INGLEWOOD'S ANNIVERSARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 January 1919, Page 3

INGLEWOOD'S ANNIVERSARY.

(From a Correspondent.) Wednesday was the 44th anniversary of the christening of the town in those days a .small clearing iu the heart of the virgin forest; which takes one back in thought to the condition of Taranaki at that time. Dependent for communication with the outside world almost entire on a none too regular .coastal service, with gurf boats the final link in the chain, metalled streets within New Plymouth (which had not then attained the dignity or title of Borough), the exception, not the rule, metalled roads in the country, an unknown luxury. The railway to Waitara just begun and very slowly developing }v>ad connection from New Plymouth to Inglewood possible only via Bell Block, Sentry Hill and (he Mountain Eoail with a very rough ford over the Waiongona three miles north of Inglewood. The .Mountain road, which was planned to open up the country eastward of Kgmont i:i)d all'ord connection with South Taranaki, only negotiable even for ■bullock dray traffic a little south of Inglewood. Horse teams almost as rare as'figs on thistles. Veriiy it is almost impossible for a newcomer to the country to realize that the smiling, prosperous, ever improving and thickly populated farming country of our hinterlar.d could have been evolved from the Taranaki of the seventies in the few years that Lave passed since then, and sturdy must have been the courage of the pioneers, whose faith and energy have wrought the change. That they 'should have hard times to start villi was to be expected, but when it is remembered that, before they could get properly started in the new homes they were actually hewing out of the bush, New Zealand had to experience one of the worst financial depressions that has fallen to her lot, when so far as bush settlers were concerned ''Fungus" was almost the only product of their land that cotiid be disposed of for cash, that the cost of cartage of the necessaries of life from New Plymouth to Inglewood reached as high as iT2 10s and even £!o per ton, the feeling of respect for those who held on, smiling, though grimly perhaps, must grow, nor is it to be wondered at that the sons of such parents should so thoroughly have proved themselves and so we'll have borne , their part, in the- great world struggle of these later days. i So far Tnglewood, and the district oi I which Inglewood is the centre, has pros--1 pered steadily if not brilliantly anil surely all will join in wishing her a steady advance and sound prosperity in the years that are to come. I —TAHI HERENI