DISTRICT NEWS.
PUNIHO. (From a Correspondent.) Coastal residents can look fofward to an enjoyable eveolng’s entertainment to-night, when the pupils of the Puniho school will give their annual concert in the Warea hall. A splendid programme has been arranged by the headmistress (Mrs. Parr), and the children have entered into the practices with zest, and can be relied upon to give a good account of themselves. After the concert a dance will be held, and as the musical arrangements are in the bands of Miss and Mr. Pearson, who will have the assistance of Mr. R. Murphy (violinist), patrons can rely on having an enjoyable time. The catering a.so will be up to the high standard set by the ladies of the district. > MOTUNUL (From A Correspondent.) The Motunui school concert and dance In aid of the children’s prize fund took place last Friday night, and the manner in which the items were rendered bestows great credit on both teacher and children. The school was packed and the windows were lined outside at least three deep, visitors being present from Uruti, Urenui, Okoke, Tikorangi, and Waitara. This once more fully demonstrates the necessity of obtaining a suitable building in this district In whch to hold social functions. Altogether twenty items were staged (most of them encored), and though it may be unfair to particularise special mention must be made of the rendering of the song “Gloaming,” Miss H. Edwin; recitation, “The Cockey’s Spell,” Miss Kiri Edwin ; song, “Three Young Maids of Walhi,” Misses Orbell, F. Jonas and H. Edwin; scene, “The Beauty Doctor,” by the -children. The concluding item was the presentation of prizes to all the children, including several special prizes (donated). Mr. W. Cole, chairman of the School Committee, handed out the prizes and in a few happy remarks thanked all present for their attendance and their appreciative reception of the items rendered. The thanks of all concerned are also due to all those who assisted by making dresses, etc., attending to the supper arrangements, and otherwise making the concert such a brilliant success. Supper was handed round about 11 p.m., the floor cleared, and dancing kept up until the early hours of the morning. The Motunui and Waiau School children’s picnic and sports takes place next Friday, December 16, when Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., will be present to present the Navy League’s flag to the Motunui School. Given fine weather a successful day is assured. « OKATO. (Contributed.) On a recent occasion the Maori Methodist Choir, comprising about. 20 voices, gave a splendid concert In Hempton Hall, Okato. Mr. T. R. Hughson, of Rahotu, who conveyed the members of the choir from Rahotu, presided. Without Instrumental aid the choir rendered several anthems in their own language with pleasing effect, and delighted the audience. Duets in English were given by Misses Haro and Kaihui, Conroy brothers and Wilcox and Conroy, whilst solos were contributed by Messrs. Kaihui, Haro, and Misses Conroy aid Wilcox. Mr. Booth, known as "Digger” Booth, delighted the audience with songs in lighter vein, as well as Imitations and mimicry. The entertainment was enjoyed by all. The singing of the Maori Choir reflects credit upon Rev. D. Wilcox, conductor. Rev. Aker, on behalf of Okato friends, expressed appreciation and thanks to the visitors, who were afterwards entertained to supper by the ladies. The proceeds (£8 ss) were in aid of the Home and Maori Mission. Requests have since been made to the choir to give their concert in other places. Mrs. Magnus Hughson played the accompaniments for the dueta and solos. • PUNGAREHU. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Things in this district are moving along very quietly at present. The farmers are making up, as far as possible, for time lost by bad weather, and there is a rush to get ground ready for swedes and turnips before haysaving commences. There have been unusually good strikes of soft turnips, although many farmers had to resow, but the weather has been decidedly favorable to the young plants and they are looking well on nearly every farm.
Apropos of remarks made by your WareaPuniho correspondent In regard to the spreading out of school concerts, so that they are not rushed into one week, most of us will quite agree that it would certainly be far better to do this. However, it semes an almost impossibility so far as Pungarelru is concerned to avoid clashing or crowding entertainments in one week. But the fault is not ours. The Warea School held their concert about a month ago, and immediately afterwards the local school committee fixed on the 15th of the present month for their concert. Notices were posted up and "your own” has not failed to record the progress made each week, only to find that another function in Warea is to be given by the Punlho School on the 14th. The same thing has been done during the winter, and Pungarehu is always the one to suffer. Perhaps it is quite unavoidable, but surely some arrangement could be made by which Warea, Pungarehu and Rahotu could hold one entertainment each week instead of all three in one week. Of course we all want a moonlight night and therein lies the trouble. Church services were held in the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches on Sunday morning. There was a celebration of Holy Communion at the Anglican service, conducted by the Rev. H. A. Coleman. There are still a number of cases of "sore throats” and "bad colds,” the very changeable weather we are experenclngg being largely responsible. Groups of glad-eyed, eager children are to be seen earnestly discussing the various concert Items, and the distribution of school prizes on Thursday, the 15th. I understand about four boys have made full attendance to date for the year, and it is hoped nothing unforeseen will occur to break their attendance during this last week. Nearly all the little people of this district tell the same glad tale—"l have passed”—meaning, I presume, they are promoted to a higher class. There is a whisper in the air of a new main entrance from the Main South Road through the horse paddock into the playground of the school being made in the very near future. If this is done it will be a .decided improvement to the school grounds, and will solvo the problem of the memorial being on the main road, where it certainly ought to be. Although there is an abundance of grass the milk yield is almost dally decreasing, a fact which may perhaps be accounted for by the absence of sunshine, and the consequent lack of substance in the feed, which is soft and watery. Cattle are in prime condition, but prices for all classes of stock show little if any improvement, horses at present being almost a slump on the market. Don’t fail to hear the kiddies "humming” and see them dancing in costume in the Highland fling on Thursday evening at 8 p.m. "Baggy Breeehes” and the Maori singers will be present to help to entertain parents and Trends. WAI-TOI-TOI—-URENUI. