DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 255, 5 January 1911, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

OKATO. (From Our Own Correspondents.) The annual Okato picnic on Monday last had 'been looked forward to by a large section of the community as an opportunity for a day of real rustic enjoyment, but although the promoters had been out from 5 a.m. putting things in final form for the day's pleasure, mowing the lawns, setting up tarpaulins, and fixing up the various details that are requisite to make such »Hairs a success, the weather by 7 o'clock showed evidence of proving unpropitious, and disappointment settled down on all, for by S'o'clock showers of rain commenced .to fall, which made the most sanguine imagine the prospects as hopeless. The committee, after consultation, determined to do the next best under the unfavorable circumstances and carried out what they could of the programme in the afternoon, which cleared up even more perfectly, than had been expected. Lunch was arranged in the public hall, where a large gathering of*old and young satisfied themselves in a merry manner, and then betook themselves to Mr. Fox's paddock, on the banks of the Kaihihi, where various juvenile sports were carried off to the gratification of children and parents. Nearly every young participant in the sports was able ere the day was done to possess a trophy by which to remember the occasion, while the lads and lasses of older years indulged in many other harmless pastimes dear to their spirits and common amid sylvan scenes on the banks of the meandering streams. The picnic, although general in its character, was under a committee of the Wesleyan Church, to whose funds the surplus funds would have been contributed had there been any. The names 0 f tV lfulies identified with the arrangements are - jVlesdames Roebuck, Dailey, M«ssa«e, Street, Pearce, Wilson, Finn, AsuVews, witff Other friends of the l congregation. The season i- now at its very busiest time ana 'Jabm - is inconveniently scarce. Haymaking >s i" uM swing, and the fear of "havinw This uewsary staple food for winter use h Y rain ' is « a «sing every farmer to" ,u» every eflort to get it stored with the inmost possible speed. The rain which .fell S>i> Monday morning and night must havtf.&eon exceedingly unfortunate in many ca'sss.

In face of tlie fact tlirf't s<> ll > ail y m c » are said to be uiieniplovfc'l ; " tlle country, it is surprising to fillet fc ,n ~ d'H'cult it'is to find men for urgi'ini along this coast. In one case a :VTto had the misfortune to lose nvo instants early in December has not, yet bt<#r-' able, to replace either of them, although Jie has used all the ordinal} agencies M' the purpose. \ Miss Andrews, so well known and sf» highly respected as she - widely acquainted, lias gone south for a muchneeded holiday to (ieraldiiie.