DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1916, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

TATARAIMAIKA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Outsiders run away wit!) the idea that his is a record season for tlie farmers, 'he prices for butter and cheese cer9inly are good, but the cost of living has een correspondingly increased, and on very hand there are demands on our urses. And right glad are the majority f us to be able to "Pay, pay, pay!" nd so long as our cows give milk our alves drink that nourishing fluid, our ields yield crops of oats, wheat, or bars.Y> so long will we be able to meet ny future calls which may lte made on 13 for our heroes. While we are going bout our usual occupations, our houghts are ever and anon straying to -gypt, Flanders, Salonika, Russia, and lesopotamia, and we try to peer (in he minds' eye, Horatio), into those errible trenches endeavouring' to realise rhat manner of life is being lived there, n one of. George' Elliot's novels, "Felix lolt," 11think, one of her eiyiraeters renarks: "Nothing but a good, strong, terible vision will save you," and so, in the natter of, realising the deep significanoe f passing events, we must Have a "good trong, terrible vision."

The other evening a patriotic meeting was held in the local school, Mr. W. Honeyfield presiding, for the purpose of finding ways and means to raise our share of the .£IO,OOO aimed at. All the ladies and gentlemen present formed themselves into a committee to further the noble object, viz., to help provide a living- for those who have been incapacitated while fighting for us. Those present responded handsomely t<i the appeal, and the list is daily being added to. All cattle, etc., donated will be sold at Stony River sale on the 4th May. when the Okato contributions will he disposed of. Buyers will turn up and render ihe sale successful, seeing there are quite a num. ber of fat cattle donated.

Our cows arc going down with a run, and flowing pails are now only a pleasam. memory, seeing it takes at least ten or twelve cows to fill one pail. Owing to the presence of a good deal of sickness in the district the School Committee elections did not eventuate.

I regret we have lost our most efficient secretary, Mr. Henry Botcher, than whom nn r.in? could be more diligent, painstaking or devoted. The local School Committee Rave him and tilt" other members of the family an evening before they left this district for Stratford. Mr. Smith, chairman of the School Committee, presented Mr. Henry Botcher with a fountain pen, taking..the opportunity of eulogising his many good qualities, and those of his family as generous settlers and good neighbours. Mrs. Dougherty drew a pleasing picture of the invaluable help the School Committee always received from Mr. I-letiry Botcher, and in the name of the residents of Tataraimaka she presented a silver teapot to his mother and father. Sir. Addeiibrooke added a few words from a purely clerical view-point. A very pleasant evening was spent by those present. Mr. Burnett presided at the piano, Mr. T. Morris making an efficient M.C., while Mr. Henry Larkin made a most courteous doorkeeper. Songs were rendered by Mesdames Desmond, Lynn, and Messrs. Addenbrooke, McAllmn and Murdoek, each of these singers receiving an encore. Miss Rosie Collins played a pianoforte solo and Mr. Liccy gave a recitation.

Tickets for Mr. Newton King's.motor car seem to be selling pretty well here.

I sec the T)iichesses at home have started ploughing. " I presume it is with the double furrows, and the four-horse team should be as easily managed us the four-in-hand at Epsom. Our High .School girls will need to hurry tip and get through their antedeluvian course of study and yet behind their fathers plough. HUIRANGL (From Our Own Correspondent). Mr, 0. J. tlerrick has sold his farm at Huirangi. and -will be leaving the district it the end of June. During the hi«t six years he has kept the Post Office Prior to taking it over Huirangi was content with r weekly mail. Two years ago he interested himself and secured a telephone connection (party line) between Waitara and Huinuigi, which has been of great benefit to the district. Tie has served on the. Huirangi Domain Board, School Committee and Road Board, and has worlctd during his twelve years' residence in the best interests of the district. His name as a beekeeper is well known. He has worked hard to build up the honey section at the New Plymouth Winter .Show, which of late years has been a feature of the show. To keep this section Tijoving, he is this year donating a handsome trophy, so that competitors at the coming show will have something worth competing for,