DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1920, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

WAITOITOU Wi , (From Our Own Carreipondehr.) A very successful ditncfc In lift of the Cricket and Tennis Clubs was held, in the, Urenul Hall on Thursday evening last. Mr. Geo. Fuller discharged the duties of M.C., In his usual capable 'manner, ■tthitrt' Mrs. A. Tor ell's music left nothing to be desired. During the evening the drawing for tha e'cclro-platcd tea tray, in aid of the Hospital fund, was held, the. winner being Mr. Reg. Spurr. The supper which was tandeJ round was much apprecinteo.

The Mlmi School having been clawci 3A, is not now under tl:e supervision of the organising teacher. The attendance Is still holding i lip, and It Is to he hoped that after the holidays steps will be taken to render some assistance to the teacher (M!ns Nolan), as the work under present conditions is decidedly too much for one teacher to carry out. Owing to the schoolroom being engaged for the distribution of prizes to the children, and the social In, connection wltt' the ceremony on Friday evening nest, Mr. Gould, of Waitara, will not deliver his customa'rj' address. It Is understood that active preparations are in progress 'to make the function a success, several ladles and gentlemen from Urenul having promised assistance by contributing musical items, etc. Given a fine night the schoolroom should be taken to its limit to accommodate all the visitors likely to be present. '

The Okoke School will hold its annual prizegiving ceremony on Monday evening next, and from all accounts It should prove most successful. Mis. Kennedy, owner of the Urenui Hotel, has, during the week, been paying a visit to Urenui. Tie hotel is at present being painted and renovated generally, and when finished will present quite an attractive appearance. Messrs. Dunbar have also made some very convenient alterations to tholr business premises, the entrance door having been removed from the corner <more to the centre of the building, whilst the extended counter in the interior, together with the greater accommodntlon for goods'behind It, will allow the staff to cope wltb the Increased trade, and do away to a great extent with the congestion that was generally experienced on sale days and Saturdays. The district has so expanded <7 .durlng the past few years that this firm a're probably doiug as large a retail business as any other on the coast, as in addition to the general store they have a large drapery establishment, and an up-to-date bakery, besides having a branch j on Tongaporutu.

Tl:e prospects of the various houses engaged at the Christmas meeting of . the Taranakl Jockey Club are now being freely discussed, and jiulclng by the large nominations received, a. record meeting should result. Klko Klko, from this district, whose name appears in the Lepperton Welter,. raced last year, and though never catching the Judge's eye, performed well enough to give promise of better things. The Club's meetings are being more largely patronised from this end every year, and It is a fairly safe bet that every 'bus and a large number of cars will be In commission on botb days. Those farmers who were looking forward to big returns from their lildes and calfskins, received rather a shock last week when they say by tho report of the sales in your columns that the bottom had been knocked out of the market, and that they would only received aibout one quarter of the previous ruling rates. It js to be boped that a corresponding decrease in the price of articles manufactured from these products will also liave to be recorded In the near future.

It would seem from Mr, W. J. Perm's re* marks at the recent Taranakl County Coun-, ell imeetlng that the bitumlmil method of ro<.d making is far more preferable than either tar sealing or concrete, and In the long run much the cheaper. Whether the Government takes over the construction of mul:i roads or not. It is practically certain that the matter will have to be faced by many of our Councils in the near future-, and itny information on thf* .matter should moat welcome. Mr. Penn's suggestion that those interested should get into communication with the Warrenlte Road Construction Company and ascertain (methods, cost, etc., seems a. good one, and it might not be bad business to get an expert over and go fully into the matter. Whatever the Initial cost may be, it will be cheaper in the long run than the continual patching with inferior material which is taking place in some localities. The usual ball, which- is held in the lire-' nul Hall on New Year's Eve, promises this year to be moat successful, as the committee aro taking steps to ensure that the year 1921 will be ushered in in good style. Great Interest *-ls being evincod in the result of the competition which are due to appear in your Christmas number, »more especially amongst thirse of the younger portion of the community who have forwarded contributions. I fceard a suggestion the : other day that In order to eliminate any doubt that might exist as to any of the competitors receiving assistance from their elders, you might have made a condition that the essays should be written in the presence of a school teacher or clergyman. However, ho doubt you have considered the matter, and the judges will he able to discriminate as to whether the efforts are bona fide or otherwise*

Befote sending you my next notes, Christmas Day of 1920, will have to be numbered amongst the days that are passed. Though the present year has not been free from industrial troubles, which havo affected us all more or less, stijl things have not been so bad that they might not fcave been worse, and 1 should like, sir, to wish you, your staff, and readers, the compliments of the reason.