Country News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 40, 17 February 1904, Page 4

Country News.

OAKIIiA. (From Our I'nnw^/.it'lil.l 'ihe storm pa ■«■.-. I cue,- livi-c on, Su.e.rduy hui fortunately no damage wis none. Tlh- school luiilldings hiiv-o been vacatrd lor the painters—who come not. 'J'lH'.v were 1o have commenced lust Tuesday, but eviiidenlly the rates ami tin' circus proviC'd counler-nl-tractions. The latest information- on Satu<duy was "They will he out on Momitty for certain": but the liills have proved too steep for the load of paint. The s-.-houl is to be jKiiiilcd outside ami ini-4-h-e itiwWle for the [irst time in- twenty-lour years : in t.lie luetuiilime Mr Ivirkpalrick and the scholars are continuing their work in the hall amid doing very well under the circuiusilaiKes. Tlw Rifle Cluib lias re-commenced practice, hut the attendances- are very small. Those who luiivo gone to the hulls, however, hetve none fairly well.

TONGAI'OIiUTU. The icffatitn, the civief e\i.»nt of the year, oume o.fV on the Bvh of thismointh, some six wevlcs earlier than ■in |MiH<ious oivs. 'live'day was lovely, but tine -a'ttetiiil'aniß was very [joofl*. f l'he sport, tm>, was wvy poor. 1 'lift* entries for ho'tli land antl water events were ainyth/iii'g hut numerous—no outside conifjc-litors. The water events should I*. 1 diHcorrtinued, as tilveiv are now Uut threw canoes, aij.l one of them lias scoi.>r,«l the |/00l at e\ery meeting. 'l'he handitapper soenis ])OW'erlet;s to stoji her. l''inuni.iaily, the regatta of lilOl must l;e termed a failure. 'lllie hall in- the new hall iu the leM'ivlii'ij was a lieUer ultolr. Tins was the opening of the hall—a nice little Inuld'ingi I.V U.i' hri'dge, jusU liniih'h'Otl. Tliiere was a piano, several violins, and other musical ins'trunivii'ts. The catering was 'done by Mr It. O'lJomiull, who seenud to he kept busy. The hall has been built by a company (local mew), £1 shares limilti.l lral.flit.v. and thv g'louud was given by Mr A. <!'i(Jb». The mail is now carried in an expri.si;, an'd much belter time kept. The driver seems to g>et a good many passiTigers, and more parcels than he can cany, 'l'he road is fairly good ; it could not he otherwise wiuh such a line summer. The niailni'an got his leg broken at|jnt Christmas ; his horse fell with Mini, und he was Tor some time in the hospital. The fine summer has given the settlors aai opportunity of getting rid of tl.eir surplus timber. (>ul- Uniti aie to have their sports on the lfit'h, and g-iven a line day it will !>e a. pleasant outing. 'l'hwy have had too much lire. 'llivir school was burnt last year, and Mr Joll's butter factoiy ' this year. The former will lie re-built shortly, and donibitless the factory, too. Wiliim Sir A. .1". Cadinaii's coal coiujttny starts work a railway will be certain to come this way.