DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1921, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

WAITOITOI-URENUI. (From. Our Own Correspondent.) On Monday evening last a very successful social evening was spent in the Mimi schoolroom, visitors befng present from Urenui and Pukearuhe. Mr. A. Ross worked hard as M.C. to make the function enjoyable, and Messrs. Rikiana and S. Johnson are to be com--illmented upon the manner in which they :; layed the accordeon for the danoe music. : hiring the evening the Maori lad Walker sangi ytnd added in no smb|l measure to the success jot the gathering, and was deservedly applauded £<• c hi s effort. An enjoyable supper was Igroviuft,; py t he committee, and appreciated ; .<y those present. Uruti is losing the services of Nurse Fenn, whose resignation was received at the last meet'ng of the Hospital Board. Miss Fenu uas made many friends during her residence in that dislric* and will be greatly missed. At the usual monthly meeting of the Wa!toitoi Dairy Company on Thursday last, is was decided to close down the factory for the winter at the end of the present month. Two more contracts for firewood were let, and in view of the still probable shortage of coal supply, it is more than likely it will all be needed. The directors have in contemplaion various improvements to be carried out hiring the period the factory is not running, i the tiling of the whey sump being the most i important.

The immense advantages derived by New Plymouth and the surrounding country by a direct Home liner service to that port, was exemplified in a small way in our own district recently, when it was reported by the secretary of the local cheese factory that the indents for next season's supplies had been received, and through the goods coming direct to New Plymouth a considerable saving would be effected to the company. This is only a small item, but it serves to show how the interests of both town and country are identical, and in supporting any movement for the advancement of the port we are really helping ourselves as well. It is hoped that if the demolition of Paritutu will in any way assist the Harbor Board in its progressive programme of improvements to the port—much as its loss will be regretted as an historical landmark—no obstacle will be placed in their way for carrying it out, as they have a pretty hard row to hoe in the matter of finance, without other troubles.

The Urenui Ladies’ Guild has generally a crowded house when they make an appeal to the public for support, and the social held in the Urenui Hall on Thursday evening last was no exception to the rule. Visitors were present from most of the outlying aistricts. including the Rev. Gavtn, from Waitara, and they were rewarded by a most enjoyable evening. The programme consisted of a number of musical selections, interspersed with dancing, whilst those who did not indulge in the latter were enabled to pass away a pleasant hour or so with cards. Several guessing competitions were held, and the prizes were well worth winning, whilst Mesdames R. H. Pigott, P. Eliott, and C. Wilson did good business with the produce stall, and worked hard to effect a clearance of the useful articles with which it was filled. During the evening songs were contributed by the Misses Purchas and Smith, Messrs. C. Smith and D. Des Forges—all favorites with the audience were deservedly applauded. A duet by Mr. Rumbal and Z. Sheard also received well merited applause . Mention must also be made of the Kaipikari orchestra, under the leadership of Mr. Newton, who rendered several Items in their usual finished manner. Mr. G. Fuller had a busy time as M.C., and worked hard in the interests of the gathering. Miss A. Terrill supplied the necessary dance music very creditably, extras being also well played by Mrs. A. Thompson and Mr. Newton. The ladies have every reason to feel gratified with the result of their efforts, more especially as a substantial increase to the funds of the English church will result. The note of warning conveyed by the Tara-, naki Education Board to those who use the public schools in their various districts for the purposes of social entertainments, should not be neglected. Those who live in the towns and have various forms- of amusements practically every evening in the week if they feel so inclined, can scarcely appreciate to its full extent the, pleasure an evening’s dancing or cards afforts to those who reside in the backblocks, where there is very little to vary the monotony beyond the arrival of the daily od weekly paper. The board no doubt recognise this also, and have always met the wighes of the settlers in this matter, and even now feel reluctant to take any steps which would deprive those desirous of using the buildings of this pleasure, but as they are only trustees of the property, and are in a sense responsible to the department for its care, they are only right in their request that the furniture, etc., should be properly looked after. No doubt in the majority of cases every precaution is taken, but instances have been known where a little more care might have been exercised, and it would be a great pity if all were to suffer for the probably unintentional nbglect of a few.

PUNGAREHU. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The weather conditions of late have been very cold, and winter appears to have set in rather early. This wintry turn has had a depressing effect upon the coastal farmers, and further assisted dairy cows towards the close season. The prices at the latest stock sales on the coast were much the same as those rated at previous sales. There are still some fine “fats” to be seen going out from the coast to the different works. Cement is now fairly plentiful at present, several jobs which have been held up lately owing to the scarcity have been recommenced. Further changes in the ownership of coastal farms are imminent. Mr. Harding,’ an old and highly respected settler of Puniho, has decided to retire from fanm life, and will shortly take up his residence In New Plymouth.

The members of the Puniho Anglican Church gave a welcome social to the Rev. H. A. Coleman and Mrs. Coleman, the new Anglican minister on Saturday afternoon, 14th Inst. Mr. Pearson, who occupied the chair, in a neat little speech, extended a very hearty welcome on behalf of the church to Dlr. Coleman, who, in the course of his reply, expressed his approbation of the welcome to them. There was a good attendance, and an enjoyable afternoon was spent. At the conclusion afternoon tea was provided by the ladies.

A very enjoyable time was spent in the Puniho school room on Friday, 13th inst., when a social and dance was held iti aid of the new Anglican Church. The night was fine, but cold, and dancing was continued most pleasantly until the early hours of the morning. Mr. Pearson provided the music for the dance, assisted by Messrs. M. and H. Payne with' extras. Mrs. Briscoe favored the gathering with a song, having to respond again to a pronounced encore. Mr. E. B. Cooke acted as M.C. in his usual capable manner, and Mesdames Cooke and Bell supervised the supper arrangements. The usual fortnightly social and dance in the Hempton Hall, Okato, takes place on the 24th inst. Dancing will be kept up from 8 p.m. till 1.30 a.m., to music supplied by Parker's orchestra. The senior football matches played so far show' that football in the Northern division has reached a high order, and is the test season for many years. There is plenty of good material for representative teams. The North versus South matches should be a big draw. Skim milk, casein, free-market, the bacon industry, and now dried milk, are the main topics interesting dairy farmers on the coast just now. Owing to the almost prohibitive prices of fencing material, hedge planting has became quite the order along our coast. Every season sees a few more old wire fences that have more than served tlreir time done away with. Tree planting is a matter which might also with profit be carried on extensively, as it is only a question of time when firewood w.'ll be as hard to procure as coaJ is at present. It is very cheering to learn that more timber is being cut in New Zealand to-day than ever before and that before long the housing shortage will come to an end. Pinus insignus as a building timber is rapidly finding favor. Some pinus insignus put in houses over twenty years ago has been

found in excellent conditoin when examined. Enquiries .on a large scale are at present being made ; for dairy cows and good heifers by those farmers augmenting tteir herds and others launching out on their own in the coming season. The death occurred on Tuesday, May 17th., of Mrs. Mary Catherine Bell, wife of Mr. Robert Bell, at the age of 34 years, at her home in Pungarehu. The funeral took place on Thursday last, the interment being made at the Te Henul cemetery. The bereaved have received the sympathy of a wide circle of friends. Quite a largeg number of outside sportsmen have visited the back country this past week. The bags secured were on the average fairly small.