TAUMARUNUI.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1088, 29 March 1911, Page 16

TAUMARUNUI.

1 THE RIVER TOWN. Tho placidity of Taumanimti after the rush and bustle of To Kuiti is most marked, nevertheless there are many peoplo supposed to know something of district development who declare that Taumarunui in the future will bo one of the chief towns on tho Main Trunk. Geographically, the place has much in its favour. It is one of tho few flat towns, it lies on. tho junction of the Ongaruo and Wangnnui Rivers, and it will be the' nearest large-sized town to Ongarue when that station junctions with the Stratford railway line. The

Ohura Block is now being connected with Taumarunui by the Ongarue Bridge, which, crosses the river almost in the town, and it is stated very confidently that the groat majority of the Ohura trade must lead into Taumarunui. When the railway is completed to a matter of only a few years,

The Raurimu spiral, a loop lino by which the railroad ascends the hill above Raurimu, is a feature of the Main Trunk which must always call for a large sharo of tlio traveller's attention. Starting from the Raurimu station, 1922 ft. above sea. level, the train, on an ascent of one in 50, goes round a long loop, and after travelling for almost a mile it appears again opposite tho station, at a distance of only five chains away, but at a height of 80ft. above it. Steadily crawling on up tho hill the trai lipasses over a high embankment of 90ft. in height. Some heavy cuttings through country freely intermixed with

further that tliero was good reason t-o beljeve that it could collect any rates which tho borough liked to strike. And as the borough is thinking of raising a loan of £2G,653 for water, drainage, roads, recreation grounds, lighting, fire brigade station, and other things, and intended to strike several rates, jts feelings on the subject may be imagined. However, no doubt the difficulty will bo overcome in course of time, and Taumarunui will be relieved of its Maori nightmare. Tha Olc'est Citizen. In the person of Mr. Alex. Bell, Taumarunui has a resident who has been in the placo since 1874. Mr. Bell has had a most- interesting career. He recruited in ISG3 in Ballarat under the late Colonel l'itt, and went through the war, was at' AVaikaremoana with Colonel Lambert, and while in that area his force was informed by an old Maori woman taken prisoner that Te Kooti was inarching on Poverty Bay to massacre the Europeans. The force then a day's march behind To Kooti, but tho information was not acted upon, and the massacre followed. After the war Mr. Bell married Ratarina To Waihanea, the daughter of a chieftain, under romantic circumstances, and he was the first white man who was allowed to reside in the King Country by the Natives. He Was conveyed bv wahine guides to Taumarunui where the marriage took place, and ho has resided in the district ever since. He has been to Auckland only tlireo times since 1574. Rochofort's Pilgrimage. Regarding tho early days, Mr. Bell says that the Maoris were very much averse to Europeans coming to the place. He believes they shot a man named MofTatt in the vicinity. Later, when Mr. Hcchefort came through in 1984 or 1895 on the survey of the Main Trunk lino from Taihapo to Te Awamutu, the Natives threatened to shoot him. It was puro bluff, however, and did not frighten tho surveyor, who showed great gameiiess. Mr. Bell was with Rochefort for two years, and also kept a store. Jn the early days of Taumarunui the place had a mail three times a month. There was not much trade, but Rangimaihi, a Native, used to drive pigs to Auckland, the journey there and back occupying two or three months. The Native .walked the whole way,. and tho animals would bo sold for the most trumpery articles. The earliest settlers after Mr. Bell were Messrs. Julian, Langnmir, Campbell, and a man named Gaffncy, who was banished for selling grog. Train connection with Auckland was made about six years ago, and the . Main Trunk lino ran through in 190 S. In the last two years the town has advanced steadily, and it now has a population of 1200. Its sawmill trade is worth possibly £5000 a mouth to it, and for ended March 31, 1010, it exported by rail nearly five million feet of timber, and the quantity is now on a much greater ratio. It employs a staff of over'l7 at its railway station, and for the year ended March 31, 1910, the station issued 50,505 tickets to