DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 43, 31 May 1910, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondents.) j WAItEA. A farewell social was tendered to Misi Marie Francis in the local hall on Wednesday night. The night was fairly fine; and .aboil t two hundred people were present. The hall was very prettily decorated with nikau palms and various kinds of flowers. During the evening several songs were rendered iby Mrs. Wade, Misses Cassie, Bartlett, Topsy Murphy, Rita Hall, Mr. Eric Andrews, and others. During the early part of the evening a presentation of a purse of sovereigns was made to Miss Francis. Mr. H. Corhett made the presentation in a few felicitous ■words. Mjr. George Wade responded on behalf of Miss Francis. The dance music was player by Mr. J. B. Knowles, the Ducker Family, and others, 'wJiile Mr. M. Poynton acted as M.C. At midnight an excellent supper was dispensed. Dancing was kept going until about four o'clock on Thursday morning. The sum of £l9 was taken at the door. Miss Evans' farewell will taike place on Tuesday, the 31s-t. TOKO. The turnip crops, which a while hack showed a. tendency towards the 'blight, have made a remarkaible recovery! Hence her Majesty the Cow seems to he in for a good winter. Land values up this way have been increasing at a great rate* and several farms have changed hands at highly satisfactory prices, and as the deals were mostly cash, cooky, instead of the usual overdraft, now finds himself in possession of a solid banking account, fiw. the summit of which he adversely criticises the socialistic tendency of the present Government, talks severely to t-hd hired man, and says "Haw!"' to the calves. -

Inspired .probably by the success of the Toko Cricket Club, who have held tlie shield now for two years, the ladies have formed a hockey' club, of which Mr. J. B. Hine, M.P., is president, Miss Burgham captain, Miss Allen secretary, and 1 Mr. Mathers coach. Having >n heavy membership and enthusiastic officials, the institution should prove a great success. We had the Governor here the other day, and some hundred and fifty turned out to greet the representative of Royalty. Upon the visit of a previous Governor to Toko, he foirad upon his arrival at the station one siolitary Individual standing on the ,platform with •whom he heartily shook hands. Thereupon the Toko-ite, who wasn't well versed as to the movements of the representative of the Crown 5 and so had no clue as to the identity of the affable stranger, said "Spare me days! You have the advantage of me, old chap!" Messrs Uruquliart and Britenstein have formed a gymnasium club, and the idea has caugnt on well with the local youth, amongst whom are several budding Hackenschmidts. They were fortunate in .securing such a capable instructor as Mr. Uruquliart, who was for two years champion gymnast of the land Where the braw chieftain said to the enemy who asked for quarter, ''l hae na' time ta quarter ye, so I'll juist cut ye in twa." An official holding a prominent position on the staff of the Public Works Department met with somewhat summary treatment iat the hands of the Department. Aifter twelve years' service, during which time be has had charge of tunnels in various parts of the Dominion and in the construction of which he never had an accident, though at times he has had as many as three hundred men working under 'him, he was informed that Ms services would be dispensed with. Naturally enough, 'he wanted to know why, but a silence came over the Department, compared to which the grave was a pandemonium. The official in question is not going to take thin.ars lying down, and when Parliament meets the matter will probably engage the attention of the House. If an enquiry is granted, an interesting and instructive sidelight will be thrown upon the workings of the Civil Service. The party demanding the enquiry, like the little boy with the pain in his stomach, possesses "inside information."

LINCOLN ROAD. As in other districts, the cows are going off fast here and the Moa Company •is taking in milk only every other day. The farmers generally are beginning to •taike it a -little easier now, and the younger generation are already availing themselves of whatever amusements a country district affords. Some of the young men are making good use of the brief shooting season. It was a se««ioie move on the part of the Acclimatisation Society to Limit the season, as game is getting very scarce all oyer the district. Others are interesting themselves in football. A very .pleasant little function took place on the Bristol road on Wednesday night, the event being the marriage of Mis Beatrice Scfowiieters, of Bristol road, to Mr. J. Willis, of Rapuni. The cere mony "was performed in the Wesley a.ll Church, Inglewood, after which the wedding breakfast was held at the residence of the bride's parents. The usual •toasts were honored, and among the best wishes of .the friends assembled, the newly-wedded couple left by mail train en route to Auckland.