DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1920, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

HURFORD ROAD. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The mad is not as lively as it used to be, Mr. Sim having sold his farm and left the district, and is now residing in Stratford. He took a great interest in public affairs while here, being a director of the Dairy Co. and chairman of the Settlers' Association, being always willing to do hi» utmost for the welfare of the district. The settlers wish him success In lis new venture.

A tin-can party visited Mr. and Mrs. K. D. Spence upon their return from their honeymoon. The boisterous weather prevented « great many from attending. Those who did so were well rewarded, as a very pleasant evening was spent.

Mr. R. Clarke held a house wanning, resulting In a. jolly time being spent with a few of his friends.

A farewell social was given recently to Mr. and Mrs. G. Spence and family In the school on Tuesday 14th, Mr. R. D. Spenee having taken over l'ls father's far«n. By their departure we are losing a family who always helped in public affairs. Mr. Spenoe was a member ot she Settlers' Assofllatlotn, the school committee, and a director of the Dairy Company. During the war both Mr. and Mrs. Spence took a great interest in patriotic work. During the evening Mr. Smith expressed regret at losing Mr. Spence and family, and wished them success in the future. An Illuminated address was to have heen presented to Item that night, but owing to the short notice It was not ready, so will he forwarded on when completed.

The ladies of the Hurford Road took this opportunity to welcome Mrs. Spence, junr.. to New Zealand, and presented her with an oatt tray, inlaid with mother of pearl, and a pair of silver-mounted salt cellars. We hope Mrs. Spence does not feel too auuch of a stranger in a strangle land, and that she will never regret tie day she landed in New Zealand. Music for the dance was supplied by Mr. Ben Taylor (piano), and Mr. Blordan (acoordeon) far the danco. Mr. H. Smith contributed two songs, which were greatly appreciated. The school was very tastefully decorated with evergreens and flowers, Miss Freer and her pupils deserving praise for this. A very enjoyable evening was brought to a close by the singing of "Auid Lang Syne."

The grading of the upper side of tie hill Is to make a real good job of it. It is to be hoped the County Council will soon see its way clear to complete the work. The road wants rometalllng right through, but this is ton much to expect from tie Council at present.

The settlers are very thankful to the kind person who left a "jar" with the foreman to celebrate the completion of the regradlng. Pity it did not arrlvo on one of those hot days when a larger gang was on the job. However, all who wished to do so had an opportunity of having a "taste" to "wet" the job. Messrs. R. D. Spence and P. A. Badland were appointed to the echool committee In place of Mr. G. Spence and Mr. H. Ward, who have left the district. Mr. H. Smith was elected chairman of the Settlers' Association, In place of Mr. Slim, who resigned. All lands are busy preparing for turnips. The heavy rain at times is hampering progress.

Tho school children went home from school light-hearted on Thursday night, the school laving closed for the summer holidays.

DOUGLAS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The annual school concert, for which' the children worked so hard, and to which they looked forward so keenly, was held on Tuesday night, and proved successful In every way. Quite a lengthy programme of action songs, songs and recitations, also a dialogue and a Scotch song, with bagpipe accompaniment, was rendered by the cttldren in a way that gave pleasure to a large audience. Pianoforte solos were played by Misses J. Walters and D. Wilmshurst, and two songs were aung by Mr. Gibbons. A splendid lot of reward books and special prizes were given out during the evening by Mr. B. Masters, M.P., who also took the opportunity to say a few words to the children and their parents. The following. prizes were distributed:—Dux of school, Ernest Walters, gold medal presented by Mr. Abraham; Constance McLellan was second highest. Standard 5, Ist prize Tom' Smith, second prize Eileen Rodgers; Standard 4, Ist Jean Needlam, 2nd Joy Witheford; Standard 3, Arthur Wltheford Ist, Betsy Bunnlng 2nd; Standard 2, Ist Klngsley Brown, 2nd Clem Chapman; Standard 1, Ist Keith Rodgers, 2nd Maida Bunnlng: P.2, Ist Monica Harding, 2nd Frank Latham; P.l, Ist Patrlola Needham, 2nd Lorraine Latham. Sewing: Standards 5 and C, Dolly Bunnlng; Standards 3 and 4, Jean Needham; Standards 1 and 2, Maida Bunnlng. Best Garden, Reggie Phillips. Douglas Is surely doing its share to solve the problem of the scarcity of building material. We have a sawmill that turns out quite a. quantity of sawn timber, and with tie new year another Industry will startthat of brlcknaking. A plant has been erected, and everything Is ready for the start. Mr. Emeny and his colleagues are to be commend-, ed for their enterprise, and we wish them every success.

