DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 March 1922, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

MOKAU— AWAKINO. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The heavy rains lately have again interfered with traffic, and much difficulty has been met with by motorists in navigating the hills Taumatamaire and Messenger, though there are really only two very bad places on the latter. Mr. Townley and his men are doing such good work that before the winter really sets in, Messenger will be no longer a bugbear. Even now it is not really as ‘ black as it is painted,” though Mrs. heatly and her daughter, of Lepper* ton (who have been spending a few weeks in Mokau, where they enjoyed themselves immensely), had great difficulty in getting their car through on the homeward journey, being stuck in the mud in one of the bad places for some time, in spite of the clever handling of the car by Miss Wheatley. However, willing and capable hands soon got to work, and sent them on their way rejoicing. The rise in butter fat has put a smile on the faces of our dairy farmers, who are now quite optimistic, and confidently looking forward to better things still. . First grade articles in the shape of cheese and butter from Awakino and Mokau are still being turned out by Messrs. Pepperel andj Balsom respectively, and our little “oiler” Mahoe is eagerly looked for to ship them away. There is still a great deal of wool to be brought out from the different stations around, and Mr. Charlie Johnston’s motor lorries are in evidence. The only source of discomfort seems to be in the connection between Tongaporutu and Mt. Messenger, and even that is only a trifle, and a matter of a very short while.

The remarks made by the president of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, since their visit to our district, have given general satisfaction, and great pleasure to our settlers, and we are looking forward, to a time, not so long hence, when Mokau will “come into its town.” We have especially noted his remarks upon the Awakino Valley Road work, and are sure that though Mr. Fraser and his men have done wonderfully well, there is still need for greater urgency in the way of putting on more men, and an extra steam shovel. The good which will emanate from the ■speedier completion of the work will more than repay the extra outlay. Mrs. McQuoid, who has been visiting her daughter, Mrs. Al. Carter, of Awakino, has returned to Hawera. She was accompanied by Mrs. Carter’s niece, and they expressed themselves as being delighted with their trip.

Mrs. Albert Sole, who has been in New Plymouth visiting her little son, who met with a very serious accident some little while ago, and who is in the New Plymouth, returned to Awakino on Saturday. The little sufferer, we are glad to hear, is progressing favorably, and they hope to have him home again in about three weeks.

Miss Marie Avery, who has been on a holiday to different relatives and friends in Taranaki, returned on Saturday. Miss Minnie Wolfe has returned from Waitara-and New Plymouth.

Mr. F. Northern, of Awakino, who has been out on a business trip, returned on Friday. Captain Victor Sjolund has just finished a very fine rowing boat for use on the Mohakatino river to the order of a settler there.

Mr. Dave Scott has also finished one for use in swimming cattle over the Mokau river. It is built on his own plans and promises to be far more useful than the ordinarily built boat, being pointed both at bow and stern, and therefore more easily manipulated.

Master Tommy Scott and Mr. Pat Kavanagh are doing good work with their fishing nets, in spite of the rough weather.

Mrs. Box’s accommodation house in Mokau has been tax«d to its utmost capacity during the season, and all have expressed themselves as being well satisfied with the service there.

Rev. Father Dillon was through about a fortnight ago, and said mass in Awakino and Mokau.

Another visit from Mr. Sell, of Waitara, the Anglican Church Home Missionary, is being eagerly looked forward to by the residents belonging to that and other protestant churches. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Bock, of Awakino, have received word that their daughter, Mrs. Reg. Attril, with her husband, will shortly return from England and the Isle of Wight, where they spent their long honeymoon. Mr. and Mrs. Attril are enjoying the best of health, and have visited the graves of our soldiers in France, where Mrs. Attril’s only brother is buried, having given his life for King and country in the Great War. Mr. and Mrs. William Black also lost a son in the same cause, a fine, promising young man, whose death was regretted by all who knew him. Grass is plentiful, due to the late rains, and the stations around, especially Mangatoi, Mohakatino, and Ballacraggan are looking delightfully green and fertile. No lack of feed this winter. Several lots of fine fats, both beef and mutton, have lately gone from our district to the different freezing works, mostly Borthwick, Waitara, and Smart Road. Mr. Norman, of Borthwick’s, met with an unpleasant experience while attempting to negotiate Taumatamaire hill in his car on his way -from Te Kuiti to Waitara. The road near the top was literally a sea of mud, with the consequence that the car got badly stuck, and the gentleman and his companion had to spend the night in the car, amidst driving wind and rain, which soaked through the hood in a very little while. The occupants had only one small rug between them, and therefore spent a very “mauvoire quatre d’heure.” When morning came, assistance was generously given, the car dug out, its “nose” turned back towards Te Kuiti, which was reached in a few hours, and from whence it and its owner had to journey by rail to their destination. Thus again is seen the urgent need for the speedy completion of the Awakino Valley Road. The bridging of the Mokau is also

