DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1915, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

Prom Our Own Correspondents, TARATA. On Thursday, September 23rd., Mr. Serge], agricultural instructor, gave a Very interesting address to tlie farmers in the Tarata Hall, tile subject being fertilizers and their uses. Mr. Sergei received a very attentive hearing and an immense amount of useful information was gained by those present. He strongly advised the farmers to do a little experimenting with the different manures. At the close of his address a number of question were asked and answered in a very satisfactory manner. A hearty vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. Sergei for his very interesting and instructive lecture and those present will look forward to his return to Tarata.

It is a great pity that more of the settlers do not attend these lectures, as they are all going in for more extensive cropping every season, and the information to be gained would be of great value to them and result in better crops. Our district is looking particularly well at present, and the fanners are very busy attending to their multifarious duties.

Inspectors Ballantyne and Whetter have been in the district examining the various schools.

Mr. and Mrs. G. Fougere and family have left the district, having purchased a farm at Ngaere. They will be greatly missed, as they always gave every possible help in all local affairs. Mr. Fougere always took great interest in schoool matters and was a member of the committee for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Fougere and family were tendered a farewell soeial and Mr. Standish, on behalf of their many friends, presented Mr. and Mrs. Fougere with two arm chairs.

A parcel was also presented to Mr. Lionel Fougere from the Tarata ladies prior to his departure to Trentham en route for the front. Mr. Fougere suitably replied, and thanked one and all for their very usefnl presents to himself, wife and son. Three hearty cheers were then given for Mr. and Mrs. Fougere and family. The last of the series of euchre parties towards the wounded soldiers fund takes place in the Tarata Hall on Thursday night, and it is to be hoped that a big crowd will roll up. KORU. Most people are busy the cows, and so far results exceed those of this time last year. Cows are in better condition and the result is more milk. Feed is fairly Bcarce, but it is fresh and green and with a little hay to help the cows are keeping up well.

Another of our settlers has sold his farm, Mr. J. Reid having sold to Mr. Tichbourne of the Hurford Road, and he has bought a farm on the Carrington Road and settled there. A successful social was held in the Hall on the night of the 24th in aid of the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. and a few pound's were collected for our wounded. Many of us up here have relations at the front and suffered losses among them; in fact, every one from this way, or related to us here, has been either killed or wounded, and at the present X don't think that any of us now have a close relative left there now. When we read the big casualty lists day by day in the paper it brings the war close to us, and when one sees young, strong, able-bodied men still holding back and not registering, one wonders where their hearts or their conscience, if they have any, are, and what must their comrades who are giving their all for their country think of them. •OPUNAKE. At the Pihama Dairy Factory meeting on Saturday the directors elected were: —Waiteika Factory, C. Malcolm; Ratiki factory, S. Richards; for the other five vacancies Messrs R. Lambie, junr., J. Pettigrew, L. Looney, T. T. Corkill, and S. Campbell were elected. With the exception of C. Malcolm all other positions were balloted for. Mr. L. Rogers was elected auditor, and Mr. R. Lambie chairman. Tiie payments already made, together with the surplus available from Home shipments, after writing off £1348 for depreciation, represents a value of 17.28 d. for buttcrfat and bonus of 1.625 per cent on the year's supply together with half per cent interest on share capital were passed for payment. The annual meeting of the Bowling Club was held on Friday night, the president (Mr. W. C. Dudley) presiding over a good attendance. The balance sheet showed the club to be in a good financial position. Mr. C. Sorrensen was elected president and Dr. Barrow and Mr. J. Macfie vice-presidents. Green committee, Messrs Dudfey, Burton, Brennan, Sorrensen and Arthur. The staff of Messrs Roebuck and Coleman, contractors for the Opunake Hotel, celebrated the near completion of the building by holding a social and dance on Friday evening in the dining room of the -new building. About 50 couples ■were present. Mr. Coleman welcomed the visitors, and the staff did all they could to make the visitors pass a pleasant evening. The evening was spent in dance, music and song. A well-prepared supper was served at 11 p.m. Those who contributed items were Mrs. Morrison, Misses Clarke West and Messrs Des Forges and Morrison. Messrs Riley and Ritchie acted as M.C's. and Clarke and McGarth-jvere secretaries.