DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 April 1917, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

OMATA. (From Our Own Correspondent), very enjoyable social wr.s held in the Omata hall on Wednesday evening, The guests on this occasion were Privates P. Mace and H. Henrikson. Dancing was the order of the evening. With a perfect floor, a capable M.C. in the person of Mr. A. Bayly, and music as supplied by Mr. Pearson, needless to say a good lime was spent, by all present. During an interval before supper, Mr. D. i. Hughes, in a short speech, expressed to Private Mace the good wishes of the residents of the district "for his mture welfare, wishing him a «afe and speodv return. Mr. E. R. Bayly, on behalf of the Patriotic Committee, asked Private Mace to accept a wristlet watch as a small token of the high esteem in which he was held bv all.

Mr. W. Honeyfield, who was present to represent the people of TatarainiaTtar, expressed their appreciation of Private Mace's good qualities and asked him to accept a case of pipes, together with their best wishes. Private Mate briefly returned thanks. •

A further presentation of a watch was then made to Private Henrikson. Though not now a resident of this district Private Henriksen is one of a family of six stalwart boys who were bom and grew up in Omata and is now up on final leave visiting his sister, Mrs. F. 6eamark. Of the six brothers aTI have responded to their country's call. Three are at present "somewhere in France," one is in Egypt, one has been invalided home "gassed," while the sixth, our guest, who had previously been rejected as unfit, leaves with the twenty-fourths. In stating these facts Mr. Bayly said the Omata people could not miss the opportunity of wishing Private Henriksen God-speed. Having known the brothers from boyhood it gave him especial pleasure to have at least one of them as a guest before leaving for the front. Mr. Hughes also congratulated Private Henriksen upon his family's record and recalled the fact that the name of Mace was already an honored one in the annals of New Zealand's history. He called for three cheers for the worthy parents of the guests. After the usual musical honors had been rendered, supper was handed round and a thoroughly social gathering was proceeded with and finally closed with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne."

The moist weather conditions of the past week, though too late to prolong this season's milk yield, is having a beneficial effect on the pastures and swede crops. With fair prospects of a good autumn /rowth, together 'with the fine crops of hay saved farmers are less apprehensive of the coming winter than was the case last year.

In spitf of the undoubted shortage of labor farmers are keeping their work in a forward state. It is pleasing to note that weeds are not being neglected but are receiving their annual set back. The ladies of Omatn are actively engaged preparing for the coining great push at the "Mart," where they will offer large quantities of "booty" aiyl foodstuffs recently captured from their friends.