DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 157, 12 October 1910, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

TONGAPORUTU. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The annual meeting of our cricket club was held in the Hall here recently. Mr. Eggleton occupied the chair. The balance-sheet showed a debit of somt £3 17s 6d, but against this must be considered goods in hand estimated ai about £4 10s. The subscriptions were slow in coming in. The balance-sheet as read was adopted. The following officers were elected for the coming year: President, Mr. A. Gibbs; vice-presidents, Messrs. A. Thompson, E. Lang, J. J. Chapman, sen., R. O'Donnell, sen., Skitrop, M. Ayerton and the Rev. O'Beirne; general committee, Messrs. G. Stratton, R. O'Donnell, sen., E. Lang, L. Hutchins, M. Thompson, J. Rattenbury and F. J. Eggleston; captain, Mr. Eggleston. The subscription fee is to remain the same as last year (35.). A vote of thanks was tendered the ladies who during the past season contributed refreshments foi the socials and the afternoon teas. A vote of thanks to the past seseretary and treasurer, Mr. W. O'Donnell, was also carried. It was decided to hold a cricket social on Friday evening, October 21, and a scratch match to open the season will be played on Saturday afternoon, October 22, the match to start sharp at 1 o'clock. Messrs. Rattenbury's store is nearlj. completed, and by the end of this month will be ready for occupation. Mr. A. Waters is leaving for a holiday trip, and will be away ipr some time. The store at present occupied by Mr. A. Waters is to be renovated and turned into an accommodation house. Mr. L. I Hutchins has obtained the lease of this [building for some five years. There is a petition in circulation asking the local School Committee to petition the Taranaki Education Board to open after the Christmas holidays a half-time school in the Tongaporutu Hall. Mr. R. O'Donnell interviewed the inspector (Mr. Ballantyne) on Thursday last, and placed before him the difficulties some six or seven parents had in obtaining primary education for their children. If the local committee succeeds in obtaining the privilege sought from the Taranaki Education Board, I am sure the requirements of tin's district regarding education will be met for some years to come. The s.s. Pitoitoi was due here on Friday last, but, after loading up in Waitara for here, something went wrong with the steam boiler, and as the repairs could not be done at Waitara or New Plymouth, the steamer had to proceed to Onehunga. The Rev. Father MacManus held service in the Hall on Sunday. He is doing the Tound trip from New Plymouth through to Aria and back to New Plymouth. Tlie Rev. Father has already been a week on the road and, given fine weather, he hopes to reach town again next Sunday. We are all glad to hear that the Rev. Father O'Beirne is able to get about again. It is rumored here that Mr. .Skitrop, road overseer, is leaving the P.W.D. at the end of the year. The P.W.D. has put on an extra hand to assist Mr. Manning to get his 17mile stretch of road into a decent state. The road from the foot of Mt. Messenger north to the Mokau river has been too much for one man to cope with, and has in places become very bad. Assistance should have been given this surfaceman (Mr. Manning) at the bes'inning of last winter, but better late than never. Tt only moans six months' work instend of three. The penny wise and pound foolish policv has been carried on here for the past three years.