DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 189, 8 February 1912, Page 6

DISTRICT NEWS

HUKFORD ROAD. \Fr(m Our Owa Correspondents). The people on the lower end of Hurford road were startled out of their quiet routine last week by a sensational bolt. Mr. Joll, who had purchased some sheep, had left his horse and gig in charge of a boy, when the horse shook its blinkers off and came down Chant's hill at a full gallop. Luckily the boy was not in the gig. On approaching the bridge one wheel struck a heap of boulders, resulting in the gig being over-turned. Nothing daunted, the horse still continued its mad career, and, after negotiating the bridge safely, it came to grief the other side on a heap of timber. Here it quickly freed itself from the gig, and made off for home. Two other horses that had been grazing on the road joined in the flight. A gentleman on his way home from town tried to stop the runaway, and got entangled in the harness, which brought both horses and rider down, the rider escaping with a shaking. Mr. Kendall, who was on the scene, followed them up at a hard gallop, and Spotswood was reached before they were overtaken. The weather for the last month has been all that one could wish for the harvesting, but now that that is well over the farmers are looking forward for a shower of rain for turnip crop. Picnics in other districts have been numerous during the holidays. Our good time is yet to come. The annual school picnic is to take place shortly, and the .dairy factory company also intend holding a picnic this year. Koru, our neighboring district, has lost through death two of its old pioneer settlers in the persons of Mr. T. Mace, who passed' away a fortnight ago, and Mrs. Green, who died last Thursday. MAKETAWA. The weather lately has been all that could be desired, and all hands have been extremely busy with harvest operations. AH over the place can be seen stacks of oats and hay, and generally it may be said that this is a record year I for the amount of stack fodder saved. Notwithstanding the lateness of sowing of turnips, in many instances, all crops are coming ahead splendidly, and though, perhaps, the turnip may not grow to any great size, indications at present show a more than usual quantity. I have not heard of a single instance where the "fly" has made its appearance, and it is ; surmised that the unseasonable weather a while back has had a deal to do with ' the non-appearance of the pest. We ' | would not mind the weather if in future 1 we w«re sure of the total extinction of 1 the other nuisance.

Much sympathy is evinced for Mr. and i Mrs. H. Bridgeman, of Dudley road, who! have suffered the loss of their son Ed- 1 ward, a promising lad of about 14 or 15 years, who died in the.New Plymouth Hospital on Monday^' 1 last from blobd" poisoning. Full particulars are not as ytt available. The' Norfolk road school children's annual excursion will be held on the 15 th inst., I believe, and it has been' decided i to visit the Ngaire gardens in preference to the trip to the searside, as in the fast It is hard to understand the change, fpr parents surely must recognise that one day even of the invigorating sea breeze, etc., is fa splendid tonic for the youngsters, and there seems no good in taking country children for a trip a litle further into the country. However, I hope they have a most enjoyable time.

The Durham road school committee held its usual monthly meeting on Monday evening last, all members being present. Communication .was received that the matter of additions to the school residence was being attended to. The chairman stated that the concreting work authorised, as well as improvements to out-offices, had been completed, and members expressed themselves as pleased with the appearance of the work and authorised further improvements to the ground around the out-buildings. The work, which has been done by Mr. Butler, was much needed as the earth was being worn away by the playing of the children and considerable expense would have been occasioned in protecting the main building if the work had not been undertaken. It has been more expensive than at first anticipated, and it is hoped that the board will see its way to increase the subsidy promised. The school re-opened after the, Xmas vacation on Monday last. The rest of the business was of the usual routine character.

The Durham school children will join in the amalgamated seaside picnic on the 22nd inst., and, given fine weather, there should be a big crowd from the outlying district around Inglewood, as I understand Tariki, Ratapiko, Lincoln, Dudley, and Kaimiro are also sending contingents. The secretary of the Moa Association is seeking permission for the "trippers" to visit the petroleum works, and in view of recent developments it should prove of interest to both old and young. Arrangements are being made for sports of all kinds on the sand and in the water, so a great day is expected. A special train will leave Tariki somewhere between 8 and 9 o'clock, and those at a distance who are unable to catch that train will be enabled to travel by the usual train, provided tickets are obtained beforehand. By this it will be seen that the chairman of the association (Mr. Thomson) has been energetically pushing things in the interest of the associated committees.

The hot weather experienced for the past week or so is accountable for the roads being very rough with loose stones, and several settlers have met with minor accidents with their horses coming down. E it were possible, it would cause a great saving if a steam roller could be obtained by the County Council and used on by-roads occasionally at a reasonable charge to the roads interested. I feel sure it would be money well spent and result in a saving of repairs, besides making the tracks more safe' Our friends of the top end of Norfolk road, on Monday last, fired the lump 'of bush which has been knocked down during the winter but I have not learned the nature of the bum. Judging by the volume of smoke raised it shoSld have been satisfactory, and we hope so as there is nothing more disheartening than a "bad bum." b

Considerable interest is attached to a reported combine of cattle dealers and the proprietors of the Waitara freezing works and the matter is made more acute by the fact that the farmers can Sw m,Se l he effect such combination will have on the prices of fat cattle and other cattle suitable for canning pur poses. All sorts of statements are made some of an extraordinary character, but Wh™ J" I,rices has When will the farmers wake up to the need and the importance of owning their own freezing and manure work!* It would puzzle Solomon to find the reason wh.V they allow themselves to be ex f£?A yareaaih!lreheenior <