OVER THE RANGE.

DANNEVIRKE AND DISTRICT,

[By Our Special Representative.]

A most interesting ceremony took place in the Anglican Church of St. John on Sunday morning, when the memorial tablets presented by Mr W. F. Knight were unveiled. The tablets, each some six feet in length and 2ft Sin wide, are of solid white marble surmounted by a crimson cross encircled by a gold crown, and having a border of oak leaves curved on a crimson ground. The lettering is in black with crimson capitals. Immediately below the cross and crown are the words: ‘‘ To the glory of God and in memory of the men of this district who gave their lives for their coan-. try.” I Below, in double columns, arc the v names of 140 soldiers of all ranks from the Dannevirke and Weber districts who have made the supreme sac-, rilice. Irrespective of creed, their names stand side by side as they stood side by side in the ranks of heroes on the battlefield. The names wore typed and collected by Miss G. Bingham. At the conclusion of morning prayer, two returned soldiers, Pte. A. Best and Rfm. Robertson, stepped forward and unveiled the tablets, the congregation standing-while the ‘‘Dead March” was played and the ‘‘Last Post” sounded. The vicar (Rev. E. Robcrtshawc) preached a powerful sermon from the text, ‘‘lf I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning; if I do not remember thee let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; yea, if I prefer nof Jerusalem in my mirth.” (Ps. 137, v. 5 and 6.) The vicar referred to the loss of those men. Looked at from the lowest standpoint —the commercial —their value to the country might be reckoned as at least £112,000, but the actual loss could not bo estimated in pounds, shillings and rmcec. A hundred and forty homes had been rendered desolate by the arrival of the Fatal Messenger; one hundred and forty lives had been cut off in the full promise of their early manhood; but their sacrifice could never be forgotten and a noto of groat consolation was struck in the reflection that these men, born in a Christian country, had been brought under regular religious influence ever since they had entered the army, and not one but had gone to his last battle but with his heart uplifted in prayer. This reflection and 'the looking forward to -the Great Reunion would be a great consolation to those who had been bereaved.

Space is left on the tablets for the addition of further names if unfortunately ft is required.

Those who attended the address given by Miss Wilson, the well-known speaker on Spiritualistic matters, on Thursday evening, declare the lecture to have been most interesting. Miss Wilson spoke of precious stones, their history and influence in past times. Among the ancients precious stones were not worn or used for adornment, but for the individual or personal properties possessed by each. Biblical references show, for instance, that the carbuncle was used in breastplates owing to their properties in connection with preservation of life. Each nation has its own peculiar stone, but according to the lecturer the German is the only nation which has studied the inner meaning and influence of the national stone.

The Mayoress’ Patriotic Committee is now busy with its preparations in connection with the Christmas Parcels Fund. They intend conducting a money-raising crusa'de in the old Bank of New Zealand buildings on Friday and Saturday, hist and 22nd inst., and have issued an invitation' to all interested —and their name is legion—to

“come over and help us.” The shop will be in charge of Mcsdamcs McDowell and Harvey, and the following ladies have undertaken tiie different stalls: Needlework, Mcsdamcs Dawson, \V. F. Knight, Harris, Webb, E. K. Blakiston; cakes, Mcsdamcs H. Cowper, and E. Knight; sweets, Mcsdamcs Livingston and Mason: produce, Mcsdamcs Gilmour, Bingham, Eaton, and Etz; honk' industries, Mesdames G. Speedy, Thorbuni ,Futon, and Swan; meat, Mesdamos Eoako and Robertshawc; flowers,! Misses Evan, Patou, and Knight. The deadly dulness of the local newspaper has been relieved by my advent. They are actually making an endeavour to give people the local news, and with liberal helpings from your newsy columns arc succeeding fairly well. They seem quite elated about it themselves. The continual wot weather is causing the diphtheria microbe to keep busy. There are four cases in the Danncvirke hospital and one or two on the outskirts.

In the last list of wounded appears the name' of Private Henry G. Garlsou, son of Mr Olaf Carlson.

There is to be a motor-cycle revival after all. The enthusiasts are not to be denied, and they have decided to hold a sports gathering on. the racecourse on Labour Day, if the stewards will grant permission. The programme has been slightly altered from last year’s, the prize money being increased so as to give prizes on the basis of £1 per mile travelled. New members are: Messrs F. Meakin, H. Hodgson, P. Dennis, Goo. Moran, E. Fairhurst, L. Anderson, E. Svcnsen, .1. PercivalDodds. H. Congdon, T. Salt, T. Bott, C. Douglas, E. Edwards, and A. L’otts.

PAHIATUA PARS. ' Tlio country girls got what they were after. Most of their sex generally do! In. this case, it was £2OO. The money is for the noble tied Cross. A day of reckoning is in store on Wednesday. Those anli-shouting and other cases. Another Military Medal lias come our way. The recipient is Kiileman Albert Dackason. a Mangarania farmer. Wednesday’s cattle fair is expected to bring a crowd of buyers and dealers. Eleven hundred head of bullocks from Waikuku Estate, A gal uni. and big beef from other places. Ballance Butter Co.’s monthly cheques on Saturday were much swollen by the bemuses on last season’s working. One or two oi the individual cheques would almost buy a small larni. The total pay out was over six thousand pounds. Wristlets to Soldiers Morris and Idttier, also Conductor Smith, and a pipe to flunk Bibby, a recruit. This was how 1 he Ballance Clee Party wound up the season. A Kauwhata couple, with no family, lost their pet, a cockatoo. He must have been a pretty decent, bird, for

they are offering £5 for his return alive.

The county clerk, Mr George Moore, is still ill. For over half a century, a good and faithful servant. Mr Neil Small Is again president of the Hukanui Sports Club, which finished the past year with a credit balance of £7.9. Mr Small is also president of the Pahiatua Farmers’ Club, which meets once in a blue moon.

There lives at Mangarama Valentine Mckalick. In his time he has been pioneer, preacher, postmaster, borough councillor, cheese director, and school commissioner. Like many more, Mr Mckalick is dependent upon the golden cow. He has some property in town and once was a partner in an auctioneering business —not a lucky venture. In a municipal contest, he was styled ‘‘Benediction.” Now, the benediction comes last, and so did Mr Mckalick,