DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 October 1920, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

\ OKATO. fProm Our Own Correspondent ) At the Okato Tennis Club's annual meeting, at which a small but enthusiastic numbef of members were present, the secretary (Mr. K, U. Corbctt) reported that the club would be able to start the season with their grounds clear of debt and a credit balance of about £5. The war interfered eonsideruMy will tennis affairs, or this h;ii>py state of affairs would have been arrived at several years ago. The property was procured from Airs. S. Fox some six or seven years ago at u low figure, and therefore the dub, having now eompMod payment, is in a very good position. The opening of the courts for the season took place on Thursday last, when a fair number of players were present. If enthusiasm on the jwrt 1 of the members goes for anything the club Is in for a. most successful season. At the local factory, imllk is In full supply the quantity now received being equal to that in the flush of the season last year. The first part of tho season was not up to tlie mark owing to the weather being against growth, with the result that most farmers wero short of feed. With fair wonther now a part of the loss should he made up, but it will be impossible to bring the supply up to wfcat It would have been had the first part of tho season been anything like normal.

The County Council intend shortly to tar the road- through the township. This will bo an improvement, and if it is their Intention to put in new kerbing and tar the footpath our township will be quit© looking up. Tenders are called for th© erection of a new residence for our local -schoolmaster. The present building has been doing service for a great number of years, and the Necessity for a new one has been obvious for a long time. school, which was improved some time ago, is now quite crowded, and needs enlarging badly. The Inconvenience of having to teach three or four standards In one Toom should be taken info consideration at- the annual examination, which takes place shortly, The Rev. Addeubrooke, who lias been vicar of this parish for about 12 years, has tendered his resignation, and will he leaving to take up his residence at' Pargaville at about the end of December. Re will bo much iralssed, and it will be difficult, with a very scattered parish as this hj, to fill the vacancy caused by his re^gnnlirn.

PUNGAREHU. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Recent visi/tors tn the Parihaka soldier settlement in the Vicinity of Pungarehu have heen considerably impressed with tl'e substantial Improvements being made on the various sections, Tho soldier setlters are undoubtedly a fino body of 1 men, and, given a reasonable share of luck, they should make good and be an acquisition to the district. The weather so far tills spring litis been as erratic as it is possible to be, and there is in consequence not nearly the growth In the pastures that there stould be for tho month of October. Much farm land in the coastal districts has this year been put under the plouch, and areas that were well covered with noxious weeds have boon cleared and made sood tiso of. Other areas of mangolds are also expected to be put in this season, although tie;' doubtless entail a good deal of labor, the excellent returns per acre are making this root crop very popular everywhere. When you come to farming land its value Is really only what the land can product-. The man who can get good land at a reasonable price, providing that he is assured of a carrying capacity that will give hum a rcasonalo return, is assured for life, liut the man who gets on to Indifferent land will in all probability be a poor man all lis life. Hood land makes a man, and poor land keeps a man poor. That there is a groat deal of undue speculation appears to be the common opinion,, though it is by no means universally condemned, and there are some, who hold that within reason it is a good thing In that it is tho means of putting large blocks of land in the market in mitre or less small allotments, which would not otherwise lie within the reach of the smaller man. In other quarters, however, the speculation is condemned in language that is forcible and to the point. There are many who have grown fat 011 land speculation during the past fetv years by buying large areas of native lands' and disposing of them to the Government at big prices. Large areas tl at should have hem available for legitimate settlement have today to carry loads for loading. While the excessive speculation Is condemned there appears to be sonio difficulty in drawing a line of doiiuycation between a price that can be termed excessive and 0110 that can be said to be strictly within the bounds of reason. Much depends on the land and a great deal also 011 the raan.

With tlio lengthening at the days country people find less opportunity to co out, unci many winter pastimes are nearinp a finish. TI'C Rahotu Football Hub are holdinc their wind-up social anil dance in the ltaholu Hall on Wednesday cvenlns neit. The eluli are to he concratulated on the.'j l efforts throughout the season, and it would only be fitting if Ilahotu and surrounding districts turned out en masse on this occasion in appreciation of (he club's efforts to popularise tills wintor Fame.

There has been a gW>d deal of sickness about lately, principally of children. Latest reports are that the young patients are improving.

