AUROA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 1 June 1914, Page 5

AUROA.

(Fkom 0v& Own Correspondent.)

Mr D. Penny was entertained by the employees at Kaupokonui and his many friends in Auroa at asmoke concert on Monday last. A very pleasant evening was spent with songs, recitations, and speech-making. During the evening Mr McDonald presented Mr Penny with a gold albert and also for Mrs Penny a gold bracelet. He said that he knew the Pennys wanted to get away without any fuss being made and without any presentation, but they were not going to let them do so. Mr Penny's services had been too valuable to the district to be allowed to leave without some memento from the many friends he had been associated with, and he hoped they would live for many years to wear the gifts that had been presented to them. Mr Penny, in thanking the meeting of behalf of Mrs Penny and himself/ expressed himself as very pleased with the handsome presents, which would always bring happy recollections of their numerous friends in Auroa. In responding to the .toast of "The early settlers," Mr Davies, Normanby, gave a very interesting retrospect of his early days in Auroa, when the district was all standing bush, and their living depended on the jfungus tliev used to collect; generally the life of the pioneers was far from being, a happy one.

The annual meeting of the Hall Society was held on Saturday,, when there was a £jood attendance, and Mr C. Johnstone presided. The report and balance-sheet disclosed a very successful year. The donations, had included £10 from the Ladies' Ball Committee and £11 from the Glee Club. Owing; to the extensive alterations and improvements to the hall ,the bank overdraft was pretty heavy,, but no doubt with the energetic workers in the district this would very 6obn be reduced. The report and balance-eheet were adopted. The election of officers , resulted as follows: Chairman, Mr C. Johnstone; committee, Messrs Bowman, Poole. Bascand. Bowie, Anderson and Duff: treasurer. Mr T. Julian; secretary. Mr T. Ross; auditors, Messrs C. Burke and W. Bradford. Hearty votes of thanks were accorded to the Ladies' Ball Committee and Glee Club, and to the outgoing committee for their services during the past year. A most enjoyable little affair took place on Friday 'evening, when the friends of Miss Duff entertained b,er at a kitchen tea in honor of her approaching marriage. A joyous time was spent. Those who were s© inclined puzzled over a miscellaneous competition, Miss Netta Johnstone securing the ladies' prize" and Mr Short the men's. Mr Dunn called everyone's attention to the fine array of useful and ornamental kitchen articles, which would keep the future > Mrs Short busy arranging in her new home, and he asked Miss Duff's* acceptance of these as tokens of goodwill from her Auroa friends, and wished her a long and hanoy married' life. Mr Short, on behalf of his future wife and himself, expressed great pleasure in accepting so many useful presents. He also added that he hoped all present would come and see them in their Glenn road home, but that they wouldn't all come at once. The evening passed pleasantly in music and dancing. ■ Sonsrs were given by Messrs "Berry and.Buxton, Messrs J. Duff. A. Duff, Wills: recitations, Miss. Jessie Dunn, Mr A. Duff. The accompaniments were played by Mesdames C. Burke. Bowman. Tait and Miss Gibbs, and Mr C. Davis. After a very tasty supper an exceedingly pleasant evening was brought to a close.