DOWN THE LINE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1717, 7 January 1920, Page 7

DOWN THE LINE.

(From • Our Own Correspondent.) ' OTAKI, Jan, 5. A narrow escape from a serious accident occurred at Parapamumi on Now Year’s night, when two motor cyclists, travelling at a fast pace, came unexpectedly upon a trap-load of pleasure-seekers, who wore wending their way to a dance. The first cyclist missed violent contact with the horse by inches' only,' while the second has every reason to thank a .capable driver, who, just 'in the nick of time, turned his horse up i\n incline. The' cyclist, however, fell, but lucidly, was uninjured. Mrs Byron Brown, accompanied by Miss Brown and Air W into a Brown, are at present spending a holiday in Auckland. Mrs Jennings (Wellington) is among the visitors,to Otaki. Mr F. R. Smith, an erstwhile solicitor of Otaki, and now of Wha.katano, is at present visiting Otaki. Four yearlings sold on behalf of the Waikanao .stud farm at Auckland on Saturday realised £9OO. One sold at no loss than £4OO. ; The rainfall for Otaki for December to-’ tailed 1.87 inches. Rain fell on twelve days. The vital 'statistics for Otaki for 1919 were;— Births 63 as against 73 in 1918, deaths 32 (58), and marriages 23 (9). The heavy mortality in’ 1918 was due to the influenza epidemic. Competing at the motor cycle sports at Gisborne, L. Maugham, of Otaki, was placed third in the Gisborne Park Handicap of ten laps, and third in the Consolation. OTAKI. Jan. 6. A report has been current in Wellington that Miss Mack, war lecturer, is lost on the Tararuas.. Locally, the report is not taken seriously. ’ Miss Mack, with a party, scaled the. Tararuas on Friday last and returned to the' lower hut with the intention of crossing to Grey town, this trip to commence on Sunday. - As Miss Mack, who is accompanied by Mr A. R. Knox, an experienced mountaineer and his daughter, intended to go by easy stages, it is considered that she is safe and well —in fact has had, scarcely time, to report at Groytown. Then again Clio Tauherenikau river may be in flood and the party unable to cross. W. Bowden, jun.. at present at the West Coast (South Island) race meetings, is doing splendidly, and riding in great form. Ho dead-heated on Glorify as welLas getting into a second place, he won on Grcckson, after riding, a fine race, and has won no less than four hurdle races on Arlington despite the f;ict that' he had to borrow a policeman's saddle and saddle-bags to get the necessary weight (well over 14st). It is understood that a resident Catholic priest will shortly bo appointed to Levin. The rainfall in Levin for December totalled 1,58 inches. Rain fell on 15 days. - For tlic year the fall was 50.85 inches.