EARLY INGLEWOOD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 60, 25 October 1911, Page 2

EARLY INGLEWOOD.

A PEEP INTO THE PAST. (By Fifty-one.) In your Monday’s issue appears a brief history of the late Mr J. C. Peachj of Inglewood, in which it ; s mentioned that he was the father of Forestry in that town. I can corroborate this statement, having been one of several members of Court Waireka, New Plymouth, who officially opened Court Inglewood Forest in the early seventies, Mr Peach being installed as first 'Chief Hanger in recognition, among other things, of the active part he had taken in the matter. At the time referred to Inglewood was .enveloped in smoke from the burning operations which had just taken place in the township; in fact, there were burning logs and standing trees in every direction. The New Plymouth party—the only other person besides myself that I can remember being Mr. (now Colonel) Robert Collins—arrived at Inglewood on horseback on the evening in question, and for want of other accommodation the horses were put -into an enclosure of logs, which,-by the by, were well, alight.- Excepting a galvanised iron building that had just been-run up ! as an hotel for Messrs Langley Bros., and which, I believe, stood on the site, of the present Inglewood Hotel, huts only were observably. It was in the hotel that birth was ■ given to Court Inglewood Forest, and the ceremony may fittingly bo termed, ‘‘Baptism by Fired’ After the business of opening had concluded, an adjournment was made to the dining-room—which was far from finished—where a very excellent spread, considering the difficulties to os encountered, was put on, and several hours were spent in toast, song, and speech. It had been arranged by the visitors in the early part of the evening that it would be safer not to commence the return journey •:o New Plymouth before dawn, as here was danger from falling limbs on the road to be traversed. It was uimmcr time, and daylight came in airly, so the time was passed until the first streaks of light showed in -lie oast. Then the log paddock was v isited, only to. find that the horses had effected their escape, and it was too evident by their tracks that they had made for the seaport, no do.ubt disgusted with the smoke and lire that surrounded them in their primitive prison. Here was a dilemma. No other horses were obtainable, and ,liter a consultation it was decided .o walk back to New Plymouth. It was a broiling hot day, and I well recollect the joy on reaching a river on die Junction Road, where a real good swim was indulged in. The party cached town in due course, but too ’ate to do any work that day. So ended a trip to Inglewood ip the days vlien smoko and lire wore more in evidence than human beings. “Tn-die-Mud,” as it was called soon after active settlement commenced, is a somewhat more portent-ions place today. There are few evidences of the past, and many of those who first Look up their residence in that locality have gono on that journey from whence no’ traveller returns, among them being Mr Poach, whose

memory, however, will be kept green In remembrance of the prominent part he always played in any forward movement.