DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 April 1920, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

RAHOTU. (Tlrom Our Own Correspondent.) Mr. F. Chapman is away for a motoring holiday on the East Coast. Several meetings have been held to arrange for sports to help the funds of the Raliotu queen for the carnival. A fine programme has been arranged, and including a ball as a wind up of- the day. Should the day prove line there will be a big atatendance, and there ought |o be a good time for all.' Mr. A. Phillips has lent his paddocks opposite for foe horso jumping events. The annual meeting of tbe Hall Committee proved a failure, and another meeting was called which was not any better, so !he hall has a caretaker only at present. Mr. Chapman presided at a meeting of the Bowling Club, there being a good number present to hear his report on the work done on the ground. Mr. Tylie, senr., has purchased a home at Moturoa, and with his family, will retire there shortly. Messrs. K. Andrews, M. Hughson, V. Dawson, returned soldiers, have all bought farms in this district lately. A largo crowd assembled at the dance given for the Hibernian queen, on Friday night, and an enjoyable time was spent. Mr. A. Phillips has returned from the hospital and Is progressing favorably. WAITOITOI. | -vj (From Our Own Correspondent.)' I understand that In order to give the children attending the local school a chance of seeing the Prince of Wales on the occasion of his visit to New Plymouth, seats have been booked in Mr. A. I. Smith's fine large bus for that date. The children will be In charge of the teacher (Miss Nolan), and Mesdames \V. Taylor, 3. Phillips, and P. Spurr, and should the weather prove favorable, no doubt a most enjoyable day will bo spent. Messrs. Hairablyn and Johnson will also doubtless have the carrying capacity of their buses taxed to tho utmost on the 30th. This Is how a Native in this locality describes the manner In which he cured himself of tho influenza: "Te pluel Gorry, I did have him. I tlnk Igo to die. Two day I lie In te bunk, aoid no eat to kal. Dc I get te kerosene tin, fill him with water, boll him on te flro, and fill up te tub wld te hot water. Den I get my blanket round me, and sit on te tub, and, phew I tho steam come out of me all te same te factory boiler. Two times I do this an den feel like te feed of whitobalt. When I get him I all right, and do my work uex' day. Kaklno to pluo." Probably one of the most Important events In tho history of Urenui (and, in a sense, the most solemn), will be the -unveiling of the memorial to be erected In the cemetery to the memory of the men in this district who have made the supreme sacrifice and fallen in the late war. The day chosen is most admirably suited to the occasion, being Sunday next, the 25th inst., Aivzac Day, which has been set apart to commemorate the glorious deeds of the Colonials at Galllpoll. The Committee have made most complete arrangements to ensure the ceremony being as imposing as possible and all are cordially invited to attend i understand afternoon tea Is to be dispensed In the Hall to visitors during the afternoon. Mr. A. H. Gould (who has succeeded Mr. Perkins im the Presbyterian Church at Waitara), paid a visit to Waltoltoi on Friday evening last, and delivered a most interesting address in the schoolroom. At Its conclusion, Mr. Gould urged the younger members of tho congregation to bring all the children they could along to the next meeting, as he bad something Interesting to say to all of them.. Several hymns were sung during the evening. Miss Rene Taylor presiding at the organ. The annual meeting of householders will be held In the schoolroom on Monday evening aext, 26th. inst., for tho purpose of electing » Committee to carry on the business connected with the school for the ensuing year. The necessary nomination forms iraay be obtained from the chairman, Mr. W. Taylor. On Wednesday evening last a 'most successful social and dance was held In the TJrenul Hall under the auspices of the District Memorial Committee, tho proceeds of which ire to bo devoted to entertaining the visitors attending the unveiling ceremony of the memorial erected to the memory of the fallen so)lder3 in tills district on Sunday next. During -the evening songs and part singing were contributed by several ladles and centlemen and Mr. C. Jtumball discharged the duties of M.C. in his usual efficient style, whilst Miss A. Ferrill, as pianist, gave ceneral satisfaction A most enjovable Bupper was handed round between the dances and was much appreciated by those present. With regard to the application of the local School Committee re increased accommodation for the school ,children, It was decided at the meeting of the Education Board held last week, that subject to tho senior Inspector and the architect reporting favoraably on tho matter, to forward an application for a grant for the purpose to the Department. This will be good news to the teacher and children alike, as the health of those attending the school Is even more essential than the education they receive while some of our leading medical authorities claim that the crowding of schools anrt over study are responsible for more sickness than most people are aware of.

