DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1918, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS

MOKAU. I HARBOR BOARD. (From Our Uun Currcepuiidcitl). ji meeting of the Harbor Board was held oil the 10th iuut., Mr. S. Whitehead, chairman, presiding. There were also present: Messrs A. U. Sampson, 11. Maine and J. Terrill. Mr. 11. .Maine reported having received advice that the question of the insurance of the dredge was being held over pending certain information. With regard to a report on the state of the Mokau River by Mr. John Kelly, Awakino County engineer, it was decided that the secretary write to the Marine Department pointing out the report had already been forwarded, and to enclose correspondence between the Department and the Board in proof thereof. It was considered unfortunate that, the Marine Department had had three changes in its head during the past, year, viz., Hons. McXab. Russell arid SVilford. This necessarily had led to some slight misapprehension. Mr. Kelly is to be asiced to acquaint I the Hoard of hi 0 next visit to the Mokau district, as it would he pleased to confer with him upon matters relating to the snagging if the river. With regard to the dredge, it was decided to await the result of the next meeting of the Waitara Harbor Board. A communication was rpad from Mr. Vieior Sjolnnd asking permission of the Hoard to erect a slip on the foreshore below the wharf in order to overhaul his launches when necessary, also the use of the Board's log-hauler.—Permission was granted to erect the slip subject to the site being approved by the Board. Permission was also given to use the hauler, conditionally upon it, being kept in aood order, and returned when wanted. The secretary was instructed lo call for nominations for the seats on the Roard rendered vacant by the resignations of Messrs L. R. Jones and G. Lake. Accounts totalling £2O were passed for payment. SCHOOL COMMITTEE. A meeting of the above was held on {the 4th inst., J. L. Mac Donald in the I chair, there being also present.-Messrs S. Whitehead, 11. Maine, J. Terrill and A. G. Sampson. An application from the head teacher for new desks to replace the present obsolete pattern was received. It was reported the Board's overseer had since made an inspection of the sehoolhouse and grounds, and had promised to attend to the matter. The secretary was directed to remind him. The inspector's annual report on the school was placed before the committee and duly considered. The secretary was directed to write to Miss A. Barnes, teacher in charge of the school, complimenting her on the very satisfactory report. They recognised she had had to work under conditions very different to those obtaining in towns outside, and it was greatly to her credit that the school had attained the slate of efficiency revealed by the report. Mr. 11 .Maine announced the subscription list left in his charge had fulfilled the purpose for which it was drawn up, viz, the provision of presentation book* for the school children at Christmas A small balance over and above that required would form the neucleus of an auxiliary fund to be used for like purpose at the end of the present year. Miss Barnes had donated several special prizes on her own account and had awarded them as follows:—Excellence of work, Sidney Whitehead; general proficiency, Rita Whitehead •_ greatest progress during \'ear. Eileen Jensen; improvement in writing, Kenneth Mac Donald: mental arithmetic, James Williscroft; improvement in reading. Ata Hauraki; improvement, in spelling, Belle Sampson; greatest progress in primers, Birdie, Tirrell. Two special prizes, donated by George Tweeflie. Esq., for the most popular tvoy p.ml the most popular girl in the school were subjected to the votes of the school children, and resulted as follows: Boy, Raymond Whitehead; girl, Hazel SampBon. PATRIOTIC COMMITTER. I The Mokau Patriotic Committee is still in existence and working in a quiet way. ■That it has done solid work throughout the year the following figures will show. With the hearty co-operation of Awakino and Mohakatino in the matter of patriotic dances, sports and raffles tiio committee has been enabled to contribute through the North Taranaki League, to the various patriotic funds, the sum of £O6 10s, apportioned as follows:—Y.M.C.A. £22 10s, Salvation Army £l2 10s, Wounded Soldiers' £9 10s, Belgian Relief, £9 10s, Red Cross, £7 10s, Church of England, £o. These figures speak for themselves, and are'highly creditable to a small community and one not overburdened with the world's riches. GENERAL. Mr. F. G. Taylor, of Mokau river, has been engaged for some time past, in the construction of a launch, the particular merit, of which lies in the fact that it will require neither kerosene noy petrol, to drive it. The gearing is said to resemble in some respects that of a bicycle or aeroplane. Certainly oil is a consideration these days. | Mokau was a, very 'dry area"' at Christmas. The hampers of lemonade, which usually arrive in time for the festival, this year "missed fire." Gloom settled over the township, and not even the high spirits engendered by that fiery liquid—hop beer—could entirely dispel it. By New Year, however, the'boat had arrived, with "Johnnie Walker" to the rescue, and the glass has been up ever since.

We have all heard of the man who was so mean he would "steal a worm from a olind fowl.'' Well, he has arrived in Mokau A "pore lone widder" on the outskirts of the township arose one morning and as she stepped on the floor thought it seemed mighty shaky somehow. With each step she took" it rose and fell as the waves of the sea. She made her way outside, had a look under the house—and discovered someone had °tolen all the iiousebloeks during the night. This man had better bevart, or "Wee McGregor" will be after him. Beneficial rains have fallen throughout the district during the last few days, and have saved the situation so far as gardens are concerned. Cucumbers, melons, pumpkins and tomatoes will now take on a fresh lease of life. The small ones will grow big, and the big one bigger.