THROUGH THE MUD

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 258, 9 October 1931, Page 3

THROUGH THE MUD

Expedition to public # WORKS CAMP AN ISOLATED existence 4 CONDITIONS AT STRATFORD’S DOOR (By “Observer,” For The Post.) pithin' a coinparatiy.ely short distance of Stratford one is brought face tp face with the lonely, of a Public Works camp for workers ehgaged( upon road forming. Leaving a gimitt store at a wayside town one profce&lk ovhf a fairly good road for two ,dhd .then at this time of the year he the fne'ans of pen,e.trat: I%' ihto fhis sefemingly endless ;sea of *: • ' ■ ; ■ • . Quf horses were on solid earth for briljt teii minutes when we entered the mpd—slight at first; but gradually getting thffckpf and thicker; To make Say’ faster than they were siirbly be courting danger, as oh Otte side a sheer drop of 800 feet tb the Talley below would have been bur Ibt; Hiking to a height of 100 feet th# Other Side of the “road” presented ft Wonderful display of dative bush. Wfe gradually rose to a point where a magnificent panorama of the surrounding country, depicted by range after range, was obtained. ;. GUr horses were, by this time, knee-

deep In mud; Plodding our way fur-J • tier Inland we came at last to the first camp. We found it was only a qne-man tent and he, unfortunately for usj was out on the job. Taking the liberty to help ourselves we left suitable payment. Still onward through mud, uphill and down d&le, we wended bur snail-like pace until other tents came into view. Spr ,time was somewhat limited so e did hot stop here. At last we came to whaj, we thought was the end df (he fbrma.ion and head of the work aft all that could be seen were several men working an an extensive cutting through papa clay. Getting Close up We were mOte than surprised to see a man-hole bored completely through this earth making a miniature tunnel. “Stand Clear” is the greeting we get and theii “Fire!” A Shot or, at least three snots, nas been put into the cutting. One minute elapses and being QQviceS to this kind of work we assume that the gelignite has failed in itg.purpose. Boom! Another hoom, tq bfe followed by the third, rings out ahd iff,echoed and re-echoed through the hills. Papa and earth collapse in a heap whilst the main purpose has beep, achieved, that of sufficiently breaking up the earth to allow of its removal by hand labour. Our tunnel through the earth is nonexistent and, as we approach the foreman of the gang—or as he !s known aipongst his mates, “head man”—tells ua that we may be able to geit our horses over the top of the loose cutting and then it is possible to carry on through more mud for at least 90 chains. As We were particularly wanting to see the conditions of the main qarap we decided to make an attempt. Several willing helpers gave us a hand and after numerous attempts we safely arrived at the other side. Mention might be made in passing' that the man-hole referred to was used by the workmen going from one side to the other. Imagine the state they were in when finally they wriggled out. The outlook was more of a dairying appearance here, but suffice it to say no Settlers are so far in occupation so far inland—but will be when the I road is finished and metalled. The thick papa mud continues and we see in the distance the white canvas of the camp 1 . We seek the foreman and tell him of our mission. What a blessing it is for these isolated fellows to see fresh faces and to get news. Perhaps they have bce'n confined to their camp for two, three, or four months, and the only strange faces to be seen are when the officials of the works make their visits. We were told' that we were the second lot of “outsiders” to make the ’ trip —no wonder —people must have known the conditions. Wb were invited to “come inside” and rest. These tents huVe a very comfortable bunk on either side, whilst at the opening there is a tin firerplace. A small oblong table occupies the centre, whilst at the far end an im- ’ provfsed dresser stands littered with all kinds of men’s odds and ends, Ouf tea is ready and the foreman hafids us out pint enamel mugs and fills up With the blackest of black tea. - Condensed milk and sugar are always available. To eat we are given bread , efit anything up to a quarter of an inch thick arid real “old” cheese and jam. One could not fail to notice the happy nature of these workers, singing or whistling, laughing or eating, f; be they at work or not. Their lot is

certainly hard, but to them it is a living and it appears they never growl about their desolate existence, but rather are thankful of a job. We are asked for news and, thanks to a little forethought, we were well armed with the latest editions of papers anil books. Music has found its w r ay into this camp and one man is the proud possessor of a portable gramophone but lacks a variety of records. Perhaps some one will leave a few old ones for them at the store. The most aggravating thing they have to contend with is wet weather and valuable time is iost as a result. We must be on our way again as it is three hours to the good road. We are given letters to post, orders to execute, and various otljer little commissions which we will do unhesitantly. And so through all the mud again to the solid metal, where we part company with the faithful horses and carry on the journey in a modern motor-car. Who knows, but next year we will be able to go through that mud hole in a luxurious car with hardly a splash.