DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1919, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

LOWER MANGOREL (Front Our Own Correspondent). There have been no startling developments hereabouts or lute. We have our cordial sharo of Incidents of tlio great war's afterglow. A popular and representative welcome home was lately given to Private Victor Hanna, when a thronged and vivacious gathering of friends took iilhco at Puketotara homestead, with Mr. Joe Bond's kind approval. Mr. and Mrs. P. nealy took charge of the company's welfare as host and hostess.

Inquiries about land have been somewhat active lately. A farm here of 100 seres, bought si* years since for £l4, was recently sold for £2B per acre. The plough is more and inure steadily insinuating it 3 powerful and converting preseh.,6 in the neighbourhood, and now that the sword is sheathed will probably be still ivore an implement of grateful service. Its use. on "Moenstoke," the farm of Lieut.-Cojk*sK»l Weston, under tlio management of Mr. It. Hancock, has revolutionised the land ia appearance, as in carrying capacity.

Our obliging stock inspector recently put through Inoculation, at the yards or .Mr. Benonl White, about SI) calves. The medley of sorts and conditions so grouped provided an interesting and profitable subject of study, and might be classed as good, fair and indifferent. Some reared naturally at the cow's udder wore easily of the first class, those fed liberally on new milk for an extended term came obviously second, whilst seperator-fed calves made a mixed third of doubtful prospects. Side by side in the yards the young stock afforded an object lesson which was not lost on observers. In the "Daily News" issue of the 3rd inst a local throws acrimonious reflection upon Mnngorcl neighbours' treatment of a returned soldier, his wife and five childron. In th« face of an excellent spirit of economic organisation and co-operatlou that has bcou operating In the district of late, this sour reference to neighbours is surprising, to put It mildly. As an instance of prevailing good fellowship amongst neighbours, your correspondent knows of a returned soldier, whose wife and five children, during his 2% years' absence, were, by near and far residents considerately treated and assisted gratuitously and generously upon the farm. The wife and children were afforded every opportunity of "having a good time " and they took It, and had it, at all local socials and festivities, and in other harmless ways When a haystack was lost by fire, one neighbour contributed grass, whilst others respectively cut harvested carted and stacked the hay upon the

Now is it not possible that these "selfish" neighbours discovered in time that their own farms were becoming somewhat backward- and perforce decided (on the fit return of tho sold'er head of the family to take up the running again) to look to their own "Interferences," and put their own affairs In order; and so'could not view with favor a joy trip round the counay, no matter how Innocent when stern'needs, stressed by fleeting time, adverse weather, ani shortage of labor called out to every man to work, work, work I Work, after all, being possibly mans best friend, though often not so much fancied as unprofitable time-killing Deputations arc following up the County Council about road matters, and trying to coax bis local body out of what has been defined as bndage to "hidebound precedents." Of thi« more as matters develop.

TAHIKI. .*'■" on A tbe ! Tr^i" e i . a ', COrt MU ~Un™ w « he'd' on the 3lh Inst, in honor 0 f Sergeant I, " otm-iis .MM Lance-Coctiorals h. G. Lyfordl tw' ■ Io "i ll>u "»>« I'rivate M. I'otroz | There was a crowded house, and difficulty^ ;,,r,,2i' l i ark " e , SS <? lla,ru "n| presented the returned men who, on mounting the stage were accorded cheers and musical honors, wih'VsZ.l , and congratulated Sergeant Stevens and Lance-Corporal Lyford on having K ed nU , U f y ""OMt'on, Sergeant 8 eve» MAI replied on behalf of his comrade S excellent: concert programme was provided the contributing items :-Mtel Anders"* Mrs. Hatcher, he Misses Bottin, Mnrilu, £s*i and Fever ;*nd Messrs: Harris, lillloy, iJw and W. Spray, the Misses Huse and Anderson accompanying song,, „ IIU the mush: for the dance was provided ! by Miss aSsou To