DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 235, 2 April 1912, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS

HURFORD ROAD. <Fr<m Our Own Correspondents). The Omata Dairy Company's picnic was held last Saturday in Mr. Duke's paddock, which was nicely sheltered from the high southerly wind that prevailed. It was attended by well over a hundred people. All enjoyed a real good dinner on the green and afterwards amused themselves with cricket, Aunt Sally, foot races, and to finish up a tug-of-war, married v. single, was indulged in, the former winning after a good pull, giving all a good appetite for afternoon tea. A vote of thanks was accorded Mrs. Hallam and Mr, and Mrs. Duke for the use of their paddock. Cheers were also given for the ladies and the promoters. In the evening a dance was held in the local schoolroom and was a great success. The music was supplied by Mr. Good, while Mr. Thompson acted as M.C. I believe the young people have formed a committee and intend running fortnightly dances for the winter. A bonus of iy a d per lb. for butter-fat, supplied to the dairy factory this season, was paid out to the suppliers on the 10th inst., which makes the price paid 12',/jd' per lb butter-fat, which is a record for this company. Farmers generally begin to complain about this time of tlie year of their cows going dry, but this season they have nothing to complain of. All herds'are staying in well. The tests range from 4.0 to 5.0, averaging about 4.6 at the factory.

Mr. 11. George has commenced to build the piers for the new bridge across the Tapuaea river. When this structure is completed it will be much appreciated by the. farmers on the top end of the road, as there is no chance of their getting a threshing mill across the nresent bridge. Another startling : -ident, which might have proved w< , happened on Saturday morning. A- fr. W. Thompson was turning into ll: factory yard the harness broke, causing the horse to start kicking. After freeing itself from the cart, the maddened animal dashed in among the other milk carts, creating a stampede, one horse making off for home without its driver and cans, but it was luckily stopped by Pat Malone at the bridge.

OMATA. The following pupils made full attendance for the quarter ending March 31:—Infant classes.—l. Johnson, E. Seamark, P. Johnson. P. Pease. R. Bovett, IT. Clemow, P. Mathews, C. Pease, L. Seamark, E. Kendall, N. Taylor. M. Bayly, J. C'lomow. E. Neilsoii, W. TayloV. Standard I.—B. Bayly, F. Bovett, J. Crockett, E. Williamson. M. Loveridge. Standard If.—W. Hodgkinson, J. Hodgkinson, G. Ramsbottam, R. Ramsbottam, C. Pease, L. Johnson, V. Kendall. Standard lII.—V. Bayly, W. Clemow, G. George, H. Jury, A. Kendall, R. Pease, H. Roberts, F. Seamark. W. Tavlor. O. Huso, K. Neilson. Standard 'lY\—E. Crockett. J. Crompton, O. Husc, B. Pease, E. Taylor. Standard V.—H. Bayly, W. Crompton, K. Mathews, A. Taylor. If. Williamson, M. Warner. Standard Vl. B. Crockett, I, Mathews, O. Penwarden, G. Warner. Percentage of attendance for the. quarter: Boys 06.2, girls 94.5, average 95.3.

WAREA. A social was held in the Warea Hall on Wednesday evening in aid of the Glenferrie Tennis Club. There was a good attendance, considering the cold night. During the .evening several songs were sung by local and visiting vocalists. Mr. Carter, of New Plymouth, was present with a gramaphone and gave some line selections. Mr. Knowles supplied the :".usie, and Mr. W. Wilson made a capable M.C. An excellent supper was provided by the ladies of the district. A meeting of the Warea Athletic Club was held in the library on Saturday night. A fair number of members was present. A rough balance-sheet of the last sports was produced, and it showed receipts amounting to £O7 5s Oil, ami expenditure £sl 14s 9d, leaving a credit balance of about £ls 10s 9d. A letter was read from Mr. M. J. Brennan, re the protest of W. Corkin against 11. Magon in the maiden chop. Mr. Brennan stated that tlie first prize for the 18in block at Pungarehu in 1005 was 35s and the second 10s. The committee, therefore, resolved that the protest could not be upheld. It was resolved that a letter of condolence be sent to Mrs. G. P. Jones.

One of our oldest and most respected settlers, in the person of Mr. George Jones, passed away at the New Plymouth Hospital on' the 23rd ult. Mr. Jones took up his section on the Warea road many years ago, felled the bush, and has been milking since he had the place cleared, For many years Mr. Jones had taken great interest in public affairs. He was for some time a member of the Parihaka Road Board, a director of the local dairy factory, and chairman of the school committee. He was also a guarantor of the local hall when it was erected, and one of the judges of the local Athletic Club. He will be greatly missed in the district. He leaves a wife and family to mourn their loss, and they have the sympathy of the whole district.

Mr. Jas. Murcott, one of our local factory hands, is progressing favorably after his recent sudden illness.

On Friday last a very nasty accident happened at the local school to Malcolm Parker. He and another boy were mowing the grass with a lawn mower, when Parker tripped and fell over the mower, and his hand went into the knives, which cut the top off the second finger and nearly cut the third finger off. Mrs. Barak volunteered first aid, and the lad was sent home and the doctor was telephoned for. On the doctors arrival the fingers were dressed, and on Monday the lad was taken to New Plymouth.

j TIKORANGI. Despite the inclement weather there was a full attendance of members at the annual meeting of the Xgatimaru Ladies' Hockey Club on Tuesday last. Several new members were elected, and the financial position was reported to be satisfactory. Miss Andrews, the retiring captain, was presented with a fountain pen as an appreciation of her efforts on behalf of the club, and general regret was I expressed at her approaching departure from the district. The following officers 1 were elected:—Patron. Mr. J. W. Foreman; president,' Mr. R. F. Lye: vicepresidents, Messrs. D. Alexander, J. Hine, jun., T. West, W. Rook, J. Whitehead, t. Sarten and R. T. Hicks. Miss 0. Lye was elected captain and Miss Knuckey vice-captain. Miss Lye was elected .secretary and Miss West treasurer. After the routine business was concluded, the banquet alluded to previously was held and proved a huge sue cess, A party of old school-mates of the lion, member for Stratford motored through from here and attended the "rally" and presentation on Thursday evening. They report having had a real good time, and were highly pleased at the magnificent reception their old friend received at the hands of his constituents. I The personnel of the Mackenzie Cabinet is being roundly condemned by Oppositionists, whilst good Liberals are busily engaged in "damning it with faint praise," Profrably the most incongruous

appointment is (Int fif ''Rieeartou" Russell. What tin juuy will say to the elevation to Ministerial r.'uik of a man who, on lii.s own confession, lias just ac- ' quired fi(i,ill)o acres of land .somewhere | about Tuupo, is hard to say, but after t all, it is of very little consequence what ] the party think.