DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 161, 17 October 1910, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondents.) MAKETAWA. The wretched weather we have been experiencing lately will interfere with the building of the creamery on Durham road, the contract for which has beeii let to Messrs. Petersen, of Inglewood. The concrete work is being done by Mr. Lig'itfoot, of Inglewood. and a start was made, during last week. Ploughing operations and the sowing of oats, etc., are also hindered. A large area is apparently intended to be laid down this year. * The grass this season has been very 1 , backward, and the weather again is not conducive to large yields of milk. The influenza epidemic has claimed a fairly good toll this year, many families on Norfolk and Durham roads having had a visit. Mr. F. Hodges, of Durham road, has; installed a "Dominion"' milking machine, I understand it is giving the fullest satisfaction. With the cold winds and hail squalls] we always experience during September] and October, the wonder is that people do not largely plant breakwinds, the benefit of which is obvious. Messrs. Gamlin and Co.'s section on the corner l of Durham, road and Mountain road,J must in a fe\y years prove attractive, it having been planted with a variety of. trees, including, a number of native kinds. All the creeks have been fenced] to protect the trees, and I think it an, 1 object lesson to farmers as what all] should do. J | The result of the school examination,] held on September 23, was considered at I the October meeting of the School Committee. The inspector's report was very satisfactory, and the teacher (Miss I.' Foster) is to be complimented on the' result, which proves her to be very j painstaking on the children's behalf. The other business of the Committee was purely routine. A school concert will evcnuate on the 2Sth inst. Apropos of school matters, I must not let the opportunity pass of thoroughly approving of your remarks per article in sub-leader anent the disabilities of teachers as to thin-skinned parents' interference when their children have been punished at school. There is too much pampering of. the younger fry nowadays, and -a return to the sterner methods of thirty years ago, to my mind, is urgently needed. Sifted to bedrock, the mild measures taken for breaches 01 discipline, combined with the mixing of the sexes, especially in the smaller schools, goes a long way towards causing a boldness in the male and an imprudence in the female that cannot help but foster traits that are not for their betterment, as a few more years are added to their age. The subject is a most important one, and will bear u deal of investigation, and I believe a radical change in the method of punishment in schools should be made as soon as possible. ■ -~i -' r •'. ; ' ''* KAIMIRO. _ We are having very boisterous weather up this remote corner of the universe, and I wonder how it is'we have it at the worst whenever there is a function of some.sßrtl-.0n.., Our ladies ventured to arrange a social and dance for the 11th, but owing to the wet weather postponed it tilhnext evening, when it was not verjtavell supported.,, Bachelors in this case-'ftre not'plentiful; but fail partners are few—very few, Could not some of the ladies in other, 'districts, when the supply exceeds the demand, pay a visit to some of our socials given by the ladies and avail themselves of the privileges? I.am sure our bachelors are too worthy to be left pining in solitary splendour. Nevertheless, those who attended last night's function enjoyed themselves immensely. The dances were interspersed ■. with songs, contributed by Messrs. A. H. Taylor and L. Earp. Dance music was supplied by Messrs. A. J. Taylor (piano) and J. Hinz (accordeon). At midnight the ladies supplied refreshments, which were delicious and much appreciated. The hall was prettily and daintily decorated, Mr. A. 11. Taylor successfully performed the duties ofM.C.