DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 9, 11 June 1913, Page 6

DISTRICT NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondents). KORU. We are experiencing very rough weaklier here, and feed is getting scarce. The milking season, is just about over. •the creamery is closing d6wn at the end of the week,. and Koru will settle into; oblivion for tlie'winter. ; Did I say, '-would sattle into oblivion?.'}? .jV;er4l)vLbelieve we have already as far as our souls' welfare is eonoeiuied; Wejiave 'had no :i r'ellgP6us service viiere for goodness knows when, but, I recollect, .we had a service %ie Sunday, night about three months-ago. Since that time the only man of religion we have ever seen up this-way'is Mr. Buick, of the Salvation Army. We do .not know whether it is that we are so good that we do not need any spiritual advice, or whether we are that far gone that "the ministers around these parts consider they are unable to do any good among us. '^ T o Sunday school, no church on Sundays! I hope this/will catch the eye of our Archdeacon, and stir him up, and, perhaps, the next time there is a mission off to China or some other remote part of the world, he will remember Koru and spare one missioner for a while to come; out among us poor heathens, only nine miles from New Plymouth. We are all jolly hard up up this way, and there would not be very many half-sove-reigns dropped into the plate, but I hope this is not the reason why we are so sadly neglected. There are a few good crops of turnips out this way. Two would compare well with any in Taranaki, and neither is entered for the ten-guinea prize at the show. Mr. Smart and Mr. Aroa both have a few acres of first-class turnips. Several farmers have sown down a good deal of grass, but, as they were rather late sowing, the crops are not making much headway yet. Where are the Koru euchre parties this winter? Surely we could raise one if an effort were made by some of the folk this way. Well, Mr. Editor, this is all the Koru news this time, and I will try and re' member to send you a few lines oftener in future.

MAKETAWA. Weather horrible! S.W. squalls of wind and rain, with low temperature. With reference to a small article in the News a week or so ago, "A Page from the Past," in which a query is made as to the original holders of the sections mentioned in the article, Mr. J. A. Bridgeman, of Durham road, informs me that Messrs J. and T. E. Wheeler and himself are the only original selectors residing on that road. The articles reprinted revive old memories.

A pleasant social evening was spent in the Durham School on Friday evening last, notwithstanding that the promised contingent from outside failed to put in an appearance.

Many settlers down Stratford way report fields of turnips going rotten, but so far I have not heard any complaint of a similar nature in this district. Late sowings of grass seed are not making much headway as yet. Wind, rain, hail and frost are not conducive to good growth. One hears of very, strange characters at times, and the report published in the News a while back about a prisoner receiving his first bath of his grown-up life in a southern gaol, and expressing great enjoyment thereat, is not in it when a resident of the Moa Block states that he has not had a bath for nigh on 40 years, because bathing "wears out the skin." Inglewood's horse trough is anxiously awaiting his acquaintance! The Durham creamery is now running only twice a week. Many suppliers have ceased for the season and have taken advantage of. the excursion fares to jouriiey by rail on a visit to frienus and relations in distant parts. An extension of the railway concession by the Department would prove beneficial to the farming community and remunerative to the Department, and is well worth considering, as this is the only time of the year that a man on the land can conveniently visit friends afar. Mr. John Hall's new 6-roomed residence, which replaces the one destroyed by fire some months ago, is rapidly nearing completion, and is a decided improvement to the buildings in the vicinity. Messrs Percival and Messenger, of Inglewood, are the architects. A very large quantity of firewood is coming off the roads in the district, and I learn that a 20-acre patch of tawa near Tnglewood is coming down shortly for fuel purposes. The local factory is reported to have over a two-years' supply in its yards, and there's still an unlimited supply to draw on. A nasty accident befel Mr. Felix Mischewski, of Durham road, while riding to Inglewood on Tuesday night last. Through some unknqwn cau,se, his horse fell while proceeding along Durham road, and rolled over its rider, who, besides receiving a severe shaking, was considerably cut and bruised about the face. His companion states that it was a miracle he was not killed.

The meeting of delegates at the Taranaki Farmers' organisation held at Hawera on May 31 was largely attended and finally approved of the proposal and its objects. The solicitors were in attendance, and their assistance in explanations was largely availed of. The public will as soon as possible receive through the press the printed prospectus, elc, and no doubt further considerable sunport will be given. In a recent issue of the Canterbury Times appears a photo of the old blockhouse at Pukearuhe, and former residents of that locallity now on Durham road tell me that the picture is a good one, showing as it does the disrepair the historical building is in. lam also informed that not far away is to be seen a big stone marking the spot where the Rev. Wliiteley was killed. Now, a lot has been mentioned about preserving oISL historical spots, etc., and I should think the old blockhouse and its associations are well worth including in the list, and, j taken in hand right away, the cost should not be very great. I pen these few lines in the hope that those interested will recognise the importance of the subject and see to the matter as soon as possible.

LINCOLN ROAD. The euchre party and dance held in the school on Tuesday last proved fairly successful, the elements being more kind than on the previous occasion. Mrs. G. Lindsay won the ladies' first prize, Miss Frederickson being second. Of the gentlemen, Messrs Sid. Hine and L. Henwood were the winners. The committee are looking hopefully forward to striking another fine night on Friday, the 13th, whan a social will be held. Messrs G. Henwood and H. Hall have gone to To Kuiti, via Auckland, for a trip. Miss J. M. Meston, our school teacher, spent her week's holiday in Auckland with her sister (Mrs. W. E. Richardson). There is an apparent lull in everything Just now. Dairying, agriculture and most kinds of farm work are almost at a standstill for a month or so—until the Dreadnought comes!