COUNTRY CORRESPONDENCE.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXII, Issue 16, 20 January 1910, Page 4

COUNTRY CORRESPONDENCE.

[own coerespondents.]

OKMONDVILLE. After being smiled on by Dame Fortune for a number of years past, and _ consequent]v. being biessed with glorious weather for their fete, the fickle Dame frowned yesterday, and the rain came down which resulted in the annual Church of England garden fete on Mr J. H. Bovaird's grounds being only moderately successful instead of what was confidently expected, a record day. Still to the joy of the committee when the takings were counted up it was found that the sum of £2O 5s had been taken, but then came the bitter thought—if only it had been a fine day what might have been taken? The fete was declared open at 1 p.m., at which time showers were falling, only intermittently, and everyone tried to make light of it, but gradually at about 4 p.m. it was decided to postpone events till Saturday. Dxiring the time the fete was open, however, the committee in charge did their best to make things interesting for all, and to a great extent succeeded. The grounds had been prettily arranged with stalls and side shows, and undoubtedly the prettiest stall of all was the tea room marquee to seat 60, over which the committee must have gone to much trouble, and which with its decorations of greenery would have been simply delightful had fine weather prevailed. Mesdames J. G. Smith, and T. Fothergill and Misses Smith, Cockerill, Groom (2), Edgelombe and Jolly presided over this development. The other stall holders were sweets, Misses Brabazon (2); work. Mesdames Cockerill M'Dougall, Curd, and Warmington; bran pie and fish pond, Misses M. Allen and E. Brabazon, while Mr Amyes, jnr., did god business with Aunt Sally. > The musical programme in charge of Miss Allen which was to have taken place in the evening was brought forward to the afternoon, and was much appreciated, the singing of Mrs Bagley being especially applauded. Last but by no means least a vote of thanks must be accorded Mr P. Hen son, who carried out the duties of Horatius at the gate—collecting the "bobs," come adult or juvenile, male or female, rain, blow or snow—and without even an umbrella.

MATAMAU. The Hawke's Bay Dairy Co. paid out at their creamery here this morning close upon £7OO for milk supplied during December, the largest cheque being £64 19s Id. During the month the test averaged from 3.6 to 4.3. A meeting of the Athletic Club was held in the Public Hall last evening, at which there was a fair attendance. Mr C. R. Mitchell occupied the chair. Owing to the lack of nominations received it was resolved to extend the closing date to January 26, and that handicaps be published on the 29th. Three slight accidents have disturbed the equanimity of the butter trade here lately. On Tuesday, owing to some silly' girls throwing their hats in front of Mr Bedingfield's cart on it way •to the creamery, the horse shied into a deep ditch and narrowly escaped a capsize; and as Mr Engebretsen was on his way to deliver milk the horse he was driving took fright at two motor cycles and dispersed the milk over the road; while on AVednesday morning, Mr Hensen's horse broke its surcingle with the result that about 3001bs of milk was tipped out behind.