HUNTERVILLE NOTES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 7474, 25 July 1891, Page 2

HUNTERVILLE NOTES.

(By Our Travelling Commissioner)

On Thursday lost, after an interval of several monthi, I again paid a visit to this celebrated and rising township. I found several additions in the way of buildings, but scarcely tho amount of progress that I should have expected. This, however, is no doubt to be attributed to tho very severe weather experienced of late, whioh was cold enough to freeze up enterprise as well as water. The roads and streets were in a terrible state of mud and slush, and many of the inhabitants appear to have developed a propensity for jumping that would do credit to a kangaroo, as they could be seen taking terrifio leaps and bounds, in order to avoid the numerous bog holes. The packers on their return from a journey up the back roads, were encased in an armour composed of yellow clay, that enveloped them from head to foot, which, when dry, had to be broken off in lumps before they could take off their various artioles of clothing. Amongst the various additions I noticed a Temperance Hall, butcher's, saddler's, and stationer's shops, as well as another billiard-room. There is a large amount of work going on, inoluding bushfalling, road and railway contracts, at which a large number of men are engaged. Tho burning question appears to be the site of the proposed bridge over the Rangitikei River. Publio opinion favours the looahty known as Vinegar Hill, but influence is being brought to bear to endeavour to get it ereoted further up the river at a place known as Otara. On the prinoiple of doing good to the greatest number, there is no doubt but the former site is the most suitablo, us il will effeot direct communication with the Sandon Small Farm Settlement, and bring them within easy distance of Hunterville, and if the question is decided on its merits, there is no doubt but that Vinegar Hill will win the day, although like its name, it is causing much acidity in other quarters at present. I was much struck by the numbers of passengers arriving and departing by tho different trains, and I counted four commercial travellers doing the block round Hunterville. The return to town by the evening train is not an enjoyab'o ride. A succession of stoppages, and tedious delays in shunting, Ac, especially noticeable at Rate, does not tend to onlivon the spirits of the traveller, tho climax being reaohed at Marton Junction, where the train is kept moving backwards and {forwards with no apparent object in view, except to kill time. Why the Junction was not made at Marton proper, is one of those mysteries that puzzle every traveller by this route, and makes him exclaim with the immortal bari, "Can such things be, and overcome us like a summer's cloud, without our special wonder."