DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 281, 6 May 1915, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

OPUNAKE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) ■ The Town Board met on Monday evening. Present: Messrs W. C. Dudley (chairman), C. A. Trotter, C. Sorrenson, and D. Ross. A circular letter was received from the Mayor of New Plymouth in respect to the Patriotic League's suggestion that organisation be made so that Taranaki's regular quota for the Belgian Belief Fund is £259 The Mayor's letter suggested non-interference with the present existing conditions, excepting that the donations be forwarded to the Minister of Internal Aifairs. The Board were quite in sympathy with the suggestion. The chairman stated that an account is now opened with the Bank of New Zealand at Opunake for the payment of all funds collected in this district. Several amounts, including one of £75, had been paid into Hawera fund, which, he said, should have been sent direct to Opunake. The Board decided to call a public meeting for the purpose of forming a patriotic committee to stimulate recruiting. The Board was of opinion that the country districts had not been fairly treated. Young fellows who wanted to join the expeditionary force had to lose a day and travel ■ thirty or forty milts to find out if they could join or were medically fit. A recruiting office or officer never came to Opunake, the nearest places for recruiting being Hawera or New Plymouth. The martial air is only noticeable in this district when territorials are up before the Court for nonattendance at drill. The Town Board members extolled the good old method of "the drummer and recruiting sergeant" for the country. Enthusiasm—well, there is none in a district where recruiting is never extolled. The Chief Postmaster replied to the Board's request for a postal (daily) delivery of mail matter to the effect that the town did not warrant it at present. The Board said it did, and that smaller towns than Opunake had a daily delivery of letters, and decided to invoke the aid of Mr. Wilkinson, M.P., to ''shake things up." The foreman of the Board put the month in cleaning out .water, tables and drains, repairing the culverts, and other routine details of the average foreman's toil.

A wedding took place recently in Opunake. Everything was ready for commencing the ceremony, but when tll« bridegroom was asked for his license, lo and behold, he had forgotten to get it! A hurried exit was made from the church by the person in question, and the ceremony had to await the arrival of the registrar's signature. However, like all these love affairs that you read of in the books and see on the stage, it came out all right in the end. Mr. C. Jenkins intends to run a daily motor service from Opunake to Hawera, returning to opunake after the. mail train, arrives 'at Hawera: Motor"services are giving us a good run now, The local footballers,held a good practice on Saturday, and the attendance of youth augws well for the coming season.

PUKEARUHE. i A corrtert in aid of the Belgium FOTid \ took place in the Pukcaruhe School on Friday, April 30, but, as the evening was rathar damp, people from any distance did not put in an appearance. However, the concert was a decided success, the'following being the programme: Song, The British Grenadiers, school children; recitation, Pipes of Lucknow, Miss Freeth; song, Mr. fi. Martin; recitation. Frogs at School, Master Eon Penwarden; song (comie 1 )., Mr. tA. R. Davis; recitation, Hover in School, Miss K. Freeth; song, My Kingdom, Mr. H. Wells; recitation, New -Zealand, Edwin Evans; song, Marseillaise, Miss Davis; recitation, Ten Little 'Sausages, by ten small school boys (this caused much laughter); duet played by Mr. and Miss H. Wells; a short play, entitled Tim Two Scamps, in which the following six took .part: Miss Freeth, Edwin Evans, 0. Davis, H. Martin, V. Wells and H. Cairtwrigbt. This item was a credit to those taking part, especially the two first-named. Song, Mr. G. Martin, in his usual good style. Action song, school children; song, Whisper and I Shall Hear, Miss Davis; song, Tipperary, Misses Cartwright and Wells (encored). The song Red, White and Blue, by Misses Freeth (2), Wells, Bavis and Cartwright, in lAllies' dresses, was rendered in fine style. Song (comic), The Irish Jubilee, Mr| Davis; song, Sons of tho Sea, Master Hugh Martin. The singing of the National Anthem concluded the programme. The room was thencieared for' dancing, which was kept going until the small hours of theMnorning, supper being provided by the ladies. The music was supplied by Mesdames Cartwright and Davis and Messrs. T. Martin and Clark. It is understood that tlie credit for dressing the children for the various items is due to Mcsdames Freeth and Cartwright. Mis. G. S. Evans supplied the many bags <of sweets, sold uy the children during the evening. The Rev. Headly, who was in charge of the finance, while thanking Mrs. Cartwright for all her trouble in bringing the conceit to such a successful issue, announced that the proceeds. £4 10s, would be I handed over to the Be'gium Fund.