DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1918, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

MOKAU, (From Our Own Correspondent.) The ordinary meeting- of the harbor board he'd en the 14th instant, Mr. H. Whitehead presiding, and there being also present Messrs. ".I. Terri!!, A. G. Sampson, H. Maine arid A. W. Sole. The following correspondence was dealt with: From Mr. Winkchnann, engineer, New Plymouth, enquiring whether the board would grant a lease of any portion of the foreshore.—The secretary was directed to write to Mr. J. B. Roy, the board's solicitor, asking him to deiine the board's jurisdiction over the foreshore, and to Mr. Winkelmann, referring him, to < Mr. Roy for the information sought! Members were unanimously of opinion that no obstruction should be placed in the way of any projected industry in the district. From the Marine Department, calling attention to the prevalence of smoking in sheds and storehouses on the wharves, and asking the board to frame regulations regarding such practice.—Resolved: That "No smoking allowed in or about wharf shed" be placed as a notice in a conspicuous place on the wharf. The wharfinger to attend to the matter. From the Public Trustee, re interest on loan of £IOOO for rebuilding the wharf.— Left for the treasurer to deal with. From the Marine Department, with regard to the election of a member iu placa of Mr. W. R. Avery, resigned. The secretary of the Marine Department stated that the Government had no power to accept any name other than that of a man elected in the ordinary manner, and according to statute.—The board's secretary was directed to write to the Depurtment, pointing out what had been done in the past. From Mr. A. G. Mowat, manager for Messrs. Chambers Brothers, stating his firm's willingness to allow the Harbor Board the use of its log hauler for snagging operations.—The secretary was instructed to thank Mr. Mowat, and to ask him to ascertain the price of the hauler in thcevent of his firm being willing to sell iftt A very hearty vote of thanks was passed to Messrs. R. Gray and F. C. Bailey for their invaluable help in guiding the harbor board party to the new coal seams discovered recently on the Berry and Cadman Estate, Mokau River. Accounts to the amount of £4O were passed for payment. Patriotic Committee. —This committee,--.supported in its ell'orts by the people of Awakino, Mokau and Mohakatino, still continues in its good work. It's fortnightly patriotic dances are held as usual, and continue to be well patronhai. The community : .s small, but results compare very favorably with those elsewhere. A substantial sum is sent out quarterly for the benefit of the boys at the front. Each departing soldier is also given as good a send-off as the state of the society's funds will allow, and every returned hero receives a good reception. A new committee will be elected during the week, for the ensuing year.

' School Picnic.—The combined Mai-can and'Awakino Schools picnic was held at Puru Puru—midway between the two townships—on Friday, 23rd instant. Both youngsters and oldsters, notwithstanding the threatening weather, turned up i:i Ml force, and 'a most enjoyable day was spent. A liberal sum had been collected for providing sport for the children, and close on twenty events were got o!V in three hours, and iifty shillings and Uvo 121b tins of sweets disappeared as though by magic. Practically every child won so nething. 'L'he events of the day wore, without doubt, the tvrts-oi'-war. Awakino schoolboys beat Mok:\u schoolboys, but to equalise matters Mokau schoolgirls beat Awakino schoolgirls. Then the ladies also resolved to do battle for their respective' townships, Mokau, cm listing the services of four of their darker sisters —of goodly proportions withal —simply walked away with Awakino. Awakino, discovering what was the matter, and not to bo outdone, secured the aid of three handsome Maori girls, of splendid physique, and after a prolonged struggle, lasting fully a quarter of an hour by the oldest inhabitant's watch, turned the tables on Mokau, and made honors equal all. The Court photographer was on the job during this event, and the pictures he secured—well, he says money won't buy them. Your scribe was asked to describe the dresses worn on the occasion of the picnie, hut after the "tug" there wasn't enough left to describe, so he won't attampt it. However, it was a good day's outing, and a day to be remembered.

.General. —In common with other places, the Mokau water supply has become woefully reminiscent of soot and smoke from the great bush fires of a few days ago. Max O'Rell, in one of his books, describes how a Scots minister, after praying for rain one Sabbath, at the instigation of his congregation, muttered, as he rose from his knees: "You know, Lord, I can take it neat." We can take it "neat" for n while, too. hi fact, the present water would spoil it. The members of the Mokan Harbor Board, under the guidance of Messrs R. Gray and F. C. Bailey, made a trip up the Mokau River on Sunday, 3rd instant, and visited the new coal seams recently discovered on the Berry and Cadman Estate. The seam itself is situated on either side »f a stream, emptying itself into the river some sixteen miles up from the township, and is three miles inland from the river bank. Part of the road thereto lay on the site of aii old bush tram line, and much of it made very precarious walking. At every few yards a plauk would "give," and a man all but disappear, but he would, scramble up again, and on. One member had the ill fortune to run a rusty nail through his foot, yet his ardour was not diminished, and he finished up strong. The last quarter of a mile the party had to wade up to their thighs in water. The grade up to this point had been almost dead level, but here its motto was "Excelsior," and above a small waterfull flashed into view the long-looked-for coal sear,'. T's length proved to be 100 feet, by 7 fe»t iii height. The stream had apparently, during "the course of ages, cut clean through it. and a bank of coal faced the hardy explorers from either side. How far it reaches into the mountainous country secreting it, posterity alone will know, but it has every appearance of belonging to something big. f

Drs. Henderson and Ongley, of the Geological Survey Department, are at present engaged in making a survey of the coal measures belonging to the Mokau Coal and Estates Company, Mokau River. Since my last a circus visited the township and gathered in all-the spare "sponduliks." The show wasn't half bad, considering it performed in the hall in lieu of a tent, and in proof thereof 1 have only to mention that the members of the younger generation were walking fences and clothes lines for quite a week after. Some even became so proficient as to be able to lassoo a man at three yards, easily—if the man didn't shift. j

Mr. F. G. Taylor, of Mokau ttivor, iias recently converted his hand-power launch into a small punt. For the past fortnight Messrs Gray and Bailey have been engaged in carrying posts by means of it, from Totara Creek to Mr. I. J. C.

Tiffin's homestead. Mr. Taylor has now a new launch, specially imported from America in sections, and pieced together by. Mr. Taylor himself on his river selection. It is a trim little boat, driven by a small, though powerful, motor, and when the newness wears off and everything is in good going order, it should be one of the fastest craft on the river. Miss A. Johnson, who is at present staying h"e with her sister, Mrs. Macdonald, had rather an exciting time on the Main Trunk express on the night of tie tremendous gale and widespread bush lires. The whole countryside for miles and miles was nothing but smoke, flame and devastation. Arrived at Tainui Viaduct, between Horopito and Ohakune, the express stopped dead. Here the passengers had to get out and walk over the charred bridge to a goods train standing there, which conveyed them to Martou Junction. Miss Johnson states that Ohakune station was crowded with sufferers by the bush fifes when she came through, and no Belgian sufferers could possibly have looked worse.