MATA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 10 December 1913, Page 3

MATA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Their well-wishers in this and adjoining districts will be glad to know] that Mr and Mrs W. Miskelly, who left New Zealand for the Old Country several months ago, arrived safely at their destination, and are.now residing in County Dowh^ Ireland. It will be, remembered that Mrs Miskelly sailed some time before her husband, and had the unenviable experience of being in a collision off the Spanish coast. With the other passengers she was transferred by boat at night through a dense fog to a vessel which came to their rescue. Fortunately, neither she nor her little son was any the worse for this adventure, though some inconvenience was caused by the inevitable delay in regaining her" luggage. Though the few years Mr Miskelly spent in this country were by no means un-prospei-ous, his native Ulster never lost its attractions, and so it is with little surprise though with much regret that his old neighbors hear that he has decided- not to return to New Zealand. At present he is leasing a farm near Newtonards'i As this town is not very far-from Belfast, Mr Miskelly will not suffer from want of excitement if Mr Asquith proceeds with his Home Rule measure. Mr Miskelly was energetic and enterprising, of strict integrity, and possessing more than the usual amount of good spirits, and in all these « characteristics he had in his.wife a very suitable partner. The district is a decided loser through Mr Miskelly's resolution to remain in Ireland. Though it is nearly three years since the Rev. F. Copeland left this district there are still many people who remember ham with kindly feelings. Mr Copeland's exceptionally happy manner and sympathetic disposition made him very popular, and as he was a good speaker and a diligent visitor, he-was -considered an ideal. minister: for the "country. In addition .to hi* ordinary -. 'ministerial worM he. carried on a siiet,eessful Bible class among the school tehildreny who (except perhaps during the height of-" the milking season) remained practically without exception to his lessons. In this Mr Copland set a good example to his fellowclergymen, many of whom, while they condemn as Godless the present system ; of education, neglect the present opportunities of giving morj£ instruction I to the children. Mr Copeland isl*now at Apia, in Samoa, where he iis engaged in the teaching and preaching work of a Methodist Missionary. It will be pleasant news to" has friends that, in spite of the heat of the tropics, he is enjoying the best of health. He 6ays the language is coming to him slowly, though he is not yet 'very \ fluent. Mr Copeland's acquaintances will be amused to learn that ihe has assumed the role of "medicine man." In a recent letter received hy a local resident he writes: "It is really somewhat embarrassing what faith natives -have in theskill -of a fellow who knows more, about burying a man than curing him. Epsom salts seem to be a favorite remedy with -most missionaries, and I am becoming somewhat of an adept in coaxing a .packet into an empty beer bottle.?' Subscription lists have been circulated to procure money for -Che usual Christmas gift books for the school children. It has been the custom for many years to present each child with a book when^the school breaks up for the summer holidays. 'This is in no sense a prize, and therefore the happiness of no child is clouded by the re-' flection that want of scholastic brilliance has prevented him from securing a Christas .present. There are various disadvantages connected with -, small schools., but one of the advantages is that it is much easier to carry out such a benevolent scheme than where the attendance is larger. The parents and friends 6i the children almost invariably respond very liberally to the committee's appeal for funds; and no doubt it is some encouragement to the. scholars in politeness to realise that all* the residents are kindly dispased toward them. It happened on • one occasion that a collector was. met with, a ■"&" which did not stand for pence, hut for ihe -most part the children who take round the lists receive smiles as well as cash. One of the present collectors is remarkably energetic and successful . in her efforts, and if ' the amount to 'be received by the committee this year does equal the sums collected im .previous years, the falling oS will have to be attributed to the strike or the recent bad weather, for certainly it will not be due to any want of enterprise on the part of the local tax-gatherers. It is very much to the general satisfaction that the weather has taken a decided turn for the'better. For more than a -week the meteorological conditions weixe such sas even a meek man would complain alxmt. Wind and rain of a character more in keeping with winter than -with the beginning of summer distinguished the latter half of November. Becember opened with the barometer lower than had ever been previously recorded since observations were made di the local weather. The high wind proved too strong for several pine trees, and some of the relics of the bush which originally covered this country were also laid low. In one case the tree fell across the road, and had ito be removed before milk icould'-be'taken to the factory. Last year rasar the same place a p*ale overturned a. tree as some chil- , drerf were on their way to school, and it was only "by making a hasty retreat that they escaped injury. In stock yards—to put it wildly—there has been no nuisance on account of dust; but there has been more trouble than usual in keeping the tmilk in a condition in which it would not impart any dirt flavors. The milk supply ha® been reduced by the "bad weather —in some cases to the extent of two • or j three hundred pounds: The ia-humor i <of the clerk of the weaiJher culminated | -on "Wednesday in a hailstorm of. ox- ! ceptional violence. Jud-gjmg from the "i'Tway the hailstones took the bloom off lihe unripe "barberries, it is probable that fruit-growers suffered slightly as a result of the storm, wi: played havoc with many flcwe*- "x -fis feared that the Stratford Show would be -more unfortunate in regard to weather conditions than the Hawera Show; but the few residents who visited it on Thursday were favered with ideal weather. The state of the atmosphere is now such as is suitable to the summer season, and no doubt , the factory returns will be sensitive \ to the 'improvement.- Fortunately the cows, though inclined to go on strike in the matter of quantity, have again shown some improvement in regard to the quality of the milk. The latest teste range from 3.3 to 3.9, as oompared with, the former range of 3.3 to 3.6. The average test: is 3.52. Each advance made: in butter-fat content continues to find Mr Kemp's herd is the lead. . . ,