OKAUIA.

Matamata Record, Volume XI, Issue 933, 2 July 1928, Page 5

OKAUIA.

Several buildings are being erected in dkauia. Mr. Story’s new residence near, the Opal Springs is now almost completed. > Mr. W. Aoake is having a ne;w resy| ence erected, and it is now well undei l way. His new home is being built/ on the flat ' adjacent to the main Okauia-Matamata road. s The Okauia Public Hall, .which haS been completed by voluntary labour, was officially opened on Wednesday; The hall is situated at the top end of the Okauia district, close to Cox’s' corner, (the junction of the Te Poi and Okauia roads). .

The social club is continuing its project of erecting a hall on the section near the Opal Springs, and the timber is already on the site.

Personal. Mr. A. Wright is at present on ah extended holiday in Hawke’s Bay. The District Health Nurse visited the Okauia school recently, a/nd also interviewed several of the parents of ,the native children at the Pa. J The Social Club.

A very pleasant evening was spent on Thursday night, when Mr. and Mrs. Trundle gave an evening at their home to the members of the social club and their friends. A room had been cleared for dancing, and music was supplied by Messrs. Trundle and Mason. For those who did not dance there were cards. Vocal and elocutionary items were rendered as follows: Recitations, Mr. Mason, Mr. Paton, Mrs. Trundle, Blanch Trundle; song, Mr. Trundle. A dainty supper was served by the ladies. At the close of the evening Mr. Mason, on behalf of the club, thanked Mr. and Mrs. Trundle for their hospitality and all joined in singing “ For They Are Jolly Good Fellows.”

Inauspicious Opening Day.

On Wednesday the official opening of the Okauia Hall took place, but the weather was abominable for the occasion. A scribe from the Record was invited out, and duly bowled along in a Tin Lizzie, but the rain had made the grades so slippery that the car would not climb up one of them. Next the engine knocked out, and after getting plastered with yellow mud and pelted with rain driven hard by the rising gale, the said scribe was glad to slide downhill again and reach the metal once more without giving the grade another go. While all this pother was going on the victim was calling down maledictions upon places that must have local facilities scattered all over the place instead of, being centralised; The place starts with Wairere House, and then the Springs, with the school, about threequarters of a mile further on, and the post office about a mile from the first-named place, and the hall probably four miles away, so that buildings that should all be within about four chains of each other are stretched out for four miles. That is what is called unity, co-operation, pulling together for'the common gopd, and such-like, highsounding phrases. All these things the scribe philosophised about while Lizzie grunted and would, not go, and when she did splutter into life again he decided to hike off those uplands again before the .gale took the hood off, and leave the heroics to our local correspondent to perform. \

The Public Hall. In spite of 'the exceptionally bad day the opening function of the Okauia Public Hall was most enjoyable, quite a large number of residents and friends being present. The hall was declared open by Mr. J. Buchanan, chairman of the Matamata Town Board, who made reference to Mr. Barton’s generosity in making it possible for the menfolk to work on the woolshed and make it into a very good up-to-date hall.i Mr. Tapper, who was in the chair, welcomed all present, and presented Br. Barton with a ifountain pen from the com-

mittee. Mr. Barton returned thanks and m a few well chosen words said how he felt that the time had come for the many young folks of the district to haye a plate where they could be free to have the amusements, and as the woolshed was no further use to him he had much pleasure in passing it on to the district. . Miss Gwen Jones presented Mrs. Barton with a bouquet of autumn tints and spring flowers. Mr. W. Owen Garland* in a neat speech, expressed his wonderment at the growth of the district. Afternoon tea was served by the ladies, and a very pleasant afternoon was spent by all. ’V ' ' ••• - .