The Rev. C. Addenbroolie, tl-e vicar for tills arid other coastal districts, is shortly leaving these parts Tor Dyruaville. He will be greatly missed on the coast.

Coastal residents ]p)tesc meaning for "S.O.S"' is short of sucar. During the last few weeks the shortage lias heen most pronounced. only a few pounds belnp allowed top each family. The latest supply came io hand last week, hut. needless to state the supplies were .a drop in the bucket of the demand. 9 A collision bctweeui a motorcar and a motor cycle occurred about 5 o'clock on Saturday afternoon at tie corner of the factory road near the Efrmorn Co-op. Store. The rider of tho motor cycle, a young man named T. Martin, escaped luckily with a slight abrasion. The motor cycle suffered some damAge. Mr. Arthur Orbell, of Waitara, is spending a few days here renewing old ncauai'ntnnces.

HURFORD ROAD. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Mr. 11. Spence loft for Auckland last week lo meet his fiancee, who arrived by the Tair.ui from England. In another fortnight Ihe re-grading of the factory hi il should be completed. The work already done is very creditable to the foreman, Mr. P. Seamark. Harford Road seem* to he moat unfortunate rcfjardiujf its school teacher. as Miss V. ('oilier. whose stay was ko short, received notice to ko to Tarlki. Miss Freer, of Opunnke, is to commence duty 011 October 20. A very enjoyable time was spent at the school on Wednesday evening, wlen a representatives Catherine of settlers iisseunblPd for the purpose of bidding farewell to Messrs. A. Wood and A. Smith. During the evening Mr. Leo Sim cluirns&r. of ta« Settler?' As.°.<w'i;iiion. presented pach of these gentlemen, on behalf of the >mlcrs, whh a very handsome illuminated address, and in doing so spoke of the keen imprest each had taken In the progress of ti - e road, and also of ithe h-'gh qualities each possessed, Tbe sphofil was nicely decorated by Miss Collier And the children, Mr. Ren Taylrr officiated at the piano in his usual excellent style, while Mr. M. Uiordan assisted with his splendid accordion music. Songs were rendered by Messrs. IthiekI'iiD, Williams,. Smith, I*. Taylor and SMn. and Mr. .1. Lynch gave two elocutionary Items. Miss Oumsday, of Dunediu, and Mr. B. Taylor, were the accompanists. RAHOTU. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The Frontiersmen recently gave a farewell evening lo Frontiersman Xorman Jones, Mr. and Mrs. D. (J. O'Neil kindly lending their sltitng-room for the occasion. Mr. .Tones leaves for the Waikato district, where he is taking up fanning again. He will be missed by many friends, for ho lias been ready to help In any way. The scl:ool picnic took place In the school 1 as rain poured dewa throughout the div. We

raws could "be run, so the committee decided to postpone thwn till thy afternoon of Nov. 10, and the social and dance, 'With presentation of prizes, will take place the same evening. The many friends of Mrs. W. 31. Wright will be surprised to hear that she is at a New Plymouth hospital and l as had a slight operation to her foot, which will cause her to be laid up for a while.

A very enjoyable party was given at the Pomona Gardens. Everyone voted it At. Tins is the second party given since Mrs. I'ownell and her children and friend have been there.

The hotel improvements should soon be llnisiu'd, as four now men are working and making a great diflVmicc. Tho proprietors must l)u anxious to gin things finished, having had carpenters in the house for nearly a year. Mr. Walls and family are moving to go to a fanny at Opunake, and Mr. and Mrs. Drake have purchased a farm in tho Oakura district. Thero will now be two tynpty houses in tho llahotu district .

Since returning to his Waikato farm, Mr. Ronnie Wright has not been at all well, and ho Is now in a hospital at Rotorua for treatment.

