DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 271, 8 April 1913, Page 6

DISTRICT NEWS.

MAKETAWA. | (From Our Own Correspondent). At the factory picnic last week, Mr. M. Hop,son, who had obtained from the Old Country a sample of Dorsetshire cheese, invited many on the ground to taste some. Remarks anent the English product were very quaint, and it was very evident that if that were the only kind of cheese produced the production would not enlarge much. Of course I'll admit one has to acquire a taste for everything nowadays, but Dorset cheese—not much! One old Taranaki identity said he had tried to stomach, in times gone by, Maori "pirau," and thought that hard enbugh, but the commodity he tasted on the picnic ground was a little .beyond him. Personally, I haven't got rid of thi aroma and the taste which I acquired'through my curiosity to how the 01(1 Country man "did" cheese, and if our experts have an) thing like that to put up with as regards the locally made article —well, I can understand the complaints. No wonder the early arrivals] from Dorset Were tough 'um if wllat f tasted was a fair sample of the shire's prdduction! The quarterly returns for the Durham Scliool, ending' March 31, show that the ! number on the roll is 34 (boys 10, girls 18 ;i the average weekly number on roll I 31.9 (boys lijX). girls 10.3); one boy left; i average attendance 2(1.99 (boys 13.83, girts 13.14), Mr. Ballantyne, the ".in-' speptor. visited the school on March 10, when 33 pupils were present. , .Miss F. J. Myer is in temporary charge pending thejappointment, of a permanent teacher. 1 ijliere's "nothing like music to liven onq up, and the presence of. the Inglei wojjd Band at the Maketawa factory picnic; ; helped vieyv. much in that respect. ..The .miserable. ( weather prevent-. Ed Ihumy .outsiders .attending, but I ji6- m ; tic<(d manjr .Kfiimirq fnenjls present. Re-,, gartling .the band. "I think sornq scheme ; sjiojuld be taken in hand to augment, funds of that institution, and the committees controlling,,the .schools adjacent ,'to Ingle wood coiii'd" easily help" in'that i.nm'iter bv an entertainment or. two. The presence of the band jit the amalgamated schools-picnic, all will admit, would have ibcea a great improvement, and, helped I by 'the school committees as I suggest, thejv would have a claim to a certain de- i igree on the band's services. Who# one takjes into • erffiakletation the time : «ind patience members have to devote providamusement flmßiC, perhaps I should say), it is only but right for the .puMic to* assist;' .funds | and' 'tMiM sholv their appreciation of the sacrifice :'the|band as a body and" tlie members as ;. individuals give to the public generally. ■j sliould like to'fce<! V-Aot'e'tftadb'% the matter, and I think there are a goodly • nuniber who will say "ditto." , -. fttany farmers are busy ploughing for spring'feed,, and a few weeks' fine weather will n)iike .a vast improvement in tlie'lappea.ra.ni'.e of'many big paddocks. •' • Iti se.on)s | .t.hat'. wo' cannot escape the' • usual tell levy to-the sickness list. Mahy residence- or their children lwive lately had I'a bout'with'one complaint or an-' other, several at the present time bfeing confined to their beds. Mr. F. Dodunski's little girl of about two years had a narrow escape afew'days back through drinking .leys' fluid, which it had man- ] to get'hold of from what was sup--pised to be. a secure place. I understand ■>shalj the "toddle Vis-doing fine now. | 0$ dit that "Benedict" is busy in the | immicdiate district, and a few days' time will W the addition "of at least two new disciples, to the aririy.' , I presume the anticipated railway excursions for the benefit of school children to visit the battleship'Xew Zealand and j wlikjli (per circular from the. Railway Department,) will be confined to the I scholars,; tc;ac.hei;'s and school commit- I tees,| will account for much interest being sho\i|n at the election .of school committees during this month. The way-back scholars sliould have special facilities provided to enable them to see the "something" that is being much talked about and the like they may never see again. It's. all. very well for those within a few miles of the railway, but where do ttoso- come in who have to travel 15 liiileS or so by coach or trap to get, to the train? They.are paying, too, for the •lrticje. One would'think,, per par in the papers, that we. were having a tremendous favor slwwn in getting the warship *to Xew Plymouth, but the man on the 3and has as much, if not doubly I !i ,yii, claim to-see where his money goes ;

thnintlH' city chiip, as the latter wouldn't be there if it wev.e not.for the farmer. The train business will take a lot of figuring out to give all a show. A very enjoyable social was held in the Norfolk School on Friday evening last. The alTair, which was held in connection with the Maketawa picnic, was vcrv largely attended, notwithstanding the* threatening appearance of the weather, a large number of visitors comj:„r from a distance. Mr. .100 15'irgess carried on II he ''lilies of M ;::nl :-on'; ■ were contributed l>v Mis; .Simpson, Miss mi,l Mrs. Corner, Airs. 15. Ti.vW, Messrs Domhroski. Arnold and 1 he music, for the ilsiwing v.a,. liv ■Miss 0. Simpson (piano) and Mr. 11. McEwen (violin).