DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 70, 13 September 1911, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

(Fr(m Our Own Correspondents). OAKURA. Dry weather still continues here, ani if we do not get rain soon it will be rather serious to the farmers. Already nil the tanks are dry, and there is not the spring growth, that there should be. The cows are .coming in fast now, and l dairying will .sdoii :be in full swing, but 1 aeain 'the want of rain will keep back the supply oif ruilk, ( as the cows will not milk well until there is a growth of fresh feed. Our vide clubs*, are to have a ball on Thursday, the. 21st, iust. They are also starting firing for trophies to-day (Wednesday). Several .'shave hud new barrels fitted in their, rifle;, and should make good shooting. A isjprions accident happened to a very old resident of Oriku-ra last Friday week. Mr. ICwen Toonev was thrown from his horse on to the concrete, bridge at the foot of the Oak lira hill, and sustained' a fractured skull. Mr. Tooney was immediately conveyed home, where he has lain unconscious ever since, and the doctors give very little hope of his recovery. Eyeryone sympathises with his family, a A he'ls'slo tvell known and respected by all. Om- school has been closed for three weeks through the measles Hieing so prevalent in the district; hardly a. family bus escaped, and in tome instances the adults have had the complaint also. Some have been very ill, needing the attendance of the doctor. Tn fact, we have had more than ouir share of illness out this way lately. There have been 'several cases of pneumonia and pleurisy. notwithstanding the fine weather. Perhaps if we had a, good storm it woiikl sweep the sickness away.

Several farms have changed bands around here lately, and we wish the new settlers success.

Mr. Coombes, from New Plymouth, has bought Mr. P. Wood's farm down at the Tima,ru creamery, and Mr. Dougherty, an old identity down the coast, who has been away at Toko for a few years, has bought Mr. Peter Anderson's farm at Tataraimaka.

LIXCOLX ROAD. Last Friday was a red-letter day for Bristol road, the occasion being the opening of the creamery. Mr. Alex. Simpson, the creamery manager, had everything in apple-pie order, and everything came off without a hitch. The Manganui bridge was also completed last week, and it certainly looks a fine structure, and should last somewhere about 500 years. Mr. FrankWilliams, who supervised the work on behalf of the road board, was the right man in the right place, as the writer has some conception of what knowledge is required in the construction of a bridge of this sort. On Friday night the settlers of the district entertained Mr. and Mrs. A. Xisibet at a farewell social. A large and representative gathering was present, who showed their appreciation of their guests hy presenting Mr. Xisbet with a. beautiful set of carvers and Mrs. Xisbet with a pretty silver hot water jug. Mr. O. M. Boldt made the presentation. and suitably voiced the sentiments of their friends. Mr. and Mrs. Xisbet are leaving for Manaia this week.

I hear on good authority that the Lincoln road creamery opens on Friday next, so this district ought to boom this summer.

Uain is badly needed here. If we do not soon get rain it will prove disastrous. TOXOAI'OIU'TC. The Te Kuwait oil launch arrived here on Saturday unexpectedly, and after unloading about seven tons of general goods returned to Waitara.

The cribbage match, married v. single, resulted in the former winning. Xow it remains to he proved whether the Okau married men are better players. The football match between Tonga - ponitu and t'ruti Clubs, played at Uruti on Saturday, resulted in a win for Tongaporutu by 11 points, (one converted and two unconverted tries) to nil. During the progress of the game 11. O'Donnell met with a slight accident which rendered him unfit for the rest, of the game. It will be fully a week before lie will be able to get about again. Tenders were called for the catering for the bachelors' ball to be held here on the 20th. Mrs. O'Donnell's tender was accepted, anil, as in the past, a supper-room will be erected at the back of the hall. This will be a decided advantage, especially to the ladies. At the ladies' ball at supper time all attending had to walk some 200 yards, and on a cold, wet night this could noijgggjfcght of, so as in the past fjfWr*years the supper will he laid in a temporary room erected at the back of the hall.

Mr.. F. llelshaw, who lias a contract from tlic Clifton County Council to burn sufficient papa to cover some 3a chains of the road from the foot of Mt.'Messenger towards Uruti, will have the wood ready, to start operations (luring the next week. During to-day (Saturday) rain lias been threatening, and a good downpour will do much good.