DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 74, 6 July 1910, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

egmOxt village. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Our village has been plunged into a whirl of excitement during the last week, there being something on nearly even' night. • • Tuesday was the fortnightly meeting of the Crib Club. There was a large attendance of members, an<l .single-handed crib was played during the evening. The first prize fell to Mr. T. Murphy, with Mr. D, iPriee second, while Messrs G. Foster and E. Dewhirst divided the third.

On Wednesday a euchre party and dance was held in aid of the Hall Imjirevement Fund, and proved a decided success. About 50 players took part in the tournament. .Mrs. H. H. Olson won the first prize for ladies (glove and handkerchief box) and Mrs. F. Cheffings the second (a lady's companion). The first prize for gentlemen (a razor strop) was won by Mr. H. H. Olson, and the second (a clothes brush) by Mr. J. Thompson. After the euchre dancing was induLged in, Mr. Geo. Marsh supplying excellent music. Mr. E. Dewhirst acted as M.C. About 11.30 an excellent supper was handed round, which was much appreciated by all, dancers in particular. This is the third entertainment held under the auspices of the Hall Improvement Committee, and all have proved entirely successful, socially and financially. The object is a worthy one, and deserves .local support. All local residents patronise the hall to a certain extent and, by supporting entertainments of this description, they are really catering for their own comfort.

On Thursday evening the Mutual Improvement Society held its fortnightly meeting, Mr. Geo. Marsh occupying the chair. The programme for the evening was impromptu speeches, and, although there was only a small attendance, the debates were the keenest and peAaps the most interesting yet held. The first question was one of much lopal interest, and aroused much argument—"Art! the oil-boring companies of New Zealand justified in selling their rights to English capitalists?" On the vote the affirmative prevailed by 7 to 3. "Is life worth living," brought to light only two negatives, who, however, put forward good, if not convincing, arguments. The result was: Affirmative 8, negative 2. Sportsmen, shooters, etc., were catered for by '"Should the sale of the pea-rifle be proi habited." That deadly little weapon is, j however, still on the market, by the . narrow margin of 5 to 4. The best debate of the evening, however, was the last, "Should Tattersall's sweeps be abolished?" Every member spoke at some length on the subject, and argument was heated. The vote resulted in a dead heat, 5 to 5, and the chairman gave his j casting vote in favor of the abolition of the sweeps. A pleasing feature of the evening was the .prominent part taken in | the various debates by young members of the Society. It is to* be hoped their I most creditable efforts on Thursday will I give them confidence to continue "on a course so well begun. An epidemic of influepza among the horses has been causing much trouble to I the local farmers, and. in one case the complaint has been responsible for the death of a valuable animal. • A mild sensation was caused in the Village on Saturday by the vagaries of a horse attached to a gig. The animal, left standing in front of Mr. J. H. Magee's while the driver was using the telephone, started off on its own and turned in the gate. One wheel caught the gate post, which caused the gig to capsize, carrying the horse with it." This, however, failed to damp the fiery steed's ardor, and' he got up with one shaft over his back and one between his legs, and proceeded on his way rejoicing. He him«*lf successfully negotiated a hand gate, which, however, was too narrow to allow of the passage of the vehicle, and he was ibrought to a standstill, but immediately started to buck and kick vigorously, Many willing hands, however, soon extricated him from the melee, when it was ascertained that the gig was not much damaged, although the harness had suffered considerably.