ADVANCE TAHUNA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 8 July 1912, Page 6

ADVANCE TAHUNA.

(To tlie Editor.) Sir, — I have waited in vain for some abler pen than mine to make a few to marks re the state of affairs at Ta'huna, and, like the man wha hunted high and low, up and down the column of the newspaper to find out if the man was killed who was caught ,up in the machinery belt and literally smashed to atoms, I searched the report of the Waimea. (County "Council to find out if anything • was being done towards dredging that intersection of the cyclists' asphalt path, now covered by road, between the drinking trough and the City .Council's portion. To my mind, the City Council authorities were quite right in placing the posts Avhere they axe, although it is a significant fact .th'afc every post has a scar on. it ? . caused by collisions by cyclists; and the other night'the remains of a bicycle were lying at the aide of one of those self-same posts. I think that if all the posts, seats, kerbing, and chains were painted white, or luminously, it-would, be better. " The idea emanating from the Port Beautifying Society 'a' - cycle track adjoin tlie footpath.,'-is- a good one. The Port Ward deserve a. great meed of praise for their efforts at beautifying, and -I wish them' luck.# s

And now for the moribund Progressive Society of Tahuna and the Stoke ~ Rbad Board. One leaving Tahuna, say -from the" Presbyterian Church corner, Muritai- , street, towards .Stoke, on a dark' night, should one be unfortunate enough to 1 take rather a sharp turn at the corner, he would fall into a ditch to a* depth of about three feet. If no bones are broken he-*would scramble up and slip about'the grass, .now completely covering the gravel oil 'the path, until Holyoake's corner is reached. There the fun begins. A large hedge grows.liere, and its branches srnread right across the footpath, After disentangling from the \yet trees (I am referring to wet weather here), and leaving a quantity of hair netting anil hat trimming hanging up'on 'the dripping branches, she emerges, A from witljin,.the folds of the trees to si>ep ; lnto a fc miniature lake of water in front of Mrs Johnston's only to collide against a "great barrier" that-was first surveyed and was evidently forgotten. I believe .that* the moribund Progressive Asociation mildly protested and reminded the Waimea Council and the Stoke Road Board -.that they were there, and the said "bodies" came and "had a look," and after due consideration as to whose duty it was to remove it. one of the said "bodies" called for tenders to have it removed. Then someone intimidated them, and- the "barrier" is still there. After edging along the barrier until an opening is felt (mind you, this is a dark night, arid Mrs Johnston's friendlv lamps are out) the much bedraggled wayfarer wends her way until the potuars are.r«aehed, arid the whole road where the'poplars overshadow it is a sea <f rnud. Why are not"these poplars topped? j Another matter, and tam done. I have I a child attending the Tahuna Sflhpol, who, I am informed, when he has passed | the 4th Standard, or becomes II years cf age, will have to march pri either %o Stoke School or trudge to town. Now, Mr Editor,. • don't you think it hard lines oh a delicate child to do .so in" all weathers. lam given to understand that the Tahuna School is an adjunct to Stoke School. Why? Why , (should it not be tacked on to Nelson School ? I suppose the Stoke School-gets the credit for passes by the youngsters ' who are tausht at Tahuna. There are nbout 40 i children attending, the Tahuna School, enough to warrant a side, school with a master or mistress and an ' as-, fliatant. Is the Stoke Progressive Association more active than the Tahuna one about the matter? Drainage or .water schemes are of no avail if our children '•annot be tautrht, and Tahunaitut will be depopulated. No children's merry laugher.will be heard in the place, as no one with a family will dream o,f residing 'here under "present . educational, prospects. Onlv one more word, find lam 'lone. The-Sands Reserves would be the better for * few trees, also a few deciduous trees alono- the neach road instead of 't/be -Present abortions that occupy a part of thp footpath. I trust I have not occui top much of vonr valuable space. " v ' ; lam etc. PTJKEKO.