MANGAMAHU.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1262, 7 May 1896, Page 17

MANGAMAHU.

This being the first letter which you will have received from me under the above heading, and some ignorant people possibly not being aware that Mangamahu is the hub of the universe, it may be as well to begin by a brief description of the place. Mangamahu, then, is a township, situate on the WiiUgaehu River (formerly the greatest mineral stream :n the world), f say formcr'y because since the eruption of Runpchu of M.vch 10th, 1895, the river has been fresh, or has had only the slightest taste of the chemicals which formerly to strongly impregnated it. The township is at the jurcMen of the Mangamahu Stream anil the Wangaehu, and is distant from Wauaranui twenty-eight miles by the road, which is all gravelled. From Fordell station by the same read tie distance is nineteen miles. At or near the township four roads branch off, that to the westward crossing the Wang.-.ebu by a fine bridge, that to the eastward going up the Mangamahu Valley, and that to the northward dividing into two, the most easterly of which, " Hales 1 Track," goes on top of a lofty ridge to lluanui, and the moie westerly, the IVaugaehu Valley Road, follows up the course of the river, and will shortly be connected between Karioi and Wai-o-uru, with the coach road from p ipiriki to Tokaauu and Taupo. The Mangamahu township occupies both sides of the river, there being a large Hat laid out in sections on the west side, on which a few bouses have been built, and a smaller flat on the east side on which stand the hold, Pott-Office, Town Hall, smithy, stores, and various private houses. All those will shortly be illuminated by electric light while water has been laid on for some years, soil maybe observed that, "the hub" has no intention of yielding its proud position. The country about Mangamahu is mostly occupied in comparatively small holdings, averaging say IuOO acres, mostly of hilly pastoral land, but with many fine flats iu the valleys of great fertility," a considerable proportion of which arc cropped. Mails run thrice each week between Mangamahu and Fordell, to which place also waggons go and return every second day. The hall is the centre of the local business. Here the Upper Wangaehu Road Hoard meets monthly, and Anglican services arc held thrice each month, and Presbyterian services once each month. Here the concerts, balls, theatrical performances, and public meetings lind a homo, and here the State school is held.

The country in the neighbourhood is very pretty—at least where "the demon of improvement " has not disfigured it. There is much fine scenerj in the valleys of the Wangaehu, the Mangamahu, tho Manga. where, and the Turakina, with some magnificent waterfalls, all accessible by good cart roads. Young couples would find Mangamahu an excellent place lor their honeymoon.

f'u.v, having dealt with locality, let mc briefly refer to recent events. We hive lately had a visit from tho

member for the district, Mr Willis, who stayed with h : s wife, and a lady friend at Mr Allen's place six [miles above Mangamahu, and thence drove to sec the fine scenery up the Wangaehu Valley, on his return receiving at the township those who had political business with him. Last Friday the first ball of this season was hehl al the hall, at which thirty ladies and twenty-six gentlemen were present. Tents were pitched, adjoining the hall, for refreshments, and for dressing rooms ; and dancing was kept up till after daylight, Mr Jerome Coaklcy being at the pianoforte, and Mr Ernest, Whileman acting as M.C.

On Saturday the Bishop of Wellington, accompanied by Mrs Wallis, paid Mangamahu his first visit. A social gathering was held at the Town Hall in the evening, the Rev. Reginald Hcrmon occupying the chair, and addresses of welcome being given by Mr Allen, the lay reader of the district, and Mr Poison. His lordship, in replying, said (hut he had been struck by the' excellent means of communication in tho Wellington diocese. JR. had now, thanks to these, been enabled to visit, every church in the diocese, ami many church-rooms and other places at which services arc held, although he had been in New Zealand only a year and a half. He then gave an interesting comparison between the Church in England and in New Zealand, pointing out that, while the Old Country had the advantage of endowments which provided a clergyman in every parish, she was hampered in In r endeavours for improvement by idvcry advance having to b.i dealt with by" Parliament, which was no longer a Church of England body. Here, on the contrary, the Church had representative government by means of her Diocesan Synods, and tho licncral Sj nod ; and it would be the fault of church members themselves if they did not secure the best representatives at the coming election of Syrodstncn. People—especially those lately from home -would complain of want of clerical ministrations ; but, said his lordship, " you should remember that you arc the church. It is for you to provide the means."

After the Bishop's address, refreshments (kindly supplied by Mrs Robinson), were handed round, and general conversation look place. Several pieces of music, vocal and instrumental, were given during the evening, and the meeting concluded with a series of votes of thanks.

On Sunday, services were held in the ball at U and 7 o'clock. The Bishop was the celebrant and preacher at Holy Communion and Evensong, and gave interesting discourses uron "They that wait upon the Lord," and " The healing of the man sick of the palsy." Tiie east end of the hall had been fitted with platform and reredos, with tho proper ornaments, and was decorated with flowers. There were over sixty persons present at the morning service, and seventy at the evening service, fifteen communicating. The Faster psalms and the canticles were chanted, and Easter hymns sung. The prayers were said by the Rev. Reginald Hcrmon, and the lessons by Mr Allen, who also acted aa Precentor, Mrs Addenbrooke accompanying the siucing. The Bishop and Mrs Wallis were driven. from Fordell to Mangamahu by Mr Polsjjl

at whose house at Mangawhero they spent the Friday nitrht, being the gnests o£ Mr llobinson at Mangamahu. Ou the Monday morning Mr Addenbrooke drove them to Mangawhero, whence Mr Poison took them on to Fordo! 1.

April, which is usually a very dry month (overhead), this year has been almost constantly showery ; and, as warm sunshine has been prevalent between the rains, ihe grass has grown luxuriantly, even newly sown clearings baing covered with a robe of verdure. Roads were in excellent order up till Sunday 26th when, in the evening, heavy rain fell lasting twenty-four hours, and bringing down a few small slips. The weather still continues showery and fairly warm.