DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 48, 22 March 1909, Page 4

DISTRICT NEWS.

1.1,.* Ml i/lUJidKm.i' 1 (From Our Own Correspondent.)

On (Sunday night last or'rather about 2 a.m. on .Monday morning a dastardly attempt to commit a crime took place in our township. Twu young ladies, who reside alone, were awakened by finding two unknown men in their bedroom. .On giving the alarm the intruders hurriedly withdrew and the indies sought the protection ot. a lieignhour, who went" out- to, search for the miscreants but could see no truce of them. The matter is now in the hands of the police and Constable rVelly with his well-known zeal, is leaving 'no stone unturned to run them to earth, and that lie may be successful is the wish ol every resident in the district.

The recent rains have considerably freshened the pastures and have also improved the roads by laying the dust and settling sonic of the loose metal.

On Sunday last a party ascended the mountain from here and despite slightly unfavorable weather had an enjoyable .time. 1 feel certain -that if the beauties of "this sidft of the mountain were fully known we would soon liave need of •« larger accommodation house. .Next week .Mrs' Mcllanighan leaves here for a holiday trip to Queensland. She will be accompanied by her daii'ditcr, Hiss E. Mcllanighan. °

The many friends of Mr Thus. Hickman, of Opunakc, who was stationed here for many years, regret to hear *f | his present serious illness. We are glad I to hear to-day (Friday) that he is slightly improved and hope it will not be long before he is about again. Mr Mcliauighan, our genial county foreman, js rapidly recovering froni DlieJ ell'ecls of the recent explosion and will I soon be about again. The question of the Rahotu footpaths came 'up at the County meeting last week. It was shown that local residents were prepared to subscribe £l4 14s. out of the estimated cost of £32. Sothe of the councillors were averse to spending money on footpaths, averring that if Raliotu had footpaths other places would ask the council for them too. It was pointed out that the Kahotu Hotel paid a license fee of £2o per annum to the council which the other places did lint. Ultimately it was resolved to hold the matter oyer for a few months, when it was stated members would have no objection to the footpaths being formed. i When a footpath is formed it will be necessary to open a bye road for cattle, so as to prevent cattle being driven along the main road through our populous township. On Wednesday last two coach loads and numberless buggy ami gi« loads of -Maoris pased through here en route to I'arihaka. Since the death of Te AViiiti there have been very few groups of natives passing here en route for I'arihaka, and "meeting days"' have consequently passed unnoticed here. Evidently the old I'arihaka traditions still linger with some natives.

Mr. J. ]>. Kennedy, the now foreman for t lk; ['urihaka Koiul Hoard, has' in-J lived, in Vie late f!HVii*.RCIVIr A. J. Porteous, he has a high standard to keep up to. TIKORAXCII. The genial rains have already chained the -brown fields to green, and the turnips, which are now- looking- much fresher, arc this -season fairly free from aplms. 'ln some crops, however, many, dead leaven are visible, caused apparently by some kind of bligliit. Oats arc yielding rti, Mr. Walter .Crump threshing over 70 bushels per !«cw. This is, I believe, a record for this district.

The stock inspector (Mr. llunro) has again visiited us, vaccinating calves for blackleg. It is pleasing to report that lhi>* disease, once so prevalent, is almost stamped out, and with a continuance of the methods adopted by the Department it is hoped that in a few years the country will be quite free from it.

The Wai'tarii. Freezing Works untaxed 'to their -utmost capacity, owin" to-'the large amount ot fat stock oH'ci"-i-ng, and it is rumored that Messrs. Borthkvick contemplate enlargements enabling them to deal with 2000 sheep daily. This, if correct, will bo pleasing news to bheepowucrs, as fat lambs ought to be drafted off whenever tliev are ready. It is astonishing how .soon a fat Inmb 'wtill sometimes lose its condition.

The action of the Waitara regatta, ■committee in attempting to institute a boycott of one of the local hotels is the subject of considerable adverse criticism. It is pttftablc that more will be heard about it, as it is "reported that several members of the committee were not consulted in the matter, and have freely expressed their regret at the inHident.

Litigation is in the air, and a case in which' a local farmer claims damages 'from the Cliliton Conntv Council -will probably be ventilated in the Magistrate's Count shortly unless an amicable settlement can be arrived at. Dim of.our oldest (residents, Mr. S. Kinuolcey, is about To remove to lib* suburban property ait Waitara. Mr. Knuckey has for years been closely identified with the, daily industry, mid "was a member -of the syndicate which,purchased .the Tikorangi, Dairy factory from the Iflte Mr. J. C. George. They ran it on co-operative lines for some tone, eventually selling- out to the present co-operative dairy eonipany, of which Mr. Knuckey has been a director since its inception. Ih connection with dairying, T notice vcryjrrc.it stress is laid'on testing the cows. Although it as irank heresy to say il, yet I believe too nniuh is made of this point. It is the large, quantity thait (brings in the good returns, and o. heavy milker must have aw exception-' ally low test to warrant her expulsion from the dairy herd.

TAHATA. At the licensing poll here only two voters turned up (the deputy returning olliccr and another). The Pukoho school picnic was held recently, the unsettled state of the. weather keeping many o'f tho Tnrata people at home, though they intended going. Even (lien a very large number of people' attended the picnic, as well us.the concert and dance which followed.