DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1921, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

MANGATOKI. (From Our Own Correspondent.) We learn that Mr. Flannigan has hold his farm to Mr. W. Bublitz, of Rotokare, who takes possession in July next. Though we are always ready to welcome new residents, we do not like parting with the old friends. Mr. and Mrs. Flannigan have been very •popular during the years they have lived in Mangatokl. Our local bodies hav£ been busy the last few weeks. The school grounds have been put in order for the winter, grass seed sown, hedges moved, etc. The Hall Committee have just finished lining the social room at the back of the hall. This is a very great improvement, and will make things much more comfortable for those who prefer cards or other amusements to dancing.

Mangatoki is noted for Its social evenings during the winter/- The first of these wit take -.place on A/fil 7 after the local sports We are sorry to hear that Mr. R. Parrel has been indisposed for the last week, and hope he will soon be himself again. In the Trinity College of Music theory examination held in Stratford last December, Frances Innes was successful in passing the junior division with 95 marks and honors. She is a pupil of Miss Pryce, of Mahoe. A second wave of measles is passing over here just now. It is pleasing to think the weather treated us kindly for the Easter holidays. Ngaere Gardens were well patronised, whilst a great many of our people journeyed to New Plymouth.

URENUI AND WAI-TOI-TOI. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The Urenui School is at present closed owing to the prevalence of measles in the district. Mr. Roydhouse», the North Taranaki Education Board’s drill instructor, visited the Mimi School on Wednesday last, and the pupils were put through the usual course of elementary drill. Master Ralph Darke, of Okoke, is still v iu the New Plymouth Hospital suffering from pneumonia, but is progressing slowly towards recovery.

The Ati Awa troop of Frontiersmen held their ordinary monthly meeting at Urenui on Saturday evening last. Troop Leader Jas. Ross presiding. Several new members were elected, and a cordial invitation was received from the North Taranaki troop to attend their annual dinner, which Is to be held at Waitara on the evening of April 7. The recent rains have made mushrooms more plentiful, and quite a number of gatherers of this delicacy have been in the district filling their baskets in the various paddocks adjoining the main road.

There have been a fair number of showers during the past week, and though we could do witli considerably more rain, that which has plready fallen is making Itself apparent in the greener tinge which' is noticeable in the pasture paddocks, and those of newly-sown grass and oats. The swedes are also benefiting greatly by the moisture, and should now come away rlpidly. A visitor from the back country states that there lias been considerably more rain inland than lias been experienced on the coast, and that feed is much more plentiful than is the case here. It Is questionable whether the cows will increase in their present low supply of milk to any great extent, but a growthf in the grass now will enable them to get titrough the winter better than otherwise would have been the ease, and be in a condition to fill the milk pails when spring comes round again.

A great deal has been written about the advantages of close farming and feeding the cows on a. succession of green crops, and many striking averages shovfa per cow as a result; but there are still many farmers who maintain that when the cost of these crops is reckoned up it is an open question if the same money spent in judicious top-dres-sing does not give equally good returns, more especially in the case of fair-sized herds and country that is not too well adapted f.plough.

On Tuesday last a wedding, took place at Mr. D. Hammon’s residence in the Okoke, the interested parties being Miss D. I. Hamj mon and Mr. F. M. McGregor, son of Mr. J. I McGregor, of Hillsborough. Mr. Gould, of I Waitara, conducted the ceremony, .Mr. G. McGregor officiating as best man and Miss Phyllis Hammon as bridesmaid. The bride was most charmingly dressed in crepe-de-chlne, and was given away by her father, Mr. D. Hammon, whilst the'' bridesmaid was tastefully attired in cream voile. The bridei groom’s gift to the bride and bridesmaid was i a handsome gold brooch each. The former ' was also the recipient of a large number ■ of valuable presents. After the ceremony a large number of delations of the bride and bridegroom sat down to a most excellent wedding breakfast provided by the hostess, Mrs. Hammon, and was accorded full justice. A large number of toasts were proposed and duly honored, and shortly after the happy couple departed for New Plymouth per motor-car, amidst showers of rice and good wishes from those present. After spending a few days in town, Mi-, and Mrs. McGregor returned to their home in Okau. A motor accident which might have been attended with very serious results, took place on Tuesday last on the unaln road to New Plymouth. It appears Mr. J. McGregor, of Hillsborough, accompanied by Mrs. and the Misses McGregor, were journeying to Okoke to attend the wedding of Mr. F. M. McGregor, when after crossing the Walau bride and ascending the hill the car « owing to some defect in the steering cap- ' sized just round the sharp bend ttn(i went I over the bank. Mil. MsGi-sgor .«.*»

under the car and received some nasty bruises and a slight cut on the face, whilst the other occupants miraculously escaped with a shaking. The party were able to proceed to Urenui by means of other cars, and from there were conveyed to Okoke, and arrived in time for the ceremony. The damaged car was righted and taken to New Plymouth for repairs.

It is understood that a start has been made with the necessary earthwork on the Okoke road, in view of metalling the seven chains that is required to complete the road to the Piko junction. Some little time ago Messrs. Darke and Whittaker offered to find the necessary £2OO till such time as the money was available-from the Government, in order that the work might be proceeded with at once and completed before the winter sets in. It is ,to be hoped their enterprise will be re-' wardect/ as those using the road can test!-’ fy to the urgent necessity for metal.