DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1916, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

3AKURA. (From Otir Own Correspondent]. The annual school picnic was lield in Mr. Gordon's paddock on Friday last. The weather Mas all that eonld be desired, and both the children and the adults enjoyed theuiselves. There were numerous running events for the jhild-V(-n. The married ladies' race was won by Mrs, Early. A dance was held in the hall in the evening, but there was not a very large attendance. Xo srhool prizes were given this year, it having been decided to donate the money r stead to the. Belgian l-'und. It seems a. pity the committee so decided, as the children look forward to receiving a book prize, and I am sure everyone in the district would gladly have given a little more to help the Belgians as well. Of course, the parents are much to blame j'or not attending the annual school committee election, and consequently single men are elected to the committee who cannot be expected to be in syitipthay with the tastes of small children.

Oil Monday the committee appointed to make arrangements for the farewell presentation to Messrs. Cowling and Morriss assembled in the hall to receive the secretary's balance-sheet. Mr. 0. Adlam presided. After all liabilities in connection with the social had been paid, there was a surplus oi £W. It was decided that half th,> above anynnit be handed over to Messrs .Jury and MeAlluni, as treasurers for the Tataraimaka district, and that the other half be held by Mrs, Smart and Mr. Aillam, as trustees for the-Oakura district. , Rain is badly needed here as well as in other parts of Taranaki. and if it does not come soon winter feed for stock will be a very serious matter, as the turnip crop is going off terribly.

1 notice in the county engineer's report at the last Council meeting that lie stated the roads in the Okato district were in fair order, ..with the c.vception of one or two down the coast. Now, does he mean to say that the metalled portion of the Wairan road is in fair order now, or has ever been so for the past three month:-? Let any live member of the Council take a run out here and have a look for himself. At the present time it resembles the scoria part of Mt. Egmont, only the boulders are more numerous. It is a positive menace to the safety of the residents who use this road, and is a disgrace to the Council, the engineer and the foreman, who has only put in about six hours on this road during the past six mouths. New metal has been put down, and with practically no blinding 011 it lias been rolled. Consequently it has all become loose, and is rapidly spreading into the water-tables and gorse, in which places it is far safer than on the road, but then, I suppose, those responsible for this state of alVairs will say, "Good enough for all those juggins on that road, who are only there to help to pay our wages!"