DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1921, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

RAHOtU. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The Anglican fancy fair was a great success, good business was done at all stalls. The hall looked very nice with the long afternoon tea table down one side, and a very large Christmas tree stood in the middle, with the bran tub at one end. The flower, lollie, and fern stalls were in one corner, while the produce stahi, with meats, etc., stood in opposite corners, both being decorated wi h h greenery. The fancy goods and clothing stall, loaded with articles, stood along one end. Everyone worked well and willingly , toThe concert, under the sole charge of Mrs. Buttler, was a great success. The items were well received. Mr. Gibson was chairipan, and the following programme was gone through: Duet, Misses Street; recitations, little Miss L. Andrews and Miss Dawson ; song. Mrs. Larkin ; comie, “Baggy Breeches.” six girls; song, Mr. .Tenkifts; comic, Digger Booth; duet, Conroy Bros.; speches, Mr. Hugtson and the chairman, who welcomed Rev. and Mrs. Coleman to the district. Rev. Coleman suitably responded. Song, Mr. Lovette; sketch, Misses Brown, Mrs. Coleman, and Miss Wright; comic song, also whistling solo. Digger Booth; duet. Misses Buttler and Hodson; duet, Messrs. Conroy and Willcox; sketch, “Lancashire Lady,” Mrs. Coleman, who was then presented with a bouquet of flowers by Miss Buttler. “God Save the King” was sung by the company. The chairman thanked the Okato people and others for so kindly assisting with the programme, also all others who helped to make the affair a success. The correct figures for the takings of the stalls, concert, etc., have not been ascertained, although it is estimated that about one hqndred pounds was taken. Supper was handed' around 'and crowds from the circus came in and the place was just packed full for the dance. About £lO was taken at the door, for which only one shilling was charged. People could hardly move about, the tall. Mr. Parkier presided at the piano for the dance. Mesdames Buttler, Lovette, Coleman, and M. Hughson assisted with the music for tte conThe circus also seems to hare had a good night, as it is reported that about fifty pounds was taken at the door. The roar c.f the Hons upset the local animals in the district, and made some horses very frightened, although no accidents occurred. About a fortnight before the fair was started a list was taken around by Misses Dawsoi and I. Hughson, and the weight of a cake guessed and buttonholes sold on the street, which altogether realised £3O in aid of Dr. Bamado’s Homes. WAI-TOI-TOI—URENUI. (From Our Own Correspondent.) A general meeting of the Urenui Sports’ I Club was held in the Urenui Hail on Thurs!day evening last, Mr. R. H. Pigott presiding * over a large attendance of members. The minutes of the previous meeting being confirmed, the chairman stated it would be necessary to elect a new secretary owing to the resignation of Messrs. G. Fuller and D. Tare. Several gentlemen were proposed, but declined to act, but eventually Mr. .1. S. O'Neill consented to fill the position on the condition of receiving assistance on the day of ;ie sports. Mr. D. Tate agreed to act in conjunction with Mr. O'Neill, and these gentlemen were appointed joint secretaries. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring officers. Tte following programme committee were! appointed: Messrs. V. Tate, W. H. Fuller, Jj. Kattenbury, J. O’Neill. G. Fuller, and the secretaries, it being decided to get the 1 programme out as early as possible. It was also resolved that the sports be held ou February 18, subject to the consent of the association, and the meeting adjourned. On the same evening there was a large And successful meeting of those interested in rhe formation of a football club in Urenui. Between fifty and sixty gentlemen were present, and Mr. R. H. Pigott, after stating the object for which the meeting was called, was voted to the chair. On the motion of Mr. Rattenbury, seconded by Mr. Elliott, it was decided that a club be fonmed, Mr. Fuller being appointed secretary. The following officers were also elected: Patron, Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., president, Mr. J. S. O’Neill, vice-presi-dents. Messrs. V. Tate, S. Beauchamp, A. H. Halcombe, L. Rattenbury, P. Elliott, S. Managh, R. H. Pigott, A. Sheard, C. Dunbar. A. Gibson, S. Topdess, W. Fuller, and R. Spurr, with power io add; club captain, Mr. V. Tate; committee, Messrs. J. O’Neill, D. Tate, T. Taylor, R. Klenner, E. Elliott, W. Jonas, J. Fitzgerald, G. Pigott, and C. Bleakley; selection copimittee, Messrs. W. FuWcr, V. Tate, and captain. The subscription fee was fixed at 7s 6d for honorary and 5s for active members. The club captain, secretary and Mr. T. W. Taylor were appointed delegates to interview tte Clifton Football Club re affiliation, etc. After considerable discussion it was agreed the colors of the club should be green ; also that a first and second junior team be entered. All the foregoing is subject to the approval of the authorities. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated a most enthusiastic meeting. At a subsequent meeting of the committee Mr. V. Tate was appointed chairman.

