DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 April 1922, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

TATARAIMAKA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Favored with perfect weather for an out-of-door gathering, a successful gala day, in aid of the local Church of England, was held on Easter Monday in Mr. Anderson’s paddock. There was a very big attendance, including a large number from Okato, Oakura, and New Plymouth. All assisted whole-hearted-ly in making the day enjoyable and profitable. The sports events started at eleven o’clock, and during the afternoon the Rev. Mr. Coleman, in a very appropriate speech, declared the sale of work open, and expressed his warmest thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson for the use of their grounds and the valuable assistance they had otherwise given.

One of the chief attractions of the day, and which did good business, was a shooting gallery, made and erected by Mr. Owen Penwarden. The ladies of the district are to be complimented upon the splendid luncheon and afternoon tea they provided, and the committee deserve a word of praise for their able management, especially the supervisors, Mesdames Honeyfield, Pen warden, and Gatenby, and Messrs. Honeyfield, Penwarden and Gatenby. The takings for the day amounted to considerably over £lOO. A concert and dance was held in the evening, the results from which should further augment the funds. The stallholders were: Plain and fancy stall, Mrs. Honeyfield and Mrs. Penwarden, assisted by Mrs. Hoby, Mrs. Moss, Misses Jones, Honeyfield (2), Gatenby, Longley, Anderson (2); sweets and produce, Mrs. Gatenby and Mrs. Knight, assisted by Misses Olga Hutchins, M. Gatenby, D. Anderson and Moss; surprise packets and soft drinks, Mr. Gatenby; bran tub, Miss Ashley; luncheon, Mrs. Oandish, assisted by Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Anderson, and a bevy of young ladies; shooting gallery, Mr. Still. Competitions were won by: Miss Jones, nail driving; sheep guessing, Mr Gatenby; cushion, Mr. Eric Honeyfield; ham, Gavin Bird; silver cake dish, Mr. E. Taylor; bridle, Mr. Clegg; cake, Miss A. McGonell; turkey, Mr. Can; dish; cake, Mrs. Fox; apples, Mr. Candish; hand bag, Mr. Candish; camisole, Mr. J. Fraser. The committee responsible for the running events were: Messrs. McCarty, Hoby, Percy Smith and other willing helpers. The results were: 100yds. Handicap. —Robson 1, Eric Honeyfield 2. Twenty-five entries. 120yds. Hurdles. —W. McCarty 1, E. Honeyfield and Robson (dead heat) 2. Ten entries. 440yds. Handicap.—Guy Bell 1, F. Bagley 2. Thirteen entries. Single Ladies’ race.—R. Wilkins 1, Rene Honeyfield 2. Twenty-seven entries. 220yds. Handicap.—Ken. Honeyfield 1, J. Emslie 2. Thirteen entries. Married Ladies’ Race.—Mrs. Maloney 1, Mrs. Bell 2. Twelve entries. One Mile Handicap.—F. Belshaw 1, C. McGonnell 2. Thirteen entries. Novelty Race.—McCabe 1, Jones 2. Fifteen entries. Running High Jump. —R. Rook 1, McCarty and Robson (dead heat) 2. Nine entries. Horse events (Mr. W. Honeyfield, judge.): Maiden Hunters. —Jim Honeyfield’s Pretty Polly 1, H. Jones’ Darkie 2. Six entries. Steeplechase Style. —J. Honeyfield’s Pretty Polly 1, S. Hawke’s Doctor 2. Six entries. High Jump.—S. Hawke’s Doctor 1. Three entries.

RIVERLEA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The School Committee have decided to hold a monater children’s and adults’ •plain and fancy drees ball on May 4, the proceeds to go to the school prize fund. The committee hope that by holding a few dances, etc., during the winder, to have enough money in hand by December to give each child a good bobk when they break up for the Christmas holidays. Messrs. B. L. Webby, R. Symes and I ( ■ Schmidt have ploughed the school paddock, and it is now ready to be levelled. Miss K. Rothe, who has been on a two months’ holiday in Tasmania, returned home last week. The local “sports” all went to the trots on Easter Monday, and after having a good dnv out, all returned home a little out of pocket. The weather is still rough and showery. and it is keeping all farm work back. There are still several paddocks of grass seed not in yet. MOKAU—AWAKING. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Easter-time passed very quietly away in our backblocks. Several of cur residents journeyed to Taranaki for the various sports meetings, while others went to Auckland for the races. The weather here, as elsewhere, was showery and changeable. There is a great show of grass, out the orchards have not benefited by the “over-plus” rains. The fruit seems tasteless and insipid. A movement is on foot to hold a bazaar and sale of work in Awakinb to provide funds for adding another room to the local school. Mokau should get t'o work and do the same, for extra accommodation is badly needed. The football season has opened. Awakino has a very strong team again. It is rumored that the Mokau school is to have another change of teachers, Mr. Whittington having applied for leave to exchange positions with a Canadian teacher. We are wondering 'how on earth our Mokau pupils are able to do even as well as they do in their annua, exams. Such a frequent change of teachers is of no benefit either to pupi s or parents. We see by the Daily News that Mrs. Calvert, mistress of the Awakino school, is applying to the Victoria League for donations of books for our school children. A good move this, and though we are already greatly indebted to the generosity of'the League for their welcome gifts of books for our up-river and backblocks settlers (and for which, on behalf of those settlers, especially our “returned boys” resident up -the Mokau, we tender grateful thanks, for reading matter is an estimable boon to the ‘waybacks”), still we are sure that generosity will be further extended to our children. Mr. Fred Northern, of Awakno, is at present in Wellington. Mrs. D.. Riddell, of Mount. Messenger, left on Thursday last for Wellington, where she will take paaaage iot ••

tended trip to England and Scotland. We wish her a very enjoyable holiday and a safe passage home again. Master Syd Sole, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Sole, of Mokau—Awakino, is visiting friends in New Plymouth. Mr. and Mrs. Sole’s youngest son, who met with a serious aoeident some weeks ago, is still in hospital, but is improving fast, and Mrs. Sole hopes to be able to bring him home again very shortly. I learn that the up-river settlers are proposing to hold another of their most enjoyable dances in the “Tawariki” Hall shortly. Mr. Harry Wolfe, of the Waitara post office, and son of Mr. F. Wolfe, of Awakino, came a good second in some of the events at Waitara sports on Easter Monday.