DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 February 1927, Page 15

DISTRICT NEWS.

mere mere. (From Our Own Cor. Vpqndent.) A very pleasant evening was spent in the Mere Mere Sunday School Ball on Thursday when the residents of the district met to say good-bye to Mr. and Mrs. Anthony, who are leaving to take up their residence in Kakaramea. Mr. and Mrs. Anthony have lived in Mere (Mere for nine years, during which time, fairs. Anthony has been head teacher Bf the local school. At the beginning k the evening, Mrs. Anthony received E very beautiful bouquet of sweet peas •nd ferns, made and presented by Mrs. tollingwood, who in a few well-chosen 'words, expressed the love and respect in which Mrs. Anthony was held in the district. Then followed an excellent little programme by the school children, trained By Mrs. G. Williams and Mrs. Sorenson, ■ho, judging from tile splendid results, ■list have expended a great deal of ■me, care ’and energy over the little Concert. The programme opened with a stirring marching song by the boys and girls, followed by a recitation “Something Unusual,” by Bruce Lichtwark. Then came a very pretty little eong, “Daisy Nurses,” by the girls, who were heartily encored. A recitation, “The Secret,” by Gwen Williams, was followed by a duet, “Whispering Hope,” by Miss M. McGlashan and Miss M. Taylor, who were also encored. A recitation, “Aunt Priscilla,” by Jean Sorenson, was followed by a song, “The Funny Brownies,” by the boys. Miss Lichtwarks recitation, “Keeping a Seat at a Benefit,” was received with much amusement and for an encore she recited, “In the Usual Way.” Mr. A. Williams sang “O Sole Mio” with “Moonlight and Roses,” for an ensore. Mr. G. Williams, chairman of the school committee, called upon his four fellow men for a quartette, an announcement which seemed to cause some surprise to those concerned. However, all the members of the committee gathered round the piano and sang, “Annie Laurie,” an item which received much applause from the audience.

Mr. Williams expressed the regret felt by the people of Mere Mere at losing Mr. and Mrs. Anthony from the district. They had lived here for nine years, during which time they had proved themselves good settlers. Mrs. Anthony had been in charge of the school during that time, and everyone was sorry to lose such an excellent teacher. He spoke of the cordial relations that had always been maintained between teacher and committee, and also of the sympathetic feeling that existed between teacher and pupi's. The children had wished to make a special presentation to their teacher, so he asked Mrs. Anthony to accept from them a silver hot water jug, and from parents and friends, a beautiful willow pattern dinner service and tea set, as a token of the esteem in which she was held. He also asked Mr. Anthony to accept a pipe and expressed the wish that Mr. and Mrs. Anthony would live long to enjoy themselves in their new home. In conclusion, he wished to add that Miss Marjorie McGlashan, Mrs. Anthony’s niece, would also be greatly missed from the district, especially in the Sunday School, and on the tennis court.

Mrs. Anthony, in replying thanked parents and children for the splendid presents she had received. She would use them every day, and always remember with pleasure her good friends in Mere Mere. She thanked Mr. Williams for his kind words. In conclusion, she expressed her delight at the little entertainment that had been arranged for her pleasure that evening. She greatly appreciated the thought and trouble that had been expended both by the children, and by those who had trained them, to make her last social evening in Mere Mere, such an enjoyable one. Mr. Williams then called upon the remaining members of the school committee in turn to say a few words, and in turn they expressed their appreciation of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony’s services. “For They are Jolly Good Fellows,” was sung, and three hearty cheers given for Mr. and Mrs. Anthony, after which supper was SeFved in Mere Mere’s usual bountiful way. TANGARAKAU (From Our Own Correspondent.) Altogether there is a distinct at Biosphere of activity since the re-com-mencement of the works on the Ifith inst, and this denotes the determination of the Public Works Department to speed up the big job during the ensuing year. Last year witnessed more in the nature of preliminary work and opening up of various stages of the proposed route, but now the works have taken more definite shape, and one ean see quite an appreciable improvement along the line.

Tuesday the framework of the big trestle at Mangatatoki (No 2 camp) was completed, and when the sleepers and rails are laid in a few days an important link in the transport of material, etc., will have been realised. From now on, and as the line is further opened up, the real value of power control will become more apparent. There is no doubt that the overhead cable and tackle driven from the power house very materially lessened the cost of building the big structure.

The building of the trestle was very capably handled by Messrs. J. Ingles (headman), R. Mattock, T. Brennan, M. Rogers, and A. Me Innes, and they should feel well satisfied with the result of their two month’s work. The five chain tunnel, commenced at the beginning of August for the purpose of diverting and straightening the stream under the big trestle, was pierced on Saturday last, aqd in a few days a. start will be made on the concrete lining. This work was carried out by Messrs. T. W. Smith (headman) A. L. Smith, L. Winters and H. Bradshow, and the completed job certainly reflicts great credit on the party.

