THE STRATFORD-ONGARUHE RAILWAY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13254, 28 August 1906, Page 4

THE STRATFORD-ONGARUHE RAILWAY.

At Stratford a nig-ht or two ago there was a public meeting" at -which a resolution was passed as follows :•— '"That_ in view of the enormous ' difficulties under which the' back country settlers arc labouring at the present time ow'mg to ■ the lack of proper road« 1 communication, as shown by the- fact that the mail coach to -Wliangamomona from Stratford is now for the first time within the last five years unable to proceed iurtber- than s Strathmore, the Hon. the Minister of Public Works be requested to push on' the Stratfford-Onigaruhe railway with all possible despatch and also to take immediate - steps to ■ open up the Ohiu*a Road throtrgh Tanga^ rakati Gorge/ Wh,ile disclaiming the slightest hostility to' the construction of the railway in question, or to the opening up of the road through, the Tang-arakau Gorge— we deeply sympathise with the efforts to obtain, both— 'sve should like to, know just where we all stand with regard to this question. The TaranalSi Chamber 6$ Commerce has urged upon the* Government that, in tho interests of the Ohiixa settlers, it is of the utmost importance that the metalling of the road should' bo completed, at any rate to the Whangamomona settlement, straight away. The assistance of the Chamber! was welcomed at Stratford and, < Wlia-ngamoxaona, but now a publics meeting at .the former place prescribes as ' a remedy for the sarae evils ,- the construetJon of the railway and .the opening up of the road through the Tangarakau. Would it not be as well tna,t all should work on the same linos ? For th© railway "and more road formation beyond Whangamomona if "that is the best, or for - metalling the road from end to end if that is likely to relieve the situation the most rapidly. We- arc wiling to fall' in with Stratford views if it can be shown that we are wrong in assuming that the opening up, of the Tangiaraikau. Gorge; will not enable mail coaches to travel past Strathniore>, and that it will, be severa-1' years 'before the railway will be available for traiffic beyond. Huiakama. We want to see the railway made as quickly as possible, andl wo want . to 1 drive, from Stratford to Gngaruhe, through the Tangarakau, but our point is that while the railway is being made the road is impassable, in the winter, and will bio for several winters) unless it is metalled, '.and that it is not much use forming 1 ■ more miles of road to become impassable, during half the year until that already formed is metalled. The metalling- can be completed to Whangiamomona easily in two 1 , years;, -and then the mail coach. Can get th^rougih all the year round, and freights will be reduced. 'But the railway cannot reach there for many years. However, we will sink our own opinions if they are, wrong; in order, that all may be- united in a demand for <the required facilities.

Mrs C. W. GoVctt forwards a parcel of "Books" for Bushmen/ The Greymouth export for the Week ending Saturday was 7034 tons 3cwt,, of which the State jnine contributed 3610. tons, >Tyneside 1819 tons, Blackball 1595 tons. The Brunner mine exported 40 tons, of bricks and 49 tons of coke. The results of, the recent examination conducted by the Auckland Sunday School Union are now to hand. Entries were received from -all parts of the Auckland province, as well as from Hawked Bay,, Taranaki and Wanganui. There were in all 1248 competitors, an increase over the previous year. It is extremely gratifying that the first prizes intw<> out of the four grades come to New Plymouth, Mafrel Awibmry (New Plymouth Baptist), taking first, place in the junior jgrade, and Nellie Bayne (New Plymouth Presbyterian) winning the firfit' prize in the primary, grade. Certificates have also been, gained by local candidates from the Baptist, .Wesley an 'aoicV Presbyterian Sunday Schools in tho town. Following xipon the scare occasioned in New Plymouth some timieback by the mysterious "Phosphorus Jack," who frightened the seven, sen,ses out of many local residents, our 'country neighbours are much perturbed by a' figure seen in thej weightoo'tfrh'ood ' of! *Ugsm'ont Ro&id at Bell Block. Cn two occasions the spectre has been •abix>a«& in ■Egonont JWd,- and the ■sfiefcta'to'rs .in eaob in-s-tance made tracks for home, where they recounted graphic details of th p g.hos't-, On Sunday night some nocturnia;! visitor peraaniWlarted Bell Block, a n!d tihose who h'a-d lonely roads' to traverse were nearly in a state of collapse on •hearing- tlie n«w>s. A practical farmer, who 'has mo fear of visitants from the otiher sphere, informed a 'New Plymouth' constable that 'he suspect's ?ioodlunis <a»re out sndeavouring to emulate "Spring-heel-ad J-aok's" exploits. He adds that Le and others are on the. and) will try the efficacy of aotible%larrelled loa'deo!. with -bird shot, i* th <! e wrraith re-appears. l

