DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1921, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

JTARIKL

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

A Very enjoyable evening was spent on Friday, the 10th inst., at the residence of Mr. Amp. Long, on the Tariki Road. Despite the wet night about 40 friends met to farewell Mrs. Long senr. and Mr. Tom Long, who has sold his farm and is leaving to reside in New Plymouth. Those present indulged in dancing, excellent music for which was supplied by Mr. Reid, of Croydon Road, while the non-dancers passed the time with cards and ping-pong. Selections on Mr. Wilden’s zonophone were much appreciated, as were also the songs and monologues rendered by Mr. F. and E. Barry, Mr. Les. Loveridge, and a recitation by Mr. McLean. After supper, Mr. C. Therkleson, in a few well chosen, words, voiced the feelings of all present, and to show the popularity of the departing guests, handed Mrs. Long a handsome hand-bag, and Mr. Long a tobacco pouch, silver cigarette roller and cigarette holder. Mr. Tom Long suitably responded, and after all present had joined in singing “For They are Jolly Good Fellows,” the floor was again cleared for dancing. Towards morning the function was brought to a successful end by all joining in singing “Auld Lang Syne,” three hearty cheers were given and all left for home feeling very happy, but sorry to part with such esteemed neighbors. We all hope that Mrs. Long’s health will be much improved by the change of climate.

WAI-TOI-TOI—URENUI. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Some two or three months ago when Mr. Uren, of the State Forest Department, was through this district it was intimated that a qualified expert would be sent round to deliver a series of lectures on tree-planting and other matters connected with forestry. It is understood that during next month Mr. Page will visit the various centres in this locality for this purpose, and no doubt fanners and others will await his arrival with interest. The matter of replenishing the fast-decreasing supply of timber and firewood is a most important one, and the department are pursuing a vigorous policy in this respect, and are giving every encouragement to farmers in the matter of the supply of suitable trees for planting. Most farms have a rough piece of fern land that is of not much use for grazing, and these could be put to a very practical use in the matter of plantations, and in a few years would prove a most valuable asset. There are also many Native sections that are now growing nothing else but furze and blackberry, and if these were acquired and utilised for timber growing, a most useful purpose would be served. Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Pigott are at present on a visit to Te Kuiti, where they are staying with friends. Mr. Pigott is engaged on land valuation business In the Mokau block.

Tennis promises to become very popular during the coming season in this district, and besides the public court on the recreation ground a number of private ones have been formed, one of the latest to be completed being an asphalt court at Mr. R. H. Pigott’s residence in Urenui. A working-bee is shortly to be formed for the purpose of attending to the cricket pitch on the recreation ground in Urenui. and the annual meeting of members of the clubs will soon be held.

The local athletic club is appointing Mr. H. Nuttall to represent them at the athletic and cycling conference to be held in Eltham on Septamber 22. It is probable that a meeting of the Urenui Athletic Club will be held shortly, when the balance-sheet, which shows a most respectable credit balance, will be presented.

Boxing is at present very popular m Urenui, and during last week some very interesting bouts were held in the Town Hall, several of the contestants showing promise of .becoming future Dempseys. It is understood that there is every probability of a club being formed in the •future,* and should this be so, no doubt it would soon have a large membership. The Urenui Ladies’ Guild intend holding a social and dance in the Urenui Hall on Thursday evening nex-t, in aid of the Anglican Church funds. The committee are using every effort to make the affair as successful as its predecessors, ana no doubt given a fine evening there will be a large attendance of the public. The visit of Colonel Melville to Urenui during this week for the purpose of inspecting the cadets and mounted troopers is being looked forward to with interest, and no doubt there will be a large muster on the occasion. The Ati Awa troop of the Legion of Frontiersmen are also joining in the parade. Miss C. M. Musker, of Wai-toi-toi, who for the past few months has been in charge of the Okoke school, has been appointed assistant mistress of the Urenui school in place of Miss Dempster, who has held the position for a considerable period. Mrs. M. R. Bush takes charge of the Pukearuhe school shortly, as sole teacher. It is to be hoped that the protest entered by the Taranaki Education Board against* the proposed reduction nf the number of organising teachers in the district will be taken notice of by the Department. As regards this locality, it might be mentioned that excellent work has been done by Mr. McKinney, who is stationed at Urenui. in the various schools under his charge, and his services are of great benefit to the teachers as well as the pupils. From a private letter received by a resident in this district from a friend .’n England, it is reported that consumers have been paying at the rate of od per oz. for New Zealand butter. There is a fairly wide margin between 8s lb and the price received by the Dominion farmers and someone must be reaping a pretty decent profit. The warm rains experienced during the past week have been just what was required, and will be of immeasurable benefit to both crops and pastures. The Grass is coming away rapidly, and an Tncrease in the milk supply wil! no doubt be noticeable. Red water is still most prevalent in the district, and in two or three instances cows have died through this cause. There is a big demand just now for yearling heifers with the Jersey strain in them, and for good lines up to £l2 is obtainable. It is needless to say that all this seasons heifer calves of that description aie being kept, and it will pay handsomely to give them a good start with new milk.