Quite a gloom was cast over the district when it become known that Mr. Samuel Reynolds, a soldier settler, had passed away after a short Illness. Mr. Reynolds was well respected, and much sympathy is extended to those left to mourn.

PUNGAREHU. (From Our. Own Correspondent.) Tie Inclement, state of the weather on Tuesday evening, the 7th, Interfered with the attendance at the travelling circus at the Pungarehu Domain. The management decided not to show. All local folks who were in New Plymouth on Thursday, the oth, and attended the Htrtlcultural Society's spring flower show caime away well satisfied witl> the exhibition of blooms shown by the leading growers. The special exhibits by local New Plymouth growers were considered very attractive by lovers of flowers. Over all, the show was considered one of the best. The beauties with which nature' has endowed the district of Taranaki generally, and New Plymouth in Particular, are amongst the great assets of tie place, and particularly at the present season of the year. New Plymouth is perhaps more richly favored In respect to attractive places for holiday-makers than any town. There is a wealth of public parks of which the community has every reason to be proud, and which are all worth wlile any visl.or seeing. Pukekura Park is probably the finest of Its kind in the Dominion. Unfortunately New Plymouth, as almost every other place in the Dominion at the present time, lacks tho necessary accommodation for all the visitors who desire to spend a holiday. Speaking generally, people are apparently laying themselves out to have a real good time during the holiday season. A number of coastal folk travelled to New Plymouth on Thursday niglt, 9th inst., to tear the "Messiah," by the local New Plymouth choir at the Empire. By all accounts they were well rewarded.

Tlie local Maoris are mailng preparations for their Ashing season. Now is the time for the big schnapper. Tie warm weather always brings the fish inshore, and there are generally some heavy specimens In the catches about this time.

People on the coast have been so deeply interested In the falling markets for all kinds of produce that they have been scarcely conscious of tie near approach of Christmas. For the Christmas holidays there will he little to attract in the way of amusements here, and numbers who are arranging to go to New Plymouth to enjoy the beach attractions, while many others will, no doubt, And sufficient pleasure at Opunake, which Is fas* becoming one of the favorite resorts for picnickers. As the shops will all be closing, business people will be given a good opportunity to visit outside places. There Is no subject that has been more in evidence for the last three or four years than that of economics, yet it is safe to assume that the general public worry very little over the real meaning and science of economics as it affects them to-day. The Economic Conference of 1916 obviously meant that flnane* after the war *>"*ttl kart "

deal wltb brand new commercial conditions throughout the world. Tho need for an understanding of these new conditions and the means whereby they can be beat met, Is only too evident by employers and employees alike. Those who Imagine that the subject Is an academical one are greatly mistaken. It is replete with Interest for everyone, as it titally ' concerns the cost of living, the depreciation of the sovereign, and every national and industrial activity, lence the essential need for studying this very important subject, which will assist one to comprehend, the great difficulties that have now to be encountered and overcome.

There Is atUI a shortage of labor, and dairy factories are experiencing difficulty in obtaining tho necessary number of men to carry out the work they have on hand. The contractor for the metalling of a portion of tie Cape Itoad is losing no time, and teams arc busy procuring boulders from the beach In preparation for the crusher.

There has been, and Is still, a great amount if sickness on the coast, principally amongst the children.

Tho local school will close on Friday, l'ft for the annual summer vacation.

Mr. Ell Taylor, who recently sold out, has left Pungarehu to reside at Warea for the present. He has not quite decided where he will settle down.

Mr. It. Havern, assistant lighthouse keeper at East Cape lighthouse, Is at present on a visit to Pungarehu. In the coastal districts tl-e plough, the discs and the drill have been the order of the day of late, and many acres of laud have been turned up. For the year It is pleasing to note that practically every farmer has an area of land under the plough. The weather of the past week has been a little more favorable, and work outside la being more actively carried on. In view of the slump In tie.cheese market, many farmers on the coast are having an anxious time, more especially as the bulk of the factories are manufacturing cheese. The prospects for cheese are very uncertain, the market i» overstocked, and loner prices are anticipated.

