DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 February 1922, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

WAI-TOl-TOI—URENUI. (From Our Own Correspondent.) i On Tuesday evening next a farewell social ! will be tendered In the Urenui Hall to Mrs. Sullivan, who has been transferred to take charge of the post , office at Hamilton East. During the three years in which that lady has been postmistress In Urenui, she has, bj’ her kindness and unfailing courtesy, gained the goodwill of the • general public in this district, and has also made many personal friends, who will regret net departure, whilst congratulating her on her promotion to a more Important position. No doubt many will take this opportunity of saying farewell and also to wish her every prosperity in her aew home. It is stated that. Mrs. Brown, of Karangahape, will succeed Mrs. Sullivan, and probably take up her duties early In February.

Mrs. Eva Kennedy, the owner of the Urenui hotel, has been on a visit to Urenui, and has made the necessary arrangements for the re-erection of the stables in connection with the hotel, which, were destroyed in the recent fire. As motor cars have now to a great extent superseded horse traffic, it is scarcely probable the new stables will be as large as the former ones, but no doubt they will be sufficiently commodious to meet existing requirements. Mrs. Kennedy also intends re-building the hotel- in the near future.

The local supervisor of the mangold and carrot growing coinpetition, held under the auspices of the Farmers’ Union, states that he has recently Visited the various, plots in the Wai-toi-toi district, and in most cases has found evidence of careful attention in the matter of weeding, etc. Owing to the extremely damp season, and the consequent luxuriant growth of weeds, this has been no light task, and the youngsters are to be complimented on the manner in which they have attended to their work.

The big attraction of next week will be the Taranaki Jockey Club’s autumn meeting on the 9th and 11th, and, as usual, there are sure to be a large number of visitors from thia end of the district, the presence of tl?o redoubtable Gloaming lending additional attraction to this year’s fixture. Many of our local sports hope to gather some idea from the form shown as to the prospects of sonu of the horses at the forthcoming races on the Wai-toi-toi beach, as there are certain to be numerous entries from New Plymouth at this popular gathering. PUNIHO & WAREA. ((From Our Own Correspondent.) Tie Puniho settlers’ annual picnic and dance was not very well attended, owing no doubt, to the very short notice given. But nevertheless a very enjoyable evening was spent by the few that were there, and it was a very tired but merry crowd that returned home in the early hours of Saturday morning. The floor was in very good order considering that it had not been danced upon for nearly six months. Mr. A. C. R. Pearson supplied the music and Miss M. Pearson and Mr. Bert Payne obliged with extras. Mr. M. Payne acted as M.C. , During an Interval the usual supper, which was in the hands of the Puniho ladies, was handed round.

The large number that attended the presentation and farewell to Miss A. Fleming (assistant teacher at the Warea School) in the Warea Hall on Friday, 27th inst„ was sufficient proof of the esteem and popularity which she is held In Warea. The Warea school committee had decorated the hall for the occasion, and they had also put an extra polish on the floor, which was much appreciated by the dancers. During ,the evening Mrs. Bates (Okato) rendered a song in excellent style. Dancing occupied the greater part of the night to first-class music supplied by Messrs. Parker (piano) and Norris (violin), extras being played by Miss M. Pearson and Miss C. Julian. The customary supper was \ provided. Mr. Gordon Wells and Mrs. W. Lawrence proved very efficient M.C.’s.

After supper a presentation was made by Mr. W. C. Caldwell, chairman of the Warea School ‘‘ committee. Mr. Caldwell referred to the splendid services rendered by Miss Fleming in her two years as assistant teacher at the Warea school. The school was loosing a first-class teacher who always" had the welfare of the children at heart. The inspector’s report had always been first-class, and the school committee were verj’ sorry indeed to loose such a capable teacher. Mr. Caldwell then asked Miss Fleming to accept from the parents a gold wristlet watch as a reminder of the times she had spent at Warea. Miss R. Muir also asked the guest to accept a writing case as a present from the pupils of Warea school, and Miss Caldwell presented her with a bouquet.

Miss Flemihg, -upon rising to reply, was accorded musical honors. She thanked all for the splendid presents, and also the good time they had given her during her stay at Warea. Miss Fleming also mentioned the splendid way in which the Warea school committee had treated ter.