WAiTQiTOI. (Prom Our Own Correspondent,) On Thursday evening last a very onpoyabl© euchre parly and dance was held in the Pukearuhe schoolroom, advantage being taken of the occasion to bid good-bye to Mr, and Mrs. W. Cleaver, who are leaving the district. The former was presented with a handsome pocket-toook, and slrs. Cleaver with an electroplated cake dish. air. H. Wells made the presentations, remarking that all were sorry Jo loso Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver, who had made many friends during their sojourn in, Pukearuhe. Mr. Cleaver suitably acknowledged the gifts, and expressed regret at leaving. The iirst prize (a mirror)" for gentlemen resulted in favor of Mr. J. Carroll, after playing off with Mr. It. Spurr. Miss H. Wells secured the pair of vases which constituted the ladies prize. The ladies of the district provided an. enjoyable supper, and after the euchre was concluded dancing was Indulged in, Mr. H. Moeller acting most efficiently as M.C. The Catholic Church social and dance, hc-ld in the Ureuui Hail on Thursday evening, proved most succssful, visitors from Waitara, Urutl and other parts being present. During the evening several songs were contributed, the local singers being assisted by friends Waitara. The supper provided was i 3uite enjoyable, and much appreciated, especially by those who had to come from a distance to be present. On Friday evening, Mr. Could of Waitara, paid his customary fortnightly visit. The schoolroom was well fliled, and Mr. Gould's remarks were much appreciated. Tie children recited the ninth commandment, and several hymns were sung, Miss M. Philips presided at the organ.

Tho annual inspection of tlie local school by the Education Board's inspector (ATr. Demisey) took place on Thursday last. .Mr. McKlnny (organising teacher) assisted Mr. Dempsey. The schools in this district are well provided for in the matter of Instruction, us besides the resident teacl or, Mr. McKini.j' makes periodical visits with a view ro assisting the staff In organisation; whilst at in*ervalfl the Board's agricultural instrnclors pay visits to tho fiehool and the children receive lectures on such matters as nature study, which Is forming a strong feature In tills department .of the school syllabus. At the ordinary monthly meeting of tl-e directors of the Waitoitol Dairy Company, held on Wednesday, the matter of cooling Ij.v all suppliers was brought up. One of the directors pointed out that although great stress had been placed on this matter by the former manager (Mr. Taylor), and also Mr. Boss who now had charge of the factory all the suppliers had not' yet installed coolers, and the efforts of those who were cooling their milk were to a certain extent nullified, and it was hardly giving the manager a fair chance to get the most out of tiio milk, which could only be dope by efficient cooling. It. was eventually agreed ii:at Mr. Phillips" (the chairman), and Mr. P. Spiirr interview the various suppliers ivlth a view to ascertaining if something could not be done In the matter, the company being willing to assist where necessary. This is a step in the right direction, as in these days of high prices anil keen competition it is becoming an absolute. necessity to get the highest possible results out of the raw product, and It has been proved conclusively that cooling will not only improve the individual test, but will also enable a .much superior and uniform cheese to be manufactured,

| Mr. Newton King, Ud., will hold an important clearing sale on behalf of Mrs. Mcßae at the homestead on Thursday next.. I understand Mr. Rockett, who has purchased the property, intends to milk a number of cows. In tl e schoolroom at.Pukearuhe may be seen a handsomely-framed roll of honor,' conta'ning the photographs of the following men who went from that district to their bit in the .great war: Maurice Waterson, Bert Waterson (killed In action), Harold Waterson (killed in action), Claude Lambert; Syd. Moodv, Tom Martin, Ceorge Martin, Jimmy Waters ' H trrv Waters (killed in action), Charles Davis Will JJaV'S. .Tack Cartwright, Colin MeOne, Leslie Taylor (accidentally killed), ll„y Bell (died of sickness), Steve Maine (killed In action) S yd Wnrlcy, Harold ltowe, Erie Blanch,-ml, Hnr'rv farmer (killed in action), Colin Cla.'k, It„y The honor roll was placed In pos.tuin during the past winter, and docs I - "'' d i t0 "' c rt '- si dents of J'nkcarulie. who have shown their appreciation of the bov's services In such a fitting manner. The final rehearsals of. the Urenui Lily Christj Minstrels are proving most satisfactorj and a successful perfoniiiance may be for on Iriday exening next. The proceeds 'ml !h ri? '° '"° Sf ' hm " funds and the Cricket. Club, and already a large "limber of tickets have been disposed of Shearing operations are now becoming general and those sl eds which hare, finished epor good Clips. The price is still a „ un r,,!:-" 1 ;.'!"" ' ." n,lel ' staml s <»»e "f the the present.' 1 DOt 10 f «