WHANGAMOMONA NOTES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 22, 24 January 1913, Page 8

WHANGAMOMONA NOTES.

The number of acres burned this season must be an easy record, thanks to the spell of dry weather. The burns have been very good all over the district, and the sowing of grass and turnip seed is the chief topic ol interest at present. Mr S. M. Mills, who made a painful gash in his foot a fortnight ago, is now able to get about again as well

as ever. The township has been very quie during the holidays, but is rapidly get ting into its old stride again. Whangs bids fair to bo a busy centre for r few years yet. Mr Hothery, proprietor of the Whanga Hotel, is building a new shop between the hotel and the post office, in anticipation of the coming demand foi premises. The legal firm of Messrs Anderson, Rutherfurd and Macalister (late W. D. Anderson) have re-opened thei: offices here under the direction of Mi White, of Hastings. Mr McDonald who had charge of the offices undei Air W. D. Anderson, has gone t( Christchurch. The beautiful Tangarakau Gorge wai enlivened last week by three parties a large number from Stratford anc Te Wera having had a ten days’ camp 1 there. The Boy Scouts also campec there for a few- days to enjoy the unique beauties of the Gorge. Anc on Sunday week, a gay crowd of local: spent the day up there. Now tha; the roads have been opened up, the Tangarakau Gorge will he a much-visit-ed beauty spot. The Kohuratahi Falls wore pair

many visits during the last month 01 so by picnic parties and strangers hem on “seeing the sights.” Tire Tennis Club opened their nev court on Saturday last, and though t trifle “new” t)ie court was satisfac tory, and the games thoroughly enjoyed.

It is understood that Mr Newtoi King purposes erecting saleyards a J . Kohuratahi shortly. The New Zealand Loan and Mer cantile Agency Co. intend holding ther monthly sale at Kohuratahi on Wed nesday instead of Friday, as has hith erto been the case. The sale too! place on AVednesday, and there was c large yarding, and very satisfactory prices were realised.

The material for the two traffic bridges in the Tangarakau Gorge is at the rail head, and Mr Jas. Scott is carting it from there to the scene of operations. Mr F. Grayling, ol New Plymouth, who secured the bridge contract, has already got the work in hand.

The County Engineer (Mr E. C Robinson) made the rounds of the roads yesterday on his motor cycle, an immense saving of time as compared with the usual “hack.’

Miss E. Hales, of Christchurch, if spending a short holiday with her sis ter, Mrs Court. Two of Messrs Court and Cottiers’ waggon horses met with accidents lately, and these were of such a nature as to necessitate the calling in of a vet crinary surgeon from Stratford. Thei' complete recovery is a matter of grave doubt. Miss Nicoll has returned from a holiday trip to Auckland. She purposes spending the summer here before returning to her home in Wellington. Mr J. Walker, of Mangnpehi, is at present busy on his Kohuratahi farm and intends settling here permanent!} with his family after the summer.

Mr and Mrs Lowe, with their daughter, have arrived at Whanga to take up their permanent residence on Mi Chas. Lowe’s farm at Marangae. Mr P. Kelleher, assistant engineei to the,Public Works Department, purposes entering the ranks of benedicts, and in all probability will leave foi Westport to tie the nuptual knot, about Easter. Mr Kelleher is build ing an up-to-date residence on the Toi Hoad, at Kohuratahi, containing five rooms, bath room, scullery, and pantry, the work of which will be completed about the end of March next. Sergeant-Major Ballinger paid his half-yearly visit to all parts of area No. 30, on Wednesday, and proceeded as far as Tahora, his object being to confer with settlers in regard to defaulters. Up to the present, some 20 in number have been traced.

The Public Works pay passed off very quietly, and made little or no difference to the town. The amount paid out this month (for practically five weeks) only amounted to about £2OOO. In October last, the amount was about £SOOO. Miss M. Aylward has returned to-day from a six months’ holiday in Auckland district.

To those who have sown their turnips on the new burns, the heavy rain of Wednesday morning would be very welcome. The sowing of turnips seems to become-more popular each year. This season the amount of turnip seed brought into Whanga has been extraordinary, showing that the farmers arc waking up to the possibilities of wellfarmed lands.

Mr Saward, of Mangere Road, is preparing for the erection of a now house on his section to replace the one burned down last spring. The Kohuratahi picnic will be held on St. Patrick’s Day this year, and this popular fixture should attract an even larger crowd than last year’s, for the tram runs now almost to the township and past the sports ground. Mr Ted Proffitt arrived from the South Island on Saturday night with 1 is bride, and received the warm congratulations and welcome of Ins many friends. Messrs Shewry Bros, are having a new residence built on their Mold road property, the work is being put in hand immediately. These evidences of the district’s progress and prosperity are to be seen everywhere in a more or less marked degree. Mi and Mrs Dagg arrived back on Saturday from a holiday trip to New Plymouth. It is pleasant to note that two of

the prizes for essay on the Stratford Show were won by children of our district, viz., Aiiss Jamieson and Master Hodder, both of Kohuratahi. Arrangements are to be put in band at once for the Whanga school picnic, to be helel in a few weeks’ time. The work of levelling and filling the Whanga Domain is to be put in band this autumn, so as to have the ground ; for football this season. Given the! co-operation of the public, we should next summer have a Domain and sports ground to be proud of. A general meeting of the Whanga) Aledical Association lias been called for) this evening to appoint officers and to consider communications from some! medical men regarding the district and its prospects.

The local school re-opens on Monday week, February 3rd, and though there have been many removals from the district, it is anticipated that the school will open with a number equal to that of the last quarter.

The local goods-shed has been crammed to overflowing during the last month or so, wool going out, and grass seed and wire coming in, keeping the shed full and the trams busy. The settlers wonder now how they managed to send all their goods over the Whanga Saddle, the tramway is certainly justifying its existence, all the tram teams being fully employed.

A mare owned by Mr Jas. Scott fell over a bank in the paddock and strained its leg badly, and it will not be tit for work before next spring. Only three months ago the owner paid £SO for the animal.

Alessrs Claridge and Grant sold to the butcher this week a fine line of fat bullocks, fattened on their Whanga Road property. Air E. M. Hodder is erecting on Whanga Road, an up-to-date residence, with all convenience, containing four rooms, bathroom, pantry, and washhouse. The building is being erected by himself and is intended for his own use.

In order to raise funds for the Hall, a dance is to be held in the Tc Wera Hall to-night. One of Mr Mudford’s motor cars made a successful trip to Kohuratahi on AVednesday morning with a party of five gentlemen to attend the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.’s sale. The journey out occupied about four hours. The road was a little sloppy after Wednesday morning’s rain, and in order to safely negotiate the Saddle and prevent skidding ropes had to be tied round the tires, and everything went on smoothly and without any mishap. The return journey was made at 6.30 p.m. the same evening.

The news soon got about on Wednesday that Mr H. Jakes was appointed ranger by the Whangamomona County Council, and on Thursday morning persons were making investigations as to its accuracy. Air Jakes soon got to work, but generously gave warnings to those whose animals were then at large.