TAUMARUNUI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18206, 27 September 1922, Page 6

TAUMARUNUI.

RECENT DEVELOPMENT. A MODERN BOROUGH. BY N. A. WINTER. Topsy in " Uncle Tom's Cabin'' ciiuld not tracS 1, her development —she " just growed." Towns have a habit of growing up in the same- casual way, and the process is usually such a long one that individuals witness, both their birth and their maturity. Taumarunui is one of the exceptions. It seems only the other day (hat it was non-existent except as a Maori kainga. Now it is a modern borough with many of. .the modern services and conveniences, and with an apparently infinite capacity for raising loan money. To some of us who felt" the charm of its pioneering days there is a tinge of regret in witnessing the final phases of modernity. To see, as I saw this week, a row of nvur-cars drawn up in front of the golf link's, arid a number of otherwise estimable men and women pursuing little white balls around the course in futile chase was somewhat depressing. The day of tho local legislator in shirt sleeves and dungarees is indeed over. Old IMr. Bell, who for a score of years was the only European in Taumarunui, and who married a Maori chieftainess there nearly half a century ago, still strolls about the town thinking unutterable thoughts. He is a survival, a kind of geological outcrop from a past epoch. I saw him studying with an absorbed air the pictorial advertisement of the "Maid of tho Mountains."' Probably the posing of the ballet-dancers reminded him of the hakaa of his antepakeha days. . Scenic Endowment.

Nature has done much for Taumarunui. It has placed her in a beautiful setting, and has given her scenic endowments which not even tho most senseless of borough alterations can "improve" out of existence. The fine wide plain on which the town is built, the sheltering hilla around it with their bold bluffs, the noble rivers that sweep round tho base of these hills, and finally the light mists that so often lie on them giving a softness of outline that is somewhat rare in New Zealand—all these make up a picture of unusual charm. There is another feature of Taumarunui which always strikes the visitor. Wherever one stands in the town one's view-, of the hills if* uninterrupted. There is no -blocking at. either end of the streets. It should be the care of tho present local authorities to provide for trie development of the town in harmony with its natural surroundings. In some cases this has been, suitably attended to and in others;, unfortunately, it has not. A wide strip of ground in the main street was acquired from the Railway Department years ago, and was then planted with trees, the whole population of that day turning out to do the work. Since then the ground has been well laid out and grassed and the trees have grown. It is now a pleasant spot and a fine scenic asset to the town.

A noble bridge spans the W%pgamii'i River giving access to the land on the southern side. Beyond this bridge, on ahill overlooking the plain, a<re two rows of railway cottages recently •built. They are quite handsome little bungalows and chime in perfectly with the surroundings. On another hill will soon be erected a beautiful hospital in brick at a cost of £47,000. This will ciown the eminence as like an ancient feudal castle, and will give an added touch of dignity to the town. Gross want of taste wae, nowever/ shown in selecting a site for the gasometer, which was placed closeno tho Ongarue River, near the jetty, where tourist* embark for the Wanga'nui River trip. Even a small strip of land between it and the Ongarue was allowed to fall into private hands. On this a shanty was erected and an ugly iron fence, carried right to the* water's edge, prevents access to the most beautiful walk in the district —that is, along the Ongarue River as far as its junction with the Wanganui, the spot which forms the meeting-place of three provinces. Tho Business Aspect.

Taumarunui, like all the other towns in the countiy, has teen experiencing its period of depression, but, 'like the rest, is bravely hanging on awaiting better times, which at last appear to 'i)e coming. Several important business places have been built, itince my last visit, but not many private residences. The soldiers' sections have been greatly improved. Merchants have nearly all the same story— business quiet for some time, but now improving. One of them told me that a little while ago he had not one country customer—the farmers ware leaning on th* bit; firiis, who could allow them large credits. Now, however, Baidjgmy friend, they are beginning to come baclfc which shows improved conditions.

Projected Improvements. The Taumarunui District High School has now over 400 pupils in the primary department, and 47 in the secondary. Tenders are being called for the erection of a fine new technical school, and also of a public library. A large sum of money has also been borrowed for the improvement of all the roads in the borough, and a quantity of valuable machinery, including stone-crusher, ioad-roller, steam-hauler, etc., is already installed. The bitumen process will be adopted. The most imported work of all, however, will be the electric light and power supply, which is destined to make a vast improvement in the condition of settlers and townsfolk over a wide radius. The power will' be obtained from the Waneanui River at Piriaka, a distance of about seven miles from the borough. The neck of a great horse-shoe bend is being cut across- and through it will pass a large concrete pipe, with a good fall. At the lower end of this will be the power house and turbines, by which the electricity will be generated. The intervening villages, mills, factories .f.nd farms will be supplied with power and light, but as it is not possible to tap the main cable by a single wire in the samo way as a gas main can be tapped by a small pipe, it will be necessaiy to have several, sub-stations where the force is broken down and divided. Every customer can then get his supply from the nearest sub-station.' The municipality will lend money for the purpose of installations, and will be in a position to supply power and light ft a very reasonable rate. Mi'ling machinery, . milking machines, separators—everv imaginable Jabonr-.°aving contrivance —will then be operated by a clean, cheap, convenient power. It should revolutionise renditions of life in the district, . and sijnnly to the country that attractiveness which is so desirab!e for checking the present influx into the towns.