DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 161, 6 January 1912, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS

i KAIIOTL'. I __ 1 (From Our Own Correspondent.) The sports meeting held „ m New Year's ? Day litis doni- much to enhance the re- I puliation already held by the popular coastal club. Coastal residents fully appreciate the. policy adopted by the club which has enabled them to see some of the finest axemen of New Zealand, than whom there are none better in the world, perl'oiin practically at their own door. Many would not have this opportunity, as the exigencies of the milking, with its morning and evening tie. prevent all but the favored few getting away, particularly in the height of the season. The visitors themselves speak in high praise of the conduct of the. meeting and the treatment meted out to tliem. and have all promised to .return next year, also to bring with them a fresh contingent. It is safe to say that as the outcome of ■ these sports, Bahotu will be better known at (Jisborne, Taumarunui, Te Kuiti, Taurangan, Hamilton, Dargaville, and, in fact, all through the North island, than ever before. The club, it is understood, : intend next meeting to adopt the system of numbering the blocks, and also to go in for further progressive moves. The : cj r eling track is also to receive considerable attention in the way of top-dress-ing, and next year cyclists will be able . to compete in comfort. The local chop at the sports was won ■ by Mat-. Coffey, off 15secs., H. Youmg (Usee.) 2 and E. Symons (lOsec.) 3. X. Morgan, P. Coffey,. S. Coombes (10". sec). H. James, ]>. Letherby (12sec), W. '> .Tames (Msec), V. Kaluii and V. Warner : (l'Csec.) also competed. It was won '■ rather easily in Jlsec Huston Young could not understand ] how the handicapper had placed Mat. so far out, and accordingly entered a pro- ■ test, which has not yet* been dealt with. The chain-stepping was won by J. P. Kennedy, who stepped to within three- '. quarters of an inch. • • The side events arc great revenue pro- 1 ducers. The sheep-guessing produced i £8 Is in shilling tickets, tlni'iiks' 'to the I "battling" of Archie Phillips, and the chain-stepping £3 13s, and as the prize) ' in each was £l, it can be seen that they ' are very profitable. The sports should : show a small profit, as the increased at- : tendance and nominations will counter- I balance the increased prize money and s the cost of the blocks. This, despite ' the loss of the entertainment in the ; evening, .which, can usually'be relied on '. to produce about £l2 triwards the ex- i penses. However, the committee cannot s be blamed for this. Arrangements had i been definitely made with a first-class picture show for a good programme, but, j too late to make other arrangements, it; fell through. The dance, which is,usually held after the concert, began earlier as a I , result. 'Theresas- a. very good attend- i | ance. £ll 12s lid being taken, ■ and it is ( j expected that about £o will be netted j ' thereby. Mr. J. Rothery, as M.C., j kept the ball 'rolling merrily, though his' . task was rendered easier owing to the ' company being in excellent humor at the >( good floor provided by Mr. J. Schinkel ', and the first-class-'music provided by Mr. , •las. ]!. Knowies. A splendid 6upper and a song contributed by Mr. Taylor were alio factors to that end. ' Once again the festive season has pass ; , ed, but as there are the same number -j j of cows to be milked on Christmas Day j : as on the day before it does not bring > ( forth much of a holiday; in fact, the , milker has to get up earlier-'on *that . morning, for the Ami purpose of having ! a little more tiriie in which to enjoy his ' Christmas dinner and also to allow the j factory manager and staff to get away , and enjoy theirs. The dairy farmer has , no time for holidays in the summer. If he has a 'holiday at all it is iii the win- : ter. ' ' * ! •So far the cows have not comme.ie'edJ to go down, and a long season is anticipated, and will probably be realised if a cold snap does not eventuate. The rain ) lias had the effect of keeping Uie pastures green. Farmers are getting anxioffs ] , about their hay. The line spells are at-: present much too brief to enable k»r- I ! vesting operations to be successfully ca.r- 1 , ried on. • . • The output at the. local factory is \ slightly larger, than at this time last' ' year. Cape Egmont factory has much. , increased. At the commencement of the. ! season it was deemed advisable to en- ' large the building and add three vats, making the capacity.nine vats, in order ' to cope with an. increased supply that J was expected from Alexander's property, ' which had just been, cut up, and also to ! provide for future requirements. That ! this increase was warranted has been evidenced by the fact that Manager Guild and staff have already utilised eight vats and are now turning out 59 cheeses dally. A third motor car is now located in the township,. >!r. T. P. Ihighson, the 1 progressive local storekeeper, having purckased one for his'business. Mr. das. Kothery, who has been licensee of the Oakura Hotel for some months. • has purchased the freehold, and intends uiiiking considerable additions and improvements. 1 i