DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 295, 10 June 1912, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS

LOWER MANGOREI. (From Our Own Correspondent). Time's wing has fluttered through a whole twelfth part of the year since last local recordings were sent in. As an outcome of that last, there has, however, been a break in the month's interval by contributions to your general cor-

respondence columns. Whilst not intending here to deal with such outcome, 1 pro or con, there comes from it a suggestively pungent approach to flattering unction, so far as there is proof afforded that your "own correspondent's" epistles are not ignored. In adverting to the near past upon matters telephonic and telegraphic, it ocurs to me that some time since a correspondence under "Mangorei News" made some austere strictures upon a previous correspondence dealing in an appreciative and grateful spirit with the installation of the bureau then being undertaken at Lower Mangorei. Financial comparisons were oMruded showing how very lavish and free the "Upper" residents had been in sustaining the expense of installation, as compared with our "Lower" folks, and disclaiming any thanks being due to the Telegraph Department! But, Mr. Editor, we of the Lower iMangorei district were and are not concerned with these odious com- ; parisons; what our minds are occupied with is an ungrudged cordial appreciation of the real and practical benefits coming, from Departmental catering for the pub- : lie weal. On Friday evening, May 24, in the '

Lower Mangorei schoolroom a very sut cessful social function had its chief a( traction in a concert programme of 1: numbers. Rev. E. J. Liddell kindly jour neyed out to preside, and right happil; our reverend visitor put through thi various items; seeing introduced in du< time what he feliictously named as th< last, or nineteenth number, which al (including our chairman) most energeti cally and meritoriously "joined in U "get through"—namely, the refreshments so liberally provided by friendly caterers, The proceeds of the entertainment wen in aid of the Sunday School fund. To maintain the Sunday School, under many shifting vicissitudes, ladies in the district have continuously striven untiringly. Upon ladies directly interesting themselves, this last movement in its support is dependent and indebted to. The programme was, as follows: —Violin selections, Messrs Herbert and Tozer; song,

Mr. Norman; recitation, Scholar B. .Norman; song, Miss Tozer; violin solo, Mr. 1 White; recitation, Mr. Tozer; song, Mrs. Pethcrbridge; recitation, Mrs. Hancock; dialogue by ladies and gentlement; violin selection, Messrs Herbert and Tozer; recitation, Scholar C. Norman; reading, Mr. Norman; recitation, Mr. Wells; song, Mis Mead; recitation, Mr. Herbert; song, Mr. White j recitation, Mr. Pepperell; dialogue by gentlemen. With a few exceptions, the accompaniments were played by Mr. D. Wells. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the promoters and performers; and Mr. Liddell's genial chairmanship was esteemed and appreciated by all. Apropos of school matters, one hears expressions of regret that Miss Mead, for many years teacher at the Lower Mangorei School, is leaving to still continue her vocation, under the Taranaki Education Board, at Huirangi. Mr. Cyril Arthur is to take charge here. Last Thursday evening a surprise party proved an irresistible force in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Rae, of the Mangorei road. A staunch and united little army had arranged preconcerted action, and made simultaneous raid upon the peaceful quietude of the household, entering by front and back approaches and penetrating to the inner domestic quarter where burned the blazing log upon the homely hearth. Within incredibly short time the spacious table was groaning under the loaded display of essentially useful articles that made up the "kitchen presentation." The palpitating surprise of the besieged ones having been allaj'ed by friendly assurances, and the objects and intentions having been conveyed in a few words addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Rae, who were specially invited to "make themselves at home," the house generally was very soon teeming in divers places with frolic, fun and innocent revelry. The occasion of the surprise arose from the neighborly desire to give evidence to Miss Rae of the friendly interest taken in her forthcoming raar•riuga with Mr. Thrush. The wedding is to take place at St. Andrew's Church, New Plymouth, on June 19. Many .residents who were unable to join the surprise party join in the good spirit that prompted it. Much heavy traffic is passing over the roads just now. The traction engine and chaff-cutter are moving around farms on the Mangorei road and are finding more work than the fickle and capricious weather will enable them to do at present. 1 There are ponderous loads passing along Junction road, as a contract for heavy prpe and culvert work is in hand, under the persona] supervision of Mr. Williams, of the Christchurch firm of Williams and Meers. This work is the Borough Council's scheme for effecting more capacious and improved water supply to the electric power-house, which has, like the borough water supply, its intake at the Waiwakaiho river. Here, also, an improved method is being adopted, by which the latter supply will Teceive the auvantage of passing through a spacious settling tank, so that debris, silt, etc., will be held back from pipes loading direct to the filters at the Mangorei reservoirs, the benefits of which arc obvious. These works mean much weighty carting along the' main road. The Cassell Hill, referred to last month, is now receiving some attention under the beneficial change of regime. Whilst being worked at, this piece of the Mangorei (Old Hospital) road is in that transition state that often makes conditions worse before they become better. Such was the case lately with the now much improved approach to the new Henui bridge. With this experience so recently before us wc may

