DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1921, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

G WALTOI-lOI—URENUI,

From Our Own Correspondent.) The Mimi school will be re-opened on Tuesday next, the 13th inst. Advantage is being taken of £he occasion of the school being closed to enlarge the concrete space round the building, used for the purpose of drilling the pupils. Quite an unusual spectacle in these parts was witnessed on Friday last, when a large line of black palled Angus cattle passed through, their destination being Messrs. McEldowney’s estate at Rerekapa. The mob comprised heifers, steers, and bulls, and were “all black” without a semblance of any other color being apparent. They were purchased in the Hawke’s Bay distirct, and are being tried somewhat as an experiment in Rerekapa. The Mimi river presented a most busy appearance on Sunday last, when quite a crowd of amateur fishermen were trying their luck at netting whitebait. . A large number of motor cars and lorries, besides horses and gigs, lined the main road, and one stranger wished to know where the football match was taking place. There was a large attendance of residents at the Mimi schoolroom on Friday evening, when Mr. A. H. Gould, of Waitara, delivered his customary fortnightly address. The children recited their beatitudes very creditably, and several hymns were sung during the evening, Miss Ethel Phillips presiding at the organ. Who will win the third test? is the question being asked just now by football enthusiasts and others, and ihe doings of New South Wales, who are having such a successful tour through the Dominion, are somewhat dwarfed by the interest taken in the big event of the season. Our popular mail bus proprietor, Charlie Johnston, with his usual business enterprise, is giving those who wish to witness the match a rare opportunity of doing so, as he proposes, should sufficient inducement offer, to leave Waitara -for Wellington on Friday, September 16th, returning on Sunday, the 18th. The fare ( £3) is most reasonable, and although the cows will prevent some from taking advantage of the opportunity who would otherwise have gone, no doubt there will be plenty of others who will be able to avail themselves of the chance of seeing one of the most important football contests ever played in New Zealand. The dairy season is now fairly started, and some twenty suppliers are bringing milk to the local factory, and there is a probability of several more coming in the near future, so that should ordinary weather conditions prevail, a record season may reasonably be anticipated. For the month of August there were some 115,383 lbs of milk supplied, and the average test was 3.89, there being 134 cheese and 791 lbs of butter manufactured. For the same period last season, 113,0001bs of milk were taken in, besides 25041bs of cream, the average test being exactly the same. Nothing definite has yet transpired as to the disposal of the season’s output, but there seems to be a general feeling that re- ! muneratiye offers will be forthcoming I shortly, and if consignment is decided upon, that the prices at Homo will be satisfactory.

Another large herd of cows will probably be supplying the North Taranaki Dairy Factory this season, as it is stated that' Mr. Bredds, of Urenui, has installed machines, and will be milking somewhere in the vicinity of one hundred cows.

Tennis promises to be most popular in Uruti during the coming season, the club being composed of players who take agreat interest in this summer pastime. Recently a strong working bee mustered at. the hall in that locality, and big improvements are being effected in the courts which adjoin the building. Last year some interesting matches were played with members of the Urenui Club, and greatly enjoyed by those taking part in them, and no doubt these will be only the forerunners of many similar contests. Cadets and territorials are reminded that Sergeant-Major Bell will be present in Urenui on Thursday and Friday next, for the purpose of putting them through a course of drill. In view of the rumored visit of Colonel W. J. Melville (pro* bably about the 21st). no doubt there will be a good muster, and every effort be made to make a creditable display before that officer. Those trainees who have been accustomed to wearing their service greatcoat during the ordinary course of their daily work, should note that the police have been instructed to take proceedings against offenders in this respect. There was a good number of local sports and others present at the North Taranaki Hunt Club’s Steeplechase meeting held in New Plymouth on Saturday last, and all report having had a most enjoyable day’s outing, and speak in high terms of the manner in which the arrangement? “were carried out. Even to those who do not speculate to any great extent, a day spent on the Taranaki Jockey Club’s picturesque cdur-'e, with its up-to-date appointments—to say nothing nf the close proximity of Pukekura Park—is a source of pleasure, and provides the opportunity of meeting old friends that would not otherwise occur. One of our punters, who generally goes nap on Husbandman’s stock, had the pleasure of collecting on Pretty Polly, and others also report bringing home a little foreign capital. TAHORA. (From. Our Own Correspondent.) On the evening of Friday, September 2, a farewell social was tendered to M’’. and Mrs. R. Hill and family. The social was got up by the settlers and Public Works employees at Tahora. The hall was tastefully decorated for the occasion and there was a large attendance.

