DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 137, 3 November 1914, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

Toko. (From Our Own Correspondents.) On Friday morning, about 5.30, a fire broke, out in'a house owned by Mr J. A. Stanford, of lluiroa, and occupied by Mr L. Roberts, manager of the Toko Lime Company, and situated just at the back of the old hotel on the Toko road and near the dairy faotory. The lire spread very rapidly, so much so, that the house of seven rooms was a mass of ruins in 30 minutes, and the fire bad igprcad to the next house which was only a few feet away and occupied by Mr F. A. Warner. This second house was rapidly demolished, and a third one caught and was also burnt .to the ground. This, fortunately, was not occupied. The second house was one of five iroomJ, the third four rooms, both of which are \owned by Mr D. Maxwell and are believed to have been insured. Mr J. A. Stanford's property was insured in the London and Lancashire. Both owners and occupiers have lost considerably. Had a strong wind been blowing at the time the result would have been disastrous for Toko.

C»1 #*&* MAKETAWI. Given a continuation of favorable conditions there should he an extraordinary yield of fruit this season. The various orchards are looking extremelv well.

Mr Ellis, the agricultural technical lecturer, gave an address at the Durham school oa the evening of Monday last Through an oversight, tihe meeting luul not been notified, but as it was, 18 were present. The subject chosen was the "Maintenance and Restoration of Soil Fertility," which the lecture) did ample justice to, great attention being shown. At tile conclusion numerous queries were asked, and 1 have no doubt that future ieotureg "will be followed wi.h much interest.

The pupils of Durham road are at pre sent very busy preparing for the prize fund concert which will he held previous to the break-up in December. The cantata, "Damo Burden's School," will be presented. The continuous dry weather is beginning to plav havoc with the side roads in the district, which are rapidly becoming extremely rough with loose btones.

Explosives for stumping operation? J are being used to a large extent jis tb« district, end the saving in hand W6rk and time is greatly apJ preeiat?d, AH oyer the country the ; loud reports can be heard, and it gives j one a faint idea of what the German cannonading must be like. A large eel, capable of accounting for a large number of trout was removed from the Xgatoromii on Wednesday. The tuna, .which weighed eight Iba., measured three feet ten inches, with a girth of 9 '/« inches, and was captured with a hay fork. The (ests at the Durham creamory run from 3.3 to 4.4. A great deal of disappointment is expressed in nany ; instances at the manner in which herd* are "testing" this year compared wit'j previous seasons. ; The weather indications on ' sevcal i ecmions promised u-s a downpour which would have proved of great benefit ttt I both grass and oat crops, but the closest approach was on Wednesday lajt , .when a couple of light showers happened The wind from the SIW. on 1 hat day was at times extremely high and j logging fires all over the iplacp lhad h good "g*. w The view from the top Sttta of tU loads leading to Mt. Egmont in th.i tarly morning opens up an interesting panorama which shows the 'beauty oi the country to. the north-eaist and also the industry of the settlers in the various parts. The various shades of coloi as shown % 'the different greens in grass and oat, patches, the dark sfhades of the ploughed ground, the several plamtations, and here and there the homesteads dotted about, and occasionally the long stream of smoko and steam from tho railway engines, all 4e»d towards an interesting picture. Later in tlte day the Bmoke from logging tires is a sure indication that man i~ Hard at work bringing more, land undbr ithe plough. Every your vast changes can he noted in the distant view- As it is with us, no doubt it is also with those of other places.