I understand that the eastern end of No. I tunnel, adjoining the trestle bridge, will shortly be commenced, and when this is underway and with Mr. Jock Ryan’s gang of live wires now in read ness at the big cutting on the opposije side there should be a “big noise” in this locality in the near future. From here on the line is laid to the entrance of No 2 tunnel, the preliminary work on the face of which was started recently in two day shifts. In the rneau-

time, and while this tunnel is being pierced, all material, etc., will be transhipped home on to an improvised sledge arrangement, comprising, two wheels a wooden platform and a steel swivel gadget in front hooked to two horses. This will negotiate th-e hill over to Mangaone. Mangaone is growing, and is fast assuming the dimensions of a big camp which, I believe, it is intended to be in the near futre. A cook-house is being put up there, and from all accounts it should be well patronised.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that substantial headway has been made since the holidays, and with a continuance of the good weather now experienced it is reasonable to expect a heap more by the middle of the year. A find of shellrock has been unearthed beyond Mangaone, and if this turns out to be in quantity it will greatly help to facilitate the metalling of the track and very considerably lessen the cost of construction.

Mr. Peter Helion, of Mangaone, has patented a collapsible racing barrow, so called because you just fill, push and empty it like any other barrow, with this difference —that it wants a good man behind it.

Mr. J. Eginton, who had the misfortune to injure his back in one of the tunnels last week, is still in hospital, and from all accounts his case has developed seriously.

Mrs. T. Saunders was removed to the Stratford hospital on Thursday, and her case is rather seiioua alio. Mid. J. Austin, who has been ill recently, is on the mend again. Mr. T. M. Bail, district engineer, and Mr. B. C. Agaard assistant engineer, accompanied by the staff overseers, made a tour of the works on Friday last. 1 understand a tour of the works will be made by members of the Taranaki chambers of Ckemmerce some time in February. URUTI. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The ideal weather prevailing on Saturday last again enticed a large number of interested spectators to the local courts to witness the final match of the first round of the southern division of teams entered in the Ferguson Cup competition. By their easy defeat ot Urenui, and of Mimi the previous Sat-n’-day. Uruti should have nd difficulty in retaining their lead in the second I'oui.u. and so qualify to play the winning team in the northern division. Following are the results in detail, visiting players being mentioned first: Men’s Singles.—Loveridge lost to Fitzgerald,226; Halcombe lost to Burrows, 2—6; Pigott lost to Guild, o—6; Murray lost to Schofield, o—6; Duncan loet to Agate, 2——o; Taylor lost to Oxenham, o—6.0 —6.

Ladies’ Singles.—Miss M. Smith lost to Miss Smith, 4—6; Miss Ovendon de feated Mrs. Fitzgerald, 6—4; Miss Pigott lost to Mrs. Bell, 2—G; Mies Gibson lost to Miss Agate, I—6. Ladies, Doubles. —Miss M, Smith and Miss Ovendon lost to Miss Smith and Mrs. Bell, 3—G; Mrs. Pigott and • Miss Gibson lost to Mrs. Fitzgerald and Miss Agate, 3 —6. Men’s Doubles.—Loveridge and Halcombe lost to Fitzgerald and Burrows, 4—6; Pigott and Murray lostto Guild and Schofield, o—6; Duncan and Taylor lost to Agate and Oxenham, 3—6. Combined Doubles.- -Loveridge and Miss M. Smith lost to Fitzgerald and Mrs. Fitzgerald, 2—G; Halcombe and Miss Ovendon lost to Burrows and Miss Smith, o—6;0 —6; Pigott and Mrs. Pigott lost to Guild and Miss Agate, I—6;1 —6; Murray and Miss Gibson lost to Schofield and Mrs. Bell, o—6.0 —6.

Totals: Uruti, 112 games and 18 sets; Urenui, 35 games and 1 set. The prolonged spell of fine weather has enabled large motor lorries to use the roads into the back country, and the large quantities of wool which have gone forward for disposal should result in handsome returns for those dependent on the “golden” fleece, the reeent sales showing values which should prove remunerative to vendors.

Haymaking has been in full swing In the district during the past few days, and in some cases settlers have increased their supply for winter use by

putting the mower over the rank growth in the pastures. The season appears to be an exceptioanl one for the growth of clovers, and prospects of cows maintaining a good average butter-fat return until well into the autumn are very bright. Reeent pries reports appear very favourable to primary producers, and altogether prospects are now much brighter for the farming community. Three decker lorries laden with fat sheep, destined for the freezing works at Wwitara, continue to pass through at frequent intervals, and this modern method of conveyance appears to have solved the problem for the grazier, whose task of landing sheep at the works from any great distance with a minimum loss of weight was rendered extremely difficult by the constant stream of motor traffic now using the Main North Road.