DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1909, Page 4

DISTRICT NEWS.

RAIIOTU. Mr. T. Mcdloin, an old resident of this district, but for the last six years :i resident of Hamilton, has been in the district renewing old acquaintances. The holidays passed oil'.very quietly here. Tile sports on New Year's Day were well patronised and exceedingly well managed. Several picnics were also held at the beach and in the bush. The weather was splendid all day, but about li p.m. heavy rain fell, which made it unpleasant for those who had to go home to milk. Xcw Year's Eve also passed oil' exceedingly well, there being absolutely none of that horse play, such as removing gates, carts, etc., which characterises some districts on that particular evening.

The rain which fell lately has bce".i iif inestimable benefit and. greatly appreciated by all except those farmers who were unfortunate enough to be hay making. J. am pleased to notice that every year more w-intor feed is being grown, the farmers realising that to secure good returns during the season the cattle must Ins well looked after in the winter. .

It is noticeable that the ragwort, which was mentioned as appearing in the district last year, is again making its re-a]>pearanee in a. much greater quantity. It will be a serious thing for Hi© district in a very few years if this is allowed to spread. There is i some chance of keeping it hack if it is tackled now in its early stages, but if left to spread in a very short time it will be well-nigh impossible, to check it, particularly in the rough bush land. IA shooting contest took ;placfc at Opunake on Thursday for £lO a-side between one of our best local shots, Mr. .1. Christian, and Mr. F. Julian, of Piliama. The conditions were seven shots each at 200, 500 and (iIK) yards, and Mr. Christian proved the. winner by eight points, putting up the possible at 500 yards, the score being:—Christian, 31— 35_-27—total !«; Julian, 32—111—22 total S3. One or two other matches are on the tapis. A young lad named Condish had an exciting time on Thursday morning whilst driving to the factory with bis milk. When coming down the Kahui road he met a motor car—a very unusual sight on these roads—and his horse took fright and bolted. The cart ran into a hole and capsized. No damage was done to the driver, cart or horse, but a. considerable quantity of milk was spilt, and two or three cms flattened out. It is pleasing to note, however, that the motorists remained behind and did all they could to assist the vouug fellow in righting the cart, etc. '

iSome amusement was caused at the circus on Friday afternoon during Hie ibuck-jnmping. One of the horses, aided bv a loin rope, had unseated two or three local riders who aspired to earn the .CI offered to anyone who could stav on lor 30 seconds. The management then proceeded to give an exhibition on another horse, but without tile loin rope. The horse plunged and jumped a little and (he rider remained on. In response to the repeated requests of the audience the loin rope was ultimately put on and the exhibitor shared the same fate as the local riders, being thrown over (he animal's head.