DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1922, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

MANGATOKI. fProm Our Own Correspondent.) The Union Sunday School has recently been revived after a lapse of some months, and It must cause gratification to the teachers to see so many attending. I This has been a very fine winter, and the farmers have been busy preparing for next season. Many enthusiasts journeyed from here during Hawera Show week to witness the football matches. His many friends will be pleased to hear that Mr. Fred. Briscoe Is about again after his illness. Miss Horner, who Tor ten years has been resident In Fiji, is at present staying with Mrs. M. Innes. Mrs. E. Gifford and Mrs. F. Perry have left on an extended holiday to Australia. The plain and fancy dress ball, organised by the young ladies of the district, took place last Thursday, and from start to finish was an unprecedented success—in fact, the ball of the season. The committee, with Messrs. N. and I. Perrott as hon. secretaries, worked splendidly, and they deserve nothing but the highest praise for the .able manner in which they carried out their onerous tasks. An excellent floor had been prepared, while other busy hands had decorated the hall with greenery and Chinese lanterns. This, along with the multi-colored costumes of the dancers in fancy dress, presented a brilliant spectacle indeed. McCarty’s orchestra discoursed sweet strains, and added greatly to the enjoyment of the record assembly of fully 200, from far and near. Prizes for fancy dresses, judged by Mrs. McCarty and Miss Gardiner, were won by Mr. F. Parson (Indian Rajah), Miss W. Cooper (Persian Dancer), Mr. J. Perry (Bluebeard), Miss ,JE f Perry (Fatima). Amongst the many others were the follow’tng:' Miss Joyce (Japanese), Mr. Flavell (Mexican), Miss D. Benton (Crimson Rambler), Mr. IL. Rowe (Arab), Miss Perrott (Norwegian Peasant), Miss E. Astbury (Dutch Girl), Miss M. Bublitz (Night), Miss B. Bublitz (Pierrette), Miss E. Ousey (Folly), Mr. Williamson (Pierrot). Ample justice was done to the dainty supper handed round, after which dancing continued till the small hours of the morning.

TAHORA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The Auckland-New Plymouth Main Trunk line' has advanced one step further. Some little time ago. the big ballast engine arrived at Tahora in sections and was well put together under the capable supervision of our local engineer. Last week the ballast trucks arrived, and are now ready for work. The ■ballast engine driver (Mr. W. Farland) arrived last week, and the new ballast guard is expected soon. Ballast operations will probably start in about a fortnight, and the line should be. officially opened to Tahora in about twelve months. I understand that the crushing plant Ife’ y now at the Te Wera gravel-pit. With the ballast train at Tahora and the crushing plant at Te Wera, things must move soon. The line is to be gravelled in three “lays.’’ The ballast train will do two trips a day. Rumor has it that the Tahora sawmill may start soon. This would be a good thing, as it would tend to relieve the unemployment. Mr. Clelland recently visited Wellington to interview the Minister of Public Works regarding getting the Kohuratahl-Tahora Road metalled immediately. It is hoped something practical will come from the interview. A number of men have recently been employed on the Moki Road, some miles beyond Tahora. Local residents think the Government should push on tunnelling work beyond Tahora. This would relieve unemployment and the work would be reproductive. We are at present experiencing a period of fairly hard frosts. HURFORD ROAD. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The euchre party and dance held on Friday, July 7, was undoubtedly the best held this winter, there being 11 tables at euchre. The prize-winners were: Miss E. Bright (ladies') and Mr. L. Seamark, junr. (gent.’s). The music for the dancing was supplied by Mrs. Woods (who is paying a short visit to her sister, Mrs. W. Matthews) and Miss Collier. During the evening Mr. Smith sang a couple of songs; also Miss Collier and Mr. Williams. The following Friday’s function was not quite so well attended, there being a scarcity of the fair sex. However, a very enjoyable evening was spent. Miss Collier won the lady’s prize (a tin of tea, kindly donated by Mr. Arthur Carter, Moturoa), which Miss Collier sold on behalf of the school committee and realised 8s 6d. The purchaser (Mr. L. Shrimpton.) re-donated the tea for a lady’s nrize this week, so the committee were fortunate. The gent.’s prize was won by Mr. Antony. Mrs. R. C. McKoy, who was taken to the hospital in the ambulance on July 6 and operated on for some internal complaint, has re'covered sufficiently to. return home. Mr. Blackburn and family have left these parts and taken up their residence in Oakura. The Jr. successor (Mr. Marsh) is giving the farm a spell for a month, so will not be coming here for some time yet. Mfr Morgan, a new resident on the road, is making good progress with his buildings in preparation for the coming season. Mr. R. D. Spence is rebuilding his cowshed, and -putting in machines. Calves have started making their appearance, being earlier than usual for here. The cream cart was running once a week, but is now going twice a week.

OMATA-SPOTSWOOD. (From Our Own Correspondent.) At last we have awakened from our Rip Van Winkle rest, and if one can judge by tha amount of enthusiasm shown at the late meeting of our Progressive Society, we should now foige ahead. ,"Being one of those ancients who still drives hordes, I am hoping ardently that the sidetracks on Mission Hill and Windy Point Hill will receive attention by the Borough Council—adequate attention, I mean: not as hitherto—just a few spoonsful of sand or rough metal, or a sod or two thrown on to shut our mouths. Speaking of roads calls to mind a narrow escape I had a few days ago, and I hope motor-lorry drivers will exercise more care in future, or be compelled to do so. The lorries being so long should be drawn as far as possible to the side of the metal when passing other vehicles, to avoid striking these vehicles, lit my case, when a lorry was passing my trap, the driver, disregarding all rules of courtesy as well as those of the road, kept right on’the crown of the road, with the result that, although my gig was well over on the sidetrack. it was struck by the lorry, which had swerved towards me. This is not the first Incident of the kind that has occurred to me, ans I intend to make the name of the driver public if such should happen again. b hear that the ladies of the district are again doing their little towards helping the soldiers. They are joining a millinery class held by Miss Hunt, an oxnert milliner, at Mrs. Hughes’ house, Barrett Road, every Saturday afternoon, the whole profits of which are to go to the Uriemnloyed Soldiers’ Fund. The course consists of eight lessons for £1 or four for 10s, and should be well attended if one may judge by the fine way in which the women came forward to help during the war. Besides asissting this deserving cause, the family millinery can ail be attended to at a small cost, and though we are all poor nowadays, we must have some sort of hat. Those Ladies who have not already joined the classes shduld communicate with Mrs. Hughes.