DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1916, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspond-its.) OKATO, On Thursday last quite a large number of people gathered at the residence of Mr. S. A. Dailey to bid farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Wells, of the Puniho road, who are leaving shortly to take a fruit farm in Nelson. For a number of years Mr. and Mrs. Wells have been strenuous workers in the Wesleyan interest here, having always been ready to help the cause in any way possible. After afternoon tea had been partaken of, the Rev. Tinsley, on behalf of numerous friends, presented Mr. and Mrs. Wells with a purse of sovereigns, and in nu appropriate speech made reference ■ ■ "-CT loss the Wesleyan Cnnreh and the .li-.'riet generally sustained in their departure. He wished them every success in their new venture v aiid assured them the good wishes of all those present '.vent with them. Mr. Wells suitably re.-j/i-r.ded. ami. ia thiukim: the compa.ev inr their good viisbes. said his thought* ef Okato would always be pleasant ones, a; he had spent such » good time dining his residence here. Tenuis, etc # , Mas indulged in, and a very pleasant afternoon was spent by the 00 or 70 people present. Our annual school examination took' place just before the holidays commenced, and tli,' report has been received bv tile commissioners. The tea. hers (Mr. Larsrp. .red Miss Jean Auhl) are to he congratulated on the manner in which the children have been brought en, and judging by the report, I lie inspectors appreciate their good work. The report is as follows:—-Reading, good; derivation, very fair; composition, essays very satisfactory; grammar, *mr; writing, satfsisfactory; spelling, good to very fair; recitation, very satisfactory (Standard 3 excellent); arithmetic, Stanoaw 1 very satisfactory, Standard 0 good( Standards [1,2, .'! and 5, very good; drawing, satisfactory; singing, excellent; geography, satisfactory (Standards 2 and 3 excellent); history, fair; handwork, very good; needlework, very satisfactory to' good; instruction of Class P., satisfactory : order, discipline and dene of the school, very good; efficiency of school, etc.. satisfactory to very satisfactory. Seventy-four per cent, of the possible marks were obtained in connection with the beautifying of the school grounds and the supervision of the premises, etc. The farmers, are very busy just now with their harvesting, the fine weather being just what is required for the purpose. The. turnips are not so much benefited by the dry weather, farmers having had to sow their crops twice. Mr. D. F. Greemvay has had a very nice house erected on his property near the domain. The situation is an excellent one, and the house, with the pretty bit of bush behind it, looks remarkably well. It was built by our local builder (Mr. S. Hart), who is to he congratulated on the manner in which the work has been carried out. HURFORD ROAD. Similar to other districts, all farmers are busy harvesting or getting their turnips in. With fair luck stock will be fairly well provided for for the coming winter. The hay crops, although a bit late taken, on the whole are very good. During the present season the agricultural requirement have been better met with. Mr. A. Wood has been kept busy with his new seed drill, while Mr. Frost, who has speculated in a new hay-sweep, is to he seen busy among the hay-crops. The latest piece of machinery is Mr. M. Roardon's reaper and binder, which should encourage more to go in for grain- | growing, as the want of a reaper and [ binder has always been a drawback.

The milking season is now past its flush, as the gradual decreased supply at the factories tells. The Omnta Dairy Company, which, I may state, lias the credit of being the only butter factory in Taranaki that has paid out the high price of I4d per lb to its suppliers during the whole of the present, season, is at present turning out twenty-three boxes of butter per day, the tests averaging: for milk 3.0, for cream 3.0. The company was very fortunate in securing the services of Mr McC'ormick as manager. During the season 00 per cent, of the output has been manufactured from home separated cream, and the average grade (03) proves our manager's ability The last shipment realised 10:?.; per cwt. At the branch factory of the Royal Oak cheese factory, the milk is meeting "with the same downward fate. The average test is running 3.!). mid the daily output of. cheese is about 440 lb. During the present season Messrs Piujene and Williams installed a milking machine and releaser plant. Mr. John Greenhill has been confined to his lied with an attack of pleurisy. 'Private J. Lepper. who was invalided home from the front, has been staying with his people for a short tho?. and is now looking fairly 1 well. iTe has gone north to visit his relations before Ms sick leave expires. The following lads, have been home lately on final leave: Privates R. Spence, E. Loveridge and W. Mathews. We convey our best wishes to them, hoping they may enjoy good health, and ere long return to us safe and sound.

Private S. Wood has been home on sick leave, he having been in the New Plymouth hospital with measles and rheumatism for the last five weeks. He has been granted a month's extension of leave and has gone north for a change. The following young men from our read have lately enlisted, and are waiting orders to proceed to camp: Messrs L. Shrimpton, J. White, and W. Loveridge.