DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 217, 22 December 1910, Page 8

DISTRICT NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondents.) MAKETAWA. The Jfavorable indications .regarding weather mentioned in my last notes did not materialise into a fine day for the Durham road school picnic, which took place on Thursday last. All arrangements having been made, the committee. decided to carry out the function, with; the exception that instead of being held I in open air the children and friends as-! sombled at the school, where the splon-1 did supply of eatables was" disposed of. The children amused themselves indoors in many ways, and during a lull in the weather races were got off. Despite the very unfavorable weather all seemed to enjoy the day's amusement. The weather for the concert in the evening was not a whit better, but a good number of parents attended. The chairman of the school HmTmittee (Mr. F. Hodges) presided, and thanked the teacher (Miss I. Foster), on behalf of the committee and parents, for the manner in which the scholars had. acquitted themselves, and felt that the future would show even better results. The following were the musical items submitted: —Pianoforte duet; the Misses Bridgeman; song, Miss G. Simpson; action songs, school _ children; songs, Messrs. A. Dombroski and Simpson. The prize distribution then took place. "Three cheers and a pleasant trip" to Miss Foster, on the call of the chairman, and then supper was handed round, after which the room was cleared and dancing indulged in till about 1 a.m. Regarding the accident to Mr. F. Dodunski's boy (Andrew) on his way home in a milk cart on the opening day of the creamery, I am very glad to report that the injuries are not so serious as at first thought. The boy received flesh wounds, on the head and face and a bruising of parts of the body, which a period of rest will soon cure. It was at first' supposed that the wheel of the cart had gone over him, but that was not the case. The boulders necessary to provide a metalled-road entrance to the creamery have been carted out, but remain boulders still, and the consequence is that milk carts are going over their earth road which, with the steady rain of the past few days, is cutting up very badly.

MIDHIRST. | Midhirst fanners are very -fortunate in having such a good butter factory,' good directors, and a good manager. At the Stratiord Show, they exhibited two classes of butter made by Mr. Klemann, the manager, and were awarded first prize in each. This is the only time that they have exhibited this j Midhirst also collared a fair share ot the cattle prizes at the show. Mr. P. J. Petersen, with his champion Jersey bull "Simon King," scored another first and champion, while Mr. Jack Shotter won a first prize with his bull in another Jersey class, and Messrs. Saywell and Vosper's cattle were also prize-winners. The Midhirst school' concert took place last Thursday. It was a splendid effort, and Mr. Mail and his assistants are to be congratulated on the' way the children san£. Mr. Bine, M.P., was chairman. The attendance was very fair, considering the weather, the night being, wet. The hall was comfortably filled. Mr j Hine promised a prize to the boy or girl; who made most progress during the 1 year. Following is the first part of the programme: —Overture; recitation, Miss >M. Baskin; song, '"Laundry Girls," 'nchooi girls; duet, Mrs. Mail and Mrs. Horn-, song, "See the Little Babies go," ischooj children; song, Mr. Wilkie; recitation, Miss B. Brinkw«rth; song, "Now we little children stand," school children; sang, Miss Jean Seabri'ght; song, kittle soldiers," school boys; duet, Mr. Horn and Mrs. Mail; song, "The Cuckoo/' school »hildren; recitation, Misses It. Brhrtcworth and E. Fowler; song, "Gipsies," school children; recitation, Miss E. fSangster; song, "The German Band," school girls. The school prizes were distributed during the interval

The second part of the programme was by the Midhirst Minstrel Troupe. Some of their selections were "The Sporting Millionaire's Opening Chorus," "The Old Kentucky Home," etc., and some #f the solos were "Far Away," "Down on the Old Swanee," and 'When the sunset turns the ocean blue to gold," etc. These were nearly all encored, and the items were very much appreciated. Miss McDonald played the accompaniments. A dance was held afterwards. Last Monday witnessed the burial of Miss Nellie Jones, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Jones. She died on the 16th inst., two days after her nineteentß birthday, after a long illness. The funeral was attended by many friends, and the wreaths were numerous.

