RAHOTU.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 2, 3 January 1903, Page 2

RAHOTU.

(from our own correspondent.) Locally Cnristmas tide has been extremuly quie% and for anything, save ' the mild st excitement r-eidunts hive be6ii compelled to go r.fiald. 'JIh ■• Oliurch of England hell set vies on XtnasDay her*>,Piitigi>ehu,«tKl VVaie.i. We had a facrcd concert on lioxing R Night;, following one at Opunake ou <] Xmae Nigbt by the same artistes, bo'.h f of which were ho well appreciated that they are not unlik>ly to become annua! f fixtures. Classical music, such bs we < heard at the-e, is rot oft n p ovid d in oar district, perhaps because we lack t somewhat musical culture and taste,* J but suffice it to eay that those present, appriciated whit wjs given from. r liiuidtl's Messiah. Judas Micc»beu«, a a d Mxssart'e Twelfth Mas?, etc., while J "Toe Holy Ci'y" and o.her vocal (ices were excellent'y rendered. ] Our n w storekeeper, Mr Hughson, 1 lias betm well to the fore. His baker's | c.rt is in daily evidence. His stack of 1 Ohris mas novelties and general met- I chaudise bdtoken an up-t)-dite enter-! pris3l kely to c mmand success, i The p pulatioa of the district grow ] apace, the Kahui-road that intersects he township having i heavier popula-' I tion arording to the census than a>jy i other ro\d bttweenNew Plymou f h and. Opunake. The new res dmoe for the inin-ia-bluQ is netting completion Tne telephonic work at the Post Office \ h s, I brieve, b en a record here, and | a number of telephone lia'smen have entered upon tent life in. drenching I rain in the township to-day, A sub-, scrip'.ion list is hiring raised to complete ' th? Kahui-road mountain track, which bsing accomplished will result at once, in a large number climbing from this ' side. Numerous parties who went up last year were so well p'easeJ that they speak of ascending again this season. I A Government day school is to open six miles or more up the Kthui-road af cer the Christmas holidays, Mr Limi brick having kindly granted the use of i a house for the first six months or so. Ensign Sterling, of the Salvation* Army, whose siug'ng is a great attrao- , tion, is leaving, and George Rie, a Maori, as well as Mits M. Poillips, are' ; said to be devoting themselves to Sal-, i Vntioa Army work in permanence, and ; also likely to tak.e wing, i Several resident?, I regret ti write, ; are out of haltb—noiably our local . returning officer at the electoral pall, ■ Mr E R. Morgan, and much sympathy i i finds expression. ■, Residential changes are imminent in the adjiining township of Fungarehu i if Dams rumour mvy be creditad, but s coo nebulous eg yet for exact and scientific observations to be recorded. Here, . however, the whole neighbourhood is, , in*er.sted io the coming Horticultural' , Show, which is fix d for Match 12th i, next, " I s Warea and Okato have both pjenics I with strong attractions for New Year's Day, both of whic'a are 1 kely to have j - crowds of pttron?. Oka'o I hoar is to II have a public hall to erst same £SOO, f which, built for purpose* of drill hall,' . will rtc ivo from fcV-e Government i pound fir pound kc lly raise!. It will, ■ prove a g-'eat public c-nveniaece, no suitable building being available h re ; for political, social, and musical gather--7 ingj. The schoolroom, which of necessity has hitherto had t j swve, is nnst I insanitary, its great ceiling and enbio area making it li tie leas than a veri- ■ tabe death trip, The sickness and 8 denization whiob temlts 'herefrom to t the teach rs and scholars who for edu--9 cational reasons have to speed their, a days therein are a reproach to the | - authorities concerned, and donbtkss, - medicos who visit this dis'rict could a - tale unfold if they were asked to. The earth shake was a shock to-day,, r Like 'hi rumbls of thunder it came,' 3 and at fir-it as I sat writiag I mistook i > it th rsfor. The house rocked, and i articles rattled for several Fe:oods, and! che clock s'opp°d at 12 minutes to 12. 8 I cat.noi gmr.ntce that it gives the! . correct time. Everyone is talking of it as the heaviest felt here. j