DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 250, 1 March 1911, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS

(From Our Own Correspondents.) DUDLEY ROAD. , > j On Friday last the Dudley Road Creamery suppliers held a picnic in Messrs. Broadmore's hay paddock. All the settlers rolled up, and, favored by the weather, a most enjoyable time was spent. In the evening a large crowd ,(111 fact one of the largest seen hero-for some time) attended at the hall, where a social and dance were the order of things. The programme was opened with the "Settlers' Grand March," Mr. and Mrs. Ben Codd leading off. Then followed a "Scotch dance by Miss 0. Todd; club swinging by the Misses Kennedy; "Mistresses and Maids," by the girla; mandolin solo, Mr. Gordon Marsh; song, ''Davy Jones' Locker," Mr. L. Broadmore; Scotch reel, in costume, Miss H. Todd, Master Billy Todd, and the little Misses Meston; pianoforte duet, "The Campbells are Coming,' Miss Brereton and Miss G. Hodges; song, "Better Bide a Wee," Miss L. Burrows; interspersed throughout the dance programme. In an interval Mrs. Gorgan, on behalf of the Dudley Road Musical Society, presented Mrs. Brerelon with a silver-mounted handbag as a token of the esteem in which she was held by the society. Then followed a piccolo solo, "Codyphee," Mr. L. Egarr; ''The Boy's New Keeper," staged by the Musical Society; Highland Fling, Miss B. Todd, Master Billy Todd and the Misses Meston; mandolin solo, Master Gordon Marsh. The music for the evening was supplied by Messrs. G. Marsh (piano), W. Broadmore (violin), Ij. Broadmore (piccolo), and Len Egarr (piccolo). The M.C. was Mr. H. Broadmore.

One of the settlors, while driving home after the festivities, had the misfortune (owing to the darkness) to run off the Toad into a swamp. He was giving about twelve of his neighbors a lift home. Fortunately, nothing serious happened. I hear that the Dudley Road Testing Association, which has suspended operations lately owing to the pressure of farm work, intends starting again next Monday.

WAIONGONA. On Thursday last we held our annual excursion in conjunction with the Eltham School, at Te Henui. The weather was all that could be desired, and the picnicking ground was unanimously declared an improvement on former places. The young folk had a glorious time on the sand and in the water, and are already looking forward to next year's festival, Friday was declared a holiday by the school committee to enable the effects of a strenuous day to pass off before re-commencing school. The school library is now an accomplished fact, and though the beginning is a modest one, it is a move in the right direction. Mr. Hughes will be glad of donations of suitable books from parents, old soholars, and others. . MIDHJRST. '^ Lately /we lhave been Slaving very fine weather here, but last Saturday and Sunday saw a change. The rain came down in torrents, and the weather was bitterly cold, hut to-day. (Monday), though rather cold, is a nice fine day. The Midhirst Co-operative Dairy Factory employees are holding their annual picnic and sports on the factory's paddock on Thursday next, March 2nd. These sports have not been attended with the best of success during the last two years, competitors not rolling up as they did when the sports were first held. Given a line day, and a good competition, there seems no reason why the gathering should not be a huge success. Mr. S. Small is at present engaged in shifting his shop from its present site to one nearer the street frontage. > The Wesleyan Church Sunday School anniversary took place last Sunday. The weather interfered greatly with the attendance of the people. Their annual picnic is to take place at Ngaero Gardens next Saturday week. i( . ._, TIKOBANGL Mr. Hickman Russell has 1 completed his revision of values in the Waihi riding, and his work has apparently given general satisfaction, as I hear of no objections likely to be lodged. The matter of recovering rates from occupiers of native lands is still excitin'g considerable interest, and the attitude of the Clifton County Council on this subject at their meeting next Friday will be keenly watched by ratepayers, who are becoming restive, and feel that not only are they paying their own rates, but also have to make up the deficiency caused by the failure of the council to collect rates from native lands. On looking into this matter, I find that, subject to the consent of the ValuerGeneral, the council has power to amend the roll, and can therefore take the matter into its own hands by forthwith placing on the roll the names of those occupiers who have, hitherto escaped their share of local taxation. It may be surprising to learn that in the Tikorangi and Waihi ridings alone there are about twenty-five European occupiers affected, and from whom rates could be collected without any serious difficulty, and in addition, there are a considerable number of Maori occupiers from whom , rates could almost as easily be recovered. Indeed, it is perhaps not an exaggeration to say that if this question is approached in a resolute manner, the Clifton County Council would succeed in drawing rates from almost every acre of land in the two ridings. A picnic is to be held in Mr. R. Lye's grounds on Thursday next in aid of the Anglican V.icaragc fund. Dinner and tea are to be provided, and a good attendance is expected, as in addition to the usual attractions, the return cricket match, Married v. Single, is to ho played, when the latter arc going to make heroic efforts to recover the lost "ashes."

The experiment of feeding dairy cows on rape lias had a good trial, and results show that they can he rape-fed for about two hours daily without injuring the quality of the butter. A grave drawback, however, is red-water, which has assumed rather serious proportions in several herds, and it is evident th.lt present methods of stimulating milk production over a long period cause such a strain on the cow's system that more care will have to be exercised in providing (hem with a mixed diet, .although on» would suppose that a little rape along with the dry grass that prevails at this time of the season would be an ideal feed.