TAHORA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144777, 6 September 1915, Page 5

TAHORA.

FROM OtTB OWN CORRESPONDENT. Sept. I.—lt is some time since your paper got any word from Tahora, but the little district is still very much alive, as you would admit if you were to pay us a visit- This winter the roads in our district have beon very much cut up by. the Public Works teams, but our troubles as far as the mud is concerned aro now, just about at an end. The Public Works tram line is very nearly completed as far as the Tahora township reserve. It will prove a boon to the settlers and residents in this district, and it is probable that the ballast engine will be able to get as fur as Hiirimoana by Christmas time. ahe permanent wav is being laid from the Kohuratahi through the swamp towards Hurimoana as speedily as possible, while No. 1 Tabora tunnel is just about completed. The permanent rails aro laid in this tunnel, so work in connection with the railway is being pushed on as rauidly as possible. The works all through the Tabora valley are being pnshed forward, gangs of labourers working at the road formation made necessary by the alteration of the railway line. Military matters are very active in here. A lot of the workers have been sent to Trentbaui and Featherston to help in the preparations going on at these places for the benefit of the troops going into training at the above places. Ou August 6 the settlers and friends of the Tahora district paid a surprise visit to Mr. E. B. Roberton, one of our sellers who has loft in the Eighth Reinforccmcnts; 1 to say au revoir and wjsli him good luck and a safe return after the war. There were 20 present, and Mr. Norman Cleland was appointed to the chair and carried out his duties well. A really enjoyable evening was spent with speeches, songs and recitation. During the evening the opportunity was taken to present Mr. Roberton with a radio dial wristlet watch as a memento from bis neighbours and friends in.the district. Mr. Roberton, in replying to /the good' wishes of his neighbour, said he was very pleased to bo able to get away to the front' to assist in upholding the Empire, as he considered it the, duty of every ablebodied single man to volunteer his services for the good of the Empire. In going to the front he had to resign his position as councillor on the "Wnanga County Council. But, he said, Mr. Hugh"M‘Leod, who was returned unopposed to Jill the vacancy would, he felt sure, prove himself a worthy councillor to fill his place. The Kohuratahi and Tahora branch of the Overseas Club is making very strenuous efforts in aid of the sick and wounded soldiers of our own district. Since this branch was formed about six months ago, under the able management of Mr. P. Keller as president and Mr. Geo. White an able secretary, both officers of the Public Works Department, the club has gone ahead by leaps and bounds. . The club has forwarded to Mrs. Newton, mother of one of our boys who was shot early in the landing at the Dardanelles, and who was 'dependent on her son for support, a first donation to relieve her distress. The club has also held social evenings to say farewell to all the boys leaving the district for the front and’make them a small but suitable present- to take with them in remembrance of those left behind. The club is also working enor-. gotically in getting up a bazaar to bo held in November in aid of the distress fund for the sick and - wounded. The ladies of the club, assisted by other outside support, with Mrs. B. Hight as lion, secretary, produced a concert and dance held in the Kohuratahi Hall on ■ Friday last, 27th inst 1 ., when they were 1 rewarded with a bumper house. There were over 400 persons present; truly the largest and most successful entertainment erer held in the district. The concert realised somewhere about £35. In connection with the bazaar they aro running, a King Cole Carnival. Mr. Norman Cleland (Farmers), Mr.* S. Stockley (Public Works), and Mr. T. Aylward (Business) arc the' three candidates for the contest. During, the dance on Friday last a Belgian flag, presented by Mrs. Wilson, of Putikituna, for the benefit of the Fanners’ candidate, was disposed off, being sold and resold several, times and finally falling to Mr. Allen M'Cirtchan for £S 10s. The flag realised in all the grand total of £35 10s, which is for the benefit of the club’s sick and wounded fund. This is not bad for the back-blocks. We are having very seasonable weather in here just now. The paddocks are commencing to look green, and fruit and other trees are all in bloom, denoting that spring is with us again. In tho paddocks are quite a number of small lambs to be seen frisking about with their dams.