RUATAPU NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 4 July 1927, Page 2

RUATAPU NOTES.

(Our Own oorrespondent ) The farewell social -which was tendered to Miss D. Breach, turned out a great success, there being a very large attendance. The Chairman of the Ruatapu School Committee, Mr J. Looney, spoke in eulogistic terms of the good work of Miss Breach during her term here as assistant school teacher and referred to her unfailing attention to the school children, ami concluded his remarks with a very touching piece of poetry. Mr W. Bernhard, in his usual good style, spoke in glowing terms of the departing guest, hoping it would not be long before they would be welcoming her back again, and concluded a pleasant little speech by wishing Miss Broach every success in her future career. He then called on Mr J. Looney to make a presentation on behalf of the residents of Ruatapu. Mr Looney presented Miss Breach with a hand some marble clock, and in doing’ so wished her God speed. Miss Breach on rising to respond, was greeted with hearty applause and she very feelingly replied, thanking one and all for the kind works that were spoken of her and abo foi the very nice present which she woiit.l always value, not only for its intrinsi c \ alue, but as a reminder of the very happy days she spent in Ruatapu. After the singing of “She’s a Jolly Good Fellow” and “Auld Lang Syne” the dance proceeded to the strains of excellent music supplied by Miss P. Vincent and very ably assisted by Miss A. Stoop, of Woodcock, and to these voting ladies the committee desire to return their sincere thanks. The floor was in charge of Air W. Bernhard, and this gentleman is to be complimented on the very creditable way he carried out his duties, which added to the pleasure of one of the most successful social evenings yet held in Ruatapu. Miss Elsie Man ora, who is home again after a very lengthy spell m the Westland Hospital, is, I am sorry to say, still confined to her bed. Mr T. G rowcot t, our popular union I delegate, is a visitor to Greymouth to- ' day on union business. At a. recent Christchurch conference j a Mr McDonald put forward a proposal to have the motor tax transferred from tires to benzine, and it was adopted, it being mentioned in sunport that some of the farmers owning cars were ’mown to have their tires rot off, so little did they use them on the roads, which they were taxed to maintain. It j put me in mind of the Jew and Hie Scotsman, after a long separation, when the Scot, after they shook hand;-, went away counting his fingers to see if they were all there! To put all the taxation on benzine seems an absurd thing for it would seem that wo who live in remote places would have to pay through the nose for everything. Take, for instance, those [engaged in the timber industry, who are obliged to go miles into the bush and return to their homes, for whom there is now no tire tax to pay, but who would have to pay a lot if the tax is on petrol. No doubt those objecting to tire tax would [not worry if mill workers had to sleep [out in the bush; but they must not forget their own goods are in many cases transported by the use of benzine, and that it will not be possible to stop the tax from being passed on in one way or another. Having caught a slight chill whilit reading in the “Argiw" a letter signed “Not a Timber Shark,’’ I a nst delay answering the same for a day or so, but will duly do so. “Roll ’em Girls, :nd Scow Your Pretty Knees!” is cn? of the latent jazz hits that has taken our dancing fiends by storm, but when the flappers take the words literally anl begin to display their pretty (?) knees, mere men are liable to turn their heads and gaze, especially if a westerly blows, and, in Hie vulgar parlance, “got an eye-full.” However, Hie girls hereabouts are tiring of singing it and fend to translate it into action. With a pal I mot one winsome young lady who literally had “roll’d ’em,” and I was whistling the song “If I had a girl like you,” but T had scarcely started when my pal, who could not keep his eyes off the young lady, turned on me suddenly and sail: “Wed. if you had a girl like her, what would you do do?” Says I: “There’s a record in a shop in town entitled “Keep your skirts down, Mary Ann!’ Well. I’d send her in to buy it!”