DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 March 1918, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

MOKAU. (From Our Own Correspondent). HARBOR BOARD. A meeting of the Mokau Harbor Board was held on the 14(h insl.. Mr. S\ Whitehead in the chair. Oilier members present wore Messrs J. R. Ten-ill. It. Maine, A. G. Sampson and A. W. Sole. Mr. Sole, a new member, was welcomed to the Board's table. The resianation of Mr. W. Avery, of Awakino Riding, was received, and accepted with regret. The secretary was directed to notify the Marine Department to that effect, and to a.sk its acceptance of a name to be suggested by the Board, in order to save the expense of another election. A communication was received from Mr. F. G. Taylor, of Mokau River, offering to do the snagging required by the Board at a contract price per chain, subject to certain conditions. The secretary was instructed to write to Mr. Taylor informing him the Board had no power to let a contract after the manner suggested. A scheme of work by Mr. John Kelly. County engineer, was under consideration at the present time. Even this—should it bo adopted bv the Boards—would have to be approved by the Public Works Department, and later by the Governor-in-Council. Mr. Kelly's sheme of work involving the use of punt engine and loghaulcr, was next further considered. It was decided to obtain the dimensions and weight of several known existing plants with a view to supplying the engineer with necessary data with regard to the drawing of plans for the proposed punt. It was held to be false economy to build n punt—though perhaps cheaper in the first instance—that would not be able to cope with "whatever work might be required of it afterwards. Mr. A. Sampson was deputed to ring up the County engineer and exchange ideas over the 'phone with him. Members were unanimously of the opinion that Mr. Kelly's suggestions all through in reference to the clearing of the river were excellent, and they wished to avail themselves of his help—help given ungrudgingly—to very utmost. Accounts amounting to the sum of £lB were passed for payment. PATRIOTIC SOCIETY. A meeting of the above was held on the 2lst inst., Mr. H. Maine presiding. Other members of the committee present were: Mesrrs A. G. Sampson, .1. R. Terrill. S. Whitehead, and J. L. McDonald. As to whether the committee were justified in continuing the patriotic dances through the summer and autumn, an inquiry of the secretary elicited flic fnet that each dance had shown a small profit* over and above expenses. This was held to he satisfactory, and in respect to the hall itself, it was agreed that it was better it should he in use than stamliii" idle. It was pronosed by Mr. A. G. Sampson, and seconded bv Mr. S. Whitehead, that Hip sum of £lO from Ihe society's funds should be forwarded to the Xorth Taramki Patriotic League for allocation as follows:—Y.M.C.A. £5, Salvation Armv £2 10s. Church of England £2 ills. Tt was decided to call a meeting the last Thursday in March of this year for the purpose of electing a committee for the ensuing year. * SCHOOL COMMITTEE. A meeting of the school committee was held on the might, of the 21st inst., Mr. -T. L. Mac Donald in the chair. Other members present: 'Messrs S. Whitehead H. Maine. J. Terrill and A. G. Sampson. A letter from the head teacher was read acknowledging receipt of committee's letter of appreciation. The returning officer for ihe Tamnavmini Licensing District applied for the use of the school on March 12 for the election of a licensing committee.—The secretary was -instructed to inform tb officer that there was a public hall in the township, and suggesting its use. An account held over for some time pending investigation was—subject to slight modification—directed to be paid. With reference to the annual school picnic, (he secretary was directed to write to the chairman of the Awakino School Committee asking whether his committee would fall in with Mokau's idea of a joint picnic, and suggesting Puru Punt as a place, about midway between the two townships, and easy of access to both. A subscription list would be opened prior to the date of the picnic to receive small amounts to bo used in providing sport for the children. GENERAL. Since my last, accident has been lmsv among the children. Three lrtfle boyssons of Messrs A. G. Sampson, of Mokau. A. H. Calvert, of Awakino. and IT. ,7. Smith, of Mohakntino, all had mishaps with horses. Their injuries ranged from a broken wrist to a broken leg, and necessitated the little sufferers garng out to X T ew Plymouth to be attended to. All are now progressing well. Mrs. T. I. McGregor—wife of our local constable—has also been ill enough to warrant her going out to Xew Plymouth to seek medical advice. One of our prominent sea-faring men had also a little mishap recently. He borrowed a small flat-bottomed boat threw an anchor and life .belt into it, and rowed over the bar—to fish. Instead of catching a fish, however, he, in nautica\ parlance, "caught a crab.'' Either Ihat, or a breaker struck him and he capsized. In the excitement of the moment he, grabbed hold of the- anchor instead of the life belt, and floated—to the bottom. He let go as soon as he discovered his mistake, and bv dint of dog paddling and treading water, managed lo reach the shore. Arrived there, the only sympathetic remark made was by a spectator, who asked him if he had got wet. The boat, when last seen, was heading for the South Pole, by way of Norfolk Tslanrt, and rumor has it that the sea-faring man has gone to look for it, that ho may restore it to its rightful owner. TheMokau river is teeming with all sorts and conditions of fish just now. Schnapper are particularly plentiful.' Mr. Toko (a Maori fisherman) and his wife for the last few nights have made hauls of from 30 to 00 per night. Included in the catches are sometimes kawbai. trevalli. and young sharks. Pishing is done by ordinary line and hook. Flounders are also mwli in evidence, and it is a common occurrence for a couple of boys to go out and in one evening spear anything from twelve to fifty. Mr. Alec Bone's new oil launch "Clare'' was launched on the river on the 27tlt ult.. in the presence of an admiring crowd. The christening ceremony was } performed by a young ladv whose name I have been obtain. Tt not being the custom to waste n good thing up here, a bottle of lime fruit, and soda did duty for the old time bottle of champagne. The launch, on her trial trip, did something like ten knots an hour—a.

speed declared to be highly creditable by those competent to know. It is rumored that Mr. P. G. Taylor is about to instal a powerful oil engine in his new river boat. Two Government minerologists have been here for some time past making a comprehensive survey of the potential coal fields of the district preliminary to reporting on same. The mountains of limestone have already been reported on. Mr. Robert Patterson, of our township, who is a qualified geologist, made an independent survey of these fields many years ago. and much of the present day work is based on his previous researches, Mr. Patterson states that not only coal and lime are to be found on the river, but iron and copper pyrites also, with traces of quicksilver in parts. The ironsand in the vicinity of Mokau he states to be of very high grade—second to none in the Dominion. Surely, Mokau has a future.

The liking for tomatoes is looked upon as an acquired taste. The same as regards mushrooms and tobacco. In some cases water may be included in the list. A gentleman who lives a long way off item- at band here, uses whisky as his daily beverage. At odd times when,he is so thirsty that he is compelled to drink water for lack of something better, he holds his nose for fear he should acquire the taste for it. Traffic both by road and river ha 9 been abnormal Motors are passing through and up and down continually. After the Awakino sale, cattle and sheep were on the road for days—buyers having come from so far away as Xew Plymouth and Te Kuiti. Were the Main Xorth Road metalled throughout, and a bridge put across the only river of importance between Wanganni and ihe Waikato, via the Mokau—traffic would be increased fourfold. So mote it be.