DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1922, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

MIDHIRST. SCHOOL CHILDREN’S BALL. Midhirst public hall presented an animated scene on Friday night, the occasion being the Midhirst school children’s plain and fancy dress ball. The dance, which was in aid of the school funds, was organised by the teachers (under the auspices of the school committee), and was in every way a creditable entertainment. The following were the successful prizewinners : First, Ernie Bound and Molly Simunons (Mr. and Mrs. Golliwog) ; special prize, Kowan Jenkin (Shavings) ; special prize (presented by the judges, Mesdames Howard and Good) Toni and Nancy Hefford (Rat Catcher and Mate). Seniors: First prize (girls) Jean McMeekan (Cingalese) ; (boys), W. Baskin (Ruination) ; special prize, Hilda Shotter (In? dian Squaw) ; extra prizes, Annie Boniface (Princess Mary) and Billy Guthrie (Viscount Lascelles). Other competitors were: Olive Simons (Red Cross Nurse), Muriel Vilzke (Spring), T. Cookson (Little Boy Blue), Dorcas Sherson (Snowstorm), Don Harkness (Sailor), Zena Tapp (Night), Olive Graham (Little Red Riding Hood), Thelma Symons (Midhirst Dairy Company), Hula Hefford (Work-bag), Conrad Scanlon (Jester), Annie Boniface (Princess Mary), Emily Bound (Japanese), Hector Slight (Baggy Breeches), Keith Rutledge (Baggy Breeches), Tom and Nancy Hefford (RatCatcher and Mate), Agnes Hefford (Good Night), Reggie Goble (Bee Boy), Gertie Edward (RagtLme), Marjorie Volzke (Christmas Tree), Toby Nielsen (Pierrot), Frank Adlam (Little Boy Blue), Nina Burton (Court Gentleman), Joe Riley (Cook), Arthur Adlam (Order of the Bath), Donald Bain (Boy Scout), Jack Hefford (Pierrot), Ivan Belk (American Cowboy), Naomi Uncles (Flower Girl), Madge Gray (Fairy), Ella Mail (Little Boy Blue), Louis Volzke (Cap and Bells), Billy Mail (Spring Chicken), Elizabeth Dickson (Japanese), A. J. Snookes (Robinson Crusoe), Thelma Coon (Granny Chamberlain), Lois Guthrie (Fairy), Alan Bllck (Scout), George Bound (A Baker), Ellen Symons (Battledore and Shuttlecock), Thelma Savage (Good Luck), Melba Belk (Japanese Girl), Laurence Bound (Boy Blue), Jack Symons (Nigger), Nellie Snookes (France), Ruth Adlam (Superstitious), Sylvia Edwards (Autumn), Dorothy Dickson (Merry Moments), Nora Graham (Domino), Mollie MacKinnon (Pack of Cards), Mavis Goble (Knitting Craze), Dora Carter (Superstitious), Evelyn Carter (Peace), S. Coon (Indian), Percy Harkness (Order of the Bath), Milton Jenkin (Scotch Highlander), Dickson Harkness (Sailor), Irene Snookes (Starlight Fairy). Also the following In plain dress: Win. Pollock, Irene Hamblyn, Bill Savage, H. Hayward, Arthur Simons, Robert Smith, Robert Pollock, Kathleen Robertson, Stanley Simons, George Norton, Alec Pollock, Catherine Irving, Myra Simons, Lilian Irving, Raymond Kehely.

