DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1922, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

RIVERLEA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The householders of Riverlea evidently do not take any interest in education, as there were not enough present on Monday night to elect a committee. I do not know whether it is that they are satisfied with, the way the old committee carried out their duties, or whether it is otherwise, but I think it is as little as they can do to turn out once a year to show they take a little interest in the school. The committee have spent a lot of time and money on improving the school grounds, which are now, I think, equal to any in the district. The Government have struck a very heavy blow at the small farmer in deciding to raise the cow-testing charges from five to ten guineas for the first cow listed and three guineas for each additional cow. It will mean that the small man, who has been able to get a pedigree heifer or two will not be able to test them, yet we are being advised to get rid of our scrub bulls ami get bulls from a g'-od butterfat strain. That will mean that we will all have to go to the big man and pay 'big prices, as he will be the only man who can afford to list.

Mr. Bob Gardiner, of Wellington, who has been spending a short holiday with Jiis brother (Mr. J. W. H. Gardiner, of Mangawhero Road), had the misfortune to badly sprain his ankle whilst having a game of cricket with the children on Monday. The Rev. Kendon, the newly-appoint-ed Methodist minister, preached his first sermon in the hall on Sunday night to a large congregation. Anzac Day passed off very quietly here, and tlie day was wet. We could not even hoist the school flag, as the rope had broken and we have not been able to get the pole down yet. The headmaster gave the children a short address on the meaning of the word Anzac and explained why the day is observed as a Sunday. School closed on Monday afternoon with the singing of the National Anthem. WAI-TOI-TOI—URENUI. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The ordinary monthly meeting of the Ati Awa Troop of Frontiersmen takes place on Friday evening next in the Urenui library. As is generally the case with me Dilling contracts which are commenced in the autumn months, owing to the continued wet weather, the one now in progress in the Pikau Road has had to be discontinued, with very little to show in the way of metal being placed on the road, and unless a considerably long dry spell is experienced it is probable the contractors will not return to the job until next spring. Meanwhile the settlers will have to .be content to plot! through the 88 chains of mud, which was to have been metalled, as best they can, and console themselves with the hope that before next year the contract will have been completed.

It is understod that the supervisor (Mr. Glasson) of the carrot and mangold growing competition for isehool children, which is being carried out under the auspices of the Farmers’Union, will be in this district during the coming month for the purpose of inspecting the various plots which have been entered. From the local supervisor I learn that one crop of mangolds is of exceptional merit and reflects great credit on the youthful competitor, who, it might be mentioned, is a little girl of thirteen. The carrot crops are also good, and fully bear out the reputation which this district hgs attained for producing this class of root crop. Senior cadets and mounted troopers are reminded that the customary fortnightly drill tgkes place in Urenui on Thursday and Friday next. The Mimi schoolroom was well filled on Friday evening last, when Mr. Kedgley, of the Presbyterian Church, Waitara, delivered an interesting address, which, as there were no Easter services held during that' period in this locality, took the form of a sermon siutable to that period, treating of the resurrection of Christ. In the course of the evening several hymns were sung, Miss Ethel Phillips presiding at the organ, which has received the much-needed attention of an expert tuner. Those sportsmen requiring licenses for the forthcoming shooting season, which opens on May 1, are reminded that the same may be obtained from the post offices at Urenui and Uruti. As regards this locality, pheasants do not seem particularly plentiful this season, though there are a fair number of Californian quail to be seen. Hares are even more numerous than usual, and will probably be as destructive as ever amongst the root crops. A few good shots with dog and gun should have no difficulty in securing good bags. The Urenui Football Club held another successful social on Thursday evening last, which despite the inclement weather was fairly well attended. The annual meeting of householders was held in the Mimi schoolroom on Monday evening last, Mr. J. F. Phillips presiding over a fair attendance. The balance sheet (showing receipts to have been £62 18s 6d and expenditure £35 5s lOd, leaving a credit balance of £26 12s 8d) was adopted . The chairman, in commenting upon the work carried out during the year, mentioned that another large space of concrete had been laid down, and he thought that the surroundings compared favorably with most schools of its size, but at the same time the committee did not intend to let matters • rest at that, and with the aid of the hou&abolJfcu-ii hoß@d to still iurther add

to the beauty of the grounds. The board’s officials had visited the school and offered to supply certain requisites on the condition that the committee undertake various improvements. One was that they plant out the rough portion of the section in trees to break the south wind and help to keep down weeds, etc., and he would expect settlers to attend and assist with the work. All present promised to do their best, and in addition it was decided to start right away, and also to lay down a tennis court for the girls, it being left in the hands of the chairman and Mr. Johnson to secure the required labor. Mr. Phillips offered to make the committee a present of a lawn mower, for which he received the thanks of those present. A circular from the Educational Institute of New Zealand was read asking householders to assist in bringing before the authorities the necessity for providing more accommodation for pupils in many schools. The meeting passed a resolution that it was quite in sympathy with the promoters of the appeal, and decided to render any assistance possible. The following were then elected a. committee for the ensuing year: Messrs. J. F. Phillips. Geo. Baker, Chas. Willison, A. Johnson, and G. Spurr, and at a subsequent meeting, Mr. Phillips was re-appointed chairman and Mr. Spurr secretary.