DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 May 1919, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

PUKEARUHE. tSrom Our Own Correspondent). A representative gathering of Pukearulie settlers was held in the local school room last Thursday evening, Mr. H. Grcig presiding. The meeting was called for the purpose of considering the question of this district contributing towards the cost of building a nurses' memorial recreation room at the New Plymouth Hospital, and it was unanimously decided to subscribe to the fund. About £US was promised, in the room. Figuring on iho donation list are three amounts of ten guineas each. It is anticipated that somewhere within the vicinity of £6O will bo collected in the Pukearuhe district, which includes a few donations south of the Wai-lti road. Pukearuho was particularly fortunate in not havin; either a single or suspected case of influenza during the deadly plague which was so rampant a few months back, and never can the people here or elsewhere adequately express their feelings either In words or in hi hie to those stoic workers who so nobly and ungrudgingly worked day and night to save their fellow beings, taking the extreme risk of their own lives and, in many cases, alas 1 paying the supreme penalty. No gratuity, no act of recognition can ever fully compensate them for the personal sacrifices that were made during the merciless epidemic, and the bulldlue of a recreation room is for a worthy cause and affords the opportunity of bestowing recognition which is but a slight reward to mark our apprecation for services rendered.

WAI-TOI-TOI. (Prom Our Own Correspondent), Last week Mr. Synies, assistant agricultural Instructor under tho North Tatanaki Education Board, paid a visit to the local school and gave an address to tho children. Mr, Syraoa Intends to come to this, district again shortly. It is understood *Jw efforts uro being made to induce the Govenv.'i: to enter into negotiations for the purchase of the well-known Estate, the object being to cut it up into several suitable dairy farms for returned soldiers. Mr. Wm. Corcoran, who is always willing to forward the interests of the district, has signified' his willingness In submit tho property at a reasonable figure. As the cheese fßctory is practically built in the centre o! the property, close to trie road, the farm Is an ideal ono for cios-> settlement, and is so well watered that there would be no difficulty in cutting it up into four or five allotments, each one being within it few minutes' run to the factory. Land of this class, where a good llvfug can be made immediately, commends 'itself as beiug more suitable for returned mouthan sections away In the hackblocks, to which access is difficult, to Bay nothing of tbe mud, of which the boys have had more than aonugh during the past four years. Should tho ■scheme eventuate, It will be a big boom for the district and may .be the means of bringing other properties In this vicinity under notice, the owners of which, if approached, would no doubt only be too willing to meet the authorities In the matter. Mr. Harry Ellis, forme) ly mine host of the Urenul hotel, !3 spending a few days in Urcnul, and besides visiting his numerous friends, 13 enjoying himself amongst the pheasants. Mr. Ellis, who Is now hi business i'r Bswke's Bay, Is still upholding his prestige «a a decent shot, and has several tunes got intc> the money, besides winning a handsome trophy at shooting matches over there.

PUNGAREHU. (From Out Own Correspondent). On the Bth inat the local school was honored by a visit from Messrs. R. Masters (chairman), P. J. H. White and S. G. Smith, MP., members of the Taranakl Education Board Matters were discussed with the local committee pertaining to the school, the most Important top'c being In regard to the matter of tuition for the Maoris. It was stated that something like 40 to 50 Maori children of school age had so far ignored the school, and as the facilities regarding education are the same for the Maori children as they are for the pakeha, some ways and mean 3 will have to be found by which the Maori parents can be made alive to the necessity of education - " for their children. The problem still remains unsolved, although the matter will be taken up by the Board at a future date. Sharp frosts have occurred lately in various parts of the country, some places having reported the frost to have been unusually sharp for this time of tho year. 1 The lack of rain, coupled with the cold weather and frosts, makes a bad outlook for wintet feed In the country, as when the requisite moisture does arrive it may be ton late to ensure good growth this autumn season. A meeting, convened by Miss Campbell nnd Mr. Guild, for those Interested In forming a class to receive instructions in nursing was held In the hall on the afternoon of the 10th. Unfortunately a very small number attended. It has been arranged that one or perhaps two nurses, If they are available, will be sent out to Pungarehu at an early date, to give nursing instructions, which will include a nuinbor of suggestions for the prevention of tho epidemic! form of the disease, so that all may be prepared should there be anything approaching a recrudescence to meet it upon better lines than was tho case last year. All those ladles who wish to avail themselves of this class are asked to hand In their names to Mr. Guild, and It behoves everyone, after the experience of last year, nol to let this golden opportunity pass even supposing that the epidemic does not come tho instructions received will always be helpful in after years.

A motor accident occurred last week In the vicinity of the local Post Office. The accident seems to be rather a mysterious one, olthough an eye witness states that the mall car, on taking the sharp curve on the road opposite Mr Goodin's (senior) house seemed to skid. The dr'yer somehow then lost control of the car, which commenced to make a very erratic course and, after making a road for Itself through he wire boundary fence, landed eventually in the middle of a paddock nearby, after missing a telegraph pole by Inches. Fortunately the car had no occupants other than the »"' h ,° recelved » severe shaking, and, atter a little rest, was able to take tho runaway car back to town Another car was sent out from the New Plymouth garage which comDieted! the run from Pungarehu to Opunake, although the accident delayed the mall delivery something like two hours.

Tune makes changes. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin and family are within a few weeks about to leave tho district to take up a houso at Puniho. This decision resulted after very serious consideration on the part of Mr. and Mrs. P.m?^ D ' V }l>. hm * farm of 100 ° »«<» in form S'.. and necessity of looking after this mJ?» , 9 caused them to sever friendship with «»r. 1 « residents of this district. General regret will be felt at their departure. They r.lLifniFT 1 " 1^"1 ? 111 ," 16 ™™e3t wishes of the