DURHAM ROAD. (Prom Our Own Correspondent.) Weather conditions for the past month have been extremely favorable for grass growth, but very unsuitable for crop planting. To get in one's turnips nowadays must te considered simply a "fluke," us the final preparation of the ground Is greatly *ampered Ihrcigl- not- getting a seasonable contlanatiou of ili.e weather.

Much interest Is being shown repmlinj the cxnn.-sed Intention of our' Norfolk Road neighbors to Improve the upper portion of that road per special loan, and it is hoped the effort will result in aometrlng tangible. Considering the tremendous deposit of boulders in tfce Waketawa river, which separates the two districts, the metalling prepusltion should be ono of the cheapest etvr und»rlaken in the district—that Is, of course, if an improvement in the horse haulage Is initiated. Connecting these two roads per opening the Bedford Road, which crosses both, would enable settlers to save much mileage to factory and also enable the children on Norfolk Road to get to a school In quicker time. At preaent a number of children are debarred from attending school because of the necessity of riding horses. During a recent visit to the upper Norfolk Road, 1 was much struck with the great, improvement several settlers have effected on land which to many people is considered unsuitable to live on. That families can transform the country, as is evidenced, is a memento to the pluck and perseverance shown, and when one considers that this portion of the country has suffered through the laxity of road board members in the past, and also very bad engineering (as Is now very palpable) it makes the settlers' work more admirable. Absentee holding of land for speculative purposes, of course, is another factor which contributed to the drawback of tho district, but I am given to understand that that aßpect has undergone r considerable alteration, and new men, "grafters," are now occupying some of the sections hitherto hung up. One cannot but wish them all sorts of success.

I much regret to chronicle that Mr. Jack lowe, one of tho new settlers on the above road, baa , had the misfortune to lose his wife, whose death took place in the New Plymouth Hospital on Saturday last, and whose funeral took place In Inglewood on Monday. Mr. I,owe's parents were to: several years residents on the Upper Durham Road, and he has the sympathy of the whole district in his sad bereavement, . I believe ttat this Season will show a tremendous increase of milk to the Mnketawa Dairy Co., a», both at the factory and the creamery, there are fresh suppliers. At the former place milk Is Being supplied from many sections which hitherto went to either Kalmata. or to Rugby Boad, and also from sections which for years were but graalng sheep or cattle. The very changeable weather for several weeks culminated on Wednesday night with a blow with rain from the south-east, and which considerably dampened the spirits of the school children, wliobo entertainment celebrating the Bchool break-up for Christmas was held that night. Notwithstanding the drawback a fairly large number of residents and friends from outside turned up, and a moit enjoyable time was spent. Hie Items by the school children (singing, recitations, etc.), were gone through in a manner creditable to themselves and to the teacher (Miss Prldeaux), who had evidently taken great poins in their training. Messrs. J. Sutherland, Oeddes and Darlow, from Inglewood, contributed several items, which were much appreciated, and tl:e thanks of the community must be extended to these gentlemen for the trouble taken in coming In such weather to add to the pleasure of the evening. Three of the school's "old girls" contributed the song "Back from Somerset." The singing of a couple of songs by Mlas M. Officer, who appeared for the first time fit Durham Road, was, to put it mildly, a perfect treat to the audience, who showed their appreciation in a marked manner. This young lady possesses a remarkably sweet voice, and 13, I understand, receiving tuition in regard to development. Mr. Joe Mischefski and Mr. Partridge, of Inglewood, contributed recitations of a character which greatly pleased the listeners. Mr. W. Dean rendered the song "Beware" in a manner which, so pleased the company that an encore waß demanded. I must not oralf to mention that the opening piece (a duet by the Misses Dombroski on tfce pianoforte) secured hearty appreciation. At the conclusion of the concert Mr. P. Hodges, chairman of the School Committee, distributed the following attendance certificates :—Du!cle, Phoebe, Eileen and Wm'. Goble, V. Dodunskl, H. Hayman, A. Johnston (full), K. Dombroski (full). After supper the room was cleared for dancing, the music for which was supplied by Miss B. Dombroski.