well bo patient with the confident 'hope that the improved stage of the long, forlorn Cassell Hill will follow in due course; meanwhile all are thinking "the sooner the quicker." Whilst on the subject of highways, an incident occurring a little time back is vivid in my memory. One evening, when the dusky shades had subtly enthroned countryside surroundings as they settled towards the realms of gentle repose, there reached residents about the Cross road sa distinct humming, droning sound, which, with stealthy, steady vibration, assumed "crescendo" to "forte" and on . to "fortissimo," as with crashing roar i and riotous rattle there emerged from the obscure vagueness of a vanished f.wii light a colossal cumbrous form, speeding I its angry, snorting way along ibe JuneI tion road towards town. This noisy ogre, impressing upon earth and air ar ] obvious horror, and quaking tremor • crashed swiftly over the Cross roads ii 1 mud career with no signal whistle o: warning light. A motor waggon at expeed! Had any ordinary horsi of average, docility been near at the tinii the consequences may have been such a one shudders to contemplate.

J Our district is making a fair bid for I being a place-holder as regards notoriety \ in pedigree Jersey stock. Mr. John Hale 1 is the worthy owner of some line stud stock, from which good things anon may be expected. In a recent private sale, effected through Mr. Newton King, a good even-colored herd of 31 head averaged £l7. Some blood horses have lately been acquired by Mr. Hale, and will probably result in the forming of a good stud.

TIKORANGI. The annual meeting of parishioners of St. Luke's Church was held last week, the Rev. G. F. R. Harrison presiding. The statement of accounts showed a credit balance of £l7, whilst the financial affairs of the Sunday School were also satisfactory. Office-bearers were appointed as follows:—Vicar's warden, Mr. J. W. Foreman; people's warden, Mr. J, Hine, junr.; vestry, Messrs Snell, Surrey, Faull, and the wardens, ex officio. Mr. D. Alexander, who was dairy company's delegate, reported to his co-directors the results of his recent investigations in the Wangaehu district on the casein question. Mr. Alexander is of the opinion that the matter is still in its experimental stage, and considering the price of pigs and calves recommends caution before embarking on the propesal. Owing to the continued increase of milk received, the directors of the Tikorangi Dairy Company have decided to replace the present humble refrigerator with a new machine of double the capacity, the order having already been placed. It may be interesting to note that when the present machine was installed eleven years ago the annual output was 60 tons, whilst that of the current year is over 150 tons.

I The Territorials, mounted and foot, have returned from their annual training and, from what I can gather, had a good time in camp. It is satisfactory to know that the Minister of Defence is, apparently determined to rigidly enforce the Act.

I am glad to report that Mr. C. Oliver, who has been an inmate of the New Plymouth Hospital for some time, is now making good, progress towards recovery.

Mrs. F. A. Knuckey left on Friday on a visit to hnr sister in Christchurch.

The Ngatimaru Ladies' Hockey Club's concert was held on Tuesday evening. A party from Waitara, organised by Mr. H. Joll, consisting of the Misses Elliot, Pearce and Thomas, Mrs. P. Roberts, and Messrs Smith and Harris supplied the programme. The atrocious weather, and the fact that a euchre party was to be held on the following night, militated against a good attendance. It was confidently believed that the eucnre party would, in the interests of the girls, have gallantly postponed their function to a date next week, and their unchivalrous refusal is the subject of much adverse comment.