WAYSIDE JOTTINGS.

(By our Travelling Commissioner.) February 28, Leaving Hawera, a ride of some three and a half miles brings us to Normanby, which at one time was supposed to be destined to cut out its sister township, a prediction, however, that seems likely to remain indefinitely unfulfilled, as although it experienced a. temporary boom, a reaction soon set in, and it had to reconcile itself to taking a secondary position. Leaving Normanby, we enter the Mountain Road. which only a comparatively few years back was a dense and impenetrable forest, and was the line of route taken by General Chute in his famous march through to Hew Plymouth, and was always afterwards known as Chute's track. To have hinted that a road fit for vehicle traffic would be an accomplished fact during the present century, would at that time have brought upon the suggestor of such, an idea nothing but ridicule and contempt, whilst the mere insinuation of a railway would hare boon sufficient to consign the supposed imbecile to a lunatic asylum. But what a magical transformation do we find has taken place during the last few years. The dense forest has disappeared, and given place to verdant fields and smiling homesteads, and not only does a metalled road penetrate the former wilderness, but side by side run a railway with its firing steeds dragging along immense burdens of merchandise and produce, together with their living freights o£ animals and human beings. Biding along this memorable route, still fresh with the stirring memories of bygone times, we finally reach Eltham, a township that has made remarkable progress during the last few years, and seems likely to still farther advance in the future. This place achieved considerable notoriety owing to Mr Chew Chong, its principal townsman, carrying of the first prize for butter at the late Dunedin Exhibition, and his jubilee factory as it is called, became quite famous in consequence. The papers made a great to do over the matter at the time, commenting freely on the fact of a Chinaman being able to wrest the honours from our crack Britain, and European dairymen. Now although Mr Chew Chong deserves every credit for his enterprise in establishing the factory, the sole honour of winning the coveted prizes belongs to Mr Sydney Morris, the manager/ who has since accepted the managership o£ the large dairy factory in the Waikato. Eltham has long been celebrated as the only township in the colony of the same size and importance that could not boast of the possession of a piano. After bearing the taunt patiently for years, an enterprising individual recently imported one of these instruments, and received permission to locate it in the Town Hall. As soon the news spread, the building was thronged by an eager and excited crowd, who were anxious to be the first to witness and welcome this long expected stranger. It was some time before anyone with sufficient courage and skill could be found to tackle the mysterious instrument, but when at length a rather seedy-looking personage, with airy fingers and long unkempt hair, was prevailed upon by the inducement of a promised whiskey straight, to take his seat and commence an assault on the ivories, the wildest enthusiasm prevailed, and as the first notes of the prelude broke forth, a mighty cheer broke that shook the building to its foundation, and on the conclusion of the fantasia a general move was at once made for the nearest hotel, where in copious libations of the prevailing favourite and popular beverages, the health of the stranger was drunk with musical honours of the moat varied description. In the evening the streets were brilliantly illuminated, home made candles being contributed for the occasion with a prodigal hand, a lavish display of Chinese crackers also taking place, and the event will long be remembered as one of the most marked and memorable incidents in the history of this rising and progressive little township. The next place on the road of any note is Ngaire, which although not a township, supports several stores and other business places owing to two large saw-mills being located in the vicinity. Three and a half miles from Ngaire we come to the now famous township of Stratford, which from, a place of comparative insignificance a few years back, has lately risen to a foremost position, and appears destined to become ere long the premier inland township on the coast. The best proof of the progress of Stratford is shown in the phenomenal growth of its cattle sales, which, at one time were not only very poorly attended, but the muster of stock frequently consisted of only two or three ancient looking cows and a few consumptive calves the auctioneer, Mr Newton King, being often unable to net a commission of more than half a crown on his day's work. Fortune however, attends those who wait, and the yard had to be gradually enlarged from time to time to meet the growing demands The opening up of the East road, and the large amount of valuable land that it has made available for settlement, all obtainable being eagerly taken up, and the near prospect of through communication with Auckland, has lately given a great impetus to Stratford, and it promise to progress in the future by the now proverbial leaps and bounds." It is also fortunate enough to possess a journal of its own that is devoted to furthering its interests in every way, and in the Egmont Settler, the residents have &n organ that they will find it to their interest to support and encourage as being their best friend, and one that will prove a powerful auxiliary to their future progress . Markman. Wanganui Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 7348, 24 February 1891, Page 2