OKAIAWA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 23 December 1913, Page 4

OKAIAWA.

(From Ocb O;vn Corrkspondbni.)

The promoters of the school concert; were distinctly fortunate to have' va fine night on Thursday last; As usual, there was a full house; aritt the items met with the hearty approval of the audience. Taking into1 consideration the fact that there had only been a fortnight's preparation, the children, acquitted themselves remarkably well, and. all praise is due to Mrs Percy and .Mr Larcombe for the successful results. While all the items were good, the programme was rather too long, it being well after 11 o'clock before the end was reached. Consequently it became somewhat wearisome to the "four o'dockers." Songs, choruses, and dialogues' were given, the latter being the most popular items with .the'audience. From a spectacular; point of view the most attractive items were the .•."Swing,' Scene" and the Maypole dance. - A number of ex-pupils also assisted with the programme.- ' The accompaniments were played by Mrs U. Betts and Miss* Olivers. ■'".■■. * At the school. concert on Thursday evening, the chairman of * the School Committee (Mr A. Lees), on behalf of the pupils of the ' school •' and their parents, made a presentation to Mr Larcombe, of the teaching staffs who is leaving Gkaiawa. While congratulating Mr Larcombe upon, his promol tion, Mr Lees said that children and parents alike were sorry to lose him. He had taken a.great interest in the I children's games, and .the inspector's' report was sufficient proof that.he had not neglected their studies. Mr Lees then handed to Mr Larcombe a handsome barometer; with the. "best wishes, of the donors. ; "Your Own" would, also like to take this opportunity of congratulating Mr Larcombe upon the" excellent example he has set the children since he lias been a member of the staff, by his upright and gentlemanly conduct. Most residents have suffered. more or less *in consequence of Tuesday's gale. It is close, upon thirty years since we have had1 anything to equal it. At that time a house' was blown down in Okaiawa, and one of the inmates is still residing here. In consequence of the continued boisterous weather, farmers are having anything but- an enviable time. This applies 'in* particular to the dairy farmers. Where large herds are being milked, the ntud< is something awful. In mv own case,, milking takes a good half -hour longer on account of the extra washing required, but I was somewhat'consoled last week when 1 received a visit from, a friend wlio travels round a good deal. He informed .me that my yard and approaches were asphalt pavements, in comparison to some he nadf seen/ The mud also causes the cows' .teats to crack and become sore, which .does, not improve matters at all. Several settlers ; have had their hay down for the, past ;fortnight; and it it >is got in at all, it must be very poor stuff, indeed. Apiarists are also having a bad run. So far, there has been only about a week's decent "bee" wekther.. The gale on Tuesday last gave .the: bee men a busy time. Box-tops were flying in all directions, and in .many cases whole boxes were turned, upside down. The Holly Bank Apiary, which is particularly well sheltered: isuffered severely, the wind sweeping down over the trees and scattering nearly everything before it. A spell of decent \ summer weather would be» welcomed, by all. ' :\ [l -:>:- ■■■>•'■ Mr Oscar Landsperg, until recently manager of the Tempsky # road factory, and who has severed his connection with the Joll Company, wjas ent&S tamed at a smoke concert'blV Saturday evening prior to his departure frpni:. Okaiawa. Mr Landsperg is going to^ reside in Normanby, and devote his whole time to the poultry 1 business. ..:,.