MOKAU-AWAKINO.

(From Our Own Correspond

The warm spring rains are making all our farmers smile at the prospect 0 plenteous pasturage for their stock, which is very necessary now so many cows are coming in. , Our dairy factory is running well, an. ffwKr the capable hands of Ba won.

th© manager, is turning out some firstclass butter. The suppliers are many aud. various, and the cows milking are well in the vicinity of 400, with promiseof. still more to come in. Messrs Chambers Bros., per Mr. Em. Sampson, are sending the most cream so far, but our other up-river suppliers are doing excellently. In regard to a brand for the butter manufactured here, I see a “white horse,” is proposed, but don’t you fancy rather a “black cow,” as being more typical, seeing that the good old bovine supplies the cream and Mr. Dug “Black” is chairman of directors.

Mr. Eric Lewes is the successful tenderer for the carriage of the cream from the settlers up the Mokau, and delivers same in good order and condition every alternate day. Mr. Lewes is one of the boys who fought for us in the “Great War,” and who has lately purchased a launch for traffic on our river. The launch had a narrow escape irom “drowning” the other week. Mr. Lewes, who had loaded her up with shingle for Messrs. Chambers Bros., left her, as he thought, safely moored at our wharf for the night. Imagine his feelings, when, on going down to board her in the morning, he found her lying 14 -feet below. With the rising of the tide, she had somehow managed to get some vital part under a girder projecting from the wharf, and so became submerged. However, with willing aid the gallant little “Sefton” was soon raised.

Another of our launches came to grief on Friday last, when one belonging to Mr. McKeown, one of our progressive settlers up the river, sank alongside Mr. Radford’s wharf. Neither Captain., crew, nor passengers were aboard at the time, and -she was successfully raised again after some 24 hours.

The fine weather has made such an improvement in our roads that the mail car is running now, instead of the coach, and the horses are having a well-earned “spell.” The sand on the other side of the river, from the road to the punt landing, is being covered with clay, which will prove very beneficial to cars coming on or off the punt. That part o-f the road has long been a trouble to the motorist who passed this way, for the car has often stuck in the heavy sand, and horses or oxen have been in demand to “haul her out.” Preparations are going on apace, for the placing of an engine on the punt, which will also be a boon, though not so great a one, as the promised bridge. A dance was held in the Awakino Hall on Saturday, Sept. 10th, in aid of the local Tennis Club. The engagements were in the capable hands of Mesdatnes McNeice and Avery, and Messrs. NcNeice, and F. Northern. It was a very enjoyable function, and the dancing folk had a god time, to splendid music, on an. excellent floor.

The “Mahoe,” after two unsuccessful attempts, managed to pass the Mokau bar, and is now unloading at the wharf. Skipper Gibson is to be complimented on his masterly “handling of the helm” on this occasion, as the sea was none too smooth. The Awakino folk will just about “jump with joy” when the little vessel sails into their port, for they have been very close to starvation, having no flour, no potatoes, no sugar, no meal.

