DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 November 1920, Page 6

DISTRICT NEWS.

DURHAM ROAD. (From Our Own Correspondent.! The weather lately has been of a nature that means u serious matter to the dairyman; it lias, and is, affecting tie grass growth and also that of crops planted early, while the amount of ploughed ground held up from its final treatment for oat crops, etc., is no small area, nearly every farmer luring a few acres. Stumping operations are also considerably delayed. The benefits of a couple of fine 'days, as shown by increase at the bucket, are lost in the effects of the rough weather prevailing. It is many years now since we had such a "doing" with west to south-west winds—the gusts at times almost got to lurricane strength and a very low temperate prevailed, making everything and everybody decidedly uncomfortable. At the time of writing (Sunday) we have thunder, three-parts gale, hail and rain, and as. for the past week, it has been move or less wet and working ocrcSMnns are anything but congenial. Twenty-three years ago we had somewhat similar conditions as to-day, and also snow. Judging by the feel of things just now il is very possible that a layer of sr.ow will be the ultimate end of the present blizzard. Nice, eh? for the dairymen and his cattle! And there are a good many people think tin ockie" Is getting a millionaire—if he only could he would deserve it all!

Settlers in the creamery area are .much exercised regarding the slate of the road, the continual rain, togelher with the milk '■ait traffic, causing some nasty lengtts to appear. They argue, and with justice, that having put in considerable time a while back with free labor to repair the road, that some effor. should be made by the Council to provide maintenance metal, and ocus'dering that somewhere near 10U yards of boulders have been lying on the roadside for nearly two years there is no excuse for the neglect to prov'de the surfaceman with material to stop ll.e holes.

At last (really, ii seems almost too good to hellevej Uie cmierelp work of the new skim milk stand is being attended to and the automatic weighing machine installed People get tired or nii-nlcs when ihoy are (oo much of the s.inionrss and the picnic we have had e'.ory morning for the l>ast few months needed a variation, and no doubt we will find one in the new machine till it and lire manipulator get used to one another.

The .acropltfue accident provided cousldcr--.ble discussion, and on all sides one hears expressions of sympathy with the victims and their relatives. It is to be regretted that men of the stamp of New Plymouth's late Mayor should have beoii drawn as a victim, wliile the air experts must feel the loss of the aviator, who fro™ all accounts was a top-notcher at the game.

KAPONGA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) On Tuesday evening of last week a dance was held In the Parish Hall to augment the church funds, when a good number spent a very enjoyable evening. The music was supplied by Miss liennle. assisted by Mrs. Sounuass and Mrs. Benton. ft, is to be hoped these dances will be held regularly, as they are always so popular. School rc-opencd last Monday with a better attendance, the worst of the sickness among children having now passed. It W:is I'or.v p'rasaing to read tin refuence to Dr. tiunn's good work In the schools in your Pungarehu notes. Having witnessed her examination and the work with the children I also can testify to her painless methods, and have also seen the children run away smiling. If parents had to pay for iter skill and attention tliey migU appreciate and understand the "boon" such n doctor is to tho rising generation, particularly in detecting defective eyesight among children, as well as dental and throat troubles, which had remained unnoticed and lfeglected for years.

This is proving a "record" season for backwardness in growth and for bitterly cold winds and rain, which must come harder on those farmers who are paying iigh prices for thfir laud.

The Methodists of Kaponga are holding a garden party shortly.