OKAIAWA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 3 May 1928, Page 2

OKAIAWA.

Quoin Our Own Correspondent), , FOOTBALLERS’ BALL. The Okaiawa Rugby Football Club held, its annual ball on Tuesday evening, wnai there was a vei-y good antenaance, iili'iiougn soinewnait beiow those ot previous yeans. U'ne ball and supper-room were beautifully decorated witn coloured streamers (.blue ana maroon, the club’s co ours ), ferns and flowers. Autumn-tinted foliage was also extensively used, the biending of colours being extremely tasteful and pleasing. The ladies’ committee, consisting of Msdames W. Johnston, Hollis, O. Craw lord, Good, Clarke, Williams, A. Robertson, Ho ui a hail, J. Johnstone, and Misses Ward (2), Beauchamp and Buck-ei-idge, were cniefly responsible lor carrying out this work, and also that in connection with the supper. Mr G. Hur.ey, the ball secretary, and Messrs O. Crawford and it. Guy, the M’s.C., 'carried out their onerous duties to the complete saitisfaction Qt ail concerned A splendid 1 supper was provided, and the tables, when set presented a most appetising appearance'. This was considerably enhanced by thjs beautiful decorations, the sole work of Airs Crawford Coburn’s orchestra, another combination new to Okaiawa, supplied the music and captured the popular fancy. Time was perfect, the music tuneful, and those weird noises introduced by some, dauce orchestras were eliminated. The bal! was quite enjoyable, and quite up to the standard of those given hy the club in past years. Immediately prior to supper the club’ s president, Air A. Gees, in a short .speech, thanked the patrons for their attendance. The club had gone to considerable pains to make the bail! a success, and in this connection lie had to thank the club’s lady supper tens for tligir invaluable assistance. The ladies were responsible' for all the beautiful decorative work in the hall, and when those ’present entered the supper-room they would find further evidence of their thoroughness. At Air Lee’s call, a hearty vote of thanks to the ladies was. carried by acclamation. Air Lees said he had a very pleasing dutv to perform. Last season two gold medals had been presented to the dub, one bv Air Kendall. 1 of Hawera, and the other by the club’® esteemed patron, Air W. A. Guy. After considerable deliberation, Air Guy’s medal had been awarded to Brio McOaillnm &<s ‘the most improved forward in the senior team, and Mr Kendall’s, to P. Tippett, the most improved junior. FIRST GAME COAIAIENT.

The Okaiawa seniors met defeat in their first match of the season. They were unfortunate in being without the services of D. Johnston, Parslow and R. Clarke, but even so they made a very fair showing, lack of condition being the. principal cause of their downfall. Lynsiqey, who handled the bad for the hist time this season, was right off his game, but it is only fail’ to state tbat he was not playing in his accustomed place. There were at times instances of lack of headwork, and this was not confined to the young players who were acting as substitutes. However, when the team settles down and gets into condition there i® no doubt that it will do very much better. Awahou a member of last year’s junior team, in which he played in the rearguard, has appeared as a forward in the senior team in the friendly match against Opunake and in the cup fixture against Patea. This young player shows much .promise, being a fast and dashing player, and will probably retain his place, in the team. The Patea team made an excellent impression on Saturday, their taking of the ball, passing, cutting in and kicking being of a high order. They were also in much better condition than their opponents, and to this their victory was principally due. In the opinion, of critics, the Patea team is one which will have to be treated with respect. HOUSEHOLDERS’ AIEETING.

There was an unprecedented incident at the householders’ meeting on Monday evening, when the local branch of* the W.C.T.U. launched a surprise attack in an attempt to capture two .seats on the committee. Although the laddies failed to gain their objective it is to be hoped that their action will result in parents showing more interest in school matters in the future. THE WEATHER.

At last the drought is .thoroughly and completely broken, and, as the weather is keeping warm, a, considerable improvement in the pastur eis noticeable. .iliooiU the warm temperature continue for a time farmers wall not have to commence feeding out so eariy as anticipated. Old settlers who 'are well versed in weather indications were able on Saturday last to predict that there was ‘ ‘some weather coming,” the mountain being their guide. When her majesty appears dnr?,ssed in a very deep blue, or hen she appears to be extremely close and every knoll and tree .stands out with remarkable clearness, then one may rest assured that a change is not far off. FARMING. The principal of a .secondary school recently made the statement that very ew of his pupils were taking up agriculture, and this was not to be wondered at. iseeing that all the farmers were crying ‘‘stinking fish.” The writer would ,sav that there is nothing wrong with farming provided land can be obtained at a reasonable price, but when £6O, £7O and. £BO per acre are asked ■ there is nothing in it, and the man without capital who takes land at these prices is putting a weight round ids neck for the rest of his days. The writer heard of a farm which recently changed hands at £7B an acne cash. The purchaser was evidently a man of means, and one who probably does not utend to work it himself. If he leases it he will of course put a price on it which will return .him something in excess of the current rate of interest, and the tenant who pays this will find little left, for himself at the end of the year. The man on the land works long hours and every day in the week, and lie is certainly ’ entitled to a fair recompense for his labour.