DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1919, Page 5

DISTRICT NEWS.

WHANGAMOMONA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Oil New Year's night a lantern lecture and entertainment was given in the Sunday school hall in aid of the Presbyterian Church funds. The hall was well filled, and the audience thoroughly enjoyed the large and varied programme which had been arranged to suit all tastes.

Mr. T. Taylor, headmaster of the Whangamomona School, was the lecturer, and the following were shown: "Gulliver's Travels," "The Discovery of America" (during which a little girl—Nita Jenkinson—recited "Columbus"), and a fine series of slides depicting early English history, life and architecture from the departure of the Romans to Alfred <he Great.

The Rev. A. H. Norrie, who operated the lantern, then allowed a number of local views photographed by himself, illustrative of the rough nature of the surrounding country, the trials of the settler during the winter, packing food, fencing posts and building material. Mr. liorrie, who is keenly interested in education, showed by way of contrast Whangamomona School, picturesquely situated in the bend of the river, with its large grassed playground, well-appointed gardens, etc.; and" another school in the same district —a rough, lean-to building, erected by tJ-> settlers, situated in rugged country anu approached by tracks—with its handful of children, practically cut off from the advantages of education. Small wonder that Mr. R. Masters so warmly champions the cause of the backI blocks child.

A few cinematograph pictures—"Scenes in French Indo-China," "The Paris Zoo," "Growing Mushrooms" and "Ice-break ers"—concluded a pleasant and profitable evening.

The opening ceremony of the new Presbyterian Sunday School Hall, which was postponed owing to the epidemic, is fixed for January 13. Mr. T. Bridger, of Manaia, a good friend of the school, is to have the honor of turning the key, and addresses are to be given by visiting clergy. The Roman Catholic community will commence , the building of their new cJiurch early in the year. The material is already on the site.

Arrangement.; for the Whangamomona Show are now well advanced., and in spite of the severity and lateness of the season the committee expects the success of previous years!

The local observer gives the following details from the weather report: Rain fell on 15 days during December; maximum fall, 1.95 m on the 4th; heavy falls also on the Sth (1.55 in) and the 28th (1 r >Bin); total for month, 7.54 in. A slight frost was registered on the 23rd, doing some damage to tender annuals. 1918 gives a rainfall record for Whangamomona since the establishment of the station in 1905. Rain fell on 210 days, giving a total of 97.14 inches, which is considerably above the next highest—B4.9l inches and 200 days in 1912. The heaviest monthly fall in 1918 was in May (12.44 indies), and the smallest in February (3.57 inches). In July 15 frosts were registered,-13 being continuous.