi, on which trains were run two days per week, it has already been found'necessary to run a goods train on a third day to cope with the traffic oli'eri)i2\ Mr. Keller. Public Works Kngineer, is at present in camp at Tatu, on the other -:ide of the Tangarakan gorge, surveying a. new route for the line in order, "if possible, to minimise the cost of constructing this difficult portion of the track. Xo doubt the Public Works Department will, for their own convenience, link up Tatu with Tahora by telephone] a convenience for which settlers of ooth districts have been unsuccessfully agitating for so:no lime, Hie Government turning the request-down on the score of e>.. pense. It >s slated that a local business man is prepared, if the telephone is established, to run a maii service by motor car between here and Tatu, provided sullicient inducement ' offers. With the Tamiiirakim gorge as an attraction to tourists there should easily be sufficient inducement. He, however, would not undertake the venture without bavin? the telephone handy along the route in care of necessity.

Settlers in the district are finding difficulty in obtaining labor for uush falling Last year there was a noticeable decrease in the amount of bush felled, and this year the decrease will he even greater.

That organisation can accomplish much is evidenced by the success that bus attended (he ell'orts of the Tnhunaroa Settlers' Association. This district is situated about eleven miles down the Whangamomona road, about tour or five miles from the Wangunui Rivet. The Association has not been established long, but is working in the interests of its district and lias already been responsible for the establishment ol a school, members having interviewed the Taranaki Education Board when visiting the dis-ti-ct twelve nionuis n<>o. Last week the school was opened, with Miss .Meredith as ■ jiNicher. and an attendance of aoout nine Vi a building erected by tJie .settlers. The district is also connected by tele-plione-another boon to the settlers. Men from the Wliaugammuonn district ■■nlisted freely in (he early stages of the war and the district suffered very heavily in the earlier casualty lists, but lately the losses have been lighter A 'lumber of men have returned, though many, including some of the men who '■"■ -'"• (he Alain Body, are still goin" strong. ' " Afr. J. 11. Robson is now engaged in removir." his sawmill from Pohukura to the timber reserve on the, Whitianga block, where he has secured' COOO acres, seme fifteen miles from Wlmneamomona, and about four miles from the present rail head at Tahora. There is a considerable area of good milling bush to be cut. and it is estimated that the mill will be in operation on its new site for at least ten years. Air. Robson has formed bis concern into a company, known 1 as the Vahora Sawmilling Company. The Tennis Club's two courts on one of the local domains are in good order, and with their handiness to „.e business portion of the township are in great demand. So far this season no matches have been played. Owing to so many of its members having left for lhe front matters in conneci;on with the Whniigamoinona Kirie Club are very quiet and no matches have been fired, (he Club findin" '■< ' iicult to raise a team. The Taranaki Challenge Shield is still in the district, being heid by the nei'diboring Club at Tahora. The recent show held here proved a great success and the balance sheet which is exhibited in Alessrs. Rooney and Co.'s store window for all to see, shows that there is a credit of over £32 towards the Presbyterian Bui] ling Fund. Constable Potter, of Hastings, has arrived to fill the vacancy caused by the promotion of Constable Scannell to the charge of the Alanaia station.

Air. F. Biddell, post master, is at present on holiday leave, and Miss Hilda Wright, of the New' Plymouth office, and formerly of Rahotti, is acting as relieving postmistress.