DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 254, 20 October 1908, Page 4

DISTRICT NEWS.

\YAItEA. The annual meeting of the Cape Kgmont Horticultural Society was held in the hall on Friday night. There was a fair attendance. Mr, J. Burgess prosided, and congratulated the members upon the balance-sheet. All liabilities had been paid, and a balance of £4 llis lOd remained in hand. The entrance fees for the 1008 show amounted to £0 llis, as compared with £4 10s 0d for the previous year, an increase of more than 50 per cent. The prize money paid out last year was £ls 8s od, as against £!l lid for 1007 show, an increase. of nearly 70 per cent; whilst advertisements in the catalogue rose from £5 8s to £0 15s. Some items, particularly door-taking*) and r'efrcshnicntboolli, show a decrease, but the first was largely due to the fact that theie were no members in 1007, and all paid entrance, Inn in l!)OS there were 20 members each entitled to free entrance lor himself and a friend. The rain ! greatly interfered with the success of the show.. But. in spite of all the drawbacks, the society had no reason to regret, Ihe results of its clVorls. Two things showed out very prominently in connection wivli the affairs of the society for the past two years: the lirst was tlie absolute importance of having a goed secretary. and the second the sound policy of having a liberal pri/.elist. No -ojic.ty had a more conscientious am! painstaking secretary tlian the'-r society, and il. was mainly due to li's efforts I hat the .-.oeiety ,had been lit'ti .1 , from an almost defunct condition to its present nourishing state. 'The balancesheet was read and proved very satisfactory. The expenditure amounted to £3l 15s (ill. and the receipts to £3O 14s 4d, leaving a credit balance, of £4 18s lOd. The report and balance-sheet ' were adopted. i The election of officers resulted:—

Patron, Mr. Henry Okey, M.P.; president, Mr. .lames Burgess; vice-presidents Mesdames Clarke, Millar and Larking, Messrs. B. A. Layard, S. Pelliam, It. Bell and W. McLachlan; general committee, Mesdames Coi'bett. .Millar, King, Seftoa, Clark** and Larking, .Messrs. .1. Burgess, J. Pelliam, F. Jenkins, If. Pclluun, J. Millar, W. McLachlan, 11. Bell, V. P. Robinson, B. Anderson, P. A. Putt, B. A. Layard, T. E. Larking, T. K. Julian, C. \V. Unveil, anil If. Stanton; auditor, Mr. \V. 11. Keashberry; secretary and treasurer, Mr. iS., Sefton. Jt was decided to hold the show about the first week in March. RAIIOTU.

Another shooting competition took place at the Raliotu rifle range on .Saturday for a trophy. Several new shots competed, and tile winner turned up in J. (luy, who won for the second time. The conditions were seven shots each at 200 and 300 yards. The trophy has to be won twice at intervals or three times in succession. Tlio winners so far are Messrs. J. Guy twice, and A. l'hillips and H. J. Field once each. Following are the scores:— 200 300 hep Tl. J. Guy .. .. 33 20 2 04 \Y. Coombc .. 27 22 15 04 J. Colmcr .. 31 28 2 01 G. Hughson .. 24 17 10 57 H. Baker .. '25 25 0 50 J. F. Shepherd 23 27 5 55 A. Phillips .. 28 19 scr 47 ]). Uothery .. 22 20 scr 42 J. Gilmer .14 12 15 41 11. Pennington 10 8 10 40 John Rotliery 19 18 scr 37

Electioneering matters here are getting a little more interesting, although there has not been the same excitement so far as was evinced at the recent byeelection. .Most of the candidates have already appeared in the local hall, tin Wednesday evening -Mr. Dive, the Opposition candidate, addressed tin; elecUus. There was a good attendance. Mr. T. I'. Iluglison presided. .Mr. Dive gave a good address on the lines of his previous speeches, and was attentively listened to. At the. conclusion several questions were ashed and replied to. Mr. Hughson moved a vote of uhanks to the speaker. This was seconded liy .Mr. Chapman and curried. The usual vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the On Thursday Mr. Wive addressed a fair audience at the Kahui schoolroom.

The additions to the school are almost completed. The accommodation provided is for an attendance of 120, but if tlie district continues to progress as it has lately it should not be long before further additions are required. The annual school-examination takes place on November 2nd.

I had a look at the school gardens the other day, through the courtesy of Mr. Campbell, headmaster. The farmers' experimental plots have been aliaml oned, owing to want of funds. This seems a pity, as the knowledge and experience gained from them should bo of iiuinen-e benefit to the of the district. Kver.v year is proving the fact i hat cropping must, be gone in for to provide winter feed for cattle, and these experimental plots demonstrate clearly what seeds are most suitable/ and what fertilisers are the most serviceable for obtaining the best results. The children's plots are in good order, ami have been planted with various vegetables, and in a few weeks should look well.

A concert took place in tile hall on l'riday night in aid of the building fluid. Xlie concert was promoted by a committee, of wliom ills. Campbell was the leading mover, to provide funds for the bazaar, and certainly .Mrs, Campbell deserves great praise for the indefatigable manner in which .she worked, and the ■success achieved is mainly due to li.'i' efforts. A capital programme was rendered, and delighted the large -audience present. Mr. T. t\ llughsun presided. The followiiigiprograninio was rendered: Tableaux, "Faith, Hope, and Charity," .Misses Mcllrcgor, A. Hopkins, and 11. llughson, -Mr.-j. Wright -singing the solo "Charity"; ".sleeping lieauly," princess ('. McCrcgor, pages M. llughson aiul 11. Kelly, watchers .Misses Campbell M. llugllson audU. Mcllunighaii; "Creek iSJave,*' Miss IJ. Wright; song, "The Carnival," ill-. Coombridge; song, "Ivy," -Miss 1. Hansen (encored); trombone solo, "Dcalli of Kelson," Jlr. Brookes; skirt dance, Miss liookes; song, "Tell her 1 love her .so," Mr. Kelly; Irish jig, -Mr. 1). Duncan; ducL, " Whispering Mope," .Mr. Turner and Miss Campbell; Irish jig, .Miss iiml Master liookes; song. "Ora 'l>l'o Nobis," Mr. Ilughson;' song, Mr. Coombridge; physical drill by school children under Miss Lewis; hornpipe, Mr. D. Duncan; pianoforte duel. Misses Laybmirn; humorous reading, "Tlii' Twins," Ml-. S. Taylor; dialogue, "Little IVuy.-' Misses M, iluglison, A. Hopkins, and K. Campbell. At the conclusion. a hearty vote of thanks was included lo all the performers and those who bail worked to make the concert a succe.". Supper, provided by the ladies, was (lien handed round by a* committee, consisting of Mcsdam'es Kellv, Wright, Mellaiiighan, and Cramer. The hall was then cleared and dancing Indulged in to excellent music provided by 'Messrs. Knowles (piano) and 'Dimcan (violin). Mrs. Wright played several extras, .whilst Mr. Fielder made a capable M.C. As result of this entertainment the sum of .17 Js was netted towards the bazaar.