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The recent rains have had the effect of keeping up a good flush of grass, of which there is an ample supply, thexows responding in their milk supply correspondingly, whilst the aVerag. test is slightly higher than at this period last season. The warm, muggy weather now being experienced makes it difficult to keep the milk in that condition essential to the producton of a first-class article, and the necessity for using coolers is making itself most apparent. Another good object served by aerating and cooling is the elimination to a great extent of the gaseous odours caused by the various clovers which are now so plentiful in the pastures, and it might be said that many taints in the milk caused by this means are often wrongly attributed to a want of cleanliness in the milking machines and dairy utensils. Now that we are up against a slump in the prices of our produce, it is more than ever our duty to assist the managers by every means in our power to thlng but. a first grade article, and the impossibility of their doing this out of impure milk must he apparent to ail. Of course it is not always convenient for every supplier to instal an up-to-date cooling apparatus, but wherever this is practicable It should most oertalnly be done, whilst toe directors of toe
local dairy company have already expressed their willingness to assist either financially or. .otherwise in accomplishing this object. During the month of November there were 628,663 lbs. of mUk supplied to the Wal-toi-toi -factory, as against 655,002 lbs. last season, the amounts of cheese manufactured being 822 and 871 respectively. The average test last year was 3.9, whilst it is now 4; the whey butter is 1624 lbs., as against 897 lbs. However, although there is less milk being supplied owing to one fairly large herd discontinuing to supply, there is considerably more cream, there being 3488 lbs. of cream butter being made against 1344 lbs. for November in 1920. From present indications the total output for the season should be much higher than on former occasions, as there would seem to be an ample supply of ordinary pasture to keep up a good supply until the autumn crops are ready for consumption. The North Taranaki Dairy Company are now manufacturing cheese as well as butter, and it is stated that the supply is greatly exceeding that of the previous season. In, the report of the meeting of the newlyformed football club held in Urenui recently the name of Mr. Wm. Purchas was accidentally omitted from the list of vice-presidents < appointed. Mr. Win. Colson, of Okoke, has acquired the business premises and sections In connection therewith in Urenui recently occupied by Mr. Dennis O’Donnell, who Is still confined to the New Plymouth hospital, and has retired from business. The building Is at present undergoing repairs and will be thoroughly renovated prior to Wng opened again as a general store. Some remarkably good catches of flounders have been made in Urenui recently, whilst fish in the Mimi river are becoming most plentiful. , The other morning Messrs. Johnson brothers secured a good haul of remarkably fine herring and kindly shared their luck with their neighbors, an act which was greatly appreciated by those who had the pleasure of having this acquisition to their breakfast tables. The Urenui, Mimi and Pukearuhe schools are holding their customary concerts this week in connection with the dispersal of the children for the summer vacation. The former will hold their function in |he Town Hall, whilst that at Mimi will be held at Mr. Zimmerman’s residence, Pukearuhe using their schoolroom. Extensive preparations have been made by the teachers and children, and no doubt all these gatherings will be well attended, and enjoyable evenings spent. Blight has been somewhat prevalent amongst the early crops of potatoes In the district this season. A/ thorough spraying from the'tops down and from the roots upwards may be the means of saving the late ones. The Bordeaux mixture, consisting of 4 lbs. of bluestone, 4 lbs. of lime, to 40 gallons of water, is said to be most effective and worthy of a trial. The practice of topping wheat to prevent lodging, which Is practised in the north of France, might with profit be followed out in this country. It is stated that when the i wheat shows signs of bearing and measures about ll‘% inches it Is sufficient to cut it back to just under 6 inches. When the plant again reaches about 8 inches It Is advisable to again cut It back to 6 inches. If It appears to lodge, but this second cutting Is rarely necessary. On small areas a scythe or sickle is used, out in large ones a machine is specially made for this work, consisting of a kind of shears with a detachable blade which can be regulated to the height of the wheat. The blade is much lighter than that of a mower, and it Is stated with’ this machine nearly ten acres a day may be topped. The topping, which can be compared to the pinching practised by gardeners, has the effect of equalising the development of the tillers. The more advanced are retarded in growth to the advantage of the smaller ones not reached by the sickle. These smaller plants, which would have only given small tiller growths, take the same time to mature as the older ones. The expense of) the operation is more than covered by the increase in grain yield, decreased cost of harvesting, and the value of green fodder cut when topping. ... x.
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Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1921, Page 2
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2,126DISTRICT NEWS. Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1921, Page 2
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