OUR MANGAWEKA MAN.

Manawatu Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7924, 18 February 1904, Page 3

OUR MANGAWEKA MAN.

North Tr*i_«".£_ f-s-ogressh-sg

Good CAd Buchan Z

Damage by FSoods

Business Brisk.

Sawmills Going Up.

A Mysterious Disappearance

(Own Correspondent)

Mangaweka, Last Night. Work on the North Island Trunk Line is proceeding at a great rate. The Toi Toi Bridge, which was only started some five or six weeks since, was completed last Friday. The ballast, engine is now running within a few chains of Utiku. This should be good news to the settlers at the Taihape end. and. creditable to the Minister of Public Works, whose sincerity in pushing on the line is undoubted. Of course it means a severe knock to our political Jeremiah, who has been most assiduous of late in upbraiding everything connected with the Public Works Department, from the officials downwards. Occasionally little mistakes may have been made in connection with gigantic works of this description, but the rapid progress made in erecting the Manga .veka and Toi Toi viaducts is a most creditable performance. Those interested in this portion of the line may rest assured with the Minister's promise of goods being carried to Taihape before the winter weather seta in.

On Saturday last a pleasing function took place in connection with the finishing of the Toi Toi bridge and the transfer of Mr A. Buchan to the works on Staircase Gully, South Island. Mr J. P. Murray, on behalf of the men who had been employed on the Makohine, Mangaweka and Toi Toi viaducts,,presented Mr Buchan with a case of gold-mounted pipes, also two ivory rules beautifully mounted and suitably inscribed. In making the presentation Mr Murray referred in most eloquent terms to the good feeling that had always existed between Mr Buchan and the men under his charge. Mr Buchan, who had been called away from his work, visibly showed his unexpectedness. He refenred to the difficulties they had at first to encounter in inaugurating the work of constructing the viaducts under the co-operative system and the successful manner in which they had been carried out. The structures were monuments which would always reflect to the credit of the Public Works Department and to the officers and men who had been engaged thereon. He feelingly made reference to the two fatal accidents which had occurred during the construction of the first viaduct, and complimented all concerned on the fact that the other great works had been completed without an accident. After an exchange of a few more complimentary references, all hands wished their genial " old " boss all manner of good luck, which terminated one of the most cordial " send-offs ". it has been our pleasure to witness. Mr Buchan and family made many friends whilst in this district, and one and all regret their departure from amongst us.

The heavy rains of Saturday and Hunday last had the effect of causing an exceptionally high flood in the Rangitikei river. The river rose very rapidly on Sunday afternoon, carrying away one of the spans of the low-level bridge. A number of men are now employed on the work of re-construction. Communication is expected to be restored by the end of the present week. Business is very brisk in Mangaweka and quite a number of new houses are in course ot erection. Two tine dwellings of seven rooms each are being built for Messrs Grove and Fraser. Owing to the lack of empty houses, several families are living under the one roof and others have to reside in the neighboring township until empty tenements can be secured.

Arrangements are almost completed for the erection of four new sawmills in the vicinity of Mangaweka. The recent fatal accident which occurred to the late Mr McGovern is still commented on in Hunterville. One curious feature of the inquest was the fact that the Coroner, Mr Remington, M.H.R., would not allow the jury to .choose their own foreman, but selected the local secretary of the Licensed Victuallers' Association as their foreman This was strongly resented by several jurymen, but with no effects. Under all the circumstances, which are well known locally, the Coroner's action was questionable. It further transpires that the deceased was seen alive and spoken to at the spot where he was subsequently found dead, and yet this witness was never called upon to give evidence as to why he was allowed to remain there dying, although there was a house within a few chains away. The whole affair looks very mysterious, but it is only on a par with other mysteries connected with back-block administration.

A. young lad, aged 15 years, named Thompson, whose parents reside at Ohingaiti, has been missing during the last ten days. His . disappearance is wrapped in mystery. He had been employed by Mr Maher on his farm, which is situated the other aide of the river from Ohingaiti. Last Friday week in the evening Mr Maher states he came down to the river and saw young Thompson cross safely over. Since then nothing has been seen or heard of the lad's whereabouts. The mothe», when interviewed to-day, is under the impression the boy is either drowned or that something has befallen him. Up to time of writing nothing to clear up the mystery of his disappearance is forthcoming.