DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1921, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

RAHOTU. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Sunday being an. ideal day here, the school grounds were crowded with people, Including many from surrounding districts, to hear the New Plymouth Band. The performance was much enjoyed. Afternoon tea was provided for the band by some of the local ladies, and Mr. Chapman congratulated the band and thanked them for tbe visit, expressing the hope that they would make a yearly thing of it. Mr. Sole and the bandmaster responded. On Anzac Day, a combined service was held at the hall. Mr. Gibson presided. The singing of the National Anthem by the choir and congregation opened the service. Rev. Harkness then led the prayer, Mr. Wright and Mr. Parker reading the lessons. The address by Rev. Harkness was very much appreciated by all, he being a very’ fluent, impressive speaker. Rev. Willcox, a Maori missionary, gave a prayer in Maori. Several appropriate hymns were sung, and the choir sang "Lest We Forget.”. A quartette, "Lead Kindly Light,” was sung very feelingly by Mrs. M. Hughson, Miss J. Maclean, Messrs. Bell and Mr. Hughson.. Miss Hughson presided at the organ, and at the close of the service played the "Dead March in Saul,” all standing with bowed heads in memory of the departed. Rev. Harkness pronounced the Benediction, and a beautiful service was broudU-ip a conclusion. The''school committee elected for the coming year weYe: —•Messrs. Buttler (chairman), Hodson, Tyrrell, Waswo and Andrews. Mr. Chapman, who had been chairman for so long, iVsigned. Next Saturday will be the last day of the bowling season. The green is to be closed and top-dressed. A big crowd attended the dance held in aid of the Hibernian Carnival Queen, and should result in a large contribution to her votes. The local footballers are holding a dance shortly. The annual meeting in connection with the hr.ll was held recently, and the following were appointed a committee Messrs. T. P. Hughson, L. Fischer, L. Billings, J. Williamson, .1. Schincklc, A. Milin and J. Hunter. Deep regret was felt when it was known that Mr. N. Pownall, of our local gardens, had passed away at the New Plymouth Hospital, after a short but severe illness. PUNGAREHU. (From Our Own Correspondent.) After the rains of (he previous week the pastures in the coastal districts are now showing up much fresher. These rains, followed by the necessary warm weather, have no doubt proved very, beneficial to the growth of both grasses and root crops. There should be plenty of good grass for winter in most places if present weather conditions prevail for a time before frosts come along. Many coastal farmers have taken the necessary trouble to provide winter feed for their stock through the cold months. Two or three fawns are likely to change hands soon around these parts. Outsiders are beginning to realise the possibilities of the coastal country for rearing dairy stock. A very enjoyable time was spent in the Warea Hall on Thursday evening, the 21st, the occasion being the hall committee's fort- ’ nightly dance. There was a good attendance, the floor was in good order and everything went off well, 'the music was supplied by Parker’s orchestra, and Mr. M. Parker was MC. The customary supper was passed round during an interval. A social and dance was held in the Newall Road school on Friday night, the 22nd, the proceeds of which are being devoted towards the childrens’ picnic fund. The music, which

was provided by several of those present, the ;'.-.or and the supper left nothing io be desired. A dance and euchre is advertised to,take ■ dace at the Puniho School on Friday night next, the 29th hist, commencing at 8 o’clock. Prizes are to be given for the winners at euchre. The social and dance held by the supporters of the Hibernian Queen Candidate (Miss E. Callagan) In the Rahotu Hall on Friday evening was a conspicuous success, over sixty couples being present. Mr. V. Hickey’s orchestra provided the music in the early paft of the evening. Mr. Parker’s orchestra supplying the music for the remainder" of the dances, which contributed very much to the success of the social. The M C.’s, Messrs. H. Gilhooly and R. Fleming, were most, attentive to the visitors. Extra? were contributed by Mrs. D. Quickenden and Mr. E. Barratt, Miss Rowlands giving the greatest pleasure to the company present with her song (Eileen Allanah), for which she received a pronounced encore. During the evening a very enjoyable supper was handed round, and reflected every credit on the ladies’ committee, who were prominent in rendering invaluable assistance towards susews e£ the evening. JUnohw

was continued pleasantly until an early hour next morning, the function being considered the most successful one to date.

The officials of the Rahotu Football Club have decided to hold their opening social and dance on Friday evening, May 6, particulars of which will be advertised in the Daily News. Pungarehu residents were well represented at the Rahotu school grounds on Sunday last, when the New Plymouth Citizens’ Band rendered an excellent programme of music, their playing being favorably commented upon. The shooting season in the Taranaki Acclimatisation Society’s district opens next Sunday, May 1. Sportsmen are looking forward to a tiime, as several localities report a fair number of pheasants and quail. Our soldier settlers are. already making rapid progress with their new homes. A number of houses are at present in various stages of construction. It is understood that all are going in' for dairying. There have been some exceptionally fine lines of fat bullocks passing through on’ their way to the works recently and their condition speaks well for the grazing quality of the back country.

Cattle are still keeping up in condition, but the milk supply is fast dwindling, this being much more noticeable than is usually the case at this time of the year. Everything is pointing to a much shorter season than usual, and in some cases local farmers are starting to. milk the cows once a day, whilst others are only supplying the factory every other day.

Never have conditions been so favorable or the outlook for new industries so promising as at the present time, especially in connection with manufacturing the by-product from the primary industries. An instance in point is the woollen industry. Wool is the important product of the Dominion. Times have changed and so must our methods if the burdens of the war, direct and indirect, are to be borne without undue stress. Nearly every prosperous district in the country, it is said, has the nucleus of materials for secondary industries. The Taranaki farmers have well equipped fiieat, killing and freezing works at Smart Road, the site, I believe, being particularly adapted for wool-scouring and tanning leather. Why not add a woollen mill, a tannery and candle factory? This development and expansion of secondary industries would teip to a large. extent to solve some of the problems facing the country, and would afford employment for large numbers of those people that are shortly expected te settle in the Dominion.