DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1928, Page 16

DISTRICT NEWS

URENUI. (From a Correspondent.) About 20 intending members attended a meeting in th© Urenui Hall on Wednesday, June 6, to discuss the re-for-mation of the Urenui Rifle Club, which was officially disbanded in 1022. Mr. 8. Topless presided and members of the old club briefly outlined the activities of the club since its formation over twenty years ago. After it had been impressed on all present that it was essential that all members should be prepared to buy full equipment costing between £5 and £6, a list was made of those prepared to join. This list proving lengthy enough to warrant a definte move being made, a motion was passed: “That a club, to be known as the Urenui Rifle Club, be formed, and its service” offered to the Defence Department foe approval.” Although it is necessary to receive authority from the Defence Department before the club can be definitely formed and commence activities, it was decided to elect the officers so that an early start may be made when the necessary permission has been granted. The only life member of the old club (Mr. A. 11. Halconibe) was elected patron. Other officers were elected as follow: —'President. -xf. L. Rattenbury; vice-presidents, Messrs S. Topless and A. McEwen; executive committee, Messrs T. O’Neill, C Rumbal and G. Fuller; secretary, Mr. A. Halconibe. It was reported that the old range on Mr. Halcombe’s property would, with certain alterations, be approved by the Defence Department. There was considerable discussion regarding the property of the old club, which was eventually finalised by a notice of motion by Mr. K. Blundell that he would move at the next meeting of the club: “That the assets of the old rifle club be transferred to. the new chi’b.’’ The.secretary was instructed to write to the Defc ? Department upon various matters and to obtain information regarding grants, subsidies, rifles, etc. Following on the re-draw of the junior football competition, Urenui made a good start by defeating the Lepperton team by a substantial margin. The following week the match with <3i ft oil was defaulted to Urenui by the former, as Clifton could not muster a full team. On Saturday last, the High School-Ure-nui match excited considerable local interest, as this was a home match. Although the score was 30 to 3 in favour of High School, the game, apart from brilliant back movements by the School team, was fairly evenly contested, with Urenui having a slight advantage in the pack. Urenui were the first to score as a result of a penalty kick from a handy position. A Urenui second fifteen has again been formed this year, and have so far played two matches against a Uruti team. The first match was won by Uruti by 14 to nil, but Urenui managed to turn the tables on Saturday last to the tune of 9 to 0. While the team is as yet rather an uncertain quantity, several young players are showing some promise. The Ladies’ Hockey Club has met with t„ao,..oao!c success so far this season. Their entry into the final at the Stratford tournament is worthy of espec ..on, as it was only after extra time had been played that the game was decided by the first hit over the back line. Preparations seem to bn well in hand for ..©turned Soldiers’ Ball this week, every effort being made to make it the success of the season. AWATUNA TOPICS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) No rain has fallen this week, and one or two slight frosts have made the soil too cold for much growth. Mr. R. Syme, the Education Board’s instructor of agriculture, accompanied by Mr. Freeman, of the Agricultural Department, visited the Awatuna school in connection with root-growing competitions of the local youngsters. Master Roy Corbett, with a fine crop of man golds yielding over 70 tons to the acre, showed what can be done with a quarteracre plot when hard toil and enthusiasm go hand in hand. The lot of the Youthful root-growing competitor is by i-o means a bed of roses; goats and pows . seem to regard promising root crops as perquisites sent by Providence for their special benefit. The goat, by nature ar. athlete, skips nimbly over the top wire, whilst the cow, slowly but surely lumbers through the fence; but they ooth get there and soon reduce the to a ruin; a ruin for a child to cry over and for a man to wish for a special dictionary in which to find winged words fitting the occasion. Last Tuesday the ladies of th.? district guild rolled up in force to a meeting in the Awatuna hall to arrange for an old-time dance. Judging by the arrangements made and the keenness shown Friday, the 22nd, will be a red Inter night. A stream of cars, motor-cycles and push bikes from Awatuna and beyond made Kaponga their goal last Saturday afternoon, when the Kaponga blacks played the Opunake greens. The blacks have many Awatunian fans who were delighted to see the splendid gam? put up by A. Hodge, of Awatuna, even though the greens were the victors. Many people have a peculiar disbelief in unusual incidents in connection with fish. Take the ordinary eel for instance. “It appears that a drover was taking sheep across a certain river, some weeks back, when the extraordinary antics of one unfortunate ewe attracted his at-

tention. The miserable.animal was apparently treading water, unable to go forwards or backwards. The drovar put his dogs on, resulting only in violent splashing and heart-rending baas from the sheep. On closer investigation the drover discovered that two eels, one in front and one in the rear, had each hold of a leg and were having a vigorous tug-of-war, presumably with visions of an ample breakfast.” It is even possible that this will be doubted by some.