Okato News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 118, 23 May 1904, Page 4

Okato News.

_ •— ——— (From Our Correspondent. At a meeting of the Diamond Foot--1»1U Club, it was decided to commeifca practices on Saturday last,, on/we usual ground kindly lent irom yeW to year by Mr J. Putt, who ! has; as a slight recognition of the service he has rendered in thus promoting the sport, been elected a life member of the club. There is some talk of the school boys trying to get off a match with Oakura. A meeting of those interested in , the formation of a bacon factory company on co-operative lines was called for Wednesday night, but owing to the inclemency of the weather the attendance was small, although it is generally reported that numbers of those who rear pigs arc very anxious that something be done to conserve their interests.

It is reported that the contractor ■ for the upper end of the Puniho lload will havp finished, In, about a tort- j night's time. Those who ought, to . know state that Mr Harford has done good work, in the way of formation and draining through some difficult swampy ground. I believe it was generally ynderstood that once the sections on the Puniho Road above the Carrington Road were taken up the Public Trustee would have a road opened up to these sections. At present they are practically inaccessible, and the owners are wondering ... when the promise will be fulfilled. i The officers of the recent race meeting wound up the affairs of the club the other evening. The balance-sheet showed a credit running into double figures. What was done with the balance is only recorded in local history, and the happy winding up will be a tradition to be told by future grandfathers, when speaking of their , ancietit deeds of emulation. Will their ■ sons, having regard to ancestral chivalry, attempt such deeds of daring ? Query ! They say extremes meet. bureij this was the case when the new doco* toribought apiece of the cemetery for diseased cattle for his new residence. If it is not too late, the general opinion is that the doctor would be serving, his own interests much better if he settled right in the - township on the main road, and handy to the telephone. .- •. - 'The Sheldon: Company visited here on Tuesday night, and played to a fair house. The parts taken by Mr Sheldon himself were highly appreci-

' Bted. . Some of the settlers intended going ' " down to the Farmers' Union meeting at Warea to hear Mr Maxwell on the new valuation, but distance and dark nights are often effectual barriers to ~ attendance at such meetings. All ' honour to those at Warea who are pulling so well together and striving to bring about a greater unanimity amongst the farmers aa to what concerns their common welfare. M? Mcfcullum's motor waggon is still a thing of absorbibg interest, as is evidenced by the numbers that line the roods, and the rush to house and shop doors as it passes on its way along the' 'coast'. Many and various are the expert speculations of laymen, some wise, some otherwise, as to its construction and mode of working. Horses take to it much more'family than was anticipated. Indeed, one driver asserts that often the timid individual in charge of the horse is more frightened than the beast, for be gets out when the motor is a* mile away only to find that as the motor approaches and passes the horse serenely grazes, and wishes another motor would come in sight \rßtr~the next Wll to give him another spell-oh." I understand that the machine is provided with a powerful k'nd of hub brake with which it can be pulled up quickly even when it is going at a high rate of speed down the steepest' hills. Besides this it has "an ordinary tyre nrakc, which can be used at will. Farmers are devoting their spare time to getting fences in order and firewood home for the winter while the fine weather lasts, they having more time, as the factories and creameries in this district have started receiving the milk every other day.