DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 March 1919, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

HURFORD ROAD. | (From Our Own Correspondent). On Friday, the 14th, the local school | held its annual picnic in Mr. niggins' | paddock, which is an ideal spot for [ such a gathering. The morning broke threatening, but as the day wore on ] the sun shone out and the children's/ spirits rose accordingly. After all had done full justice "to the cwellemt luncheon provided an afternoon of sport was indulged in, committee and children alike both having a merry and busy time. No child went home without some little memento of the day. A lollie scramble and afternoon tea ended a very pleasant day's outing. j In the evening the Returned Soldiers' ; Fund Committe held their monthly lorn; j night dance. In the guessing competi- i tion Mr. E. Walsh won the box of tea given by Mr. Riordan, whilst Mr. Riordan won the rooster donated by Mr. H. Smith. During intervals of the dancing Messrs T. Taylor and H. Smith contributed songs. Mrs. F. Higgins recently received a letter from her brother Bert, who has reached home after being a prisoner of war in Germany for four years and four months, being taken prisoner at the Battle of Mons on August 26, 1914. Relating his experience, he states that he was well treated, food being good hut short. He had to work very hard in a coal mine twelve hours at a stretch, night shift one week, day shift the next. Private J. Walsh returned last week after four years' service and is looking well. The settlers of the road are endeavoring to get the County Council to improve the big hill on the road, adjacent to Mr. Higgins' farm, and not before its time, as there were a couple of accidents this hist week which might have resulted seriously. The following was taken from last week's Auckland Weekly and concerns a farm on the Hurford Road: A very curious occurrence took place on a farm in the Omata district, Taranaki, recently. There is on the farm a lagoon perhaps two acres in extent, and the farmer was at the lagoon one day when he ~,aw an eruption of the water, followed by the gradual appearance of a little island, which is now about 10 feet by 0 feet in area and several inches above the water level, quite dry. There has long been a warm spring at about the same spot. The depth of water where the island appeared was about four feet, and probing with a rod on the island met with a hard bottom at about six feet. It may be that the phenomenon has some connection with the activity recently observed in the oil weils at Moturoa, for there were indications of oil on the water after the eruption.

Your own has visited the lagoon and the mysterious island lias certainly appeared, and is now much larger' than when first seen and has risen about eighteen inches above water level and measures some twenty feet by eight feet. LEPPERTOrv. (From Our Own Correspondent). At the residence of Mrs. H. H. Lepper on Wednesday afternoon, the ladies of the Sewing Guild entertained a number of returned soldiers from the \ T ew Plymouth Hospital and the Soldiers' Club. Perfect weather prevailed, and the men were entertained in various ways, enjoying themselves immensely. Nurse Hirst, who accompanied the party, and the Misses Giddy and Harvey gave pianoforte selections at intervals, the piano being placed on the verandah for that purpose. Afternoon tea was dispensed in the beautiful shrubbery adjacent to the residence. Everybody'voted the affair a great success, and flu- Ladies' Guild was heartily thanked by Mr. Robertson on behalf of himself and comrades for a very enjoyable jaunt. The concert to be g'iven here by the F,ev. Papalcakura and" party and "postponed from last November on account of the "pidemie is to eventuate on Thursday week, April 3. The tickets, which were sold for the concert in November will be available on April 3. I am assured the concert will be of a first-elass one, other talented performers assisting Pvev. Papakakuia.

TE KIKT. (From Our Own Correspondent). Te Kiri is glad to welcome back Troopers Watson, Claude Thomas, and Sullivan. The last two arrived on Monday last. It is hoped that when the last of our boys come back a public welcome will be'extended to all. On Wednesday last Miss Giddy, assistant at the local school, had the misfortune to fall and break one of her ankle bones while playing with the infants. On the Friday previous the school children heSd their annual pirtnic at Ngaere Gardens. The day was perfect, and the children hail a splendid time. The i.ew marquee and the graphaphone were much appreciated, and we were pleased to meet a number of old residents of Te Kiri there. Last year nine children gained good attendance certificates: William Woolford (5)(. Lizzie Woolford (5). Dick Woolford (3). Charlie Collin- 12). Kubv Hurst (2), Willie Coxhead ('>), Percy Coxhead (2), Annie Coxhead (2). and Kathleen Cox-head (1). The figures refer to the number of years that the children have gained these certificates and ; t will be noted that the Woolford family have put up a highly creditable record, in spite of a long walk to school. On the day preceding the school picnic the children hoisted their new Union •Taek to the strains of the National Anthem. As the flag was the gift of the Peace Celebrations Committee it may not be amiss to publish here the names of subscribers to the same: —D. Jordan, M. Fischer, F. Smart. J.H., G. Loyd, A. M. Sims, Mrs. E. Tnbeck, G. Grainger, T. McKay, E. Lander, S. H. Dunstan, G. Boleyn, I. Coupe. Mrs. Powell, Mrs. Holder, Mrs. Baldwin, W. C. Gatenbv, Mrs. M. Sefton. Mrs. G, Tynan, Mrs. Liddington, Mrs. Korte, L. H. Rowe. Mrs. Kirkpatrick, Mrs. Locklcv, T. Mitchell 2s Od each; T. J. Coxhead. M. Edwards, C. Hurst, E. Johnston, Mr. Stockwell, Mr. Bremner, Mrs. Lorkin, 10s each; Anonymous, 4s; Mr. Munro £1 ss; Mr. Farquhar, I. Edwards, A. Powell £1 each; Arthur Collins, £1 Is; ,T, Brown. H. Hargreaves. S. Slater, M. Mason, M. McCarrison, A. Wileock, Mrs. Thomas snr., W. Elliot, 5s each; J. Coupe, 4s; Mrs. Masinnis, 4s fid; Mrs. and Mr. W. Chamberlain, 4s; W. Gibson. 7s fid; collected on ground, £3 15s 4d; 51b beef, Mr. Wiekham; sale of cakes, ss; total, £1!) 2s lOd. Expenditure: Catering £l2 IDs 3d, prize money £2 15s, Union Jack £2 1 10s. Balance in hand. 18s 7d. A flagpole WW jl«uvo*«4 *-* Mx, MaGnrt'UQU, ■