MANGAWERA NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11445, 26 January 1918, Page 5

MANGAWERA NOTES.

From Our Own Correspondent,

An incipient fire was discovered in the showroom of Mr D. Barrett’s hlacksmithing and wheelwright shoo, on Thursday evening, but fortunately,, when first seen, ghad not secured a- hold' on the dry woodwork. Several’members of tho Fire Brig.de were promptly on the scone, aud rapidly had the flames extinguished. The origin of the outbreak is ■?.. unknown, but 'the probability is that some smoker had carelessly" thrown down a lighted match.

The cocksfoot harvest, which is usually fairly heavy around Mangaweka, has not proved: very good this year, while much of the seed there lias been destroyed by the wet weather early in the mouth. From various reports it would appear that much less seed lias beeu taken up than in any previous year since the grass was laid down extensively. Orchard thieving is- still a thriving practice in this locality—not the petty pilfering of schoolboys, hut downright robbery on a large scale. One small grower was recently relieved in the interval between dark and. daylight of t-pproximately 1301bs ofpSplendid plums,, duo to be delivered to a purchaser-ou the following day. Itjjseems, to travesty a popular war spying, that "they only thieve who only wait and thieve,’ for in regard fro fruit the growers do not m kc a fortune so-fi-.r as Mangaweka is concerned. Anniversary Day, as-usual, passed oft very quietly hero, only a few private picnics marking the- advent of the provinci d holiday. Ready war workers are entering many fields, bur as competitors to “man’s faithful friends, the dog,” the two who assisted a dogless drover in piloting a mob of troublesome stud sheep on a recent dark night, provided an innovation. It was a sight th;t warmed the hearts of the natives, and.the “loader’s” frantic imitation of the canine language was something worth hearing. Here’s to their pluck!:

The L ulies’ Croquet Club is providing a very successful institution this vear, and some excellent sport is indulged; in. Several new members have come forward and the play is becoming decidedly popular.