DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1919, Page 8

DISTRICT NEWS.

PUNGAREHU. (From Our Own Correspondent) ( A shortage of butter Js reported in some parts of'the North Island, and generally in the South Island. The shortage is attributed to the drought and to bad winter conditions, which have caused the production of butter to be much below the estlmato. The export of butter from New Zealand stopped at the end May. Five months of the year had then elapsed, and the quantity of butter exported during the period was 313,12(1 cwt, as against 337,1)03 cwt for the corresponding period of PJIB. Tito uew season in the North Island will commence in a week or so, and in the South Island u little later, which will doubtless make it unnecessary for any curtailment being made in the consumption of butter in any part of the country. For somo years there has been operating in the Pungarehu district a strong and active cornmitteo of both sexes, who have organised the I social gatherings, concerts, dances and the liko 1 at the Pungarehu Hall, and who after the outbreak of war became the active centre of the patriotic efforts of the neighborhood. That they have done good work in this line is well known, not a soldier having left for the front but luls been sent with a farewell gift and social gathering to hearten him on his way. Another proof of their activity is the maimer m which the welcome:) home are being conducted, success having attended their, efforts on all occasions, each social in turn surpassing all previous experiences. :\'o doubt a certain amount of praise is due the residents generally for the success of these functions in turning up in large numbers on each occasion, which is only as it should be, as those responsible cannot hope for much success without the residents' whole-hearted support. As the result .of a collision recently between a motor car and a two horse waggon, on the road between Oaonut and Opunake, Mr it. flugnson, of liahotu, driver fo the former, sustained minor injuries. The car was damuged to ti»e extent of a smashed wind screen and radiator. Mr P. Julian, of.Warea, driver of the vaggon, escaped injury. Mr llughson is progressing favorably, Sickness, in various forms, has been rather prevalent of late here, particularly amongst the young people. That it lias been fairly prevalent is probably due to the extremely trying weather experienced which has been so conducive to scvore colds. The housing question is just as acute as ever, and it is qutie impossible to get a house in Pungarehu at the present time. The local dairy company being unable to provide living accommodation for a married man, had to request applications from single men only for the position of Ist assistant. Over 40 applications of Ist assistant for the Cape Egmont cheese factory were considered by the factory manager, and Mr Tynan was appointed. Mr Tynan, who hails from the Waverley district, was manager of a branch factory 1 there. The new assistant has arrived, and taken over his duties. A movement ia on foot to obtain land for soldier settlers locally, it being stated that large blocks may easily carry n much larger population if cut up inta small dairying areas. Arbor Day, or Treo Day, which should have been observed by the local school on 23rd July, had to be postponed owing to the inclemency of the weather. Tho day will be observed when the weather gets more settled. As the telephone lias proved such a great convenience to country settlers in oilier districts, Pungarehu settlers desire to obtain the beneftts therefrom, &\\(\ are still to be found agitating for the telephone to bo installed around the locality. So far there Is nothing doing. Only two people attended the public meeting called for Saturday evening last, consequently no business was done. A briuich of the I'lirmers' Union was formed in Warpa recently, and an executive appointed, Mr F. J. Campbell, of Pungarehu, was elected vice-president for the ensuing year. Mr Campbell left last week on a short visit to Auckland for health reasons. Mr Albert Itaynor is spending a brief holiday In Pungarehu, where lie is the guest of Sir and Mrs Arthur Kaynor. The many friends of Mr P. W. Crenfell, who has been an Inmate of the New Plymouth Hospital for the past three weeks, will be pleased to learn that he has now left that institution, arriving home last Friday evening. Tho young man Causey has also arrived home from the hospital. Mr. S. Sefton is slowly mending, but is still an inmate of the hospital.