A DAY AT WHANGAMOMONA.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1919, Page 6

A DAY AT WHANGAMOMONA.

. SOME IMPRESSIONS ■■■■■ i- - * ' Those who frequently travel out east soon tire of the journey and "with the majority the main question, if they travel by motor-car, is how long it will take to make Whangamomona, and, arriving there, the next question is how soon can the visitor return ? Under certain conditions one can fully understand the cause for anxiety as the roads, owing to the nature of the country and the absence of boulders and shingle, cannot naturally be expected to come up to what the city man expects. Despite this drawback a run to Whangamomona by car is worth while, and the writer has no regrets in making one of a party that attended the stock sale and hear Mr. Newton King, chairman of the Harbor Board, explain the reasons why Whangamomona Bettlers and others in No. 3 area should support the loan.

On leaving Stratford the weather did not look at all promising and.there was some explanation as to whether chains would be necessary in navigating (that is really the word, as the motorist was Swinging the wheel round in true nautical Btyle) the saddles, ridges, cuttings and ravines that line the journey. To Douglas the going is what can be termed good, in many places a fine piece of tar-sealed road encouraging speed, and In other places the road is all that can be desired. Beyond Huiakama Wc ran into the hills, and thence onward till we arrive at our destination it becomes n case of switchback-climbing and dipping, with the front -wheels of the car hugging the cliff and the back wheels sliding and staggering like a man in need of a prohibition order. But whilst the oar swung in and out it does not disturb the passengers, and fortunately we possess one who has had many years out here, and incidentally looks for one spot on the journey .that becomes a memorial for all time. Here, he states, he was a day and a half going two chains. Great scot! We whiz past at 30 miles. But the road did not exist then, and bullocks with a dray art; awkward whet; the clay clings like glue. We quickly pass this, and the old 'un of the party grows' reminiscent. Here's a place where another dray went over the cutting, leaving the bullocks standing on the road, the dray and its load of wool going down the valley where the bog did not improve matters, the old: 'un was owner, and the driver a silent Scot. When the former arrived he found the driver as unconcerned as the cattle, and when questioned about the accident passed it over with the casual remark "that the —— road was too narrow."

The Strathmore saddle is in the rear and we skirt the village. There was a time when Strathmore had hopes of being a town, hut the railway failed to go that way, so the majority of the settlers packed up their goods and went to Te Wera, which we are now noaring. In the meantime Strathmore deserves a word or two. The writer was there one night in the winter. It was cold, wet and miserable, but the country folk made light of the dismal surroundings and rolled up in excellent numbers, but what struck me most was that the hall .must have also been the meeting (and roosting) place of all the birds in the neighborhood. There was a fine twostorey building awaiting a tenant, and alongside was a stable and butcher shop falling into a state of disrepair, and inside were the remains of an express or coach that in former years had carried passengers to neighboring towns. Te Wera, from the car, like all the towns, has little to favorably impress the visitor, but the settlers make the most of things going and have just held a sheep-dog trial that attracted a lot of interest.

The next railway station, Ngatimaru, reminded me of the American railways, the station being completely isolated, not a house being in sight. Noticing my astonishment the "old 'un" stated that this was the outlet for the settlers of Matau, and the town was the other side of the hills. More climbing and descending the Pohokura saddle, and some more points of interest are made. Here the "old 'un" gets on lo the trials of settlers in those days, and points out where a half-demented ivoman tried to outpace her husband whilst both were in separate vehicles, and her horse went over the side. Asked for further details, the speaker stated the shock knocked some sense into her, ftnd the couple went back home in the one cart, leaving the other a wreck. Better a lost waggon than a wife. Further on we are told that the leaders of a team of horses fell, tumbled or slid over the side and were lost. And now we run into Pohokura. There is a sawmill here owned by Mr J. McAllister, but the works are off the main road, though one can see the bush tramway. A small schoolhouse nestles „on the hillside, and a store that from the outside would form, a fine guessing competition as to what it really is, must fill a great need. Whilst here the Whangamomona train comes in, has a drink (not at the store) and with a big blast of steam, grunts and wheezes as she heads for Stratford.

"We're nearing Whangamomona" is passed round, jnd then we travel for several miles through a natural bußh on both aides. The ferns, pungas, etc., are all there clinging to the papa cliffs. \Asked about the timber here, Mr Mcfftuggage states there is not much totarft, mostly rimu and white pine. Although a sawmfller, he was one of those responsible for urging Sir John McKenzie, Minister for Lands in the Seddon Ministry, to have this bush pieserved, and this was done, so that those passing that way can see (and penetrate if they desire) virgin bush. Ask,ed as to whether there was much game Ithere the "old 'un" said there should be (plenty of birds. "Ever see tuis fightmgT" he goes 'on. "My word they are game birds. Will fight till they die," he goes on in .short sentences. "Saw two fighting once. Fell to the ground clawing each other. Found one had a spur through the other's wing. Kegular tangled up. Let one go again, and then took the other away for a mile. Xet the little beggar go then, and both of them pecked and clawed me when I was doing the good Samaritan act." Pigs ®re there in large numbers. There was no need to put that question, as complaints were made to the writer last spring that these pigs were attacking and devouring young lambs. Before the war many of the buahmen and young bloodß went into the bush and hunted the pigi and usually obtained good sport and bags. The nature of the country is all "in favor of the porker, tlie high cliffs and dense foliage making progress slow and difficult besides affording the pig every chance to break away. Still this is not an_ Article on pig-hunting, so the pig witht* « b<wh is left behind and we motor iirt* Wilangamenaemx.