' LINCOLN ROAD. The school committee has decided, : after due deliberation, to postpone the children's picnic, owing to sickness and other Mconvenienees, until later on in January, when the new teacher, Miss Meston, may also be present. j Foreman "Ludeman has the roads in the district in fair order, under the circumstances, as he has a good many • miles of road to keep in repair. The lower end of the Bristol road will again ' have an animated appearance when Mr. Tarry starts his road work, and the suc- , cessful tenderer starts the bridge. ' Some big cheques were paid out by the Moa Dairy Company this week, and the biggest of the Inglewood suppliers came from this way. Already some farmers have made a start cutting tfteir hay crops, but the weather is not favorable for that sort of work. A local resident is at present milking 21 cows without any assistance, and the farmer who does that, with the other necessary work attached thereto, will know what it means. He is looking forward with a certain amount of pleasure •' to a few days hence, when he'll have a bit of a holiday, and only work the necessary nine hours per day. | I take this opportunity of wishing the Daily News the compliments of the ' season. EGMONT VILLAGE. The weather here has been a record i for this time of the year. Rain has fal- 1 len, and in no small quantities, on al-| most every day for the last fortnight.

Those wfio' are fortunate enough to i have their turnips in are not so badly I off, but those who are behind with their crops are deploring the fact that they will have to work right up to the holidays. Mangolds are to a great extent taking tlie place of turnips this season, owing t.o the sweeping effects of the blight last season. Mr. A. Mcßeth is experimenting with Kohl Rabbi. In pursuance of his usual progressive policy, lie is also having a shearing-machine installed. | Friday night was set down for the • aChool concert and the presentation of prizes, bu't the weather effectually put : a stop to all though of holding it. A few turned out, and rather than send these away disappointed, the manageI ment decided to have a free dance for a few hours and to postpone the concert till Monday. On Monday the weather was little better, but, nothwithstanding, a fair muster put in an apjpearance. Mr. A. Morton occupied the chair. Proceedings were opened with an orchestral selection by Mr. G. Marsh's orchestra. This was followed by a Japanese umbrella song by the school children, who looked very dainty in their 'oriental costumes. The next items were: Song, "True till Death," Mr. 11. C. Fenton; song, "The Bridge of Sighs," Miss ■B. Hill; pianoforte solo, Miss Agnes (Smith; tableau, "Where are you going Ito my pretty maid ?" Miss N. Mcßetli I and Mr. E. Dewhirst, singing by Mrs. • Moßeth; song, Miss 'Chong, song, Mr. Dewhirst; song, TvlTss Hill; song, j Mr. Chong, song, Mr. Fenton, pianoforte j solo, Mrs. Matthews. The members of the Mutual Improvement Society then staged the trial scene from' "The MerJ chant of Venice." The proper costumes |*f the period were worn, and 'the staging was most effective. The cast of characters was as follows:—Shylock, Mr. A. ' Morton; Portia, Mr. F. Dewhirst, jun,; 1 The Duke, Mr. F. Dewhirst, sen.; Bas- ' sanio, Mr. Gorffon Marsh; Antonio, Mr. Geo. Foster; Graciano, Mr. E. Dewhirst. ■, The parts of Shylock and Portia—the 1 principal parts of the scene —were amply ■ done justice to by the respective actors, ■ and everything went with a swing and '.verve which spoke of a careful preparaI tion on the part of those concerned. l j After this had been concluded, ', "Jumbo," the baby elephant, was intro--1 duced to the audience, and his capers • created' a vast amount of amusement,! 1 particularly among the juvenile portion ! of the audience. Mr. A. Morton during! ■ the evening presented the prizes to the school children. Every child received a I prize, and tnere were also several special ' prizes for good attendance. A dance was held afterwards, the ' music being supplied by Mr. G. Marsh's ' orchestra. Extras were played by Mrs. ' Matthews, Misses Smith and Rudd, and Mr. H. C. Fenton. Mr. Chong acted as 1 M.C. Supper was provided and much ap- ! predated. I Mr. R. G. Marsh, of the local Saturday ■ cricket team, makes his first appearance : in representative cricket in the forthi coming match. ! =====