DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1921, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

PUNGAREHU. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The Governor-General, with' Lady Jelllcoe and their attendants, passed through Pungarehu shortly after 5 p.m. on October 27 en route from Wanganui to New Plymouth. Unfortunately, at that hour the milking is in full swing, and only those who reside in the immediate vicinity of the village had the pleasure of seeing Their Excellencies. However, to the pride and gratification of those who enjoyed the privilege. His Excellency acknowledged their loyalty to the King’s representative by raising his hat, while Her Ladyship gracefully waved, her hand.

A meeting of those interested in the formation of a Tennis Club was held in the hall on Saturday evening last, and this was immediately followed by a well-attended meeting of young people, soldier settlers, and some older settlers for the purpose of forming a sports committee. At. the meeting a fortnight earlier the proposition to form a sports committee was brought forward, but the motion and an amendment were both turned down. At Saturday’s meeting, however, a committee was formed and officers elected, president, vice-presidents, chairman and secretary, with a general committee of all present and the ladies as honorary members, the fee for gentlemen being fixed at 10s per annum pro tern. In view of the fact that the Domain Board effecting improvements to the park, it was suggested that as there was a likelihood of the land being cropped with turnips before it is sown down with grass there would be no chance of holding a sports meeting this summer or autumn, as the ground will in all probability be not. firm enough, ft was decided, therefore, that a deputation consisting of Messrs. Corbett, Smith and A. Gilhooly, wait on the board asking that the land be re-sown with grass seed as soon as it is cultivated. Mr. Corbett suggested that if the deputation is unsuccessful, the committee should try to persuade some one io lend a paddock for a sports meeting to be held next autumn. On Monday evening the subscribers and committee held a meeting in connection with: the memorial to fallen soldiers, when the form and site of the memorial was discussed. Three different suggestions as to trie form it should take were considered, one being a gate and archway at the main entrance to the Domain, an obelisk for the park or school ground, and a third, gate posts with black marble or granite slabs carrying the names t.nd inscription for the school gate. Owing to an insufficiency of funds the first two could not be entertained, and the gate posts had to be decided on. Unfortunately the money will not allow of a gate also being purchased, but if any friends feel inclined to make further donations for a gate the committee will be pleased to receive them. The work will be put in hand at once. The secretary has appealed through this column for a correct list of those lads who left this district and made the supreme sacrifice, but the Patriotic Committee having long since disbanded and most of the members having left this district, she t-as been unable to obtain one. In order to be on the safe side it was decided to include only the names of those who were permanent residents at the time of enlisting, with the rank of the soldier.

Followers of Isaak Walton are getting busy, but the weather Is not too good for fishing,, and so far no very full baskets are reported. In conversation with a retired Taranaki dairy farmer recently, the question of the marketing of New Zealand butter in England and the blending of it with otter makes was under review. The above gentleman has quite recently returned from a trip to -he Old Country, and said that as far as he could see the blending was more theory than practice. "It is,” he said, “easily understood that to blend good butter with inferior quality would do more harm than good, as anyone with a knowledge of butter-making or blending will easily conceive that one pound of bad butter would taint and spoil half a dozen pounds of good butter when blended.” The gentleman assured me that be had se£n New Zealand butter in the original boxes, fresh from the cool stores opened up in his presence in many shops in English towns, and he.felt quite convinced that very little blending actually takes place. He added that no doubt a certain quantity of unsalted butter 13 sent Home for the' express purpose of being blended with good brands of Devonshire butter. This brand of blended Devonshire was sold in great quantities, and, he smilingly added, "If all the butter which is sold as Devonshire was really such, there would have to be a bow for about every five yards.” Far away from the scene of turmoil and trouble, we in New Zealand- are apt to ttlnk but lightly of the gravity of things political and industrial in the Homeland, but the kindred ties of blood and allegiance bind us :n cords that cannot be easily broken, and few, if any, will be found in this little Dominion who will not pray for a happy Issue out of the present chaos, and hope that the horrors of war and its terrible aftermath will be averted.

Mrs. Bell, wife of Sergeant-Major Bell, has been convalescing In tnis district. ■ She has now returned to New Plymouth, where Mrs. Salter is at present also spending a short holiday. Mrs. Bell was the guest of Mrs. Lynan. Mr. W. H. Moime, who quite recently sold his farm in Pio Pio, Te Kuiti, has also been visiting here, and expressed himself as delighted with the possibilities of tbe district from a dairyman’s point of view. Mr. Moime, who was the guest of Mr. Mathews, has now gone to Ohlngaiti for a few weeks, but hopes to spend a few more days in this district in. the near future. A roll of honor for the local hall will ba the next objective of the memorial committee, and it is toped they will receive the wholehearted support of residents and settlers.