RUNANGA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 23 May 1942, Page 6

RUNANGA NOTES

'■(Our Own Correspondent). The Runanga Patriotic Society packed and forwarded to Greymoutn soldiers' gift parcels and 92 knitted articles. Tne society sincerely thanks all those who assisted witn the knitnng, especially tne Convene and State School children, who have done splendid work. Tne following are also thanked for donations to soldiers' gift parcels: Mrs. f erguson, £2; Mrs. I. Tyson, £1; D. Powell, 10s; D. Kendrick, 10s; Y. Rutherford, ss; E. Kennedy, ss; T. Bowes, ss; J. Braithwaite, ss; S. Colt’, ss; F. Oakley, 2s 6d; F. Key, 2s 6d; W. Downes, 2s 6d; T. Howard, 2s od; J Clelland, 2s 6d; P. Outhwaite, 2s 6d; W. Hall, 2s; A. Friend, 2s; misses A- Bowes, 2s 6d; M. Stone, 2s 6d; J. C. Smith, ss. The following are tnanked for donations of goods: R. Mathieson, R. Dando, I. Gdlaiy. D. Giover, J. Livesay and J. Piner.’ The following are donations to the Patriotic Fund: Convent School, 10s; state School (6 weeks), £2 'is sd; Mary Baty and Merle McEwan, £1 5s 9d; Dances, £7 3s 6d; Anonymous, 2s 6d; Raffle, Mrs. Bowes, £7 10s. , Privates P. Heath, T. Anderson and A. Bowes, have been visiting Runanga. The meeting of the, Runanga Women’s Co-op. Guild was held in the Druids’ Hail on Friday) last. Mrs. Oaklev presided. It was decided to hold the Guild Birthday Party on the next Guild night, the public to be invited to a social and dance in honour of the occasion. The winners of the whist were Mesdames Oakley and Lemon.

The Runanga Sub-Branch of the Plunket Society records a successful year’s work in the fourteenth an annual report, in which the President (Mrs. E. Timlin) and Secretary (Mrs. M. Outhwaite) state: In Spitje of prevailing war conditions, the year has once aijain been a beneficial one for the Society. Much to our sorrow we have to report the necessity of writing letters of sympathy to members and past members of the Society, whose relatives have made either the supreme sacrifice, or have suffered some other casualty in the theatre' of war. Our Committee has been fortunate in maintaining its membership throughout the year, and our thanks go to all who have given both their time and energy to the cause. At the beginning of our year we had great pleasure in welcoming, as our chairman, and as the newly elected Mayor of Runanga, Mr. Ernest Kennedy. The Committee decided to forego its annual ball for 1941, in favour of any attempt which would be made to raise money for patriotic purposes). This Imiefant ,a substantial financial loss t 0 the Plunket Society, and, in order to counteract this to some extent, the W.E.A. of Runanga very kindly consented to give an evening’s entertainment for the Society’s benefit. This was an unqualified success, and our thanks are due to all the members of the W.E.A. At the July meeting, 'the Committee expressed its appreciation in a tangible form to Mr. R. McTaggart, of his work and interest in the Society, for many years prior to his resignation as Mayor of Runanga. Mrs McTaggart was also remembered by the Committee and suitably thanked. Early in July the Committee welcomed to the district, Nurse Pearce, who has proved herself a most accommodating and helpful nurse, not only to the mothers and babies, but also to the Committee and members of the Society. Under Nurse Pearce’s lectureship, Plunket Aide classes were formed m Runanga, fourteen ladies meeting and taking part in the lectures furthering the general work of the E.P.S. These Plunket Aides made suitable recognition to the nurse who gave a great deal of her own time to assist in this work. With much regret we farew&lled Mrs. Densem, who left the district in August Mst. Mrs Densem was always a willing and energetic worker for the' Society and we all wish her and the Doctor every success in their new life. In October we had pleasure in welcoming Mrs. Theyers to our Committee. During the year the question of the Plunket Nurse’s car allowance came under much discussion. The Branch finally decided to endeavour to maintain its quota towards the cost of the car. To offset this expenditure the Committee very gratefully accepted Mr. A. Hilderbrand’s offer to hold a garden party at his residence. Unfortunately the inclemency of the weather was against us,

and we were forced to postpone this event till some latei’ date Tne house-to-house collection again took place prior to Xmas, and a very satisfactory sum resulted. Knowing o f the numerous calls at present made on the public, the Committee wish to thank all who both assisted, and gave so readily to this object. With the work of the E.P.S. and the Plunket Aides, 'came the necessity of furnishing an emergency box equipped with baby clothes, baby foods, etc. With the assistance of our members, this box has now been set up, and made ready for use. The School of Mines building has been thoroughly cleaned and prepared as a Plunket Aide post in time of emergency. Our thanks are - due to our Auditor, Miss Davison, to the press, and to one and all who have proved themslves willing workers for the Society in any capacity whatsoever The new year which faces the Society may prove to be one' of extreme emergency, and the work of the Plunket Aides may be called into use. We all hope this will not eventuate, but realize that, if the necessity should arise, the Plunket Society’s members, and all who have the intrests of our work at' heart, will do their utmost in a crisis.

The balance sheet for the year ended March 31 last is as follows: — Receipts.— Cash in hand, £2/8/8; Cash in bank, £62/15/7; Donations, Dr. E. H. Densem £2/2/,-, Mr. E. Kennedy £l, W.E.A. £5/9/6; Annual subscriptions £ll/15/-; Public collection £l9/17/-; Collection Box (rooms) 1/5; Garden party £2/5/-; Interest. P.0.5'.8. £l/19/11: Total £lO9/14/1. Expenditure: Stationery (Mrs Outhwaite) £1; Grey Power Board 15/1; Grey Plunket Society* Car Levy £7/0/2; Grey (Plunket Society yearly quota £35; Co.op. Store (goods) £2/0/10; W. Heinz 14/-; Parkinson 2/-; Smith and Smith 5/3; Williams and Ross 3/-; Insurance £l/6/-; Cash in bank £56/7/-; Cash in hand £5/0/9. Total £lO9/14/1.