MOKAU NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 June 1918, Page 3

MOKAU NEWS.

HARBOR BOARD. l'rom Our Own Correspondent.) A meeting of the Mokau Harbor Board was held on the 13th snst. Prosent: Messrs A. G. Sampson, IL Maine, A. Sole, W. D. Black, J. R. Terrill, and S. Whitehead (in the chair). Correspondence was dealt with as follows:--From Marine Department relative to resolution by the Wellington Harbor Board, as to the advisability of Harbor Boards controlling all labor in loading or unloading cargo on wharves and vessels,, and waterside work generally. Resolved, that the resolution be endorsed. From Mr N. G. Winkelmann, with reference to the erection of works for dealing with iron sand depoßits at Mokau, and as to coal and lime on the river.—lnformation to be supplied. Incidentally it was stated there were at least 50,000,000 tons of each to go on with. From Marine Department advising aa to appointing a member to the vacant seat. From Awakino County Engineer stating he had prepared plans for the snagging punt required by the Board, and these were now subject to the approval of the Public Works Department. —Mr Kelly was thanked for the trouble he had gone to. It was resolved that the secretary write to the Awakino County Council asking same to define boundaries of Native land on the foreshore approaching the Mokau wharf, also to state what legal access the Board and public had to the wharf. Mr" H. Maine stating that it appeared to him the only access to the wharf at present was by the beach at low water—a ridiculous state of affairs. The wharfinger was empowered to procure new slings for the wharf. PATRIOTIC SOCIETY. A meeting of the above was held on the 7th 'inst. Present, Messrs S. Whitehead, A. G. Sampson, J. R. Terrill, J. L. Mac Donald and H. Maine (chairman). A communication was received from Corpl H. Ennis stating he would netify the Society of the date he would be visiting the district again on final leave. It was decided to forgo the usual fortnightly patriotic dance on June 22nd, and to hold the next dance on June 29. It was decided to allocate the money in hand as follows: To the Maori Wounded Soldiers' Fund, £7; Y.M.C.A., £4: Red Cross, £4. GENERAL. A social and dance in aid of the local Cemetery Fund is to be held on the 22nd inst. One item "The March of the Allies" by Mokau and Mohakatino school children has been in preparation for some time past, and mothers have had an anxious time devising dresses in order to make the "march" a spectacular success. However, more anon! With the present fresh in the river, men from 50 miles up are enabled to bring their weol down for shipment from the local wharf. In time of flood the river—ordinarily placid—is fierce and turbulent, and these men in frail launches practically take their lives in their hand. Should their engines fail on the roaring rapids and their launches drift back when going up, or be forced forward when coming down into the legs innumerable that hurry to the open sea, there could be only one end, death. Outside—men s'itting on comfor. table waggons, driving their wool in safety to the nearest railway stationgrumble if there are a few stones on the road. Notwithstanding the war things are still fairly brisk here. As evidence a new boardinghouse hag just recently started in Post Office Square. Corporal George A. Johnson, in a letter to his sister, Mrs Mac Donald, relates a trip he mado to Scotland while on leave. He refers to Glasgow as "the finest city in the world," and the socalled mean Scotsmen as "the finest people on the face of the earth." As George is not a Scot himself, his tribute carries weight. What sly humororist was it, by the way, who said "The Scots ar» a great nation—and, they admit it?" Miss Cane, our popular postmistress, has just returned from two or three weeks' enforced absence, on account of illness. Miss A. Barnes, Miss Steele, and Miss Ida Randell, schoolmistresses respectively of Mokau, Awakino and Mokau River, have all returned after being out on their term holiday, look'ing like giant(esses) refreshed. The township has been honored by the presence of two returned soldiers during the week. One, Mr J. Donovan, and another whose name I have been unable to ascertain. Both are fine types of men, both have been on active service, and both look forward to going back. War is a dangerous pastime, but yet has fascination—for some. Mr Cecil Randell, another returned I soldier, with a section up the river, has just commenced bushfelling. Mr C. Raven, another returned man w'ith a! river section, is getting a herd of cows together, preparatory to starting dairying. Mr Parkinson, an employee on Mr A. G. Mowat's Mangatoi Station, was brought down the river by launch today, seriously ill. Ye who live outside, and in touch with all the convenience* of modern times, think of it. A man, seriously ill, going out on a journey over a flooded river, and through one of the worst roads in the Dominion, a journey of 75 miles, to see a doctor. The pity of it!