DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 117, 15 June 1909, Page 4

DISTRICT NEWS

(From Our Own Correspondents.) STRATFOHP. A good deal «>f interest is being taken in the controversy raging around the new wharf. It is to be hoped the be.it possible scheme will be evolved so that no further loans will 'be required, anil that the Harbor Board will push the work along so Unit a repetition _of the delav in getting frozen meat away will not occur again. A definite assurance [that ocean-going boats can load at the | breakwater will cause the farmers' ■ freezing company to start work in regard to the erection of their works between Lepperton and New Plymouth, and then there will be no more complaints of shutting out stock or delay in getting wool to the Home market;, | and moreover will save Messrs Borthwick probably several hundreds per annum in demurrage on vessels laying off Waitara and unable to load. The finder of the ancient frog at Hliiakama will have his name handed down to posterity, -but it will not last, lam afraid. Like the immortal jumping frog of history, probably this one was loaded with something. An unrecorded incident at the railway works happened %along a day or two back. There are several artists in the •'Kip" line, and the two-up schools range from the kindergarten classes to the upper or university top row. Two of the latter variety happened along and joined the merry 'throng, and quickly cleaned out the lower standards, but when they struck the degree men an examination of the humble brownie was insisted on, .vhen it was found that one had two heads and the other one two tails. Two wet, muddy anil wiser graduates tramped along wiser and sadder men. .

The 5.M... Mr. Turnbull, owing to sickness, could not preside at the S.M. Court on Friday, and the Bench was occupied bv Messrs Sole and Masters, J.P.V. \V.*G| Finnemore was lined Ms or seven davs' for cutting off the tail of a oat. tile Bench describing the let as one of wanton cruelty. Several debt cases were dealt with and a married man named Lucena, charged with not having made proper provision for an illegitimate child, was remanded until Friday next.

Clifton footballers journeyed to Stratford lost Thursday and met their fate at the hands of the eovspankers. The Clifton team *T»»ts to learn the gentle art of cow-kicking when in trouble, most of their footwork being like a hors'e's backwards.

A case of the "good Samaritan""occurred the other night here. A woman with live children, the youngest a baby, arrived bv mail train expecting to be met bv her husband, but he unfortunately missed the lluiroa connection and w'-as not on hand. She, Ho the story goes, went to some of .the -hotels,"but was re-; fused accommodation on. the score that they had no room, but somehow or other the "Merry Widow" company was easilv put up the night before. Anyhow, to make a long and painful story short, art express- driver look the lot to his own Inline and put them up for the night. This womajji offered to pay the hotel people in advance, and every three years ire'hear of the wonderful reforms that are going to take place, and that nfl accommodation would be procurable if it were not for the licensed houses. But it was even 'thus.

TO.VCAPORUTI*. The weather here during the past week has been close and warm; nc frosts. All the co-op. men have now Oieen dismissed and not a hit of roadwork i? being done. The main road is in a state that requires immediate attention. A week's sandstoning, with a horse and dray, would now. prevent a lot of dam age. ■ That portion of the road which the Cliftoa County Council roadmen have been usinss in carting sandstone to put on the Okan road is in a very bid state and a shot or two in the sandstone cliff would put this in gowj order foi the winter would put this it) gow} orJei for the winter, but there seems to 'be at money.. Now that all the men are idl'r here—for a' day or two, at least—j think this would be a good chance tc get up a workiDg bee, and get the roai to our ermet'Biy put in a .passable state Tea or twejly* men could in one daj make it at least -pHMtalMe for a vehieh to get a* far as the .cemetery gate Then, again, the fern ia* got <(. gooi ho)d in the cemetery and a few hours U there would improve this last restini place. T hope someone will take W> jnatter up and get it attended to. One of our storekeepers Jias run « sliort of goods that lie has now to gei them from Waitara to llokan and titer they have to -be carted down here. This of course, is due 'to tile accident to thi ss. Titoitoi. So far ;is I can gather she still lies on the beaclj at .Maiokapa. and will most likely be ttoaVj off durin;. the coming week'* spring tides. There are four iron girder* lyJMj; at tie wharf here. They are intended to be awl ill a bridge up the Okau roat 1 am afraid (bey will have to remain where they «iy far this winter, as the roads are Ko soft *fcd the girders sr heavy that there is no topp of gettino them up for tlie next four me-utlis, at any rate. .Why could they not iavt been sent here" in small section? The\ could have been' put together on the ground. There are men here who know how to do this.

Another little matter that ought to be ntfc'nded to is the burnt .papa on the north side of Mount Messenger. Tt is half over the road and blocking the water tables, and a liad bog-hole is lining formed there. T cannot understand why our eoac-h iproprietors have not "luvjfed" I'gninst this. The papa could be puton the road and be of some servtc* during the winter, lint from what T can '.rather it is destined to remained where it is until nvxl summer.

The following letter has been received Iron Mr. Stewart in tvply lo a smab tnt.cn of regard which was presented to hi*: -"Dear Mr. Yon Kturinc,....•Thank, Tfrr much for the kind and iiiteri-siiiVj; letter ami for the very valuable present. It has been much admired here n'aiiiiiarunui!. Our postmaster thinks it pxci'eiliiiglv nice. ,1 don't know howto thank the donors, i think I shall send a *dip with an expression u $ gratitude to nil. I was surprised but g-ra-te-fnl to find ,-i.nioiigst the donors those whom T little expected would respond. Tt will be cherished (is a token of goodwill towards me from my friends of the Tongaporutu district."

1 hear that >. whole.s'ale licens,, is to be applied for for ibis district. I do «.,! think it will meet with success. If il ll'ies. then the best thing to do is' to tine erevy means in our power to boycott' such a disgraceful niece of bad faith.