DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 74, 14 August 1912, Page 6

DISTRICT NEWS.

MAKETAWA. (From our own correspondent.) Surprise pirties seem to have caught on in the district of late., several residents on the Norfolk road having received- a good time at the hands of neighbors. I heard a whisper regarding one that is to eventuate shortly, aild for whidh great preparations are being made. The neat appearance of the local factory always causes comment from passengers per train, and 'there i.s every .reason for the praise. A visitor from other parts recently was shown through the building and gave expression that it was the neatest factory he had ever been in, and the painting, etc., during the slack season by the staff certainly added much to the interior decoration. I ihear it has been found necessary to replace the present boiler with a new and more powerful one, the old one being just about worn out. Several severe frosts have been experienced lately, though the days have been fine and warm.

The buildings erected twenty odd yeairs ago in the upright board and batten style, .though perhaps not conducive to ornamentation, are hard to beat as regards weaT and tear. A resident on Durham road, desirous of enlarging his residence, has taken to pieces a -house -of four Tooms of the style mentioned, and has found that after about twenty years' use the timber is as sound as if fresh cut. Utility every time! Miu'h speculation is indulged in regarding the farmers' fate at the hands of the butter buyers, who, I -understand, are due very shortly on their annual prowl! Wlien will the "crowd" see the utter humbug of the present system? A most enjoyable concert in the Norfolk schol on Friday evening was well attended bv residents all touiul the district, and the programme submitted evidently pleased those present. It is nigh impossible to particularise the merits of each item of the programme (they were all good), which was as under:—Overture. Cottier family; duet, Misses Sutherland and Robinson; song, Mr. Dombroski; recitation, Mr. Frewin: duet, Miss Simpson and Mr. P. 0. McEwen; song, school children; song, Mr. L. Sutherland; song, Miss Knox; orchestral selection, Cottier family; song, Mr. Arnold; recitation, Miss Maggie Johnston; song, Mr. T. Hall; song, Mr. A. McEwen; song, Mr. Dombroski (encored); recitation, Mr. Frewin; song, Mr. L. Sutherland; duct, Misses Sutherland and Robinson; so-ng, Mr. P. G. McEwen; song, Mr. Hall; song, Mr. Arnold; orehe>!val selection, Cottier family. Mr. .Toe linr.vr undertook the duties of chairman, while Mr. J. W. Burgess acted as M.C. for t'he dance which followed, the music for which was supplied by Miss Knox, assisted by Misses Brown. Simpson, and others. Social gatherings of the above kind should be more frequent, as they are of immense help to break the monotony <if country life during winter. Regarding politics. Surelv the iranlc and file can recognise now that all the "high falutin'" sermons as to crude legislation, the need of serious reforms, the threatened pigeon-hole exposures, and goodneas knows what other "tommy

r rot," was only a means whereby the chap i | with the £3OO a year could oust the chap with the £ISOO, and that the elec- ! tors are simply pawns in the game. When, will they recognise that humanity be-: gins when people begin to find joy in each other's company in working together for common ends wKen they can create ideals and work for them, when they can labor not only for themselves, but for the next generations. If they will recognise that, party Government would immediately be a thing of the past, and this would be "God's own country" in its fullest extent. Anyone recognising his duty to his country and his kind under the present line of thought (grab all one can get) of those who would benefit by practising the ideal mentioned is looked upon as an agitator that wants a stousihing. Surely it cannot last, else we may as well start and trim uj> stone axes, etc., airain!