DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 September 1915, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

TARIKI. (From Our Own Correspondents.) The Ladies' (Patriotic Sewing Guild lield their daffodil afternoon and evening on the 9th. inst., and though coming close after the last patriotic entertainment, was well patronised by the public, and was in every way a great success. The hall decorated with flags and with a profusion of daffodils tastefully arranged on amaja tables, presented a very attractive appeaiance. One of the main objects of the show was to interest the public in the work done by the sewing guild. A great deal of this has, of course, been sent away, but arranged on one side of the hall was an interesting collection of the results of recent sewing bees—nightingales, balaclavas, pyjamas, socks," cholera belts and other necessaries and comforts for our boys on active service and tlie sick and wounded. There was a good attendance of ladies in the afternoon, and in the evening the hall was crowded. There was a laTge number of the younger members of the community and a very pleasant evening was spent with games, competitions, cards, etc. Miss Elsie Kilsby contributed a song, and the Misses Hogan, Mace and Richardson musical items. The lolly stall was prettily constructed in a corner of the hall, and the home-made confections contributed by the ladies met with a ready sale, Mesdames D. Jones and Hoskins being kept very busy. Previous to supper being served, at the request of the ladies, Mr. C. P. Young mounted the stage to sell the daffodils. Mr. Young proved himself a most capable auctioneer, and having struck a patriotic note, soon had the audience bidding freely for the bunches of flowers. A pleasing feature of the sale was the good bidding of a number of the young men (mostly under military age), the bunches fetching from Is to 4s 6j, and in many cases were put up again. Amongst those who were most conspicuous in this sale were: Messrs Bridgeman, F. Gall, E. Karalus, Kilsby, Laurence and Coutts. Though eggs are down, a basket containing 14 was keenly competed for. Purchasers were: Messrs Bridgeman 3s Gd, C. F. Young 3s, F. Gall 9s, R. James 3s Od, Hamlin 3s. The sale of flowers realised XI 7s 9d, eggs l<ss, lolly stall £3 14s, and with' competitions, afternoon tea and door-tak-ings, the total takings amounted to £ll 2s sd. The ladies' committee wish to thank those who helped by contributions of lollies, flowers, vases, etc., and Messrs Crossman, T. Therkleson, J. Therkleson and D. Jones for their assistance in arranging the hall on the night previous. On the same date, while the ladies were busy with the daffodil show in Tariki, the Mangatea road was the scene of unwonted activity. A number of settlers in the district who wished to show their appreciation in a tangible form of Mr. W. L. F. Porter's action in leaving his wife and farm in order to go and fight for his country readily responded to the call of the Patriotic Committee to attend a working bee at his homestead at the end of the Mangatea road. Though this is a busy time for the farmers, early on the morning in question there was quite a procession of carts, horses, and, though the going wa3 hardly ideal, motor-cars, and a stranger not acquainted with the object in view enquired where the ploughing match was going to be! Messrs G. Simons, A. Carr, W. Smith and Stephenson provided plough teams, and were soon turning the sod, while Messrs C. Therkleson, Prujean, T. Long and H. Swanson, armed with shovels, vigorously attacked the tracks. They made good progress in the morning, and at lunch time were strongly reinforced by a detachment from the township, consisting of Messrs F. Mills, E. Crossman, B. Riley, J. Therkleson, T. Therkleson (per motor) and W. Rudkin, who proved themselvM hefty men with the pick and shovel, and put in a lot of useful work, cleaning out water-tables, making culverts, etc. Mr, J. Karalus has notified the committee that he intends assisting by drilling oats when the ground is ready. Apologies for absence were received from several who intended, but were unable to attend.

An error at the end of the recent report of the moek court needs correction. Mr. H. Ivnowles' fine was 10s, the amount being received by the clerk of the court, although the offender was not actually convicted of "not watering his milk." Much sympathy is Mt for Mrs. J. Therkleson, whose brother, (Private 15. J. Earley, of the Wellington Infantry Battalion, was killed in action at the .Dardanelles. A portrait of Private Early was in the last' issue of the Auckland Weekly. _ ■ HUIRANGI. The last euchre of the season took place in the Hall last Wednesday evening, eleven and a-half tables being occupied. The ladies' prize was won by Mrs. B. Wilson (501b flour), Mise McCracken 2 (salad bowl). Mr. McCaul won the. gentlemen's first pfia: (a razor), Mr. W. i'uson 2 (a purse). After supper, dancing was indulged in till 1.30 a.m. Miss Caw provided the music, and Mr. Sid Osborne acted as M.C. The proceeds, after deducting expenses, will be handed over to the Belgian Relief Fund. Mr. Le\vi3 Andrews met with a painful accident last Friday. He was loading some hay, and the stack whereon lie was standing, having a cant earthwards, gave way, and in falling lie ran Hie prong of a fork into his arm übove the wrist, the steel coming out In one of his fingers. Mr. P. .Surrey, who happened to be near at hand, pulled out the prong and rendered iirst aid, after which the sufferer was motored to New Plymouth for medical attention. It is hoped he will speedily recover, as it is not the best -time for one to be laid up, and labor is scarce. Fanners are busy, for besides milking there is ploughing, working the soil, and Sowing oats, wheat, etc. As regard.-; the area that will be sown in mangolds for next season, I think it will be small in comparison with former years, as many find it difficult lo get sufficient time fur the very necessary weeding of the crop, so tllat a number of fanners are now growing alternate crops of white turnips.

The lav imposed on kerosene and benzine by the Government does not appeal too kindly to those farmers with milking machines. No doubt there are many other articles (luxuries) that eould more justly have borne an extra duty or tax than again pressing hard 011 the farmer, who lias, in many cases, to fall back 011 the milking machine 011 account of the dillieulty in procuring suitable labor ./or milking. Then, again, kerosene is nidstly used for lighting purposes by the country people, anil this extra duty ought to set the progressive man thinking of getting other means of obtaining cheaper and better lighting for their homes. Electricity and acetylene gas are both well suited for private residences, and I believe are well within the reach of most householders. I believe that anyone seeing the light produced by an acetylene plant would not hesitate long in putting it la,

I am sorry to say that some parts of the district are being troubled with stray stock. My attention has been called to where a motorist was held up by a horse (one of a gang) propped in the middle of the road. It is all right to have a long paddock, but please, sir, see that it's fenced!