DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1915, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondents.) SOUTH TARANAKI. , '.' ".' Feed is very plentiful here, and consequently (tfws are milking well—that is to say, ex«*pt this last week. The howling winds and hail storms have had their effect, and all the factories report a drop in milk. Factory hands, strange to say, are plentiful, and the Kaupokonui Co. report that they have no trouble as regards labor for cheese-making. That piece of road about three chains in length near Mr. Budge's corner, on the Main South road, adjacent to Hawera, ought to till the bill a.s regards a typical piece of road. It has been down several years, and N to-day like a cemented road. County councillors and borough experts would do well to find out particulars of it, as it knocks all the top-dressed tarred roads into a rocked hat for an example of what p. road should be. A lot of the tar used by the Waimate County Council looks more like soft grease, and on the main road to Manaia the effect of the tra/Ilc is apparent.

The agitation for keeping the Wangamii education district in existence as against merging into Taranaki is thought to be all over, and Wanganui will be victorious. 'Paranaki-ites are looked on from this end as a sleepy lot, quite content to do as their grandfathers did. The agricultural instructor (Mr. Brown) stands out on his own in imparting scientific instruction to pupils, and has done excellent work. The whole system of education wants revising and obliteration of the cramming, and useless stuff replaced with something useful to each pupil in his future life. It is an age of specialties, and when a pupil has had a good ground work of the three R's and a few other necessary things taught, an endeavor should be. made to find out each pupil's speciality.

A factory director informed me the other day that after working out the price to be given for cheese commandeered by the- (lovernmcnt, it would amount to the handsome price of one shilling and fivepence ner lb of butterfat.

Returned wounded soldiers are not very enthusiastic about some of the officers they have had to serve under. One man informed me that some sappers whio were tunnelling at flallipoli came up out of the ground and informed their superior oflher that the Turks were working underneath them. They were told to go back to work at once, and take no notice, anil if any more complaints were made they would be courtmartia.llcd. The consequence was that these poor fellows were blown into eternity. I think my informant said they were Huntly miners. Another said it was only murder trying to take Achi Bachi, as he reckoned it was impregnable, and the only way was to form a ring of soldiers around it and starve the holders out.

Why should not the reeruit'ng officers give some written evidence to a volunteer who has been rejected so that he" can clear himself of the taunts levelled at him?

WAR ISA. The weather has been rather on the cold, wet side, quite a change to what we had previously. The milk supply has dropped. Our local factory has been manufacturing butter for some months past, but started to make cheese on Thursday last. This is quite a change, for wiien they were making butter we always had about two hours or more to wait at the factory and a draught board occupied the time every morning, and sometimes a pack of cards. A very sudden death happened here last week. One of our first settlers in the district (Mr. Thomas Tobin), who was always at the factory every morning, year in and year out, was missed last Tuesday morning, and on Thursday he died of pneumonia. Much sympathy is felt for Mrs. Tobin and family. I regret to report that the health of Miss T. Tobin is in a very critical condition. She has been ill for close on twelve months.

Another of a series of "smoke suppers" which the young men of the district are in the habit of holding, was held last Saturday night, when the crowd gathered to tin-can Mr. Olave Julian, who had just returned home from his honeymoon, and a most enjoyable time was spent. We are wondering now who will be the next one.

The farmers are now busy ploughing for grass and turnip crops for the coming season's feed. Mr. John Brown leaves here on Monday !to join the reinforcements at Trentham.

The local school children are holding a concert on the 24th in aid of the relief funds, and the function should prove a great success. LINCOLN ROAD. A surprise party assembled at the residence of Mr. Ceorge Miles, sen., to say farewell to his son, Trooper Charles Miles, who is leaving for Trentliain on Monday night's train. The pally was given a most cordial reception. Mr. (!. Henwood, on behalf of the settlers, handed Trooper Miles a pocket-book as a memento, and wished him a safe return. Trooper Miles suitably replied. Afterwards, all joined in singing "For He's a .lollv Good Fellow.''

"J might state this is the third member of the family of Mr. George Miles who has enlisted. Mr. Miles is the oldest farmer of this district, and expects to have the fourth to enlist about Christmas time. This familv is doing its dntv.

WAITARA. Waitara, Friday. The "Sunflower Entertainers" are giving an entertainment at Urenui on Thursday, 18th inst., the proceeds of which are to go to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. The programme to lie submitted is as mirth-provoking as usual, and should draw a crowded house. An unusually heavy thunderstorm was experienced here last night, in which sheet and forked lightning' played a prominent part. The only damage done seems to be to the Postal Department's wires.