DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1930, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS

PUNIHO.

(From Our Own Correspondent).

The young ladies of Tumahu have every reason to be satisfied' with the results of their efforts on Boxing Night at the Tumahu hall. The ball, which was true to its name, vzas a real revellers’ ball and the hall proved totally inadequate to hold the large number that turned up from every part of the coast from Opunake to New Plymouth. Tastefully decorated with orange, mauve and green streamers, which were interspersed with Japanese lanterns, the hall presented a very festive appearance. The floor was in first-class order and Coburn’s full dance band was in attendance. The festive spirit that prevails at this time of the year made this dance easily the best held in the hall since it was built three years ago. Towards the close of the dance the streamers decorating the ceiling were let down, and, together with streamers and confetti, which were handed round by the committee, presented a very pretty and gay effect. The novelty dances proved a great attraction, being won by Mr. Brunnette and Miss Watson (spot waltz) and Mr. G. Roebuck and Miss Old (Monte Carlo).

A dainty sit-down supper, which was provided by the ladies of the d.-:trict, was served during an interval, the tables being nicely decorated with flowers and coloured papers.

Mr. S. Hall was M.C. and Messrs. L. Gilhoolcy and A. Duggan played several extras. The dance was promoted hy Miss Irene Goodwin, who was also secretary. The sum of £8 will be handed to the hall committee as the result of their efforts.

In view of the fact oU-Afiss Sylvia Cooke’s approaching marriage, and subsequently leaving tho district, the Puniho Social Club, of which Miss Cooko is a prominent member, are combining with the ladies of the district at a kitchen and social evening for Miss Cooke to be held in tho Puniho schoolroom shortly.

Now that we are on the commencement of a new year a brief review of the season’s activities would perhaps not be out of place. Production so far will be well ahead of last year. The Brooklands factory has been two cheeses ahead for some time, and most ■of the Puniho factory suppliers are well ahead. The weather, which has been anything but satisfactory for haymaking, has made a number of farmers turn to ensilage making, and there are few farms in the district that do not show an ensilage stack.

The weather has also been responsible for a delay in sowing the root crops, and there are still a number of swedes to be sown. One can almost bank on a good root crop on this country, unless colonial grown seed is sown, and although there liave been several failures in root crops reported in surrounding districts, there has only been one failure locally, and this has been attributed to colonial-grown seed. To “your own’s” knowledge there have only been three paddocks of root crops that have had to be resown during the last seven years. Clover has been very late in making its appearance this year, due no doubt to the heavy wet weather, and as it has only made its appearance during the last week or so, it is this that is keeping the milk supply up. A new grub has made its appearance on the ragwort this year, and it appears to be attacking it earlier than usual. Whether this is the one released by he Cawthron Institute I have not yet been able to ascertain.