In connection with the wireless invitation tn the Prince of Wales from the Mayor of Chrlstchurch to attend a trotting meeting at Addlngton on the same day os the fixture at Rlrcarton, under the auspices of the Canterbury Jockey Club, which is to be held for the express purpose of entertaining His Royal Highness, one of our local sports has suggested that it would have been a good Idea if the Prince had brought his double (who has so successfully represented him at functions in London) along with .him. With a little manipulation, No 2 could have bad a real good time at the burly doctor's expense and given him (what he Is evidently looking for) a certain amount of notoriety, whilst the genuine' article could be the honored guest of the C.J.C.

Owing to a large number of children attending the various schools In the district visiting New Plymouth on the occasion of of the Prince of Wales' visit, it has been deemed advisable not to hold the combined schools picnic this year, It being considered that the youngsters will receive more enjoyment from tho trip to town, in addition to which several schools have already had Individual picnics.

WAITUI.

(From Our Own Correspondent). The weather and the election are both extremely boisterous just now, the farmer consisting of driving south easters laden with Iwavy rata. In election matters quite a lot of feeling is displayed and one fears from Its frequency that the epithet "liar" Is nearly as plentiful as was sliver In the days of King Solomon. The crops of hay locally have been rather light, but abundance of feed appears to be held In reserve in the shape of roots. Some crops of turnips suffered severely by tne Hessian fly, and later by the cabbage moth A native caterpillar of nocturnal habits has also been in evidence, but not so badly as In the Tlkorangt district. The grass is still very plentiful, cattle and sheep being In fair trim to start the winter, but the "go slow" of (lie freezing works leaves a great many stockon the paddocks which should be on the hooks As instances of the rise In values one may mention a property which, bought at £2O a few years ago, was sold for £4O, and the last buyer held it only a few months before selling at £53. The original vendor bought a farm at. Hauraki Plains at £7O per acre and a few months later refused £llO ner acre. Our soldier settlers hero appear to be well satisfied with results, and are busily improving their holdings. Influenza, In a mild form, has attacked a few of our residents, but all are on the mend and cooler weather precludes the idea that It may prove anything like the great epidemic. The metalling of the Everett road is being pushed along steadily, and I understand that the •vholo of the subsidy of £SOO Is now available The Makara stream bridgo has the main arch completed, but Is hung up for cement, which has provod something of en elusive material to procure. Few can realise the great loss to local bodies from tho delays due to cement shortage alone, as the staff of men employed mast have work found for them and the teams aro also rendered Idle. A paddock of lucerne in this locality has attracted general notice, and it would appear from its flourishing appearance that it is not I only.a feasible, but a very profitable crop to grow, judging by tho high feeding value and the quantity produced. Recent floods in the Maugaml and smaller I streams have been easily above the average judging by the timber that has floated from above high water mark. Speaking of the Wanganul river reminds me of the recent inspection and report of Mr. H. Roche, C.E., of Cambridge, the engineer responsible for the Horahora power installation recently acquired by the Governueiit Tho report is an exceedingly able and favorable one, the opinion being expressed Miat one of the most stable and economical powers In Now Zealand lies latent In ,11 river. I believe the power runs between 1500 and 2000 horse power, and will embrace the harnessing of the combined waters of the Ngatoro, Maketawa, and Wanganul streams. The two former streams are diverted into tne latter and raised by a dam. then cut into an old river bed and conducted along the same to a natural head In the form of a waterfall. Soine talk exists of a combination with southern boroughs and counties to develop the scheme, but ai the matter has not

reached tho stage of public discussion one I must not anticipate, and the subject may, ilke all good, stories, bo shelved for a time and "'continued !n our next"