On Monday, 30th ult., a number of settlers paid a surprise visit to Mr. Saxon Cooke nt his new bungalow on the Puniho Road. The number being too large for the house, it was decided to hold the party at the school, and accordingly they adjourned to the school, where a very enjoyable evening was spent in dancing, games, etc. Miss Muriel Pearson and Miss Isabel Sole provided music for the dancing, whilst Mr. Gordon Wells kept the crowd moving merrily. Miss Ena Hill obliged with a song. The singing of "For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow,” and "Auld Lang Syne" brought a very pleasant evening to a close. The Wnrea-Funiho ladles’ guild are holding a cobweb dance on the 17tn Inst. This should attract a large number on this coast, as It is somewhat in the shape of a novelty to settlers here. Miss Maud Corbett is the bead of affairs. The proceeds are in aid of the Puniho-Watea Church. "Never say die.” The local "5.0.5.” had a small paddock of hay ready for harvesting, and, noticing a shower approaching, decided to get it in before the shower came. Having no means of carting it in but a motor cycle and sided: air, or any labor but his wife and two lady visitors, he made the best of things, and passers-by witnessed a novel sight—-three I Ladles loading a sidechair, whilst the harvester was riding to and from the barn unloading. Potatoes have suffered somewhat severely by the blight in these parts this year. The early soft turnips are causing the farmers a good deal of trouble, as the splendid growing weather which we have had, made them grow too quickly, and the consequence is the turnips ,are bursting and going rotten. The cows, instead of increasing in milk when being fed on them, go down. Also as there Js still plenty of grass feed about, they will not eat them. Club root, has made its appearance this year: the first time for many years. In fact, I do not think it has been known in Puniho before. The annual gala day at W’area takes place on the 15th inst., and promises to exceed all previous ones. Full particulars will be duly advertised in the News. The Puniho school has undergone a thorough spring cleaning in readiness for the reopening on the Ist inst. SPOTSWOOD. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The plentiful rains have not come any too soon for many householders in this district, as the water supplies were getting very ,low. The water and electric lighting question has apparently been shelved for the time being. We shall soon have to apply to have a policeman stationed in Spotswood if the criminal class continues its depredations. Petty thieving has for a long time been carried on pretty freely on Ngamotu land and Barrett Rond. One section of undesirables has been operating on vegetable and fruit gardens, and action against these thieves has been taken by the sufferers at their hands. Another gang of sneak thieves have for twelve months been helping themselves to the best articles from the clothes’ lines. One housewife, realising that her lines had been robbed at night, though to avoid a recurrence of the theft by always Liking ter clothes In early. The thieves, not to be outdone, evidently on the watch, impudently contrived their sneaking habits in the daytime, and, despite careful watching, I am told, got away with dozens of articles at various times. Many traps were set. and as a result, tie thieves are now well known. The police, I believe, have made Inquiries, and we hope soon to hear of the imprisonment of these lawless people, who have made themselves a nuisance and caused a great deal of monetary loss to different residents. Th* low prices being paid for butter-fat is

adversely affecting a great many in’ the district, and economy is the order of the day. The civil servants may congratulate themselves that their pay is at least sure, even if it is curtailed somewhat. We producers, who toil and sweat make little or no profit these days. If we can feed our families and pay interest we must still "keep on going on," and hope for better times. Speaking of producing reminds me of a remark by a government clerk I overheard the other day. He spoke of his underpaid, Lard life compared with that of the farmer, "who has such good times, and is always free.” Well, this is a sample of an ordinary day in the milking season. I wonder how the said clerk would like it in comparison with his 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. routine, regular meals and steady .pay: Rise at 4 or 4.30, milking, taking milk to factory or separating, till 8.30 or 9 o’clock (about half-a-day’s work done before Mr. Government Clerk, or other town worker begins his daily fag). Then breakfast, and no time is lost getting to ploughing, fencing, drilling or some other laborious toil. About 2 or 2.30 p.m.’ the farmer stops for dinner, and sometimes—not always—a bit of a rest till milking tin I '* again. After this, and separating, feeding animals, etc., the fortunate one is lucky If he can sit down to tea at 7.30 p.m. I have known it to be 9 p.m. in hayunaking season. During winter the work is as strenuous, although the days are shorter. Yet with all this,' give the farmer 2s a lb for butter-fat and let him be able to pay his way, and you’ll hear little grumble from him. Now the pay-out is 8d or thereabouts, and no sale for stock or produce he has toiled so hard over. He knows there’s nothing to do but save and sweat and grin and bear it. Let those in' Government positions remember they must also do likewise to prove themselves men. Certainly we all feel fit to grind our teeth over the huge waste of money shown in such items as "Reception to Royalty,” and feel this sort of thing is intolerable in such times. But whilst our laws are as they are, and our representatives are allowed such a free hand in expending our hard earned money, we can expect nothing better. The point is at present, let all members of the community be satisfied to teip to bear the burden by economising cheerfully. Long faces and grouchy ways will not help, and we see too much of that just now.