DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 192, 23 November 1910, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

EGMONT VILLAGE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Messrs. Neal and Murphy, the successful tenderers for the contract ot supplying fire-wood for the local creamery, are making good progress with the work. A smoke concert was held in the hall on Tuesday evening, when there was only a fair attendance An enjoyable evening was spent, refreshments being plentiful. Oni Friday the Albert Road school held' its social for the prize fund in the Egmont Village hall. The evening was glorious, and a large crowd was present. The affair was under the able management of Mr. A. Chong, who is to be congratulated on the excellence of all the arrangements. Mrs. George's orchestra, from New Plymouth, very kindly supplied the music, being driven out and back by Mr. Chong. An excellent programme of musical items was also prepared, songs being rendered by Misses B. Hill, M. and May Richards and V. Chong (New Plymouth), and Messrs. H. C. Fenton, A. Cliong, and G. F. Dewhirst, while Mr. A. Morton contributed a humorous reading. During the evening supper was handed round, and despite the heat, dancing was kept up until nea<r]y two o'clock. The Village cricket team had a bye in the cricket fixtures on Saturday. It is more than likely that they will soon be without the services of Inman.

The Boxing Club is closing the season until next winter on account of the hot weather and the amount of work about.

There is a movement on foot to keep the Debating Society open one niglit a month through the summer, but it is doubtful if it would be advisable. Mr. G. S. White was taken back to the Stratford Hospital on Monday last.

AWAKINO. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The large gathering at the ladies' ball and the inconvenience that our general store-keeper, ,\lr. T'rist, was put to in allowing the store to be utilised as a ball-room, an inconvenience which he smilingly put up with, shows that u public hall is an absolute necessity in our rising district. A committee already has the preliminaries well in hand for that purpose, and about £l2O has been promised in money and value towards a hall, but the site at present appears <to be the stumbling block. It is hoped, however, that that will soon be removed.

The Rev. Mr. Houclian, who succeeds the Rev. Cruiekshanks as our missioner, passed through on Thursday, having driven straight through from Hamilton. The reverend gentleman will hold service here on November 27.

We are pleased to hear that Mrs. Avery is making good progress towards recovery. We hope it will not be long before she is able to move to Awakino, as we are always ready to welcome new residents. The Farmers' Union club room is filling a want in the district and is> also making the need of a larger hall for social gatherings more marked. The library, which was started a few months ago in this district, is progressing ami now contains nearly 200 volumes.

Mr. Walsh is having an acetylene gas plant installed in his boarding-house, which is to be lighted throughout with tile gas. It is sometimes stilted that it is difficult to get good accommodation in a no-license area. This does, not apply to Awakino, as the accommodation provided by Mr. Walsh is first class. An excellent table is kept, whilst the rooms are commodious and airy. Roads, are now in fair order, but the traveller cam still see evidences of what they were like in the winter. We now iiare a coach service three days a week, viz., Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays inwards and Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays outwards. An effort is to be made to have the mail inwards changed from Wednesdays to Tuesdays. If this is done, the coach will run oil Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Wliv not let us then have a tri-weekly instead of a bi-weekly mail? The s.s. Pitoitoi has been here pretty frequently during the last few days. She has been taking advantage of the smooth seas to run up to Harrison's beach, and load flax and other produce by means of surf boats. The question of a district mirs« is still in abeyance. Some settlers have signed the guarantee but a considerable number more is required before the necessary £SO can be obtained. There is no doubt that in an isolated district like this a nurse stationed here would be of immense benefit.

Settlers are anxiously awaiting the result of their petition re the Mokau bridge and Awakino-Te Kuiti Valley road. There is now considerable through traffic along this route, and there is no doubt a bridge in preference to the present ferry would do much to help the district's progress. If we had a bridge we would not object to paying even a heavier toll than we do now by means of the fern-.

Shearing is now in full swing in many of the sheds, and there is every prospect of good clips. | Canvass of the district is being made for funds for the school children's picnic, and as is usually the case where the children are concerned, liberal response is being made. We are all looking to a- good day on December 2nd, when our annual sports are to be held.