DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1919, Page 6

DISTRICT NEWS.

PUNGAREHTJ. (From Our Own.Correspondent). The usual monthly meeting of the Fungarehu school committee was held on the 2nd Inst, when there were present: Messrs F. .1. Campbell (chairman), H. Layman, O Taylor and D Cameron. The chief topic of discussion was the Introduction of a cocoa scheme into the local school. A circular was received from the Education Board relative to the above. To clear up some misunderstandings which seem to exist in the minds of some of the parents regarding the cocea system I have to state that the Educatlen Board has decided to refund the cost nf the necessary utensils up to a reasonable amount, provided cocoa is supplied to the children, and further the Board will subsidise £ for £ amounts raised by parents towards the cost of cocoa required during the winter months, June to October. The prospects for a good shooting season this year are particularly bright. Although pheasants are not too numerous quail and hares are plentiful. Quite a number of licenses have been issued, and It is anticipated that a record Issue will bo established.

Enquiries about land hero have been somewhat active lately. Up to two or three years ago there was very little change to be noted among the settlers in this district, the same families residing here for many years The past few years have, however, seen quite a lot of changes This year there is every indication that further changes will take place. Mrs Dew has sold her property to Mr. Neilson, of Hawera, for a very substantial figure Buyers are also said to be after well-known farms on the main road and Pungarehu road.

MIDHIRST. A meeting of cricketers was held on the 3rd instant, and It was decided to hold a dance on the night of Wednesday, the 7th instant, the date arranged for a match with Toko. There Is every reason to hope that a strong club will be formed here to play next season, and the Importance of fostering this national game cannot be too strongly stressed. The newly-formed football club met on Saturday night, when the difficulty which has arisen with regard to the Stratford Club was discussed, and a deputation was selected to meet a committee of the latter on Tuesday next, with a view to coming to some amicable arrangement. The trouble is that -under the present Rugby Union rules Midhtrst is within the Stratfonl Club's boundary, and Stratford, naturally, woukl like to secure the pick of our players for their s.-ntor team. There Is, however, a strong feeling averse from this, and to anyone who has tho true interest of the game at heart it should be obvious that every encouragement should be given to the formation of country clubs. It Is open to doubt that the resumption of cup ties this season is, on tlie whole, in the best interests of ragby football. There will be, of course, a large number of young unknown players in the field, and there seems to be a widespread feeling that many of the old boundaries need re-adjustment. The tendency of the present wide boundaries Is to discourage young players in outlying districts from taking part in the game, which should be avoided at all costs.

DURHAM ROAD. At a meeting of residents on Monday, April 28, It was decided to prepare a welcome-home social to each of the soldiers returning home, and that the matter of presenting a suitable memento be held over until they had all returned. Sergeant Frank Salisbury, who returned a few weeks ago, is, I believe, the first to receive a welcome. A very enjoyable dance was held in the school on Friday evening last to music supplied by Mrs.'J. W. Paterson, of Kaimiro. There was only a moderate attendance, Ihe fact that a dance was held in Inglewood the previous night and another was held at Dudley Road the same evening no doubt militating against a larger attendance. Mr. Shields, who recently purchased Mehrten's farm, has taken up his residence theier and is busily engaged at present In Improving the appearance of,the residence. Mr. H. L. Marsh is at present an Inmate of the New Plymouth Hospital, being seriously 111 with pneumonia. We all sincerely trust that his stay in tlie institution will not be a lengthy one, and that he will soon be well and strong. I hear that Mr. .T. L. Fllntoff, a one-time resident of this road, and lately of Tarata, has purchased the late Mr. T. Cheemer's farm on Durham Road. We shall be pleased to have Mr. Fllntoff back with us again, he being a very useful man in any community where stock of all descriptions is concerned. The local creamery started running every other day from tlie Ist instant, and I understand there is a fair quantity of milk still being received. Mr. Andrew Dodunskl, eldest son of Mr. F. Dodunskl, Durham Road, has purchased a farm in the Egmont Village district, and Intends to take up his residence there shortly. Much Interest is evinced regarding a report that some land on Norfolk Road on which Messrs. Blackberry and Ragwort have been allowed to run riot for some years, has at last come Into the hands of a gentleman who lias stated his intention to give the parasites a hard time. We all hope the rumor is correct in its entirety, and tlie attempt is sure to be closely followed. Willie on the subject, I might state that In the district mentioned there is a large area, consisting of several hundred acres, some still In bush, which could be mode Ideal places for returned soldiers, with proper attention from the Government. This land, being In a dairying district and close to rail and factory, and but a few miles from the borough of Inglewood, would be a much better proposition for the soldiers than putting th"ni In the backblacks on land standing on, end. tt is a sMuiuicg disgrace to our Government th;t this uuge_bj[o C j( 0 f land has been for years tk<t. aiju_ allowed to get in its present condition, it is good dairying land, though it but tato a Uttlt txtn week

compared with other parts of the district t« put it under the plough. After an exceedingly good run of fine weather rain set in on Saturday morning, and, being of the "warm" variety, it will do a lot of good. Previous years at this time have been so much colder, with more rain, that it Is all the more noticeable when we get treated to the good time mentioned. Another fact relating to temperature is that old Kgmont is remarkably fre« of snow for tliis time of the year. Very little interest was shown by the settlers as to whether the harbor loan was carried or not, very few troubling to recerd their votes, even though visiting Inglewood that day. A working bee was held at the school last week on Thursday and Friday, and much improvement was effected in the surroundings—hedges trimmed, trees lopped, etc., while the major part of the refuse was converted Into nrowoud for school use. It is pleasing to noto that the committee's appeal to parents received such practical support, and this is as it should be.