DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1916, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

..[(From Our Own Correspondents;. >■ ■ ' v., • ' i> . MAKETAWA. Durham School was packed with residents and visitors (many coming from Ngaere) on Friday evening last, the occasion being a social and presentation to Private Anton Dodunski, a Durham road 1 boy. The residents decided to show their appreciation of the young fellow's action in obeying the call of duty by presenting him with a gold watcli and chain, bearing the inscription, "Gallipoli, 1915-1916, to Private Anton Dodunski, NZ. Expeditionary Force, from Durham road residents." The young chap, who was wounded twice and hail to be invalided home for a period on account of ftver, received the present at the hands of his Worship the Mayor of Inglewood, who, together with several members of the Inglewood iPatriotic Committee, deemed the occasion one of deep importance. That resident folk were greatly pleased at the method of honoring their boy goes without saying, and if Private Dodunski returns to the war front he can rest assured that he has the good wishes of all. The eatables at the social were provided mainly by the ladies, and received the usual compliment, while the music was provided by Mi6s E. Laurence in her usual first-class style. The net proceeds of the social have been forwarded to the fund for a motor ambulance initiated by the Mayoress of New Plymouth.

We are still experiencing splendid weather, and it is remarkable how well the pastures are looking. When secondgrowth cocksfoot can attain seed heads and a cloaed-up paddock put on a rapid growth in a few days, when potatoes are flowering at this time of the year and willow trees show young shoots a couple of feet long, there is no wonder people are in a puzzled condition as to the reason of the phenomena. With all the exceptional advantages the dairy cattle are drawing near the "spell" period. Although many farmers are endeavoring to hold the milk supply per medium of turnips of the soft variety, T am inclined to think that the value of the milk received is in no way commensurate with the outlay involved or the extra labor entailed, not considering the loe s that may be occasioned at times through tainted milk. The infantile paralysis scare is beginning to affect a considerable number of people in various parts of the district, and the Education' Board's action in having the schools attended to seems to meet with general approval. The Norfolk school received a thorough disinfecting on Friday last, and the Durham school wag also to have undergone the same treatment, but tliis had to be postponed until Friday next. Parents are requested to roll up and assist the committee on the morning of Friday next. Had we postal facilities the delay could not have happened. In the interests of all country communities the Government should connect schools with the telephone, and I'm sure it would prove revenue-producing.

A visit to the site of the Fanners' Co-op. saleyards on the Junction road will show that the Society are erecting yards that can be practically called everlasting, the posts being of concrete, while the floor, which is to be of the same stuff, will be conducive to cleanliness and comfort. URENUI. on i r riaay evening last Urenui Hall was crowded with folks from far and near to bid farewell to Sergeant-Major 6. Bertrand and his brother, Mr. J. Bertram!. In the early part of the evening Sergt.-Major Bertrand was attending a function in his honor, so that he did not arrive till 11 o'clock. He and a party of returned soldiers were greeted with leud cheers. Mr. Halcombe, on behalf of the Urenui people, welcomed the visitors and three loud cheers were given for the returned soldiers.

Urenui is indeed proud of Sergt.Major Bertrand, who is a Urenui boy. He left with the Main Body and landed at Gallipoli in the first landing. He was twice wounded, but did not leave the firing-line the first time. He had to go to the base hospital the second time, but returned again as soon as the wound healed. He was one of the Wellington Infantry who left the Peninsula last, and has been sent back to New Zealand for his commission. He has a brother in camp at present, and Mr. J. Bert,rand, his youngest brother, went to Trentham on the 3rd. There are only three brothers, and all are now doing their little bit for their King and country.

During the evening Mr. A. H. Halcombe made a short but stirring speech; and then presented, on beiialr 01 the Urenui .people, a dressing-case to Sergt.jiajov Bertrand and a wristlet watch to Mr. J. Bertrand. The brothers were cheered again and again, and "For they are jolly good fellows" was sung, nearly lifting the roof! Sergt.-Major Bertrand, in well-chosen words, thanked everybody on behalf of his brother and himself, and salu iie would always try to do his best. He did not go. he said, for the honor and glory of it, but because he had thought it his duty to answer the call. Everybody could not go, but there were some who could go and had not done so yet, but still he thought when those men thought of what some had suffered they wouldn't be long in offering. It was good to think when, fighting that someone at home was thinking of you. It gave the boys heart when they thought of home, and letters from home were as good as a tonic. He knew how the boys had suffered, and he was proud to say that Xew Zealand and Australia always "played the game." In sending parcels to the boys, the most welcome ones were those which contained nice to eat and something to smoke, which should be posted in sealed tins; not too much of notepaper; they liked a stick of chocolate instead.

Dancing was kept going till nearly daylight, music being provided by Mr. Bert Itowe, and with Messrs Vincent and ficorge as M.C.'s, tilings were kept going. During his short stay here Sergt.Major Hertrand has been quite busy visiting and calling on old friends as wpl! as on some of the boys' parents, and all wish him and his brothers all good luck and a s afe return. URUTT. The following amounts nave been forwarded to the Xorth Taranaki Patriotic League by the Uruti sub-branch:—En-tertainment given at Uruti by Sunflower Entertainers, £2 2s; sale of gift stock at Uruti supplementary sheep fair, £tti 2s 6d; commission on above donated by' Mr. Newton King, £2 7s 6(1; raffle of bead mat presented by Miss Purdie 0"' Mrs. W. Old), 12s lid; sale of two sliei dogs, donated by Mr. A. E. Sutton. £:■ Johnson and Burrows, £1 lsj total, f.V 5s 8d ' Cattle and sheep for the stock ?;>!< were don*t«d bjr the following