NOTES FROM OUR TRAVELLING CORRESPONDENT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1262, 7 May 1896, Page 18

NOTES FROM OUR TRAVELLING CORRESPONDENT.

WOODVILLE. The Woodville Cheese Factory lias just finished operations for the season. The total amount of cheese turned out is nearly ninety tons, the prices realised being fairly' satisfactory. Mr [Jartstonc, tho enterprising manager, is deserving of the thanks of the community. The loss of the cheese factory at Woodville would be a serious blow to the place. Mr Charles Hall, the member for the district, addressed his constituents last week at Danevirko. The local papers reported the speech in full. The address was a surprise to Mr Hall's most sanguine supporters, who generally looked upon their member as a quiet, honest representative without any great or special oratorical ability, but since the delivery of the Danevirko speech, friends and opponents alike, regard Mr Hall as a very much underrated man. The address was clear and definite on every particular, and was free from spleen and personalities.

The Maharahara (which is distant from Woodville nine miles) is certainly a place abounding with minerals and other deposits. Some few years ago there was a copper boom, but after working it was found to be unpayable. The latest discovery was at first supposed to bo coal, but upon science being brought to bear on the substance it was found to be jet. The Government analyst says the the jet, the same as that supplied for analysis, will require drying, and this causes it to crack, rendering' it valueless.

Maharahara is possessed of a lady teacher wdio believes in maintaining discipline. A youth of eight summers took into his cranium that it was possible for him to take charge of the school and reduce the oilier pupils and tho mistress to a state of subordination, but Miss Kuhtze is made of different stuff, and upon the first sign of disobedience the youthful hero had his pants hanging on his legs, and in the twinkling of an eye was over the knees of the teacher, receiving a well merited flagellation on a part recommended by all scientific men for such operations. Indiscreet parents took the matter into court, hut were sadly disappointed when the Stipendiary Magistrate Stanford, with his usual good judgment, complimented Miss Kuhtze for the manner in which she had carried out so disagreeable a duty, and mulcted the parents in cost-. Bravo Miss Kuhtze.

While writing about this matter it would be well to point out that man,') teachers are in the habit of slapping children about the head, and especially the ears. This is a dangerous and a barbarous practice which should be put down with a strong hand. The manner in which Miss Kuhtze administered tho rod is by far and away tho safest and best, as even beating on tho hands is a dangerous practice. There are cases where children have been injured bar life with bruised joints and sinews, There is a movement on foot to form a Woodville volunteer corps. There is no reason why the Government should not give its sanction, as there is a large drill hall going to rot. Immense satisfaction is being expressed at the manner in which the Advances to Settlers Act is now being administered. Mr Kennedy Macdonald's visit to tho district have had an excellent result. Tho Paliiatua Amateur Dramatic Com- . pany gave a performance of the opera •• The Pirates of Penzance," in the Alexandra Hall, Woodville, last week, but en account of the wet weather the attendance was not so large as it would otherwise have been. Tho opera was very creditably i performed by tho amateurs.

A social was given in aid of tho Catholic Church, and was well patronise!. Tho Uev Father McKenna is in charge of tho diocese. There is no more popular parson from Masterton to Woodville, even outside of his own flock. The. Rev Father is an enthusiastic footballer, and fakes a hand with tho young in all outdoor and manly recreations.