DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1916, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondents)'. TARIKI. At the Patriotic Society's annual meeting- ti very creditable year's 'work was reported. For tlie size of the district Tariki holds a fine record for the number of men who have left these shores or are in training to go forward to fight the Huns. There are still a number of strapping single men left who should have no difficulty in passing the medical test. If all is true a bad time awaits the conscripts. A local farmer.. Mr. Ilamblyn, has five sons away doing their bit for the country. While on final leave, the Patriotic Society gave Private Ci. Knowles the customary farewell. All appeared to enjoy themselves. On returning to camp last Monday Private Knowles carried Tariki's best wishes with him.

The ladies are vi/vy busy raising funds to provide Christmas gifts for the boys at the front.

Now that we are having a spell of fine weather a different complexion is put on the- fanner's face, one and all having a pleasant mile.

What price cheese this season? Our storekeeper. Mr. Rudkin, was laid aside for a week,'and the lady butcher came to his rescue. lam piea-ed to state he is now recovered. roiv Another line young fellow who has succumbed to shrapnel wounds received in France was Frank Burkitt. He was tiie son of Mr. John TSurkitt, now of Ngaere, but until recently a resident of Toko road. Frank was barely twenty-one, and prior to his departure for the front was working on Mr. Marfcll's milk-run in New Plymouth. He was respected and trusted by all with whom he had come in contact.

On tlie 14th inst. a patriotic concert was lield in the Toko Road Hall, the proceeds of which are to he used for purchasing Christmas gifts for the men at the front. The whole district, it may be said, worked with the utmost vim and interest to make the entertainment an unprecedented success. Toko is, above all else, patriotic, and feels small toleration at the removal of a placard, placed in a conspicuous place, containing a notice concerning the concert. It is even whispered that tampering with the copper, in which the water for tea and coffee ' was boiled, was contemplated. However, the proposed wherewithal (of a spirituous nature) to perform that dastardly act was, apparently, otherwise required. It is said that never previously were there so many present at an entertainment in the hall as on Thursday, and, judging by the row of motor-cars outside, one seems disposed to credit the statement. The Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. gratuitously placed three cars at the disposal of Stratford visit. ors. while Sir. Newton King also generously lent one. Mr. Marfell presided in his usual inimitable manner, his wellchosen remarks making everything go with a smoothness without which no entertainment can be voted to give unalloyed pleasure. To Mrs. Maunsell, Miss Marfell and Miss Curtin the audience was indebted for the majority of the accompaniments during the evening, while Mr. King made an excellent doorkeeper. Miss Curtin's opening selection was classical, yet bright and alluring, and demanded that attention which is too seldom given to a well-executed pianoforte solo. Misses Bartlett and Thompson, who came all the way from Inglcwood. sang a duet, "Sing to Me," delHitfullv, and received an encore. Songs bv Miss Hughes. Rev. Moir and Mr."Bradley (re-called), all of Stratford. were received with great appreciation. Miss M. Branlcy, of New (Plymouth, sang moil- attractively "Your King and Country Want You," and was encored. During this item two little ones who came onwith the singer (Nelson Gall, in khaki, and Jean Jensen. Red Cross nurse) went amongst the audience, the former collecting money in his cap, and the latter se'liii" buttonholes. In addition to a donation a young man facetiously dropped in a farthing, little thinking how beneficial to the soldier; his joke would result The humble coin was later on disposed of by Mi-' Clark and Mr. Fletcher, and brought in several pounds. The school children's items. "See-Saw" (musicil tahlcau arranged by Mrs. Maunsell) "Knitting." "Niddy Nod" (by boys in Chinese costume), "The Queen Anne Fan Son"," and "Bed Time for Dolly" (musical tableau by Mrs. Maunsell) went off famously, their success being enhanced by the swing of the accompaniments. The success of the item, "The Birds' Convention," bj' Mary Gall, Mary Smith, Doris Bococ'k, Joy Jensen. Thelma Colson and Jessie King, little girls looking like an owl. a crow, a red-breast, two doves and a thrush, was largely due to Mrs. Colson's original and beautifiilly-carried-out conception of bird costumes, with tail, head, wings, beaks and all, suitable to the respective birds. Bob Gatcnby was the 'boy who helped the owl to find' its way by day. The applause received by the nigger troupe of ex-pupils of the school was well deserved. Clayton Gall and Laurie Leydon brought down the nouse with their impersonation of "Jeff and Uncle Tom," while in the two other nigger items Leslie Marfell, Charlie Towes, Clayton Call, Francis (.'lark, Laurie Leydon and Norman Lefroth received vociferous applause. The help the above boys gave in the stage management, supper, dressing, etc., cannot be too highly commended. The items given by the School Club, with Clayton Gall as "president," were also greatly appreciated. The four niggers (Herbert, Lewis and Roy Bocock and Gordon Colson) caused great amusement with their quaint costumes and little jokes. Nellie Towes, Maggie Toms, ! j'ercy flatenby and Ronald Young were dressed as Maoris, and did a liaka so \ realistically that, in some quarters, they were suspected of being real Maoris. The two clowns, Arthur Gall and Jim Jackson, in their pointed hats, paint and farcical costumes calculated they could beat the Maoris at a haka and went ! ahead with many contortions. This, ', • along with a few excellent jokes, brought ' i forth a round of applause and laughter. ; Five Japanese, with kimonos and fans , I complete (Ivy Gall, Gwen Colson, Bessie I j Boyd, Alice Scott and Lillian Keilsen) -ang very prettily "Charming Little SisI ter Jappy," while the courting of Belinda and the Golliwog (Selina Lofroth and Dick Flower) was found amusing. Mrs. Gamp, dressed to represent an umbrella (Myrtle Gaterfby) recited distinctly how she kept dry in a different manner from Dickens' "Sairey." Mvra Lofroth, as a nigger woman, sang "Couviing down in Tennessee" very nicely, and Violet King, dressed in Highland costume, as Mi3s Harriet Lauder, sang .a slightly amendqd version of "It's nice to get up in thVinorniw-" and received much ».-- JBISK»'

The ladies of the district are to he congratulated on the excellent supper provided; in fact, as Mr. Marfell said, "One could hardly get into the supperroom'' for boxes. The proceeds amounted to £ls. The eil'orts and generosity of Mesdames lliissill', (Jail and lloyd and Misses Clark and Marfell were a great (actor in making the all'air the success it proved.