does not tend itself to impress the visitor. There is nothing majestic in sight. A river skirts the town and is crossed by three bridges (one railway, probably within 440 yards), and meanders in a roundabout way like the road we have just covered. It seems to head for all points of the compass, never seeming satisfied to flow in a direct, line more than a couple of chains. Buildings erected seemed to he more for utility than for harmony. Streets run like the river anything but straight, but the town is compact, all the business premises being in an area of lf>o yards. The hotel is well conducted and keeps a good table, whilst a post office of comfortable dimensions stands nearly opposite. At the store I came across an old comrade in Mr H. W. Bovis, who is always ready to do what lie can to keep Whangamomona needs and desires in the front. He owns up to being out there over five years and likes the sur- ■ roundings. Turning into another street, I came across a building, the most conspicuous of which is the word solicitors, and approaching closer discovered that a Stratford firm visits the town occasionally. Butcher's shop, drapery, bakery, confectionary, etc., shows that Whangamomona can accommodate itself without trouble. In amusement there is a fairly substantial Oddfellows' Hall, and there is a constable stationed there.

Our party arrived a few hours ahead of time for starting the sale, so the writer took a casual stroll up one of the roads to note the surroundings. On the right high papa cliffs came almost down to the road, whilst on the left the land sloped away to the river across which the papa hills looked anything ■ but inviting for climbing and suggested an aeroplane as the best transport. Along the road on either aide the settlers art gradually improving the surroundings, and although flower beds are not at the best now there are manv plots that showed traces of a wealth of blooms a few weeks earlier. Nestling close to the river is the public school" controlled by Mr Taylor, and with an attendance of over fiO scholars. The luncheon hour was on when I passed, and I noticed three lads playing cricket, one boy having the leggings and gloves of a wicket-keeper. Here I came across Mr M. Geever, a member of the County Couneil, who informed me that the building adjoining the school and resembling a Maori whare, had been constructed by the Public Works Department for the railway employees' children when Whangamomona wa3 a busy town. It is hoped that this building will be removed, thus permitting the school to be increased. Further on to the right is the public domain, and here the public men have a lot of work ahead to improve the site. Goal postsstanding indicate that football was played before the war, but Mr Geever states the ground is short of the regulation length, and application is being made to the Government to assist in filling a gully, and thus allow more space. One side lends itself to making terraces, and the spoil removed could be used in filling up the gully. Alongside is the cemetery, but there is nothing attractive here, the plots,, like the river and road, running in all directions, and the tall grass and rough state of the surroundings did not invite close inspection.

"Very few people are aware that the Whangamomona Valley road runs to the Wanganui river," remarked Mr Geever, as he noticed I was trying to pick out the road as it wound through the valley. "It eventually develops into a G-feet track" he continued, "and will permit you to travel to Raetihi, the terminus of a small branch railway line from the Main Trunk."

In reply to a few more queries Mr Geever stated he arrived here in 1905, and. probably at that time there were' only about 400 sheep. Matters had improved considerably since then, and now a lot of stock, particularly sheep, went out of the district. There was a time when Whangamomona had no saleyards, and breeders had to send their stock along to Koliuratahi. This did not appeal as a good business pronosition to many, so on the initiative of Mr Bovis, the Settlers' Association got to work, and, assisted by grants from Mr Newton King and the N. 55. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., built yards in handy reach of the town, and now hold sales as occasion demands in their own backyard. Before this was accomplished the settlers took a rough census of their stock, and were agreeably surprised to find that 27,500 sheep alone wintered in the valley and by-roads, and the herds were increasing. Wliangamomona is badly in need of a medical man. The nearest doctors are those stationed at Stratford, and a 40mile journey on an emergency call with the rough country to be covered takes some time, precious minutes that may tick off life or death to the one in need of skilled attention. The irony of it is that the Whangamomona County's contribution to the Stratford Hospital Board's levy carries a Government subsidy, but the Whangamomona Medical Association cannot get the Government j to grant a subsidy on an amount they are prepared to pay to obtain the services of a resident practitioner. The absence of metal is a big drawback to the district. On the way out east the car travelled over a little "shellrock and burnt papa, but some miles from Whangamomona it is papa and clay. Near the saleyards a generous supply of crushed boulders drew my attention, and I was told the metal' was railed from Eltham. From aubparances it looked as if the Government pit at Waipuku-Mt Egmont could be kept busy for several months to supply Whangamomona's needs alone. Still the roads were good; in fact, from what. I could gather, they were excellent, as the settlers there consider the going was good if a wheel track could be seen, the general thing in the past being to push through a sea of cold, boggy mud. This reminded me of a story often told off the concert platform of a new chum visiting Whangamomona in the winter time. He was ploughing through the mud as best he could when he came across a hat. Picking it up he was astonished to find a head underneath. Asking the owner if the hat how he was getting on, the mud-covered individual replied that he was doing all right, but the horse lie was riding was making heavy weather! From appearances the land does not appear from the roadside to ha\*c improved much, as decaying vegetation and burnt stumps were, being replaced not by a good sole of grass but by furze and rubbish. Settlers apparently have an anxious time, 'ss by removing the bush they are exposing'the papa cliffs, and the heavy rains; must at tiiMa cause slips. Land ijs probably selling at £lO to £l*2 10s per acre, and I must say that I do not by any mea*s envy the man on the land—as far Ss this part of the country is concerned. They are certainly until'ed to all they can inake out of tfeefr holtfteig. City fife will do me every time, tind I will go Jw&er. and say that those who jfeqfigpd SBwtwwikttatii w IMCM*

and as for the women who went into the wilderness and mothered families, words fail to express admiration for their courage and courtesy so I merely raise my hat to them. Despite all drawbacks of distance and nature of country the people are all jovial and sturdy, whilst the stock penned showed the hills and valley must contain more feed and warmth than appearances indicated during my six hours' stay.