A meeting of the Mimi School Committee was held on Wednesday evening last, thare being present: Messrs. J. F. Phillips (in the chair), G. Blake, W. Mooney, A. Johnston, and P. Spurr. The Inspector’s report on the recent exaunination of the school was read and considered highly satisfactory. A letter was also received from Mr. W. Corcoran re extra paddock accommodation for the horses of the pupils, stating he would be in the district shortly and would interview the secretary on tlio matter. Miss Simpson (head teacher), waited on the committee in reference to the matter of procuring prizes and the annual school concert, stating that Mrs. Zimmerman had kindly offered the use of tte spacious hall at her residence for tno purpose. It was decided that owing to the partition in the school building rendering it unsuitable for accommodating all the parents and children, that Mrs. Zimmerman’s offer be accepted with thanks. The matter of procuring suitable prizes was left in tte hands of the. head teacher and several other ladies. The secretary reported that Mr. N. Uren, of the State Forests Department, had that day visited the school and examined the plots ‘n which the seeds forwarded by Mr. Page tad , been sown. Some of the seeds were already , through the ground, and Mr. Uren had expressed hiunself as highly pleased with the manner in which tte work had been carried out. The experiment would be watched with interest, as it was the first of the kind in the Dominion. After passing several accounts for payment, the meeting adjourned. TARATA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) A special meeting of the Tarata Tennis and Croquet Club was held on the local courts on Saturday, 3rd iust., at 2.30 p.m., Mr. F. M. Standish presiding. Mr. B. Greenwood (secretary) informed members that he was unable to procure a man to cut tte courts regularly for the season. After some discussion it was decided that all members should take turns to cut the lawns until someone was obtainable to do this work for a payment of 5s weekly. The many friends of Mrs. R. Paterson sear, will be pleased to know that she is out of hospital, and is expected home shortly. I am given to understand that Messrs. H. Lambert and Co. have ceased work on the Toi Toi Road for about a week, when they hope to start carting metal. A euchre party and dance, organised by the Boxing Club, was held in the Tarata Hall on Friday, the 3rd Inst., visitors being present from surrounding districts. There were twelve tables in requisition for the eueWre. Mr. Matson secured the gentlemen’s prize, , which consisted or a case of pipes, with sqyen 1 games out of a total of eight, and Mrs. Matson won ti e ladies' prize, which * consisted or a set of butter dishes, with six games. At the conclusion of the euchre a dainty supper, which had been procured from Inglewood, was handed round and thoroughly enjoyed by all, and at the conclusion dancing commenced. The .music was supplied by Messrs. J. Burgess, Volsky, and A. Elliott, and the duties of M.C. were carried out most ably by Mr. M. Martin. As milking is In full swing the dance was reluciant'ly broken up at 1.30 a.m., which allowed most of the milkers to gain a few hours rest before beginning the tedious round of milking for the day. On Saturday evening, the 3rd inst., the local Boxing Club held their weekly practice in the Tar.Un Hall, under the able tuition of Mr. William Scott, who was assisted by i Mr. I’. O'Shnnnessy. A set of men's boxing gloves and bu.vs' gloves hud bem procured

earlier in the week by Mr. Scott, along with a puneb ball, the latter to be set up in the hall before next Saturday. Although the club has beep formed only three weeks it has attracted a remarkable amount of interest, ite membership totalling 36 tmembers, with a likelihood of a still further increase. Mr. M. S. Cameron, of the Autavva Road contract, who has been residing on his farm at. the end of the Autawa Road, has removed to a residence in the village, which doubtless will be more convenient for him to superintend his metalling contract. Several minor accidents have occurred to the teams carting metal to the Autawa ROad. A slight one occurred when carting tte strippings from the metal pit. The horse backed the dray down the hill into the creek. Another happened on the Otaroa Road, wh?n a horse and draj’ went over the side of tte An accident which might have ended more seriously occurred when two teams attempted to pass each other on the Autawa Road, the outer team going over the side, and the four horses with tte dray rolling down the side of the lull, about thirty feet. Strange to say, the horses escaped with only a few scratches and bruises, and fortunately the driver managed to jump clear. In your last Saturday’s issue I noticed that a correspondent from Tarata elaborates cn “the prolific crop of ragwort” which is annoying and causing anxiety to the settlers here. Hitherto this is an item “Your Own” has never mentioned. However, if we have a little more than our share of ragwort, we can at least claim to be practically free from blackberry, Californian thistJ*.