TAHORA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143764, 12 April 1912, Page 5

TAHORA.

(From a Correspondent.) April 2.—The long-expected advent of the Public Works employees at the Tahora tunnel is fulfilled! During the last three woceks quite a small township has sprung up about the junction of Mangaowata and Ohura Roads, at the scene of the Tahora Saddle railway tunnel. I hear it will be several months before the real work-, of piercing the hills will commence, as there is a groat deal of preliminary work to he done.

Last Saturday the Tahora Rifle Cluh team journeyed to Whangamomona to shoot a match with the Whanga Club, and the result of the match was a win for Tahora by 52 points. Some good shooting .eventuated on both sides. The Whangamomona cricketers, have, by winning their last match against the railway team, won the cup outright, as they have already won it two years in succession. I hear that it is possible the residents about Tahora may apply for a full-time school shortly, in place of the present half-time school. The local residents are interesting themselves in the formation of a tennis club. A meeting is convened for next 'Wednesday for that purpose. The Public Works employees intend to shift their Pohoknra Hal! and library to some nearer position to their present operations. Messrs Conn and Cottier have opened a branch score at Hnrimoana to cope with the increased trade in this district and to facilitate the delivery of orders. It is also possible thr.l Mr. Howard may open a branch store nearer the site of the tunnel operations. Much sympathy is expressed by the local settlers for the relations of Mrs. Klee, who has of late been in a very critical condition. It will be some time before wheeled traffic will he able to journey right through to Ohnra, ns the building of several bridges has been delayed; but the formation work is almost completed. Better hands than mine have given their report on Mr. Tline’s banquet, therefore I will confine myself to a few remarks. Mr. Massey and several other of our representatives briefly dwelt upon the advisability of forwarding the work of railway construction to develop the abundant mineral resources of the Mnngapapa district, especially the coal seams, a sample from which was exhibited by the Hon. Thomas Kelly in the lobby of the House last session. . Towards the end of last week several of our settlers took advantage of a short spell of fine weather to light their bush, and they met with varying success. The inclement state of the past summer has been a great set-back to many of onr settlers, who have been depending on a burn to winter their stock on.

It is to be hoped that the coming winter will be an exceptionally fine cue, because, if not, the road between Tahora and Whangamomona may, with thp increased traffic, break up and bo rendered as impassable as it was in the early days of this settlement. (From a Correspondent.) During the. last few weeks quite a little township has sprung up on the Tahora saddle. There are something like thirty odd tents and whares, two boarding-houses, a ■ blacksmith’s shop, and so on. . This marks the beginning of railway work.on the Tahora tunnel, which is to go underneath the saddle. It is thought that the tunnel will take from, two to three years to complete. In tho meantime Messrs. Court and Cottier have built a store close to whero the work is going on. Mr. Howard is also building a store close to the tunnel entrance. So that, what was a wilderness a few weeks ago is now a “canvas town.” Only two or three settlers in this district have been able to burn their bush : consequently there are thousands of acres not burnt, and which will have to wait for tine weather next summer. I understand that, this has seriously inconvenienced the seed merchants as well as the farmers. I don’t, suppose a quarter of the grass seed ordered will be required this year. Notwithstanding the heavy Public Works traffic, the roads arc in splendid order—better than they have been for six months. The Public Works Department have taken over the main road and relieved / the County Council of the expense of maintaining it.