RATAPIKO. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The annual concert in connection with the school was held, in the. schoolroom on Friday evening, the proceeds going towards buying prizes for the school children. As usual, a crowded house greeted the performers, people coming from as far as Inglewood, Tariki, and Kaimata, to witness the children go through their various items. The teachers (Mrs. Wilson and Miss I. Surrey) are to be congratulated upon the way they worked and trained the children, and it must be gratifying to them that the whole concert turned out such a success. The committee also worked hard to make it a succeas, building a new stage and arranging seating accommodation for over one hundred adults. The weather was decidedly favorable. The programme, which was a large and varied one, was as follows:—Overture, Miss V. Wilson; opening address, Mr. V. Jacobsen; opening chorus, all scholars; recitation, Percy Hatcher; cantata (Magicwood), boys and girls; duet (Excelsior), Mr. D. Lange and Mr. J. Howard; monologue, Vincent Dravitski and V. Jacobsen ; song of the flowers, girls; recitation, Mr. McLean ; marching song, senior boys; song (Jack’s the Boy), Mr. Gee; dancing steps, girls; recitation, Gracie Mills; dumb-bell drill, senior boys; song (The Outlaw), encored, Mr. T. Long; recitation, Ben Buckley; Japanese lantern drill, senior boys and girls; recitation, Mr. McLean; character (Three Kittens), Noel Hatcher, Jean, and Davie Dravitski; Irish jig, Violet Jacobsen and Eileen Bungay; song, Mr. D. Lange and chorus (Paderewski), the latter bringing the house down; dialogue, senior boys and girls; recitation, Doris Corbett ; character sketch, tep little nigger boys; exhibition of club swinging. Miss M. Wilson and Miss V. Clough: Ratapiko school jazz band, selection, closing item, and National Anthem ; closing speech, Violet Jacobsen.

After the close the chairman (Mr. E. A. Grigg), In a nice little speech, thanked one and all for the success it turned out. A splendid supper was then done full justice to, and the room being cleared, dancing commenced at 11.30, and went with a swing until the small hours of the morning, Mr. Grigg acting as M.C. in his usual good style. The orchestra, which consisted of Mrs. W. Thomson (piano), 'Mr. Twigg (violin). Mr. D. Lange (cornet), Mr. J. Howard (co-net), supplied splendid music for the dance, quite up to any •ity dances.

This being the last dance of the season as far as Ratapiko is concerned, everyone will look forward to the next year’s concert. Through the above effort a fair amount of cash should be available to buy prizes for the children, which the latter deserve after such a good report from the Inspector at the late annual examination.

Through the long spell of dry weather this year the roads in the back country are better than the main roads. The latter, although metalled, are in a rough state for this time of year. The Mana Road, which was tarsealed (I beg pardon, clay-sealed) last summer. is In excellent condition for motor traffic, and the Daily News and mail are being delivered dally bj’ unotor at about fifty bumps per minute.

Our creamery has now closed down altogether. The Moa Dairy Company collects creani with its lorry from the end of the metal

The Fresh Food Company and Maoriland have a fairly large hold in this district this year. The Fresh Food collects cream three days per week and carts It to Tariki railway station. The cockles are getting into full swing again, although the grass is very backward. The dairy herds, however, are looking well, and coming In well, but the farmers are mostly concerned about the price of butter fat, it being about the first thing looked for in the morning paper. According to rumor, we might have a thousand acre lake here in the near future, that is if the hydro scheme comes off. Mr. and Mrs. Fairbrother have departed for pastures new, their destination being Rotorua, for which place they left by motor car last Mr. Old has taken over the farm lately occupied by Mr. Fairbrother. The farmers are busy stumping and ploughing for the swede crops, and top dressing hay paddocks. There are every indications of plenty of feed for stock, and everything in the garden is lovely. A new bridge is being erected over the Makara stream at.the lower end of Ratapiko Road. The road has also had portions metalled, some 200 odd yards of metal having been put on the worst places. ARAWHATA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Milking is in full swing now, most of the fanners having their full co-niplement of cows Grass and vegetation, generally speaking, look well after the recent rains. The vegetable gardens have been making rapid progress, and are looking really well. Miss C. E. Orr has returned to Arawhata after an enjoyable holiday in Wellington. The local school has re-opened with a good attendance. Some of the pupils have a long distance to come, and through swampy, rough paddocks they attend in all weathers, which is very encouraging.