TAIHAPE NEWS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17736, 9 December 1919, Page 6

TAIHAPE NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

TAIHAPE, Dec. 8

The frosts experienced in this district did a very considerable amount of damage, not a garden escaping. Potatoes and dwarf beans were cut down to the ground. Among the farmers there had been larger plantings of potatoes than usual, and these have been practically ruined. Orchards have also suffered severely, the plum and apple trees have been stripped bare of the young fruit. As an indication of the severity of the frosts, such plants as broad beans and sweet peas, usually considered not susceptible to frosts, have also Been cut down. The monetary loss to the district will be very considerable.

A fire ■ occurred on Thursday last which might have been attended with serious consequences, but fortunately was discovered and subdued in its incipient stage. As Mr M. McLaughlan was going home in the early morning /he noticed a blaze on a motor lorry standing in Mr Faire's stable in Hautapu Street. The alarm was at once given and the1 tarpaulin cover of the lorry, which was blazing fiercely, was stripped off the lorry before the goods it was covering caught fire. There were several tins of benzine in the vicinity, and but for the early discovery of the fire it might have assumed serious proportions. As it was the fire was confined to the tarpaulin, which was soon reduced to charred dust.

At the Chautauqua sessions on Saturday night, Mr Pagit, manager, announced that owing to want of support and co-operation Taihape would in future be cut out of the Chautauqua itinerary. The visit of this- organisation has been a failure, and the guarantors will be under the unpleasant necessity of paying up about 75 per cent, of their guarantee. At Ohakune the sessions were unsuccessful, and the guarantors will have to pay £90.

Mr M. R. Reed, one of the Chautauqua lecturers, in the course of an address in explaining the reason for America's late entry into the Great War, stated that on August 4, 1914, there were 10,000,000 aliens in the United States, and within a few months of the declaration of war 55,000 German spies were arrested. He expressed the opinion if America had entered the war in the earlier stages there would have been a revolution in the States, perhaps with catastrophic results.

Mr Sydney Mair, engineer to the Rangitikei County. Council, has been on a tour of inspection of the northeastern portion of the county. He states that the contract for metalling of the Opaea-Turangarere Road has been let, and also the MataroaRuanui Road contract. Prospecting for gravel has been successful, two pits having been located, one on the Turakina Road and the other at Garmonsway's, and these will be opened shortly. Mr Mair has interviewed settlers in the Mangaohane district and that portion taken over from the Hawke's Bay County, and is sanguine that the loan proposal will be carried to enable the metalling of the roads and the necessary culverts and bridging of the Rangitikei River. If this work is carried out simultaneously with the loan work on the Pukeokahu side it will be done much cheaper than if done at a later date. The opening of the upper and lower roads will give direct communication with Taihape. What the Rangitikei County Council is now faced with is the difficulty of getting mechanical aids to roads construction, and Mr Mair left for Auckland on Saturday night in connection therewith.

At the last meeting of the Taihape D.H. School Committee the Inspector's report on the school was received. The report was very satisfactory, and a letter of appreciation has been sent to the headmaster and staff, congratulating them on the highly creditable result of the past year's work.

The School Committee has decided to drop the idea of having: a separate memorial erected in honour of the teachers and pupils who took part in the Great War, and the names will be incorporated in the larger scheme now under discussion.

No satisfaction having been received from the Wanganui Education Board with reference to the toerection of the shelter sheds, etc., the local School Committee has communicated direct with the Minister of Education on the matter.

Dr. Spratt, Bishop of Wellington, has been on a visit to Taihape during the past week. On Thursday evening he held a confirmation service, when 14 candidates were presented. On Saturday afternoon the Bishop laid the foundation stone of the new St. Margaret's ■ Parish School, there being a good attendance. During the operation he emphasised the necessity of the teaching of children on right lines, and outlined the good work already accomplished by the school, and complimented the teaching staff on the splendid results achieved.

The marriage boom has struck Taihape, last week there being three weddings in one day. And still there's more to follow.