DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 March 1916, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

OKATO, (From Our Own Correspondent). A meeting was held here on Wednesday evening to arrange a farewell social to Mr. and Mrs. B. T. Booker, who have sold out and are. leaving the district. It is to take, place on Tuesday next, and a large crowd is expected. Mr. Booker has interested himself in evcry'tlnng going for the welfare of the district. Both will he very much missed, and will leave many friends here. At the same .meeting it was decided to canvass the farmers and all the residents of the place for gifts of live stock, etc., with the idea of holding a gift auction at a date to he arranged later. Much has been already promised, and the Wounded Soldiers' Fund should benefit by a considerable amount.

With a view of preventing, if possible. the danger of infantile paralysis breaking out here, it was arranged to hold a working bee at the school to thoroughly clean and disinfect the building'., so oil Thursday afternoon quite a crowd gathered with buckets, brooms, scrubbing brushes and spraying apparatus. Everything movable was taken out of the ' -school, and then the men set to work to remove all the dust from every part of the building. After that operation, several well-known members of the community would not have been recognised by their friends, for the rafters and ceilings were all thoroughly swept clean of dust,- and a considerable amount of it clung to those who took part. Then followed what could hardiy bo called spraying (it was more like a lire brigade at work with a hose), every part of the interior being absolutely drenched with a strong disinfectant. This was all done over twice, and the floors were scrubbed with a similar solution. The desks, which, had been previously removed to the playground, received the attention nf the ladies, who scrubbed them with a disinfectant and soap. After the school was finished and the doors and windows closed, the shelter shed, etc., were hosed with a stronger solution than that used in the school. The children were given a holiday next day. when the school was thoroughly fumigated, and now the residents of Okato will feel they have done thr-'ur- duty towards preventing this most serious epidemic from getting a look-in here. The party were unanimously of the opinion that they world have been spending their time much more profitably (for the children's health's sake) if they had come with a few tins of kerosene to hum down the school. To think children can be expected to work as they should in such a stuffy, badiv-ven-tilatcd old place is ridieu'o::«. Nearly all the children, «e soon as they commence goino> *" school, suffer from all the complaints under the sun. It has been the experience of practically ail the pnrent> '.hat the children are quite healthy till they -start school, and then they are never well for any length of time. ■- I. understand that the Health Oflieer has twice condemned the school, and if this is not sufficient inducement to the Education Board to provide ua with n new one, then it is time we re. fused to allow our children to make use of this one. I think this school hus been built over forty years, and if the k Udm-ation Bond u a.s not bad good use . .l'oin its ionuiu.to '..hen we are beginning In. iiuiuer wnat win satisfy mem.

'I rooper ;\ewiove :?tnrnod here lasf Friday on final leave, looking as though camp life agreed with him. Owing to his stay being so short, no public function could be arranged, but he was presented with a wristlet watch a» an appreciation of hi? patriotism, all of us wishing him good luck and a safe return. This is another of our local football club to take tip arms in his country's service.

ClilT Eustace \n expected home from Featlierston camp in about a fortniglit. As we aiV practically certain when lie will be -here we will be able to make arrangements for a proper send-oft', which unfortunately we could not give Trooper Xewlove.