DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1920, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

MATAU. (From Our Own Correspondent.) With tho object of taking united action In regard to matters affecting the Matau district, r.n enthusiastic meeting of settlers was held here on Saturday for tho purpose of forming a Ratepayers' and Settlers' Association. The motion to form the Association was carried unanimously, and Mr. S. ,T. Kennington was appointed president, and Mr. if. A. Nelson secretary and treasurer, while Messrs. H. R. Harrison, W. D. Holley, V! Rawlinson, A. McMuilian, and O. H. Rawlinson were appointed members of the committee. The new Association starts with a membership of 40 settlers, and will bring the local requirements before the responsible authorities. It was decided that delegates from the Association should wait on the Inglewood County Council with the object of having the Ngatiinaru riding, of the CJiftou Cminrv Council, in which Matau is at. present' included, transferred to the Inglewood Coiintv. It was pointed out that Matau had little in common with Clifton, and that the enitineer of that Council had tD travel through two other counties in order to reach Matau. A committee meeting was held subsequently, when it was decided that a petition be drawn up for presentation to the Inglewood County Council, asking that tho riding be taken into that county. The matter of arranging the petition was left to the chairman and secretary. The next meeting will be held on Saturday, September 25, when the question or raising a loan for metalling niie or more of the three access roads to the district will be discussed. The meeting will also consider a suggestion to give a substantlol bonus to aiivone discovering metal In workable quantities In tho Matau Valley. Matau is going ahead splendidly, and when a metalled road is obtained a good future for this fertile district may be expected. At the present time the settlers are going In mostly for sheep and dry cattle, but there are about 200 dairy cows milked. The lambing season is just now in full swing, and there have been remarkably few losses so far. HURFORD, ROAD. Perhaps one of the brightest and most enjoyable concerts ever hold was the one so hurriedly organised by our present schoolmistress, Miss M. Guildford, whose efforts iu this direction were excellently exhibited on Friday evening last. The items rendered by the children were undoubtedly very creditable, and all the little performers showed great enthusiasm for the rariotis parts they played. Much interest and amusement was to he gained from. & dialogue given by Miss Lilian WlUlams and Master David Lynch 1 , and recitations given in great style by Master Bruce fipence, Jack Lynch junr, and Miss Florence Higglns . Miss Daisy Badland proved herself to be tho making of an excellent violinist by handling her violin In the production of a nice piece. The "Four Fisher Wives" was an Item much appreciated, and aiso the physical drill of the senior pupils. Hurford ltoad Is most fortunate in having such a celebrated comic singer as our worthy "Harry" Smith, who kept the audience in roars of laughter' with his songs. Among the other performers were Mr. Ben Taylor, pianoforte solo; Messrs. Williams and Sim, solos, and Mr. Jack Lynch startled the audience by his powers of eloquence. At the conclusion of the programme an excellont supper was provided, and this was followed by a dance, which added to the enjoyment of the adults who remained. Tho stone-crusher, which is now long overdue, Is, I understand, steering in tills direction in a few days, and with the assistance of our council, we should soon notice a difference in the grade of the factory hill. The Road has lost many of the old and energetic settlers in the persons of Messrs. Alf Smith, A. Cowling, J. Kendall, R. Spence senr., and our highly esteemed friend, Mr. A. Wood, but wo do not feel the lntter's departure is for very long. The grass Is much earlier this year, and generally with the proposed price of butterfat, a very hopeful season Is anticipated. Your correspondent feols It his bounden duty to extend the heartiest congratulations to enter the matrimonial sido of life on the to cuter the matrimonial side of lifeon the | "3rd lust. Her loss to the Road will be the great gain of the fortunate bridegroomelect.