DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 98, 3 August 1910, Page 8

DISTRICT NEWS.

f TARATA. (From Our Own Correspondent,) * On Thursday evening last the ladies' annual ball was held, and was a splendid success. The hall was beauuluily decorated, the floor was in excellent condition, the music ftupphed.i by jjijs.' George's orchestra) was superb, and the supper was all.that heart could wish for, 'Guests arrived from Inglewood, Matau,' Purangi, .Waitara, antt nom every settlement within travelling distance,, so that the hall was filled to oversowing. Fortunately, , the weamer, though cold, was dry and fine; in fact,it was an ideal night for„a bill. .Everyone seeded tp' be happy,-,an4 to entjir thoroughly into the' enjoyment of tie ba11..., ,I'qo much praise cannot,Degiven to tli« young ladies who conducted the entertainment, from tastefully decorating the hall, acting ta'WOJi, Serving %i supper, and carrying out the various duties which usually fall toi'the lpt l of the young'men of a district. I do not know the names of the members of. the ladies' committee,; but I do Jcuow'ioat each of them did Splendid work and- that they are the admiration of';tlieir,gues£». Many swM ; look forward with pleasure to the next ladies' ball at Tarata.

On Friday afternoon ine scnooi children said good-bye to their Mr. Rice, and presented him with an ad' j dress ; expressing, their kindly feeling""to» wards him and their sorrow at his being, compelled., to leave" owing to' illiealth. Miss Phoebe White, in a neat speech, expressed the regret of the childaten;at, the loss of their teacher, and also their hopes that Mr. Rice's- health would improve. Miss Waite then'presented Mr. Rice with a'veJy TOluable pipe, as something to remind him ox his old pupils at Tarata.:' "*'\ ,f*"\ ..-"\ Mr. Rice thantttgL thehe had always found good, welt-behaved, and obedient. He was proud, of- a great number of them for their diligence and proficiency. He JW,«r, during, his stay in Tarata had occasion with, a.. child in the. 5ch001,,,„ He, would, like to hear occasionally from-some of them, and would always be interested in their welfare,. The children-then- gavethree hearty cheers for their old teacher, and-after a warm hand shake, went their various ways home. .' •% & Th& Settlers "or f the school,'children, Sajsd f#6lss $Mi Ricein tog ete.' l in''"tlß- hall on Saturday evening to give, their, guest, Mr. Rice, a send-off. Mr. Standish occupied the chair. AfieV.seeing;"djhe, honor done to "His Gracious 4 MjeSty' The King,".the,chau'man y in,an excellent speech, proposed the toast of-their guest, Mr. Rice, who was retiring through failing, health from the teaching profession. They were all sorry he was leaving Tarata,; and .still.morip, sorry for the cause of his having to retire. The chairman pointed... out v many ways in which Mr. Rice had been useful and serviceable while in the district, ami said.he would be missed from t, Messrs. H. Waite, Fougere and Cloikuli members of the school committee* also expressed their sorrow; .jfcha,t *<>, leave as their children were getting on splendidly under Ms tuition, and Uiey consid: ered him a very good teacher. The toast was drunk with musical, honors. The chairman then, on behalf of the people of Tarata, presented Mr.. Rice with an umbrella, which he hoped would help to ward off the atoi-pk of the future, and also remind him that he? had friends and well-wisher* m .. Tarata. Mr. Rice thanked'them for their 1 kind expressions and far their* very valuable gift. He would never forget the kindnesses he had received in Tarata, and was sorry he had to leave so many kind friends, I do not remember the toast list, but excellent speeches were delivered oni the politics of the district, touching such questions as the upkeep v of the: roads, the best way o£ opening up communication by road between Tarata and ttte coast, and the questions in dispute between the various local bodies. Humorous subjects, toe*, called forth the eloquence of others, and many excellent songs were sung, so that a very pleasant evening .was spent. Amongst the] speakers were Blfessrs. Standish,, H. Waite, A. Corkill, Fougere, H. Sander,' J; Patterson, Gvßaxter, R H. Guilford; and the- singers, Messrs. Baxter, Corkill, Street,, T., Waite and ; Collins. I wish I ihad taken notice of | the various .speeches, as I know they were well abov» the usual- standard.