TAHORA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143770, 19 April 1912, Page 7

TAHORA.

(From Onr Own Correspondent.) April 16.—The powers that be and the elements seemed leagued together tn frustrate any small amusement or pleasure of onr hack-block settlers during the Easter holidays. Consequently the Whangnmomona sports meeting on Easter Monday met with inclement weather, which seriously handicapped the pleasure of the gathering. Were your correspondent a poet or, better, an artist, lie might attempt to describe tho rugged grandeur of the Tangarakan Gorge. Everything in the gorge is on a grand, majestic scale; beetling crags with their ancient trees rise at every bend in tho road; hero a gushing waterfall tinkling merrily down some precipitous hank; there a bold sandstone cliff whose discarded verdure lies in a tangled mass at its base; and above all the roar of the stream, now deep and loud, now faintly miirmnring a lullaby which seems to ‘’soothe the soul and calm the blood.” Even the commonest fern seems to be endowed with a greater appearance of beauty and size; while the varying shades and tints or nature’s own colour, green, seems almost to bid man stay and be a welcome guest of tho Queen of Nature.

Tho Tahora Rifle Club is experiencing a little difficulty in obtaining transit for the material* for enlarging and renovating the shooting butts. With regard to medical attendance it seems to bo practically impossible to obtain a resident practitioner for the Whanga district, a long-felt want, and it is a marvel that tho settlors and residents of the districts have existed up to the present with no nearer medical attendance Ilian Stratford, some forty or fifty miles distant.

The meeting convened for the purpose of forming a tennis club in Tahora was very fairly attended, and the idea seemed well received. Officers and executive committee were elected, and the formation of a court straightway begun. The Public Works Rifle Club is erecting a temporary range on Mr. F. Symends’ property, and matches between them and the Tahora Club are being looked forward to with keen interest.

It is sad to relate that Mrs. A. Klee’s condition is still a source of anxiety to her friends and relations in this district. Mrs. F. Symonds, who lately underwent a serious operation, is soon to he expected home, and I hope much improved in health. Canvas Town on the Tahora Saddle is daily increasing in area, and a good start has been made with preliminary opeartions. Mr. W. Kennedy has lately been experimenting with Angora goats as scrub cleaners, and these hardy animals are a success in preventing a second growth. Settlers in this district were greatly pleased with the article “Happy Valley,” which appeared in the columns of The Budget, every word of which was held to be indisputable'. The Tahora School is rapidly growing, and at present the, small schoolroom is quite inadequate to cope with the attendance, the room being literally packed with desks.

The settlers and friends of Mrs. and Mr. Coxhead, sen., are tendering a farewell social to them on the 24th. Since he has resided in this district Mr. Coxhead has shown a keen interest in the social and public welfare of the Whanga County, having occupied positions on various local bodies. There is some talk of a football club being formed. Since the Public Works Department is taking charge of a portion of the road, it is to be hoped that it will successfully combat the threatened morass.