DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 March 1922, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

tAHOE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) After a spell of warm, muggy weather, rain fell on Thursday and was very welcome, mor§ particularly to those who are depending on rainfall for their water supply. Although the season here has been eccentric as far as weather is concerned, there has been a remarkable supply of feed, and . such stacks of hay are in the paddocks as have never before been seen here. The milk yield, too, is keeping up well, and tests are an all round improvement on those of last year, all of which goes to show that Mahoe land gives ample return for labor expended. The local school has settled to work steadily after the summer vacation. Miss Smith, our new teacher, is charmed with her surroundings, and is making herself popular with both children and parents. The elder children, under the chaperonage of Miss Smith and Miss Cumberworth, joined with the pupils of Stratford schools in their annual excursion to Moturoa. The thanks of pupils and parents are due to Mr. Pryce, of Hastings Road, who generously conveyed them to the train. All who made the trip thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

The supporters of the juvenile candidate for the Eltham combined bands’ queen carnival gave a most enjoyable social in the Mahoe Hall on the 20th ult. The attendance was good, visitors from Kapoilga and Eltham predominating. Items were contributed by Misses Luckin and Green, Mr. and Mrs. Nodder and Mr. Halpin. Owing to the indisposition of Miss Hall, who was to have supplied the dance music, members of the committee took her place, and extras were kindly played by Mr. And Mrs. McCarty, Miss Bayley and .Mr. Vfelvin. As a result, of this effort the juvenile candidate will receive some three or four hundred votes, and her committee are so well satisfied that they intend to pay Mahoe another visit in the near future. Whatever the fate of other candidates, the supporters of this particular one apparently are leaving nothing to chance, and are doing their level best, ably assisted by local enthusiasts, to secure the election of their fatorite. Mrs. Davy has returned from a holiday trip to Wanganui. Mr. J. Charters is home from Hawera hospital, but has not been too. well these last few days. We all wish him a speedy recovery. Cupid has been very busy in our midst lately, no fewer than three engagements being announced. As I have not the written permission of the happy ones, I cannot give names, but all here wish them every happiness and are looking forward to cake and wine, tp say nothing of benzine tins. 'Mr. and Mrs. W. S. S. Singleton left to-day on the first stage of their trip to tlie Homeland. After visiting friends at Te Kuiti and Wpodville, they embark on the Athenic at Wellington about the 20th of the present month. After a year’s sojourn amongst relatives at Home Mr. and Mrs. Singleton intend to resume farming in New Zealand. We wish them a safe trip and assure them of a hearty welcome on their return. Miss Abbot, Auckland, is staying wit# Mrs. Bert ; Hooper, Mahoe. Miss Nathan is visiting Mrs. George I Anderson, Palmer Road.

The Stratford County ranger has many a fruitless joyride out this way. Most folk have sufficient feed for, their animals, and are not at present tempted to make use of the “long acre.” No doubt the early rides in the fresh air are beneficial to health.

The employees of Stratford County have at last commenced to tar-seal our ; roads, and, judging by the progress they are making, in a very short time we shall be connected with the much talked of Eltham County roads. No doubt local owners of cars will appreciate the good roads, as in their present condition they must be disastrous to tyres. When the road from Stratford to the radius line gate on Manaia Road is finished, there will be no prettier drive anywhere in Taranaki, winding in and out, up and down, with glimpses of the Tasman Sea on the one hand and old Egmont on the other, beautiful views of distant Ngaruhoe, Ruapehu, and Tongariro, the wide Waimate plains stretching away to the coast line, the clearly seen towns of Hawera, Eltham, Kaponga, and Manaia—one would go a long way to find a view to equal this.

RIVERLEA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) It was easily seen that the people of Rjverelea have the welfare of the children at heart by the crowd that gathered in the hall on Tuesday evening, the occasion being the school children’s social, the objects of which were to raise funds to take the children to the Ngamotu beach for their annual picnic on March 2. The school committee thought a social would be a better way of raising money than by taking a subscrip-, tion list around to the parents, and I am sure it proved a much better proposition, as the total takings amounted to about £l5. The programme rendered by the school children was thoroughly enjoyed by all. “Won’t You Buy My Prety Flowers,” and “The Prettiest Girl of All,” were the most popular of the songs, whilst the recitations given by Master E. Webby and Miss Edith Hey were very good. During the singing of “Won’t You Buy My Pretty Flowers” a rug was spread on the floor, into which the sum of 15s lOd was thrown. The bouquets were judged by Mrs. Shaw, who found it was almost an impossible task to pick out just a first prize one, so she awarded each little girl (eleven small) a prize of one shilling. At the call of Mr. Mills, the girls and boys gave Mrs. Shaw three hearty cheers for her generous act. The bouquets were then sold by Dutch auction, and realised about sixteen shillings. Mr. A. E. Mills (head master) and Miss B. Hill (assistant) deserve great praise for the way in which they taught the children their songs and dances. ■ Miss Hill supplied the music for the children’s dances and songs, while the following supplied the music for the adults’ dances: Mrs. J. J. Slater, Misses. Humphries, Wells, Richards and Hill, and Messrs. Julian, Jacobson and Oakenful. The duties of M.C. were capably carried out by Mr. E. Wills. The supper, which for quantity and quality could not have been beaten, was supplied by the ladies of the district. Mesdames Sadler, Stables and Jacobson had charge of the supper room, and they saw that everybody had plenty of tea, cakes, etc. The children had a sit down supper, while the adults had their’s handed round. During the supper interval, Mr. A. C. Sadler, chairman of the school committee, thaaked all those who had assisted in making the evening's entertainment such a pronounced success. The children went to Ngamotu on Thursday, and oh, what a day ’. The

jorry left'Riverlea at about 6 a.m., and caught the train at 7;25 jA m. at Eltham. The weather, which was fine when they left home, changed just before they arrived in Eltham, and the further they went the worse it got, and by the time New Plymouth was reached it was raining as hard as (never mind) harder than it ever rains in Riverlea. Well, they went to the beach and had lunch, when Mr. B. L. Webby (who was in charge) decided to turn for town and try their luck there, and you know it’s no joke having about sixty children nearly all wet through and nowhere to take them. Eventually they were all landed in the Coronation Hall, where they were able to have a good romp around and keep warm. The committee got some fruit and Messrs. Webster Bros, made a donation of some, and I think between the fruit and the games they were having they soon forgot that it was raining. The lorry arrived back in’ Riverlea shortly after 8 p.m., when children and adults made their weary way homewards, wet and tired, b|t happy.