DISTRICT NEWS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 2669, 20 December 1928, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

PIO PIO. (Own Correspondent.) On Thursday evening last"the members of the Pio Pio Football Club held their annual smoke concert in the Town Hall and a successful season of sport was brought to a successful and harmonious ending. Mr R. W. Neal, the president of the Club, presided, and there was a good attendance of members, supporters and visitors. The proceedings were opened by a toast to His Majesty 'the King, and the president, who sponsored the toast, took occasion to refer to the precarious state of the King's health, expressing at the same time time the hope that he would make a speedy recovery. Other toasts honoured were, /the Pio Pio Football Club, proposed by Mr E. W. Larsen, and responded to by Mr N. Ronaldson and Mr T. Maata; Kindred Sports, proposed by Mr S. Ronladson and responded to by Mr C. Jackson and Mr M. Andreason; the Maniapoto Rugby Union, proposed by Mr R. Boddy, and responded to by Mr R. Neeley; the Native Race, proposed by Mr G. Dinnison and responded to by Messrs M. Maata and R, Wetere. Musical items were rendered during the evening by Messrs Murray, McCawley, F. P. Walker, Weo We*ere, S. Te Waiwai, 6. Dinnison, M. Maata, and J. Tatham, while Mr R. Buckman ably presided at the piano. To suitably mark their election as life members of the club, Messrs R. Boddy and F. H. Coates were made the recipients of gold medals. The president, in presenting thesp tokens to the gentlemen mentioned, referred to the long period of their connection with .'the club, and the keen interest they? had shown in its welfare. Messrs Boddy and Coates suitably responded, and expressed the hope that in the future, as in the past, they would be able to find some sphere of usefulness in ithe club's activities.

The evening was altogether a most enjoyable one for all concerned, and proceedings terminated, at midnight with the singing of Auld Lang Syne. Considerable interest is being manifested this season in.the affairs of ithe Pio Pio Tennis Club. The courts which for some years past have been showing unmistakable signs of wear, have been thoroughly renovated. All depressions and worn patches have been filled up and the whole surface re-coated with a mixture of dis-tar and bitumen. This enterprise on the part of the committee has had the effect of popularising the 'club enormously, and quite a large increase in membership has resulted. The fine early summer weather has been conducive to play and on week evenings and Saturday afternoons the courts are taxed to their utmost capacity in providing games for all wishing to indulge therein. The building of the Ladies' Rest Room for the local women's branch of the Farmers' Union is now well under way and the contractors hope to have same ready for occupation before Christmas. It is situated on the Pio Pio-Aria Road, just behind the Bank of New Zealand's premises, and when completed will add considerably to /the appearnace of the township. It is reported that a new pastmaster has been appointed to Pio Pio in the person of Mr Nicholas, and thatt he will be taking up his duties early in the New Year.

It is pleasing to hear that the supply of cream for the local dairy factory is showing a solid increase on previous years, and the butter being produced therefrom is maintaining the high grading standard for which Pio Pio is noted.

On Saturday last the B team of the Aria Tennis Club visited Pio Pio and played a match with the local club. The weather was ideal, and the courts being in perfect condition, some keen and interesting play was witnessed. The courts were occupied during the whole of the afternoon in deciding the various games, and the final results showed that the Pio Pio players were as a whole too strong for their opponents. The scores were: Pio Pio, 13 sets, 86 games; Aria, 4 sets, 61 games. With the Aria players' names mentioned first, details of the games were as follows: — Gents' Singles.—Vallance 6, v. Hempieman 0; Crooks 4, v. Kneebone 6; Noffke 2, v. Mcßae 6; Rose 1, v. Blackburn 6; Heughan 1, v. McDonald 6; Follett o, v. Robison 6. Ladies' Singles.—Rooney 0, v. Andrews 6; Underwood 4, v. J. Gould 6; Oullen 3, v. Mcßae 6; McKenzie "1, v. Neeley 6.

Combined Doubles.—Vallance and Miss Rooney 6, v. Kneebone and Miss Andrews 1; Crooks and Miss Underwood 3, v. Mcßae and Mrs Mcßae 6; Noffke and Miss C'ullen 6, v. Hempleman and Miss Gould 4; Rose and Miss McKenzie 4, v. Robison and Miss Neeley 6. Gents' Doubles.—Vallance and Crooks 6, v. Hempleman and Kneebone 3; Follett and Heughan 5, v. Mcßae and McDonald 6. Ladies' Doubles.—Misses Cullen and Rooney 3, v. Mrs Mcßae and Miss Andrews 6.

During the afternoon the visiting team and friends were entertained at afternoon tea by the lady members of the local club.