DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1915, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondents), QKATO. On Friday the school football team visited Warea to play a match to which the boys had long been looking forward. For various reasons this trip has been postponed a time or two, and this rattier heightened the excitement of the meeting than otherwise. The game was a fairly even one, for within the last few minutes tlie Okato boys scored the winning try. The result of the match was: Okato 11 points, Warea S points. Our boy.? have now quite a swagger walk! The ladies of Okato, in connection with the Victoria League, 'have been quite busy for some time making scarves, belts, soeks. etc., for the soldiers, also various kinds of clothing for the destitute at Home. They started by making a number of pillow-cases and sheets for the hospital skip, and since ihen have met twice a week to continue their good work. On Thursday a dance, which should be well patronised, is to take place. The Tennis Club members have promoted it. Half the proceeds are to be devoted to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. The Football Club intend having a ball early next month. Tile club usually gets the members busy decorating the liall and making other arrangements for the benefit of the dancers, and a m»st enjoyable time should be spent. Tile two local dairy companies' new buildings are nearing completion. As they intend manufacturing cheese this season instead of butter the farmers are looking forward to larger cheques and better times. TARIKT. The effect of the extra fat bonuses distributed amongst the suppliers of the cheese factory at the annual meeting of shareholders on the 10th inst. has to a certain extent eased any financial strain by the extra cost of living. It may have left amongst some an uncomfortable feeling that the great war which has brought ruin, death and misery to millions has been a good thing for them, and that at the end of the first year they have made a good deal more money than they would have had the war never broken out. However, everyone v.'ho is losing sleep on that account can easily ease his menial qualms by contributing to some of the many appeals for funds for patriotic purposes that are constantly before us. The beautifulv mild weather we have been enjoying gives promise for an early spring, and the milk supply is increasing rapidly. The dairyman's motto must be ''lmsine.ss as usual''—to produce as much as possible is obviously his part to help his country and her allies in the great struggle for freedom, and if incidentally lie reaps a rich harvest in doing so. who is to blame him?

The following lines, copied from the Spectator of -Tune *2O. could not. in fairness, be applied to him, but, might !>e perhaps to some, of the denizens of our towns or to those not engaged in the production of foodstuffs:— THE LAXD OF THE BRAVE AND THE FREE. (By One of tile Latter.) Old England glories in her volunteers: 'Tis splendid! Let the other fellow go While I remain—a prey to poignant fears Lest he should suffer harm. He's dead? All. woe, Resignedly I cheek the rising sob. Then lmrrv out to try and get his job. ''National service'''' Would you have us slaves? Free was I born and free my friend shall die. It is because he likes it that he braves Tllirst. hunger cold, fatigue and agony. And if lie die. what matter? 1 foresee Another England bred from men like MK.

WATOXfiOXA. The monthly meeting of the local school committee was held on August full. Tilt' chairman. "Mr. 11. O'Connor, wild is leaving: (he tendered his resignation, ami Mr. K. ,[. llrittain was elected in his place. A vote of thanks was 'passed to .Mr. O'Connor, who has most alily fulfil'ed all liis duties, and all wish him every prosperity. Two more of our progressive fanners. Messrs H. Iline and D. Wright, are installing milking machine-. The days of laborious hand milking art- fast fading awav. We read of heroi-m on the battlefield which receives the lunch-coveted V.0.: but for patriotism many of our Taranaki girls deserve a Y.C. also, as a lot of (hem are to-day doing extra dntv in the weary work at the niilkino'-.-hed. to let their brothers go and fight for their country. Willi such a spirit pervading the heart- of the future mothers of our race we need have no fear as to the future destiny of Xew Zealand. It is reported that the Moa Diirv Company will soon be tailing a special general meeting to decide the muchvexed question of "The Store.'' A pet.lion to the Poslmaster-fieneral tor a daily mail delivery is being signed, and we are hoping for subscribers'

enough to instal the rural telephone system.

MAKETAWA. The meeting of suppliers of tin- 10-al dairy company, hold on Thursday after--110011 last, was not so largely attended as previous meetings lielil in the evening; no doubt pressing work accounted for the alteration. Thursday evening next should see a very large gathering at the factory, as shareholders are to decide if the support tjf the company, as a ratepayer, is to be given to the new county' proposal. Mr. .1. Brown, as chairman of the county council, who is opposed to the new proposal as a shareholder, will state facts and figures in support of his contention, and it is understood (hat other gentlemen interested, both for and against, will also enlighten the shareholders on the proposal. Suppliers only can vote on the main issue raised, but that is no reason why all interested should not attend. The opportunity should not i.ulightly passed over. A good piece of work is at present under way bv the T.C.I', road stall' near the Durham railway station, the roud being made wider, graded, and newly metalled. 1 notice that, several heaps of broken metal have been deposited near the Dudley Road hill, near Inglewood, and I hope it foreshadows the ■ .cutting down of the grade at that place. The Durham School Committee held its usual monthly meeting on Monday night, dtli inst., all members being present. It was reported that a working bee had prepared ground for agricultural classes, and that a'suitable log had been found to replace the Maketawa stringer recently washed away.