HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 35, 4 November 1933, Page 22

HUTT VALLEY NEWS

District Notes of Current Interest

No eases of infectious disease were reported in Eastbourne during September. Twenty-six inspections were made by the borough inspector, Mr. F. G. Coleman. Motorists using the Hutt Road will no longer have to beware of the <lepression extending right across the road just north of Ngauhauranga. Workmen were engaged yesterday in levelling the culvert, and early in the afternoon the work of tar-sealing was completed. Rapid progress is being made with the excavation work at the Koro Koro School for the football and recreation ground. A large area at the side of the school has already been dug away, and the bank is to be terraced for seats. The fringe of trees at the back of the ground is to be left for wind protection. It is hoped that swimming baths will be constructed in the near future at one corner of the ground. NOVEMBER MEETING Hutt Methodist Guild Many friends and visitors were present at the November meeting of the Lower Hutt Methodist Women’s Guild, which took the form of a social afternoon. After the usual business had been dealt with, afternoon tea was served by the hostesses—Mesdames W. Hall, G. Heap, and J. D. King. Mrs. Clayton, of Wellington, sang “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and “You’ve Got Your Mother’s Eyes,” and Miss Dobbs, of Christchurch, recited “The Highwayman,” which was followed by vocal numbers by Mrs. Aldersley, entitled “In the Dusk” and “The Hour of Peace.” Two competitions, arranged by Mrs. Aldersley, were won by Mrs. Adams and Mrs. Muir,'respectively. It was decided to make the next meeting a “Recipe and Sample” afternoon, with the inclusion of musical numbers. It was also decided to invite the Waiwetu Women’s Guild and women members of the Taita Methodist Church to attend. The afternoon was brought to a close by the pronouncing of the Benediction by the president, Mrs. H. Sharp. . EIGHTY YEARS OLD Mrs. Hollard, Lower Hutt Enjoying good health and happiness, Mrs. H. Hollard, of Bellevue Road, Lower Hutt, celebrates her eightieth birthday to-day. Mrs. Hollard was born at Polhill’s Gully, Wellington, in 1853, and is one of New Zealand’s early pioneers. She has lived at Lower Hutt for more than seventy years, and has always taken a keen interest in the development of the social life of the community. Her hobbies are croquet and gardening, in both of which she still excels, and she is a life member of the Lower Hutt Croquet Club. To-day four generations of her descendants will assemble at her residence to offer their congratulations and birthday greetings, and to wish her all happiness and prosperity. Her eldest sister, Mrs. F. Greer, of Levin, is expected to be among the visitors. Mrs. Hollard’s children are Mr. E. C. Hollard, Putaruru; Mrs. H. Ayson, Lower Hutt; Mrs. E. Johnson, Lower Hutt; and her granddaughters are Mrs. K. Sleight, Lower Hutt; Mrs. N. Udy and Mrs. G. Udy, Hukanui; Mrs. R. McKean, Greymouth; Mrs. K. Francis, Lower Hutt; Miss D. Johnson, Lower Hutt; and Miss M. Ayson, Palmerston North. There are three great-grand-children.

PLUNKET BENEFIT Play Readings at Hutt There was an appreciative audience at the Birch Street Hall on Wednesday evening, when the Hutt Readeis and the junior branch of the Navy League presented a comedy, a .sketch, and a play, fi'he proceeds of the evening go to the Waiwetu Plunket The programme commenced with an overture by Miss Judith Gieson, after which the Hutt Readers presented “The Dear Departed,” a comedy in one act by Stanley Houghton. The characters were as follow Two sisters, Mrs. Slater and Mrs. Jordan (Mrs. W. Olphert and Mrs. Aon Zedlitz); their husbands, Henry Slater and Ben Jordan (Mr. Foster and Dr. 'Welton Hogg); Victoria Slater (Barbara OlphoEt), Abel Merryweather (Mr. J. Jones). The comedy depicts the “demise” of a grandfather. His family, assembled ostensibly to mourn their loss, betray a thinly-veiled eagerness to claim the worldly, possessions of the “dear departed.” The bickering, however, abruptly ceases as the late grandfather shuffles cheerfully into the family circle. A treacherous daughter conveys the fact that his family, thinking him deceased, have been squabbling over his possessions. Grandfather clinches matters by announcing that he is shortly to be married, and invites his devoted family to the ceremony. A clever sketch, “Enoch in Arden,” was next presented, the cast being as follows She (Miss Eila Chapman); Colonel (Mr. Tuckwell) ; Soldier (Mr. Mc-Caw) ; Woman (Miss Wilcox). The sketch was brightly acted, _ and was greatly enjoyed by the audience. Supper was dispensed during the interval, and the second portion of the programme commenced with an overture by Miss Gieson. The junior branch of the Navy ' League then gave a very creditable presentation of “’Op-o-my-Thumb,” by Frederick Fenn and Richard Price. The two principal parts, that of a little orphan who makes such pathetic attempts to convince her fellow-workers that she is the heroine of a thrilling romance, and that of the hero deserve special commendation. The play was produced by Miss Mona Brien, and the players were: Miss Barbara Tayler, Mrs. Galloway, Miss Irene Spidy, Miss Mona Brien, Miss Pat Brown, Miss Doris Hussey, and Mr. W. J. Mountjoy (junior). The evening closed with the singing of the National Anthem. UPPER HUTT W.C.T.U. Monthly Meeting Held Ten members were present at the monthly meeting of the Upper Hutt branch of the W.C.T.U., which was held in the Methodist Church recently. The president, Mrs. Spencer, led the devotions, after which the pledge was repeated by members. Mrs. J. Roberts gave a helpful reading on “Service,” and Mrs. Spencer read an appropriate poem on the same subject. Tlie secretary, Mrs. H. Gorrie, reported on the District Convention which was held recently at Brooklyn. It was decided to send gifts to the W.C.T.U. shop day, which is to be held in Wellington shortly. The meeting was then thrown open for social activity. An amusing competition was won by Mrs. J. Whiteman, Mrs. Howe gaining the second prize. Afternoon tea was served, and the meeting closed with the Benediction.