WAITARA.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 January 1920, Page 3

WAITARA.

Jan. 26. The Borough Council meet this evening for the purpose of deciding on the halfholiday. I understand that the representatives of the Borough are in favor of Saturday as the early closing day, but information which has just come to hand from a neighboring borough questions the validity of tli? Council appointing an alteration of the day, and suggesting that the matter should go before the ratepayers. In all probability the meeting will be adjourned for a few days, so as to get definite information on the matter.

The river during Saturday and Sunday was in heavy flood. Kain must have been very heavy in the back country. The flood has brought, down a generous supply of firewood, the beach being lined. The populace cast all religious scruples to the winds yesterday (Sunday). They were firewood bent on the beach, where they could be counted in their hundreds Owing to the fact that Saturday h gdjng to take the place of Thursday as the recoginsed half-holiday in the week, a public meeting is being called for ne.vt Tuesday evening to consider the matter of celebrating the inauguration of the same. I understand the idea is to serve a dual purpose, celebrating the day, and extracting money from the public purse, the proceeds to go towards the soldiers' memorial, of which £7O is already in hand.

Really it is time' something was done to perpetuate the memory of those who fought and fell for us. While the war was in progress it was not a very hard matter to raise a few hundreds or a few thousand pounds, but since hostilities ceased, the bottom seems to-<have dropped out of the word "patriotism." I sincerely hope that the sports gathering, or whatever is decided upon, will be a huge success, and sufficient funds raised to erect at least something in the town in memory of the boys who fought and wonThe Waitara bowlers came home in a very happy state of mind from their match with New Plymouth B on Thursday last, every rink scoring a win. The club seems to have taken a new lease of life, the membership having increased considerably, and "new chums" are beginning to put the "wind up" on some of ths star players in the pairs tournament and champion singles, which aw now in progress. A public meeting is being called for the purpose of forming a Returned Soldiers' and Citizens' Club. Speakers arc to be Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., Colonel Weston, Captain Hartnell and Archdea(con Evans. Some are not very enthusiastic over the scheme, stating that a club is not wanted, but life in small towns is very narrow, and there is nowhere to go (a?art from picture shows and billiard saloons) where people may converse with each other, or read or play a friendly game of billiards. A well conducted club would fill a real want, especially is this so in the case of the soldier who has seen life. It is harder for pome people to knock off smoking than to do without a drink, but some of my local friends apparently find it otherwise, for on account of rise in tobacco they have thrown their pipes into the river and sworn off smoking for ever and anon.