a really urgent necessity both in regard to the cattlq, traffic and passenger traffic, especially in winter, though the ferryman seems to think he would lose his living by the river being bridged. But why? Why not put a tollgate on the bridge, or at either end, and let it the same as the ferry is let? It should pay well, and much better than rthe punt. The Awakino Racing Club could not get a permit for a second meeting in March, so will have to wait till later in the year. Mr. Al. Carter’s fine horse Dramatist is in training out Inglewood way. Mr. Allan Sampson is getting on apace with the building of the snagging punt for the Mokau rivfcr, and the work will. so®n ba .gone, on wiih-.

TAHORA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) On Thursday, March 23, the public school annual picnic and prize distribu- , tion was held in the school groundfi, Tahora. Had the weather been more settled the children would have 'been taken further for the picnic. The games were played and the races run in an adjoining paddock kindly lent by Mr. Kennedy. There was a very large attendance of parents and children, and all seemed to enjoy themselves thoroughly. All gathered, at the school at 11 a.m. and after lunch the following events took place:— Race, senior boys.—D. Kerr 1, C. Pittams 2, R. Morton 3. Race, senior girls.—E. Morton 1, E. Pittams 2, Jean Morton 3. Race, junior girls.—Jessie Houston 1, Zita Kerr 2, Muriel Grant 3. Race, junior boys.—Leo Pittams I, Jack Armstrong 2, R. McGillivray 3. Race, mixed boys.—T. Cronin 1, H. Muir 2, J. Cronin 3. Walking . Kace, senior boys.—K. uronln 1, T. Cronin 2, W. Kerr *>. Girls’ three-legged race.—M. Armstrong and J. Kerr 1, E. Pittams and Zita Kerr 2. Three-legged race, junior girls.—J. Kerr and G. Armstong 1. Three-legged race, boys—T. Cronin and W. Kerr 1, D. Kerr and C. Pittams 2. Race, primer boys.—D. Marshall 1, C. Muir 2, D. Woodney 3. Race, married ladies.—Mrs. Mantle 1, Mrs. Pittams 2, Mrs. Houston 3. Race, primer girls.—Edna Selby 1, Dorothy Pittams 2, Joyce Kerr 3. Race, primer boys.—Gordon Cronin I, lan Craig 2, J. McCartie 3. Race, intermediate girls.—D. Selby 1, Zitw Kerr 2, Lois McCartie 3. Race, intermediate boys.—Lyn Mantle 1, J. Clout 2, B. Houston 3. Race, Standard 1 and 2 boys.—W. Selby 1, J. Woodney 2, B. McGillivray 3. Long race, senior boys.—T. Cronin 1, Lyn Mantle 2, M. Morton 3. Race, senior girls.—Joan Morton 1, J. Armstrong 2, Eunice Pittams 3. Race, intermediate girls.—Betty Morton 1, Ailsa McCartie 2, G. Armstrong 3. Skipping, senior girls.—J. Armstrong 1, L. Taylor 2, J. Kerr 3. Skipping, junior girls.—J. Houston 1, B. Mantle 2. M. Grant 3.

Messrs Holly, Mantle and Selby were starters, while Messrs. McCartie, Pittams, Taylor and the master were at the rope. The junior scholars were rewarded with toys, while the senior scholars received money. The children were also treated to sarambles of lollies, kindly donated by the local storekeeper, Mr. Rooney. Before tea was again provided all ‘adjourned to the school for. the prize distribution. The prizes were handed to the children by the chairman of the committee (Mr. H. Pittams). Each child received a good •book, and the following received prizes for having attended every day during the year:—Dan Woodney, Daphne Houston, Edith Muir, Isabel Harrison, Chris Woodney, Alan Taylor, Lily Taylor, Gordon Davey and Betty Morton.

Suitable addresses were given by the chairman (Mr. H. Pittams), the secretary and treasurer (Mr. W. Holley), and the master (the Rev. John Craig). Special mention was made of the need of improvement of the school grounds. In spite of the financial stringency a goodly sum of money was collected, and handsome prizes were secured. Miss Divehall was thanked for the capable manner in which she had selected the books.

After hearty votes of thanks had been given to the master a-nd mistress, the ladies' who provided the eatables and the committee all partook of a hearty tea and went to their homes feeling they had spent a real good day. During the course of the addresses, special stress was laid on the increased interest being shown in the work of the school by the parents and also by the community in general. The Tahora school grounds get very muddy in wet weather, and badly need a coating of gravel, but gravel is a scarce commodity in these parts. However, the committee may manage to secure some at an early date.