WHANGAMOMONA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14132, 11 February 1910, Page 5

WHANGAMOMONA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Several gangs of railway men have shifted over tho Whanga Saddle this week. The iron rails aro laid up to Pohokura tunnel and tho ballast train is running up several times a day. When tho tunnel is blocked, which will be in four months’ time, the train will run up to Pohokura with goods.’ This will indeed bo a boon. 1 notice your Kotare correspondent complains about the New Plymouth people not taking enough interest in the opening up of our back country, and also blaming them for spending so much money in harbour improvements. I am afraid your correspondent has not been keeping himself posted np with what has been done. I am sure your Chamber of Commerce has shown very great activity in years past in helping us in urging on the Government tho necessity of opening up Taranaki’s back country. With reference to the harbour, wo in this part of tho country are looking forwa'rd to the time when tho improvements aro completed at Moturoa to enable the big ocean liners to come in and bring our wire, iron, etc., and take away our produce. So soon as that time comes there will bo ono of the largest co-operative froosdng works in the dominion on the railway lino somewhere between Stratford and Loppcrton. Tho country down this way will grow enough beef and mutton to keep a works going. Taranaki’s hack country farmers aro in for good and prosperous times in the very near future, which they richly deserve. The harbour improvements alone will, when completed, have a far-reaching effect in bringing this about. Tho Whanga Council held a special meeting to-day re spending tho Government grant, tho hone of contention being tho cost of administration in spending. It will cost .the ratepayers hove a good slice of thoir rates to pay for administering this now work and it is very unfair to ask a county council such as ours or tho Ohura, with so much Government road work to ho done, to pay this cost. I am afraid before it is settled tho winter will ho here and nothing done in tho way of