DISTRICT NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10161, 10 February 1911, Page 5

DISTRICT NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondents.)

PONGAROA.

Pongaroa has been looking very dry and brown for some time .past. Welcome rain fell on Sunday, however, and somewhat relieved anxiety as to tanks running dry. • 'Dry 'weather and several revere frosts have played havoc with gardens, a:.:l the or I look l : or the Ho.ticultural and Industrial Show early in March u /.i;: very pro'.ni'Lig. To-day so/era! o:n i j.'e got some amusement out of a msn's misfortunes. He had a bullock dray, at the river side laden with a new tank, which slowly and laboriously he was filling with the not-too-clean water of the river. At length the procession of bullocks were given their marching orders. Slowly they moved up the rise bin even "'bullock waggon pace" 'was too much for the water, which bumped out to the accompaniment of cheering remarks from the crowd, such as, "Cheer up; it's getting lighter!" But the man with the dan- . gerous looking whip heeded not. "Crack" went the whip. On moved the bullocks over a slight depression. Breathless excitement! When over rolled the tank in three pieces—and I —the crowd on the bank was' •amused!. The driver of the bullocks drove on, and the river regained its own. Last* week a four-roomed house owned by Mr Pedersen, and occupied by Mr Dick, was burned down about 5 a.m. No water was available. There was £SO insurance l on the furniture. The house was insured, but the insurance will not cover the loss. The new bank is to be a twostoried wooden building, costing about £IBOO, and is to be erected immediately. > - Pongaroa carpenters have their hands full just now. Two new shops | are being erected in the township. On Wednesday the Anglican Church Fete is to be held, and an entertainment entitled'"Who's Who" .'by local amateurs in the evening. Fine weather will/make theaffair an assured success. " ■■-,'-•'' Whooping cough has a hold on the children just now. Doubtless, they are feeling aggrieved at its appearauce in the holidays. The Pongaroa Rifle Club are "."the holders of the local shield for this yeaiv This was competed for on the. 22nd. Weber, the former holders, were, beaten "by four points. Pongaroa -'nien did, well at Danrievirke.oh February Ist and 2nd, beating Weber again, and falling only three points short of securing that shield l also. The first crioket match of the, season is to be played between Pongaroa and Weber, at Weber, <. v. Saturday, 11th inst.