STRATFORD AND THE MOUNTAIN ROAD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 90, 23 February 1881, Page 3

STRATFORD AND THE MOUNTAIN ROAD.

(by our rambling reporter.)

The Stratford people are promised a school as soon as the Turanaki Education Board can afford to devote tbe necessary funds towards putting up a suitable building. High schools can get large sums voted, both at Wanganui and New Plymouth, and superior education is provided for the children of those who can well afford to pay for the luxury ; whilst the poor straggling settlers in the outlying districts have to plead that their children shall be allowed to gain a knowledge of the " three R's." This state of things cannot be allowed to continue much longer, or I am very much mistaken. Although there has been only what is technically termed a half-time school at Stratford, I was informed that there was an average attendance of forty scholars there.

Divine service is now held every Sunday at Stratford, iv one of the buildings at the railway station. The township cannot, as yet, boast of a church, but it will not be long without one. judging from the large number of those who attend the services.

Messrs. Bauchope and King, of New Plymouth, have erected cattle-yards at Stratford, near Mr. Tisch's hotel. The first sale was to have taken place yesterday.

There is now a private school at tho Ngaire, with an average attendance of about twenty pupils.

Mr. Jackson, of Wanganui, is going to erect a saw-mill near the Mountain road, between the Ngaire station and Stratford. The engine is already on the ground, and work will be commenced as soon as possible.

The gravelling on the Mountain road is proceeding at a brisk pace. Mr. Nathan has finished No. 5 contract, next to the Patea river, and it was taken over on Saturday. Mr. Nathau has twenty teams at work, and is opening out two or three gravel-pits in different places along the road.

The road into the Eltham station is to be gravelled. The coaches still run as far as the Ngaire, and so long as the passengers have to pay toll to the railway contractor for the privilege of getting in at Eltham, the latter place is not likely to be much used. It is an absurd arrangement. Why does not the Department take over the line from Mr. Bassett ?

The settlers along the Mountain road have been burning their bush during the last fortnight, and some have been very fortunate. So far as I could learn, there was very little damage done, and only one or two whares were burnt down.

There is an old gentleman living on the Mountain road who remembers the time when the battle of Waterloo was fought. He is hale and hearty, and helped his son to cut down all the large trees on 200 to 300 acres, and did the underscruhbing as well. Mr. Muir is between 70 and 80 3'ears of age.

The planing mill and other machinery ordered by Messrs. Sou they and Willy, of the Mangawhero Sawmills, has arrived at Dunedin. In the course of four or five weeks it will probably be in full working order ; so that we shall have two of the most complete saw-milling plants in the North Island in this district in a short time, as Messrs. J. aud T. Robson, of the Keteniarae saw-mills, have a first-class plant, which is capable of turning out almost every description of work.

The additions made to the accommoda-tion-house at the Mangawhero Bridge are appreciated by the travelling public, many of whom make it a house of call, as it is just midway between Normanhy and Stratford. When I visited it, the house looked clean, and appeared to be respectably kept. The cattle-drovers are disappointed that a license was not granted.