During the evening Mrs. Hill was the recipient of a silver tea set, and Mr. Hill of a rug and fountain pen. In making the presentations, Mr. W. Holly spoke of the esteem in which Mr. Hill was held by the settlers, adding that his departure would be a loss to the district. k,r. C. Bunting, on behalf of the Public employees, said Mr. Hill had been an excellent boss and always did what he could for the comfort of the men. In a few appropriate words Mr. Hill replied on behalf of Mrs. Hill and family and himself. The evening was spent in dancing and social intercourse, Messrs. Joe Dickinson, P. Bunting, and C. Carter provided the music, and Mr. W. Holley acted as M.C.

Mr. Hill leaves on Monday to take up the position of overseer in connection with the Public Works at Kapuni. He has been associated with the Public WarkA ever since the railway for Txhora

left Stratford, and during nearly the whole of that period he Jias been overseer of the rear gang. He has taken part, in the building of every bridge from Stratford to the present terminus, and has always handed over the work to the satisfaction of the Department. Thousands of men have been under him and he has always done what he could in their interests.

Mr. Stringer takes Mr. Hill’s place as overseer of the Public Works at Tahora.

PUNGAREHU. (From Our Own Correspondent.) 1 The meeting arranged for Thursday, Ist ultimo, was duly held, nearly all the members of the committee attending. Owing to Messrs. Parker and Norris being otherwise engaged for the 16th, the date of the ball is uncertain. In fact, there is every probability of it not being held this season. It is hoped, however, that the concert will be given and perhaps a dance arranged for after it. Intending patrons are requested to watch for the advertisements in case the date of the function is altered. It is a pity that some members of the committee were of the opinion that the two functions could not be successfully run on the one evening. The cause is worth our best endeavors, and if we were in earnest about it, we surely could have made the combined functions a decided success. It is a pity that Mr. Editor and “Your Own” are disappointed at being obliged to disappoint the public who were looking forward to both with eagerness.

The local school broke up on August 26, when a short concert programme was given by the pupils. It is rather a pity the parents were not invited to be present, since they are, or ought to be, the most interested in the pleasures as well as the duties of the children, and their concert performances are always enjoyed by parents and friends. However, that the little folks are making the most of the holidays goes without saying, and groups of three or four boys playing football are to be seen near almost every home.

Writing of schools and children, one is led to wonder how it is that our school is never cateretl for on special occasions. When His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales came to New Plymouth, the children attending Pungarehu school were not provided with means of attending the ceremony and of seeing the Prince. Now the War Trophies are on exhibition it is the same old tale, those whom the parent? can take being the only ones fortunate enough to see the trophies, but as a school, we are out of it. Other schools are arranged for; why not ours? If we had no motor service we should not wonder, but as it is; nuff sed! The cold wintry conditions of the past few days have been hard on the cows, and there has been a decided drop in the milk supply. The rain which fell on Monday evening was needed as the tanks were reported to be getting low, but the cold snap has militated against the good it would otherwise have done the grass. A little incident of how farmers make the fortune the working classes so often credit them with, happened at the last stock sale at Rahotu, when a cow which two years ago was purchased by a farmer for £l6, was sold for 13s 6tl. She was bought for a milker with others, but proved useless as such. Yearling calves, which have swallowed anything from 20.? to 25s worth of new milk, and nearly as much value in calfmeal, and which were topped off on turnips, am. were in good condition, realised for their owner, sixteen’ whole shillings, less commission. Are we downhearted? No. But true it is however, that “Fortune’s always hiding,” especially at the stock sales. The usual/ fortnightly visit of Ser-geant-Major Bell on Tuesday last, for drill at Rahotu,’was attended by a good number ot recruits, who are anxiously looking forward to the “uniform” of the troopers being sent out, Rahotu and the surrounding districts providing a squad of between forty and fifty mounted men, and it is expected they will be sent to Trentham early next year for further instruction.

The Parihaka-Pungarehu football team are holding good practices, and have challenged the Rahotu team to a contest, which, I believe, will be played at Rahotu on Saturday, 10th. There is some talk of making a small charge for admission to the field, and I hear the takings are to he devoted to the Memorial Fund. Good on the boys! They are proving their worth now. as they did in 1914-1918. A few of the team are sol-dier-settlers.

A good number of racing enthusiasts went from Pungarehu to the Hunt Club’s Steeplechase meeting on Saturday last, and while a few wins are reported, there were some who came back wiser and sadder men. Even those who struck a dividend have the grim satisfaction of knowing that some other fellow Ibst, and who knows but that some mother’s bairn was needing it. This is a funny old life after all, and we are most of us, slaves to Self; with even the best of us, Self comes first. Service was held at the Roman Catholic Church on Sunday morning, the usual big congregation attending. The Rev. C Aker was present for divine service at the Methodist Church in the afternoon, but T believe, owinf to sickness among the church adherents, no service was held. ’J'he friends here of the late Mr. Martin Riordan, who recently left Hurforu Road to live in New Plymouth, received quite a shock when his sudden death was known. Mr. Riordan was a white man” in every sense of the word, and to his bereaved wife and family we extend our deepest sympathy.