WAITARA.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1919, Page 3

WAITARA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) December 27. Christmas has again come and gone, and to-day and yesterday the tewn has been almost deserted, the majority of the people having been attracted to New Plymouth by the lure of the races. The shop windows were very tastefully got up in all parts of the town for Christmas, and Christmas Mve was, I under- ' stand, one of the best in the way of trade which has been experienced here, and for the month of December the takings have surpassed any previous year. Yesterday it rained most of the day, and though it would spoil the enjoyment of race-goers to a large extent, it was very badly needed and will do a wonderful amount of good to all sorts of crops. Hay-making is starting in this district, and for the next few weeks farmers will be busy getting in their supply of winter feed. The hay crops are, I believe, luueli less in quantity per acre than they have been for some years, as the spring has been too dry to get very heavy growth. The school committee held a meeting on Saturday night last to consider the question of opening the baths during the holidays, and it was decided to engage a caretaker so that the boys and girls should not be deprived of swimming facilities during the hot weather while the school was dosed. The baths are

to be opened for girls from 1 to 3 daily, and for boys from 9 to 12 and 3 to 5 daily. A group of boy scouts marched from New Plymouth to Waitara this morning and have pitched camp in the pines close to the beach, where they propose camping for a few days for instruction and enjoyment. It is a.n ideal camping place, plenty of firewood being handy, and the camp well sheltered from all winds. The bovs should he able to spend an enjoyable time as the beach is in fine condition for surf-bathing, and the weather should be hot enough to make this form of exercise enjoyable. The Waitara Tabor Shield,team is practicing steadily for the contest at the end of February or beginning of March, and should give a good account of itself.