PROGRESS OF HALF-CENTURY.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1929, Page 17

PROGRESS OF HALF-CENTURY.

CENTRAL TARANAKI’S GROWTH. Not all the thousands of people who will attend the Stratford Show —a 1929 exhibition in a modern town—could clearly visualise the rapid progress Central Taranaki, with Stratford as its centre, has made. Fifty years ago the site of Stratford was covered with virgin forest. Promise of the construction of the main railway line, however, awakened keen interest in the Jami, which gave promise of great fertility .

The first to come were sawmlllcrs, who reaped a rich harvest from the heavy timbers and gave employment to many people who may not otherwise have settled in the district. Followed the real pioneers—those who took up land for the purpose of settling upon it and making their homes. They were faced with difficulties almost unbelievable at the present day, but they had faith in their ultimate success, and how well they wrought is amply demonstrated in the town of Stratford itself, and the rich farm lands throughout Central Taranaki.

“Hoads” which the wet climate kept iu an almost continual state of quagmire were perhaps the greatest hardship, for over them had to be transported the necessaries of life until the «oming of the iron road. It was in ■B7B that the first train ran to Stratford, and that was the beginning of a neriod of most rapid advancement. So soon as the land was sufficiently cleared, the settlers turned their attention to the production of butter-fat, and gradually dairy herds were built up until today Central Taranaki is known far and wide as one of the finest dairying districts in the Dominion. With the expansion of settlement and •mprovement of the land already settled, the town of Strafford steadily defe.loped. The founders were possessed of vision and the provision they made f or the future is fully appreciated today. Broad streets, spacious parks and t-be numerous facilities preserved for the public have made Stratford 'a town which need not fear to grow. That its public and business men, as well as Government departments, have faith in the future of the town and district is «hown by the substantial buildings that have been and are being erected.