DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 170, 24 December 1914, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

TARIK.I. (l'rom Our Own Correspondent.) The school breaking-up was held on the afternoon of the 17th inst., when the committee, assisted by the Tariki ladies, gave the children a happy afternoon with sports, games, etc., concluding with a sumptuous tea, to which, needless to say, the little scholars crld full justice. The following is the result of the year's work: —Proficiency certificates, R. Mucker, M. Jamison, A. Kelsby, A. Thcrkleson, (!. Hollis, S. Lawrence, Ivy Thcrkleson, K. Rudkin; competency: (}. Knowles; Ist class attendance: (!. Holiis, Mr Jemison, Albert Thcrkleson, W. Iloilis, Irvine Thcrkleson, Eva Lawrence, 11. Riley; 2nd class attendance: R. Hucker, A. Kelsby, Ivy Tlierldeson, H. Pointon, (ireta Jemison, Queonie Jones, C. Hucker, J. Smith; prizes: general merit, llebe Riley: Standard VI., R. Ilucker, A. Kelsby; Std. V., Annie Thcrkleson, (!. Jemison; Std IV., Gwon Thcrkleson, Edith Davidson; Std. 111., Eva Lawrence, W. Ilucker. Christmas! How few of us will have the heart to use the old familiar greeting, ''A Merry Christmas,"' and except the very young, this must per force, be the reverse to a merry season. We shall, of course, observe the great festival, but with the thought of the tremendous issues at stake to our Empire and of the thousands of our fellow-coun-trynicnt who have given their lives for us, and of the thousands of the flower of the Dominion's manhood who have gone, or who are on their way to the war, it is impossible that we, who are left, can feel "merry." Thankful we have many reasons to feel that our women and children arc not exposed to the dangers of remorseless' raiders, and that so far, we have not suffered to any great extent by the war that lias brought | misery and ruin to so many. Hopeful i we may be, too, that the darkest hour is I passed, and though the struggle may be j long and bitter, yet in the end the cause of justice and freedom will be victor- > ious. WAREA. A meeting of the Cape Egmont Horticultural Society was held 011 Tuesday night when there was a fair attendance, Mr J. Burgess being in the chair. The date of the show was fixed for the first Stony River sale day, in March, 1!)1S>. Several new classes were added to the catalogue. It was decided to devote any profit made from the show to the Belgian Relief Fund. Mr S. Hale was added to the committee. local school broke up last week for its usual six weeks' Christmas holiday. A local farmer is offering a reward of to for information as to the "mean sneaks" who cut his horses' tails last week. Mrs Barak, our local school teacher, recently gathered together the ladies of | the district to a "kitchen tea" to cele- j breate the approaching wedding of Miss Ivy Andrews, the assistant teacher. 1 Nearly every house in the district was j represented. The afternoon was spent in j games, etc., and everyone enjoyed them- j selves. Afternoon tea was very much • enjoyed by all. Mrs Barak, who had gone to a lot of trouble to make the event a success, is to be congratulated on the result of her efforts. A large number of useful and valuable presents to Hiss Andrews formed a feature of the gathering. 1 The next day, Saturday, Miss Andrews gave the school children a spread. The. children will regret their loss, for no teacher has taken such intrcst in the little children as Miss Andrews has done since she has been here, and it is to be hoped that they will get another teacher who will take an equal interest in them. OPUNAKE. At the S.M. Court 011 Thursday an important, impounding case was heard before Mr Crook,e S.M. In this ease, Hansen v. Joe Martin, defendant impounded plaintiff's working bullocks off liis section and charged driving fees and trespasses. Plaintiff now claimed a refund of trespass fees (£1 (id), on the grounds that he had hart 110 legal right to claim trespass when lie had not a "sufficient fence." The Magistrate reserved his decision. Defendant's solicitor admitted everything in the matter of charges, but that plaintiff had taken the wrong procedure. This term of "sufficient fence" has a wide application in its legal phrase. Three cases have been tried in the Opunake Court where that same fencing term has playd an important part, and in each instance the details were different. In the first, an owner of land shot and killed pigs that trespassed on his own land. Not having a "sufficient fence," he had to pay for the pigs. 11l the second case, at Warea, a settler impounded 011 his property some working bulocks and claimed damages, which were paid under protest. Plaintiff sued 011 the promise, but could not succeed as he had not a "sufficient fence." No. 3, a settler is sued for charging

foes and the plaintiff claimc tnui j,, sliould have a "sufficient fence" before he can claim trespass fees. The cold winds experienced here this last week are having a depreciating influence on the milk flow; as much as 2001bs. drop has been noticed in an ordinary supply. A daily motor service between Opunake and New Plymouth commenced on Tuesday. It leaves Opunakc at 7 a.m., and arrives back at 7 p.m.; three hours is the actual travelling time. The "Rev. Father Harnett has been appointed chairman of the Opunake Nursing Home committee. At a meeting 011 Monday resolutions were passed that Nurse Kelly had as much as she could attend to, and that a nurse sliould be appointed to do the liaorl work. The New Plymouth Hospital of kite has been well patronised by Opunake people. Two cases of severe illness—those of Mr Strange, and Mr .T. W. Rogers, are still being treated. the Kaponga Band has been engaged to play at the Opunake sports; cornet artistes are coming from .Stratford and Wangamii. Kev. W. IT. C'rompjon, who was in charge of the Opunake-llanaia Anglican parish work some years ago, paid a visit io see his old i'rinds during the I past week. We expect to have a quiet Christmas.