DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 114, 7 October 1914, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

TATARAIMAKA.

/ (From Our Own Correspondents). j

At the school committee meeting last night, all matters pertaining to the Belgian concert, to be held on Friday evening, were linally arranged (not omitting the boiling of the billy or the peas to he placed in a bottlebeforo the audience uncounted, and toT)e counted in front of them). Mrs Clyde lias kindly donated an oil painting, and the bottle of peas is the method chosen for deciding the winner. Mr Aishe has also given a ham, and I have no doubt others will follow suit and give something to help to swell the funds in aid of surely one of the noblest nations ever created. Our school concert was most successful, the children acquitting themselves in a most creditable manner, their songs, recitations, speeches, etc., going without a hitch. The grown-ups who assisted were Mrs C. Honeyfield and Miss Kathleen Dougherty, Rev. Addenbroo?:e. and Messrs R. Andrews and Brider. These ladies and gentlemen rendered songs, and Mr Lacy a recitation. Miss Jones kindly played the accompaniments, and Mr Laurence Carey acted as M.C. Mrs Hawkins and Miss Gyde, assisted by other ladies, decorated the stage in a most artistic manner.

; The two concerts already held in the I school have been a pronounced success, the first, held by the Church of England, ! for their Sunday School prize fund, netted a goodly sum, and the school concert held for "prizes'" was a complete financial success. The third, coming off on Friday, will, we all trust, eclipse those preceding, seeing it is for a cause so worthy and so sympathy-compelling. We ail desire to express our heartiest thanks to the Xews and your contemporary for your great kindness in giving our concert' advertising gratis. Mr Barnett is going to render his services free to the good cause. I sometimes vaguely wonder if the Belgian people will ever know of how we busy dairy farmers, in the midst of our very busiest season, are thinking, working and planning for them—all doI ing something to help the great, little, I' brave nation who alone stemmed the tide of barbarism till France and England were ready.

MAKETAWA. The dry weather is having a serious effect on'the grass growth, and consequently the milk yield. The good effects of Hie light rain' a few dan is bark was nullified by 'lie cold, dry, south-east wind experienced (luring the latter part of last week. Taranaki cannot do without a liberal supply of water, ami the months of August and September of tlus Tear have been exceptionally dry. " A large area has been ploughed for oats in this locality, while potatoes hare claimed a larger space than in previous years. Household gardeners complain bitterly as to the depredations of small birds, "the- blackbird being particularly severe on the small seed beds. The boulder contract of Mr A. D.uich, who i.- «'■ .tabling stone from the Maketawa tv,. r. i..r. I understand, the I'atea Boron;. . Cu.ni.il. is making good progress, a- ;'.:-. is the contract of Mr 11. Julian. Hiu' i .I''. lining stone from the Waitipuke. lOniployment is given to a large number, and the fine weather is conducive to good time being made In driving to Inglewood, one cannot help noticing that, notwithstanding the 'dry spell, tin' county road is in excellent order, and "tyivmen" cannot help but appreciate the surface provided. There i.< not a louse stone to be seen, and the side of the metal trimmed up with earth makes driving quite a pleasure. School children are enjoying the holiday provided through the teachers being caflcel upon to attend physical drill. Parents, in manv cases, would, much rather tin- schools had not been closed, lint yon can't, please everybody. I -uppose' after this we'll have the nippers doiii" cake walks, hand-springs, high-1-iekTug. and such-like light drill time in i>'c various school.- should prove of interest to onlookers in luc. future. . The war. of course, is still tin- topic, though here aud there one notices that the. intciv-t necessary ('• internal Hll'airs will not be hard to rouse. Some people think that things political will be over -liacliAVc.l. but. given the right men as candidate". I think the electors will pro.'c (heir kcciim— be showing they nm take w,ie of other liiin.-- than Hie war. j Manv housewives complain about (lie

,-i„. i M (.he price of bread and other article-;, but particularly bread, ami it. has been noted Unit the New Zealand (loverunient did not act as promptly as that of NYw Zenith Wales, which lixed a fair price for foods! iiii'- first and then appointed a couiiMr.-noii The N'W Zca]illl(l ]t M\, a iv allowed to lie exploited, ,„i i'i„„ a conr.uis-ie.n i,.i :..;'poited, and ; ,|| l„,,iu-e theCovenime.nl Uinl claimed l„ he inteTesii.il in the fanner- hadn't the backbone- to do what, il ought to have don..-, but, then, il is election year, and that makes m. ,1 iIV.-.vnv,-. Ibit it's '" The' "lectures bv the- Agricultural Instructor I Mr-I.e. I'dlis). under the- direction of the Technical Department, have levn announced for the sth, 12Ui, I'-Mh and ''titli in-t at the Maketawa laclory. at 7.:«) p.m. Farmers at this time of the. year a- a rule do not tYcl incluvd io travel -cceral miles to alie-nd lectures, and it is a pity thn-e controlling cannot s"<- Ih.-ir way f.»r s„,in- arrangement wherebv the Nor!'..lk and Durham s.hools cullld In- Utilised. It, c.illU, I am sure, re-nil in better a!t..ndau.-c,.