DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVIII, Issue 288, 14 May 1915, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

TATABAI MA'KA. (From Our Own Corres'pond'eut), Still the war drags on, and we are tempted to cry, "llow long, {') Lord?" One often wonders why the earth does not open and swallow such dastardly murderers. (t is to be hoped the tragedy of the Imsitania may bring vividly liome to the great American nation the true "frightfulness'' ol' the methods of our foes. Lately we have been doing a little hit for brave, heroic. lielgiiuu. <lur latest eli'ovt had to be undertaken on very short notice, seeing our local school was about to be dismantled. Although the time was so short, the people of the district loyally responded to tile call made upon them, giving of their substar.ee freely and ungrui Igingly. Down the entire length of the school ran a wide bench laden with every variety of gift (from a needle to an anchor, f was going to write), but certainly one could find gifts ranging from a sack of wheat or two carriage rugs to a kodak or side of bacon, or a calf or whole piggy. The sale of quite a number of fowls and of the aforementioned piggy created quite an amusing episode, and a little mild I excitement. Besides these things there were sold pictures, onions, cabbages, honey, jams, pickles, sauces, jellies, pumpkins, lemons, Japanese passion fruit, pears, apples, potatoes, a watch, shield, homc-lmked loaves, butter, beeswax. home-made lollies, and many other items. The. total takings, remitted to the l!elgium Relief Fund, were £23 10s fid. The expenses were nineteen shillings. This is the third instalment from Talaraimaka, and our good people should sleep roundly with no accusing conscience, murmuring: "Inasmuch as ye did it not unto the least of these, ye did it unto Me." Mr. Will ilonevlield was chairman, while Mr. Hoy McAllum wichlcd the hammer. Mr. flood materially assisted in keeping an excellent tally of gifts sold. Mr. lletcher avted as .\I.C. in his usual pnim-taking manner.

Our small community was greatlv shocked by the terribly sad accident which resulted in the death of Mr. W. M C'onr.ick, only son of our former neighbor, Mr. P. MeCormick. Ilis father left this district about two years ago, and his son resided with his father and mother in their home on Ihirford road. Nowhere could one see a, finer specimen of splendid young manhood, and the grief of his parents and relatives wa-- great on receiving the snd news of his terribly sudoen death. The sympathy of the entire neighborhood goes out to them in their heavy bereavement.

That such death-traps exist as the corner where the fatal accident (ccurred and many others on the r' ad between the school and Mr. Adhr.e's place relleets little credit on the County Council. Surely during fifty years these tragic corners could have been parol off. I much fear that at no distant date some

fad catastrophe will take place in rounding too rapidly one or other of those dark corners about the Timaru. Our now cheese factory will, I doubt not. proceed duly towards completion, seeing the job has been entrusted to Mr. Owen Penwarden—who knows all that can ha known about such things as factories.

When one sops in tTie papers the prices for chee^i l mio cannot help wishing oho wore supplying ;i cheese. instead of a liiiUor factory. Still, what is the use of repining? There has hoon a lot of sickness lately. A very severe form of influenza appears to have taken a firm hold 011 many people, in some cases leading to pleurisy and pneumonia. The local school at last is undergoing a. ro-jnodelling process, and the children migrate to-morrow to the Weslevail Church, v.iiicli they are enabled to make li-e of through the generosity of the Tlov. Tmslcy. Tlu; Hoard will, of eonrse, put right any slight, damage which may he done to paint, etc., bv unthinkin'" kiddies. ' "

Cheques will shortly he reaching the vanishing point, but the bonus coming i" at tin; dead season makes a rift in the ■larknoss.

One cannot help admiring the attitude of tile great majority of the .Yew Zealand people towards their striken Allies in Rehjhnn. JMhinks vi.ni tliev rea-h the golden gate St. Peter will hasten to open it wide enorgh J'„r ail those to enter who have so I'lVelv given 01 their time and money to the world's greatest charity. ■ Our local sehno] eommitiee is composed of Messrs Smith (chairman), liot'•hoi'. Stiekin and Morris and Mrs. Doughty.

STANLEY En AD. AGRICI/LTUIiAL EDUCATION. At the annual muetii.g of the householders of the Stanley Mil School district, it was recommei.dcd to the incoming committee thaj arrangements clionld l>e made for the inclusion of agricultural instruction iu tnc school work. Accordingly, Mr. J. <;. t;,bbs. the hoard's instructor in agriculture ami dairy science, met the committee last Tuesday evening, and, after statins: that the head teacher, Miss Lilev. had asrroed to ialce up the work, and' that the hoard would sanction it, made arrangements ivitli till! tommithv regarding the preparation of a piece uf tiie school grounds ;or the practical experimental work. Mr. Ellis subsequently addressed a fairly large, number of the fanners of toe district upon "Tile Principles of Aiaimi injr," which. being a subject on •which the farming community is keenly interested, was much appreciated. In moving a vote of thanks to the lecturer, Mr. George Sangster expressed ■us pleasure at being present, and his ' 'itisfuctioii nt llh? information which Mi. Kllis had succeeded in putting into ;" s address. He was sure tuat such rectnres would prove of incalculable ' able to the fanners and hoped Jiat they Kiinld be delivered frequently. Mr. Siingster's complimentary remarks were endorsed by the meeting, and Air. 'hem n",?7 fr ™it in a ,i n and deliver another lecture at 110 distant date.