MAROKOPA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14095, 29 December 1909, Page 8

MAROKOPA.

(From Our Own Correspondent). The Marokopa School broke up for the Christmas holidays on December 1/, and the event wan celebrated by a picnic on the Ibth, when there wa& a good muster of settlers and residents all intent on giving the little ones a good time. A levy *was made on all and sundry for tiie purpose ot provianig prizes for the children's sports, and was most liberally responded to, sufficient money being in hand to give each child a trophy or money prize. A programme of athletic events was gone through, running, swimming, k all being keenly contested, while various games were indulged in to keep the fun going. Refreshments provided by the ladies were handed round at intervals, and a most enjoy, able day was' spent, the day being an ideal one for a picnic. In the evening an entertainment was held in the hall, free to all ? a hen a programme of recitations, etc, was, gone through by the children and greatly enjoyed by those present, judging by the hearty applause which greeted each item. After the children's part of the programme was concluded the school prizes were presented by Mr. Bell, sen., who, in his address to the children and their parents, 1 spoke of the advantages of education"rrom tho moral and physical as well as the mental point of view, and complimented the teacher, Mr. Honore, on the progress made by the children, some* of whom, especially the Native children, have made very rapid brides in learning under Mr. Honore's tuition. ' t The latter part of the evening was devoted to dancing, and songs were contributed- by several of the ladies and gentlemen present. Supper was handed round abput midnight and the company dispersed shortly afterwards, many expressing the wish that tho next school picnic might come soon. Sports are in the air »t the presenir time and the local sports club are making ready for a big day on January 3, when the annual meeting takes place. Some of our local enthusiasts are going to Kawhia Regatta' to take part in some of the boating events, and at least ono locally built boat will take part in the rowing events at Kawhia. It is quite on the cards that a regat- . ta will take place on the I Marokopa River at Easter* time, and as we have a number of rowing men here who are ready at any time to build a new boat for the sake of the sport,\ we may expect to see a good turn out on the day. The lately-formed rifle club has had some difficulty in securing, a suitable piece of ground for a range, most of the trouble being on account of the best sites being in the hand* of the Maoris, ;wbich same trouble confronts the sports club, which has an eye on a splendid piece of ground for a race course: Negotiations have been proceeding for some time for t]^ lease of this ground, the possession of which by- the dub would speedily be -followed by the registration of tne Marokopa Racing Club. A 1 couple of New Plymouth residents, the Messrs. Wiley, senior "and Junior, who are engaged at the Marokopa saw mill, left here for their homes, last Sunday, walking out to the Main Trunk line at Te Kuiti with the intentipn of taking the train from there to New Plymouth, which is only a small instance of what might be saved if w0 had regular boat communication between this place and the breakwater.