AWAKINO.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16638, 12 January 1920, Page 5

AWAKINO.

rnou onxt own correspondent. On the 22n<l inst. tho settlers of the Awakino district-will foregather to do honour to those of their number who fell during tho war. A permanent memorial has been erected in tho form of a handsome entrance gate and wall facing the hall building. . , :The work is well designed and executed in concrete., and on the two main piers are tablets in grey marble, one recording that-the gate had been erected as a memorial to those who had made tho supremo sacrifice, the other recording tho names of tho honoured dead. I understand that Lieutcnant.-Coloael Weston has consented to tho request of the settlers that he should unveil tho tablets. It is satisfactory to learn that- a public library has been ‘initiated iu Awakino, tho public hall already housing a quite respectable number of volumes. Mr. M'Gregor, tho new postmaster, is expected to arrive to-day. His household goods arrived yesterday by means of two motor lorries which were stacked sky high. Considerable interest was shown iu this arrival, as it is said to be the first time that Mount Messenger has been negotiated for this purpose, two horde “doing the trick.” About 15 cars passed through the township most of them bound for To Kuiti and onwards. Taumatamairo is as good now -as it will probably ever be, as tho valley road, according to the Minister for Public Works, is to be pushed forward as a non-stop job. So far, however, instead of its being a non-stop, it is practically a non-start job. The valley road is undoubtedly a very necessary work, but the metalling of Mount Messenger is far more urgent. During the jiast few days 1 have conversed with a considerable number of influential settlers, and have gathered from them the definite opinion that above, beyond and over every other work tnat is wanted on the Main North lload tlie completion of tho road over Mount Messenger should be given the first consideration. The few miles of metal that are required to make tho road passable for traffic during the whole of the year instead of for a few stray days in tho summer and autumn, are blocking the road to the north as effectually as a derailed goods train at Leppcrton might block the mail train from New Plymouth to Wellington. Cannot the Public Works Department be induced to plump for this urgent work? There is talk of two lorries being ordered for the work, one of which will do tho work of a gang of SO men, and which will make short work of Mount Messenger when once they get a move on. It is taken for granted that these lorries will work tho wonders claimed for them, but the season is rolling on, the road and bridge to tho metal pit are practically finished, but the settlers would like to see those doing duty, for they are simply dreadThg another winter such as they suffered last winter. 1 was told of the' incidents connected 'with a case of sickness, whore a child had to be hurried into New Plymouth from a station on the Manganui lload. A car would Ifavo been useless if obtainable, and a gig was used. A start was made at midday, and it was midnight before the parents and child got to the top of the mountain, having been bogged well nigh to tho axlo all tho time, and ram falling in a deluge. Think of it, Sir W. Fraser, and you slow-moving permanent officials. Compare the lot of these settlers, who are practically the makers of your soft jobs, with yours iu your comfortable city homes, who in the event of one of your children being ill, can ring up a doctor and have him by tho bedside within five min. utes. For Heaven’s sake get a hustle on for once, and be done witn the Mount Messenger bugbear. Promises enough have been made and all tho settlers ask is that the responsible men should prove themselves men of their word not men full of windy promises only. The settlors want Mount Messenger finished first and foremost, and let tho other works, necessary, perhaps, takes their chance in tho meantime.