HOKITIKA NOTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 November 1918, Page 7

HOKITIKA NOTES.

(Our Own Correspondent)

SUCCESS DREDGE. The Success dredge washed up yesterday for a return of 360 z idwt for 105 hours' working. ST. JOHN AMBULANCE. The St. John Ambulance Association acknowledge with thanks the following donations towards the Red Cross Fund: Driving fees, per Messrs Dale and Milner, 18s; half proceeds from Novelty Sox Concert, per Mrs Bridgeman, £7 lis 3d, W. Jeffries and Co. M ss, being £1 5s from G. Adamson and £h from J. Diedrichs, sale of vealer; Mrs Chesney ss; collections at St. Mary's Church £8 15s £d; collections All Saint's Church £b 8s Id; Kanieri Church 7s, Blue Spur Church 9s. - Mr Jas. Park has been advised that his son. Lieut. J. Park, had been discharged from the hospital and transferred to the base depot in France for duty on October. 18.

GOSPEL MISSION. The Cuinniing Gospel Mission, which is being- conducted this week in the Presbyterian Church, still continues to be well attended and the interest maintained. Mr Cumining has had a large experience in mission work in Scotland, Australia and New Zealand, and is a first-class speaker and singer. He is ably assisted by Mrs Cumming, who also is an enthusiastic worker.

TURKEY'S SURRENDER. Yesterday afternoon was observed as a close holiday here as a celebration of the surrender of Turkey and the other victories gained by the Allies recently. Flags were soon flying and the fire and school bells rang, whistles blew, and other signs of jollificawere manifest during the afternoon. PRIVATE W. HENDERSON. Mrs James Henderson, of Upper Gibson's Quay, has received the following letter in reference to her son, Private Win. Henderson, who left with the 25th Reinforcements and was recently wounded in Erance. The letter is dated 28th August and written from the Wesleyan Chaplain No. 9, General Hospital, B.E.F. .-—"Dear "Mrs Henderson, — Your clear son William is here wounded in the left thigh and left buttock. William is fairly comfortable. He is receiving every kindness and care. At present there is no apparent cause for undue anxiety. William sends his fond love. —Yours very sincerely, A. E. Boyce, C.E., British chaplain." Since the above was written Mrs Henderson has received a wire from the Defence Department stating that Private Henderson had been removed to at Hornchm-ch, which is an indione of the convalescent hospitals cation of his progress. A GENERAL OVERHAUL. The All Saints Schoolroom and grounds have recently been undergoing a general overhaul. The improvements have been for the greater part on the inside of the building, where the walls have been painted and nicely decorated with a number of appropriate pictures ' SOCIAL EVENING. Last evening a social was held in the building as a kind of housewarming after the recent renovations. Quite a large number assembled, the children, of whom about 120 were present, gathered at their schoolroom at 7 o'clock, and the parents and other adulfs at 8 o'clock. The room was "tastefully decorated with flowers, shrubs, etc, and looked quite nice. Rev. Dr Holloway acted as chairman and briefly explained the reason of the social. During

the evening- a choice programme of music, recitations, and dances was rendered and loudly applauded, encores being* most frequent.' The programme consisted of the following-: Pianoforte duet, Misses C. Evans and K. Adamson, Highland dance Miss May Harrop with bagpipe music by Mr J. King* (jun.), recitation, Mr H. M. Coulson, recitation Master C. Collyer, recitation Miss Phyllis Harkin, recitation Miss B. Ilickson, song* Miss Stapleton, song Miss Lloyd, recitation Master A. Hickson, song 1 Mr Stewart, song 1 Miss Heenan. Miss Giese's services as accompanist were much in demand. A number of games were indulged in. During- an interval

tHe occasion was taken of making a few small presentations to three lady church-workers. Tke' first was a handsome prayer and hymn book presented to Mrs A. Bennett, who is retiring from the Sunday School after 27 years of earnest work. Miss Carley, who has been teaching for 11 years, was presented with a set of Tennyson's poems. Dr Holloway, in the unavoidable absence of Mr Bennett, returned thanks on behalf of Mrs Bennett, and Mr J. B. Ward replied on behalf of • Miss Carley. The third presentation was made in a somewhat novel manner. It consisted of a box of chocolates around which a dozen covers were placed, each with a descriptive address. It passed from one to another until all the wrappers were removed, when Miss Macandrew was found to be the owner. Miss Macandrew is at present on ia visit to Hokitika and previous to leaving here was a valued choir member. A plentiful supply of dainty refreshments were handed round. Owing to the number of young children present the social concluded somewhat earlier than usual, although a number of the older ones stayed to have some further fun. opened and closed by the singing of a verse of the National Anthem and finally three hearty cheers were given for the Allies.