DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1920, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

DURHAM ROAD. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Lovers of flowers are much exercised at the extraordinary growth for this time of the yea*'. Early flowers, such as prfamroses and jonquils, are splendid Jn bloom, while others of the narcissus tribe are showing great growth. Ia the paddocks the showing of color .is remarkable also. Pessimists, of course, exclaim, "We'll pay for it later on; youH see!'" A meeting of the ladles of the Durham district, held recently, decided to give all help possible to raise funds lor the ladles' .rest room In Inglewood. It was unanimously 1 agreed to hold a mart in Inglewood, and in almost every part of the district the idea Is meeting with great support, and tliis Is as it should be, for there is an imperative need for some such place for the out district women, when marketing In the town. The large use cement is being made of in the permanent development of the country (Independent of bridge work) by the dalrvmen, fias made evident the fact that it 'is time the State took over the manufacture of this commodity. We have In various parts of the Dominion large areas containing the necessary raw materials, and it only by the State utilising same in order to bring the cost of production to n bed-rock charge, will rap(d progress in development bo made. Today we find farmers only too willing to use concrete for their cowsheds, pig-styes, silos, unilk stands, etc. Well I remember the arguments made years ago by the late E. 11. Smith, M.P., ancnt the Mokau deposits. He gave ocular demonstration by producing the manufactured article and submitting same to all sorts of severe tests to show what Taranakl materials could do, and I think it a downright shame that so many prominentmen, as we have to-day, are ready to cackle about the progress of Taranaki yet will not bestir themselves to get it going. Another thing I might mention: One man in this district obtained three tons of cement for a very urgent work, and the cost of trucks at the local station was Id short of £2B, or say £9 per ton; to fetch same frcra cement whaVf to' Waitara he was charged £2 per ton ship freight. Isn't that "putting the wood on" with a vengeance? Regarding the extension of telephones, no reasonable attempt is made by the authorities to give effect to the wishes or the people, particularly those In the country who wish to connect up. Interview after interview with the local control regarding instances which have been under observation for over two years now all have the same old result. Durham people are anxiously waiting to hear of something definite, and I u-"dor-stand that sufficient support for two party lines (that is twelve residents) Is forthcoming as soon as the "head bummers" get it into their noddles that It is necessary for them to wake up!