DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1919, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

[ PUNGAREHU. (From Our Own Correspondent.) There was a meagre attendance of householders at the meeting of the Pungarehu School district on Monday evening last. Mr J. Campbell presided. The report stated that at the beginning of the year the roll number was 45 and at the end of the year was 47, the average attendance being something like 30.5. The balance-sheet showed a credit of £l7 3s 9d, including £0 from the Education Board towards school improvement. After discussion the report and balance-sheet were adopted. Reference was made upon the condition of the children's playground, the chairman stating that drastic improvements would have to be made in the near future. Towards this end it was suggested that a holiday be granted the children, the day to bo utilised for the planting of young trees, plants, etc., and that the parents be asked to attend and help along the improvements.

A letter Avas submitted by the secretary, of the arrangements necessary in connection with the provision of hot cocoa with* their lunch for the children. The proposals were approved, the system to be gone ahead with as soon as final arrangements are made with the bead teacher. A comraitte was elected as follows: Messrs J. Campbell, H. Layman, J. Fleming, G. Taylor and D. Cameron. Mr J. Campbell was re-elected chairman and ty.' Cameron secretary. Accounts amounting to £3 16s 3d were passed for payment. •

Now that the excitement has died down over the liquor question, we must turn our attention to a possible recrudescence of influenza. When the recent epidemic made its appearance there is no doubt this distrftt was caught unawares. I would suggest that preparatory steps should be comemnced. With this end in view a special meeting should be called for the purpose, and the residents of the district be invited to at-, tend. Reports went to show that the influenza cases were on the increase all over the country. It would rot do to wait until it had made its appearance before talcing the steps necessary. I am not an alarmist, but it is no use to close the stable door after the horse has gone A sensational incident occurred on Sunday last, at the conclusion of the Church of England service, which fortunately was attended with nothing more than a little excitement. The pony belonging to the Rev. Addenbrooke, when about to be harnessed up, took fright, careering down the main road. It was ultimately stopped when nearing Cape Road before any serious damage occurred.

The same day some of the Maoris from Parihaka, taking advantage of the mild weather, got the fishing boat out and did a day's fishing. Sharks were plentiful a large number being caught. Unfortunately for the pakeha only a few schnapper were hooked.

A start has also been made with digging the kumaras and they hope to have them all up by the end o'f the month. On Monday a holiday will be observed by the Post Office, with the exception of one hour between 9 and 10 o'clock for the delivery of letters over the counter.

NORFOLK ROAD. (From Our Own Correspondent). The annual householders' meeting for the election of a school committee at Norfolk road was held on Monday 14th inst., when as usual there was only the small attendance of eight. Mr W. Corney, chairman of the outgoing committee, presided. The election resulted in Messrs W. Corney, E. Da vies, A. Lawrence, J. Reeve and A. West being chosen. Mr Davies, hon. secretary of the old committee, read a report of their doings for the expired year and of the progress of the school which were both approved, and' proposed improvements in the way of concrete paving round the school entrance and shelter shed were discussed.

Occasion was taken at the meeting to formally add the portrait of the late Private E. J. Kendrick, of the 22nd Reinforcements, who was killed in action in France on Ist September, 1918, to those of the other former pupils of the school who have made the supreme sacrifice during the war. This makes a total of ten, and so far as is known completes the number, though there is yet at least one soldier, a former pupil, badly wounded and not yet out of danger.

Sir H. Trimble spoke in reference to a suggestion he had made'at a former meeting.when the portrait of Keith Corney was added to the above, viz., that a memorial tablet of all who had left this school district for the front should be procured and put up in the principal classroom of the school, following the example of Waitui. He said he had, as requested, made enquiries as to cost and was led to believe it would be at ianyrate not less than £o 10s, and, as the numbe'v from this neighborhood was likely to be greater than from Waitui, necessitating a larger tablet and more lettering, it would tprobably be a good deal more than the figure named. He was willing to give a substantial donation towards the cost and hoped the settlers generally would contribute, as he throught the record would prove a valuable and interesting one in years to come.

It was finally to lea\» Ihe carrying out of the proposal in the hands of the committee, who were fully in favor of the scheme. Meanwhile, as a preliminary, Mr R. E. Thomas undertook to get as full a list as possible of those included in the description. The chairman then moved a vote of condolence and sympathy with Mr A. Marshall and family in their recent heavy bereavement, remarking that Mr Marshall was one of the earliest settlers here, well known and universally respected, for several years a member of the school committee and for part of that time its secretary; also that his daughter, whose decease they deplored, received her education at the schoolCarried in silence, those present standing. At the subsequent committee meeting Mr W. Corney was re-elected to the chair and Mr Davies consented to carry on the duties of secretary.