A. meeting of the directors of the Mokau Dairy Factory was held on Thursday, Sept. 15th, and the annual general meeting was held in the afternoon, but as neither was open to the press no particulars are yet to hand, though we understand that everything in connection with the factory is progressing very satisfactorily. All the directors were present. Mr. Dug Black in the chair. In the evening a grand social and dance was held in the Mokau Hall, and was very largely attended, there being about 150 present. This function was organised by the directors and suppliers of the Mokau Dairy Factory, to celebrate the opening of the factory. The arrangements were in the hands of Messrs. A. G. Sampson and J. L. Macdonald, who are to be heartily congratulated on the success of their efforts. The hall was beautifully decorated, for w r hich thanks arc due to Mr. A. G. Sampson, and a word of praise must be given to Miss C. Orr, for the tasteful arrangement of several small flags which greatly brightened the effect. The programme consisted of dancing interspersed with songs, pianoforte solos and recitations. The items given by the school children were greatly enjoyed. The music was in the hands of Mrs. Christofferson, extras being supplied by Mesdames McNeice, L. Black, and Mr. F. Northern. The M.C.’s were Messrs. A. G. Sampson, and T. Cummings, while Mr. J. L. Macdonald acted as "Speaker of the Assembly,” and called on the performers for their several items in his usual happy and humorous manner. For the concert, items were given by Miss B. Stewart, Miss M. Wolfe. Miss E. McNeice, Mrs. McNeice, Mrs. Northern (Awakino), Mr. F. Northern (Awakino), Miss N. Thomson, Miss Russell, Miss Orr. Mr. McGregor (Awakino), Mr. R. Mcßae, Mr. Geo. Thomas, Misses Hazel and Phyllis Sampson. Two songs by the school children were well rendered. and received a vociferous encoie, while a recitation by little Myrtle Carlson was most enjoyable. An original song on the dairy factory, its directors, suppliers, not forgetting the cows, composed by Mrs. Christofferson, was very appropriate, and well received. A splendid supper was provided, after which dancing was again resumed, and all dispersed at 3 a.m. During the evening, Mr. Dug. Black, chairman of directors, heartily thanked all who had contributed to such an enjoyable evening’s entertainment.

The ladies present were: Mrs. Geo Sage, floral voile; Mrs. A. G. Mouatt, blue georgette; Mrs. Sheen, cream silk blouse and skirt; Mrs. Radford, blue charmepse; Mrs. Dug. Black, white and blue striped silk; Mrs. Balson, cream georgette; Mrs. Townley, black net over black silk; Mrs. McNeice, black lace over silk; Mrs. W. Avery, black lace over silk; Mrs. Blaikie, black crepe de rhino; Mrs. A. Sampson, cream silk blouse, dark brown skirt; Mrs. Waterson. cream voile; Mrs. Biltcliff, grey crepe de chine; Mrs. Coudon, black silk; Mrs. N. Clifton, cream henriette; Mrs. L. Black, black velvet; Mrs. J. Terril, cream silk; Mrs. Northern, cream with pink silk sports coat; Mrs. A. Sole, green voile; Mrs. Christofferson, navy blue silk: Mrs. G. Lake, black silk; Mrs. H Piko, cream voile; Mrs. Hauraki, blue silk blouse, dark skirt; Mrs. O. Petersen, black; Mrs. C. Williscroft, cream serge; Mrs. S. Erickson, heliotrope voile; Miss N. Thomson, cream silk and velvet; Miss Russell, green silk I jumper over dark silk skirt; Miss M. Wolfe, dark cream net over silk; Miss I B. Stewart, blue net over blue silk; Miss J. Stewart, grey eolienne; Miss RWhilehead, floral voile; Miss D. White-il'-'-'l tussore silk: Miss Orr, navy blue silk; Miss I. Randell, cream voile; Miss : I’. I'aiifioll, white voile; Miss Svenson, i black silk skirt with pink silk jumper; I Miss Chapman, green georgette; Miss H. Sampson, white voile; Miss Belle I (Sampson, pale blue voile; Mrs. Geo. - MacMillan, of Awakino, white crepe «le i Our energetic up-the-river settlers are 1 holding the second of their socials in the “Tariki Hall,” otherwise Mr. Mcwoolalied, ou Saturday next.

Sept. 24, when it is- to be hoped a goodly number will attend, as their functions are so enjoyable, the comfort and entertainment of each and everyone being so well catered for. No wall-flowers grow on that soil (ahem) ! Mrs. S. Whitehead has just returned from Taranaki, looking much the better for her holiday. Mrs. N. Clifton, who has been to New Plymouth to meet her daughter, Miss Jeannie Stewart, who has been visiting friends in Hawke’s Bay, returned to Mokau on Thursday by mail-car. Arrangements are well in hand for the forthcoming farewell to Mr. Jas. Ennis, who has resigned from the position of road engineer in Awakino, and will be very much missed. All wish him success in his new sphere.