DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1922, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

WAI-TOl-TOI-URENUI. (From Our Own Correspondent.) For the month of April the Wai-toi-toi Dairy Company have advanced the sum of Is 3d per lb for butter-fat, being enabled to do this by having disposed of the April-May output of butter at Is 4%d, the wisdom of which is now apparent, considering the extremely low rates prevailing in the Home market for cheese. The factory is still running on every alternate day. and although most of the cows are now being milked once a day, there is still a fair amount of milk taken; in fact, considerably over double that of this period last season. For the time of the year the weather is extremely mild, and there is a good growth of grass. To those farmers who were behind hand with their sowing operations for spring feed, this has bene most fortunate, and in some cases the plough is still going. Topdressing will be the next operation to engage attention, and although the financial state of affairs is none too satisfactory, the reduced price of slag will enable a fair area to receive the necessary assistance for milk production next season. Commencing with June 1, for a period Gf six months, this district, as regards postal arrangements, will be going back to a position it occupied a few years ago, inasmuch as it will only a be served with a tri-weekly mail service. Although, no doubt, strict economy has to be observed by the department, in view of the present financial depression, it seems rather hard that an important district such as this should be deprived of a daily delivery, and It is to be hoped that some effort will be made to have it retained. Owing ttj, the limited amount of cropping in this district during the past season, for the first time for many years there will be no visit from a threshing mill, and consequently those who have small stacks of wheat, oats or barley will have to devise some other means of extracting the grain. The Taranaki Education Board’s truant inspector (Mr. Geo. Pascoe) paid his periodical visit to the local school during the week. I understand the children are attending most regularly, nad little fault is to be found in thsi respect. At his custdmary fortnightly address to the settlers in the Mimi . School, at which there was -a good attendance, Mr. Kedgley, of the Presbyterian Church, Waitara, announced that during the winter months the hour of assembly would"* be sevpn o’clock. . A special meeting of the Ate Awa troop of Frontiersmen will be held tn the Ureiftrt Library on Wednesday evening, to make final arrangements for their first annual dinner, which takes place on Tuesday next. A full attendance of members Is requested, as it is hoped to make the function as successful as. possible, and to accord visiting conjrades a most hearty reception. The periodical visit of the officers of the headquarters' squadron will also take place on that occasion. The necessity for increased accommodation as regards a supper-room in the Urenui Hall is becoming more apparent every year, as whenever there is an important ball held in the building, it is hardly fair to expect the ladles who work so willingly towards the success nf any function in the matter of dispensing refreshments to carry out the work in the extremely small space allotted them for that purpose. The only wonder is that they have continued to do so, for the length of time they have. From time to time various functions have been held in aid of this object, and it Is time those interested approached the trustees of the hall and endeavoured to ascertain If some measures cannot be' taken to remedy matters. Although times are far from prosperous, still the matter is one of urgency, and there is little doubt that by a united effort a solution of the difficulty could he found. This was most apparent at the recent successful ball of the Uruti Beach Races Club, the report of which was accidentally overlooked.

A very pleasing feature of this function was the presentation to Mr. Chas. Barnitt. of a most handsome silver entree dish,‘suitably inscribed, in recognition of his 14 years’ service ns honorary secretary of the club. Mr. A. H. Ilalcombe, in making the presentation, made especial mention of the manner In which Mr. Barnitt had so ungrudginglj’ rendered his services for- the advancement of the club, a compliment which Mr. Barnitt suitably acknowledged. as well as his thanks for the handsome present. The gold bangle, which was also suitably inscribed, won by Miss Edith Baker’s Takaganui, was presented to that lady by Mr. Halcombe, who remarked that he trusted she would win many more. The thanks of tho club are also due to thoes ladies who worked so untiringly to make the ball the success it undoubtedly was, and also to the M’s.C. (Messrs. C. Rumbal and G. N. Skelton), who carried out their duties so well. The returned soldiers of this district are making active preparations for their annual ball, which takes place next month. This function is always one of the events of the season, as the boys spare no bains to make the reunion a thorough success, and gave their friends a most enjoyable evening. .The Urenui Football Club's first juniors are to be congratulated on their first victory of the season, which they accomplished by defeating the Rahotu team on Saturday last by 13 points to 3, and every credit is due to the club captain (Mr. V. Tate) for the manner >n which he has trained his team, the weeklypractice having no doubt been a large factor towards their win. It- is only by constant attention to this department that any club can hope to achieve success. The sceond fifteen were not so successful, though they made a much better showing against Okato than on the previous Saturday, and before the round is completed will no doubt score a win. In order to keep the team in form it is proposed to hold a married versus single match on June 3rd, when all clubs have a bye on account of the representatives match at Wanganui. Those who call to mind the last match of this description, played on the recreation ground some 19 •years ago, will have recollections of a very exciting contest. The benedicts led off well, but it wits bellows to mend after the first 15 minutes, and when time was called the single mon had scored a most decisive victory. It might also be mentioned that the lady supporters of both teams were 'most enthusiastic In their efforts to encourage the players.