A Meiboume-BrindCei mail despatch of 25th July arrived in London 0& the afternoon of 2Sthr inst. The . Superintendent of the New Plymouth Fir© Brigade acknowledges, with thanks, receipt of a 'donation of ,«S2 10s from 'Mrs A. S. Doug-Id?. The/ glass fell a good deal during the 24' hours up to" 9:0 a.m. fto-day, the local reading -being 30.20 Hs against 30.30 on the previous' tidy. l»e "temperature was 51) degrees. f, The annual report of the Jjepart- • ment of Lands on Scenery Pifeaervalion makes it clear that th4>, proposal thai the Government pshould acquire Tatri tutu for a scenery, preserve emanated from the Scenery Preservation Commission. " A change is taking placo i|t the direct orate and management oi the New Zealand Times Company, (pjssrs Robert and Montague Bannistej having/ disposed of their interest m the psTper, have resigned the positions ~ they held »nd ;T)r. Findlay becomes chairman of- directors and Mr .Wardeli managing' director. At the weekly meeting of the Egmont Lodge, -LO.G.T., one candidate was propose^ .atfd^ahother initiated. After business; the ladies' tried . their hand' at a nail driving competition.' .s. s Sister Ullmer was- placed first, ' Sister Boale second and Sister L Cock third. Refreshments and a vote , of thanks to the brethren concluded the.'evening1 When . ' Sir .Joseph Ward laid the 1 foundation stone of th/e 1 new Postl ' Office he > distinctly stated that the ! clock was ordered : and would be here 1 before the building was completed. "' Now it appears that no order has i yet been- given, although nearly <ten months have elapsed. Evidently Sir L Joseph writs' .misinformed as to' the 1 posi-tion, or some blundering has occ urred. ' ' • . J ;• ', !i> In order to give them much-needed x stor ) age i - accommodation for produce , and implements, and also to ; serve the purposes^ of their r monthly sales of hides', ' skins-, and - wool, Messrs Wilson and' Nolan haV.e J purchased from Mr ' W. L. Newman ' the warehouse in Bronghanvstreet,; b formerly occupied by Mossrs Burgess, L * Fraser and Co. The premises, • which ? adjoin the railway yards, are feeing 5 put into thorough repair, for early . 3 'occupation. 1 T'ho Borough Council has received 1 r fro"m the Defence Department a copy, 1 ol & photograph sent th-roug-h • the High Commissioner from -the /hon.. sece retary of the "Colonial Troops Mtjm.- ■ orial Fund." It represents' ihe, sa«sm4 " orial to imetobers of the colonial • ti*oops who fell in -fehe'Bper eri ectccl in St iPaul'.s Cathedral, London, a and imveilfd by H.R.H. the Prince of fc Wales, in May, ' 1905. The original has 1 been framed and hung in "the Parliay mentary library 'buili^er. W'elling-L'on. k The Council flobeptc l^ I'he picture, which will be "framed v and hung in the '_ Town Ball. ' 2 Mr W. L. Newman, for the Town Clock Committee, wrote „ to the . . Boi'QUgh Council on Mondajy, asking! - the Council to pay into the public 3 account the principal (£225) and acl crued interest (:£7s)<— ln- all £300— in I order to prevent further delay in obj taining the town clock.. (Mr E. M. L Smith, M.H.R,, telegraphed fromiWel- > lin^ton : "You ; must pay in the £300 > and apply for clock, stating the class ! yov. require ; 'then/ it will b$ procured . .withoxit delay." The money held i by the Council will be paid over at l j once. • st ■ t .

! Mr R. 11. B%h, of tfh© White Cross League, concluded a successful sodas of lectures in New Plymouth on Monday. He makes a practice of visiting the gaols, and a lecture, -bo jth<e prisoners in the afternoon; (appeared to be much . appreciated. The Tito&a'tiro Royal accommodated a large audience of ladies 'in tho eveni-n'sr, when .the lerturer spoke on the training -of children in parity. It was a mod^l discourse, in perfect good taste, and' miet with a good Reception. The Mayoress presided. 3lr Blig'h, ,-vtfho is tb.i'.be commended for -the' courageous manner in which he tackles a delicate subject, left for Stratford. ~o:j Tuesday jmornAt the Boroiigh Council meeting ori Monday, a letter was read. from, the I Thames Borough Council,' stating -that j tho library erected' 6>ut' ..of -'flffr Carnegie's grant cost l £2lod and was of | 'one story. Cr. Wilson asked the position of the " local' library, and what the Committee appointed to recommend re plans was idoing. Crs. Brooking -and Collia disclaimed the chairmanship of ths Conim'ifcteG, and^ it was ascertained that Mr Ewing, late Councillor, had been th© chairman, hence there was no one -to convene the Committee. Cr. Bellringer will now asstume the , position. Gr. Brooking tendered his resignation - as a. member of tho Conmlittee, and Cr. Browne was appointed. Lieut-Col. Loveday met the Cadet officers on Saturday last in the Board . room, when several matters [ connected with the movement were discussoJ. The Colonel explained that about four'aeres.^vduld he enclosed . in Hagley Park, : and on* thas^ groumd the camp would be held, the actual ppsititm of, the tcto.ts bciftg changed on the arrival of leach 'battalion. Gas stoves for cooking had been offered, "and possibly tho cooking- > be done by girls under the supervision, of : 'Mrs " Gardiner:' In 1 Wellington, schools savings banks had teen opened, ajnd the boys Aviere encouraged to brimg -their 1 mofney in amfounts from a penny upwards so as to make up the 10/ required for each one. Asked as to the opportunities for seeing the . Exhibition, the Coitm-el said the boys would be free from camp duties each day f^om.' about 3.30 p.an.. It was decided to adopt blue jeifsevs, with yellow facings, the jerseys, caps, haversacks, etc., to be school property and purchased from the funds of the corps. As the Canterbury oa&bts are going into camp in December, aftd theßußedin battalions in 'Ja-miary, the Tarawakd boys will, ]irobably- go in February, few* everything tn O w 'Heponds on the approval of the sohemte ,by th!a House of Eeprescntatives.- ,