DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1921, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

MOKAU-AWAKINO. (From Our Own Correspondent.) * Our Mokau butter factory Is nearing completion and is most up;to-date, reflecting the greatest .credit on Mr. Mclntosh, the overseer, and his capable band workmen. Next season we hope to see an output of as excellent an article in the shape of butter as has ever been placed on any market. Great things are hoped, for by our settlers from the visit of Messrs. Guthrie and Coates, M.P.'s, to our district, and we believe they now see the real necessity for giving us good roads and bridging our river. We have had very heavy tourist traffic this year, and there is no doubt that were travelling made easier it would be still heavier. There is some promise of Mokau coming into its own and being recognised as an ideal summer seaside resort. The settlers up our river are progressive and energetic men, and the sections they have taken up are bearing witness to that fact. Improvements, such as house-building, fencing, clearing, etc., are being extensively carried out. Mr. E’rnest Paynter was married to Miss Lottie Bainbridge on March 9, and they are now at home at "Teripoto” to receive tte congratulations of their many friends. Mrs. W. D. Thomson and Miss Nora Thomson are visiting friends in the south. Mrs. Trevor Badley, with her little son, is visiting her sister-in-law, Mrs. J. McNeice, of Awakino.

It is with regret we note the departure from the district of Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Eignell. We believe it ig on account of their children’s health that they have left. They will be very much missed by all. It is reported that Mr. Geo. McMullan has purchased Mr. P. Howard’s farm at Awakino. Air. Harold Philpott, of Wellington, is visiting his mother, Airs. S. Whitehead, of Mokau. Air. Wilfred Smith, of the Awakino Post Office staff, has been transferred to Stratford. Mr. Smith, who was very popular amongst the settlers, and more especially amongst the telephone subscribers, was presented with a well-lined purse on his departure. The energetic secretaries of our Collie Club, ftlessrs. G. AlcMullan and K. Black, have reason to be proud of the success which hits crowned their strenuous efforts re this .year’s meeting, and of the remarks passed on the prosperous-outlook of their club by the genial judge, Mr. Broad, who strongly urges them to "carry on.”

'lt is to be hoped that the present slump in prices of stock and wool will not long continue, and one shall soon again see our farmers smiling their aforetime sunny smiles, and our roads again looking busy with choice fats on their way to the different works. Messrs. Ballantyne and Guffen, inspectors, have been at the Mokau School lately, and we trust that they have recognised the great need of either enlarging our present school or building a new one, as for sanitary reasons it is quite inadequate for the proper accomodation of the 42 pupils attending. There arfe rumors of a company being formed to work our coal mines. It is to Le hoped that such is the truth, for it is a shame for such a lot of splendid household coal to be lying idle, while there is such need of it in our towns and cities. AWAKINO. COLLIE CLUB FUNCTIONS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The Awakino Collie Club’s functions were again a great success. The first day of the trials was rather showery, but the second was favored with a glorious sunshine. As the results of the different events have already been chronicled in . your valuable paper, I will go on to the social functions. e A. concert was held on Tuesday night, and Messrs. MdGregor, and Ennis, the energetic organisers, are to be congratulated on the great success of their efforts. During the evening a presentation was made to Air. Charlie Cross, who for many years has most generously given his services as librarian and secretary to our library. Air. J. MoNelce, on behalf of the people of the district, presented Mr. Cross with' a handsome dressing case, and ‘Tor He's a Jolly Good Fellow” was sung with hearty enthusiasm. ' The programme opened with an overture by Air. Harold Philpott, and then followed a song by Airs. Northern junr. This was deservedly encored, as was also the vocal duet by Mesdames McNelce and Miss Kathleen Thomson. After this came a song

by Mr. Gibson, who, on a vociferous recall, gave a rollicking sea ditty. Then came one of the gems of the evening, a double Irish jig, splendidly danced by Messrs. Roddie McRae and son. Loud applause followed, in response to which the item was repeated. Mr. Crane then gave "Where the Blue-eyed Marys Grow” (encored). The flute solo, by Mr Northern sent., was an item which gave great pleasure, that being an instrument seldom, If ever, heard in our district. Mrs. McGregor sang and was heartily encored, and Mr. Fred. Wardell followed with one of his Inimitable comics, /which brought applause, to which he responded with "We All Went Marching Home A& air l;”. -/■ an t interval Mr. J. Louisson opened the second’ part of the programme with a pianoforte solo, Miss Kathleen Thomson, who ;had to respond to a hearty re-call, gave a very pretty song; The Highland Fling, danced by Air. Rod Ascßae was a treat, and another song by Mr. Northern junr. delighted the audience and brought an encore. Airs. Christofferson’s musical sketch "Localisms,” fairly brought down the house. The quartette "Sweet and Low,” was sweetly sung by Mesdames McNeJce and McGregor and Messrs. McGregor and Northern. ThiA had to be fer peated. Air. Crane then sang that pretty little ballad, "Sweet Adeline,” he and Mrs. Crane harmonising the chorus. Our programme finished with "A Wee Doch and Doris,” by Mr. Rod Mcßae and company. ’ Altpge.ther it was a most enjoyable and' successful' ’.oncert. z. :«. < THE ANNUAL BALL;

On the Wednesday evening the Awakino Collie Club’s annual ball was held, and was an immense success, the hall -being - packed with a happy crowd of dancers who al! agreed that it was one of the most enjoyable functions of the year. A dainty supper was provided, and excellent music was supplied "by Mesdames McNelce and Chrlstofferson, and Messrs. Northern and son and J. Loiiissoh. The ladies present were: Mrs. W. Kelly, in a handsome blue crepe-de-chine; Mrs. Geo. Bignell, vieux rose crepe-de-chine; Mrs. AlcNeice, black net over black silk; Mrs. Howard, black satin; Airs. E. Paynter, grey silk; Mrs. AlcGregor, blue net over blue silk; Mrs. Northern, black skirt, white silk blouse; Mrs. L. Leech, cream lace over cream silk; Mrs. N. Clifton, cream henriette; Mrs. Cummings, grey silk; Mrs. Bryant, fuji silk; Mrs. Wolfe, grey; Airs. Terril, grey silk; Airs. A. Sole, green voile with overdress of green spangled ninon ; Airs. Hansen, black silk; Mrs. E. Sampson, cream georgette; Mrs. S. Erickson, blue silk; Mrs. T. Badley, cream slk net; Mrs. B. Ratten bury, black skirt, wl/te silk blouse; Mrs. R. Battley, black skirt, rose crepe-de-chine blouse; Mrs. Christofferson, grey; the Alleses Billing, wlilte voile; Jeanne Stewart, cream henrietta; W. Chapman, green ninon over green crepe-de-chine; Orr, blue silk with white blouse; K. Thomson, pink satin; Al. Black, white silk; E. McDonnell, black georgette; A. Black, blue and white silk; Miss Waring, rose crepe-de-chine; Alias H. Webb, white siik net; Miss E. Webb, white silk net; Afiss L. Webb, white silk net ; Alias Coleman, black silk skirt green georgette ■bodice; Miss /Potter, black silk; Miss Molly Potter, floral 1 voile; Miss Murray, striped voile; H. Rogers, pink voile; Mias Mead, navy blue silk; J. Randal, pink net; Eileen Randal,' heliotrope voile; M. Rattenbury, grey skirt, white georgette blouse; Alias Old, check skirt, white silk blouse; Jean Galvin, pale blue crepe; Emma Lake, grey silk; Ate Hamaki, black silk skirt, tussore silk blouse; Moses, grey costume.