DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 February 1921, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

PUNGAREHU. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The local school re-assembled this week after the summer holidays with a very good attendance. The head teacher (Miss A. I. Mackay), who has been away on a holiday trip to the South Island, returned to Pungarehu on Saturday last. With the school picnics close at hand the suggestion has again been made that a combined picnic of the four following schools— Oaonui, Rahotu, Pungarehu and Warea—be held, in place of the usual individual ones, each locality being visited in turn year by year in the above order. The combining of schools in other localities for their picnic has been tried with success. If such an intention were notified early amongst the school committees and teachers it would probably be the means of drawing those schools together for this purpose, as they would not trouble with individual picnics with! a large one In view. It would also be a good idea if a regular programme of sports events were drawn up, and a championship race Included for a cup or some other trophy, which could be held by the winning sdhool from year to year. This would give the young people something to train for and look forward to.

There has been a noticeable decline in the milk yield in the coastal districts this last few weeks. The fanners have experienced probably the best season they ever had and this is attributed to several reasons. First there has been a steady Improvement in the farming methods employed, and the country is in better heart than it has ever been before In the spring there was a plentiful rainfall and this with judicious top-dressing caused pasture to come away in a manner seldom seen. There have been phenomenal crops of hay on the coast, all the principal grasses have done well, and the quantity of feed that will be available during the, coming winter will be ample. An envious po’lnt noted by a settler is that although feed has been very plentiful lately, it has not caused an Increase in the price of cattle. He pointed to a number of calves at the Rahotu sale on Friday, January 28, and remarked that they had only brought their owner a sum much below the actual cost of rearing them. Prices for all classes of cattle have not been as good for some time past as many farmers would wish. Farmers who have gone in for pigs and have been feeding them up to get them fit for market are disappointed at the sharp drop in prices. The property business Is also rather quiet along the coast at the present time, and Iftnd agents are finding It much more difficult to dispose of farms than was the case some time ago. This is in a measure attributed to the low price of wool on the one hand, and also to the fears of a drop in the butter and cheese prices at the termination of the control period. A successful social and dance was held In tte Puniho School Room on Friday evening, January 28th. Visitors from surrounding districts were present, a most enjoyable evening being spent by all. Excellent music was supplied by Miss Pearson. The promoters are to be complimented for the success of the social. A social and dance in aid of Hall Funds was held in the Warea Hall on Tuesday evening last, and financially the best expectations were more than realised. A general exodus of racing enthusiasts took place from the coast on Wednesday to witness the opening day of the Taranaki .TocW Club's meeting at New Plymouth, more especially as some of the best horses in New Zealand were engaged, making the racing particularly attractive. Parihaka, the Maori settlement In the vicinity of Pungarehu, has proved a very popular place during the past few months, and has been visited by a large number of people. Mr. H. Tynan, of the factory staff, is recovering from his recent accident, but is not yet able to resume duty as Ist assistant.