PAHIATUA

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 163, 11 June 1929, Page 11

PAHIATUA

(From Our Own Correspondent).

PAHIATUA,

Juno 11,

On Friday night last the Pahiatua skating club rink was opened. A large number of skaters and a considerable sprinkling of enthusiastic if, as yet, unskilful learners enjoyed a night’s skating. On Wednesday evening of this week the Pahiatua Boy Scouts will meet in tho Drill Ilall alter an enforced vacation of six months. The citizens’ committee has beon successful in obtaining tho services of Blr L. D. Wales as Scoutmaster. Mr Wales has had experience in tho Scout movement in England and the troop is to bo congratulated on its good fortune. On Friday night last the Friendly Societies’ Council met. Bro. Johnson presided. Delegates present were Bros. G. R. McKenzie (Druids), J. Taylor (Manchester Unity), F. G. Moore and 0. Johnson (Foresters), and Firemen T. Morgan and R. Stokes (Fire Brigade). It is intended to hold tho next parade at St. Peter’s Church.

On Friday night last a party of twenty Pahiatua District High School pupils visited Woodville to debate with tho local High School ail important if somewhat well worn topic “Is Country Life Preferable to Town Life.” The party wore conveyed in the cars of public spirited members of tho School Committee who did not allow tho stormy weather to deter them. Tho largest class-room of the AA’oodvillo High School was well packod by pupils of both schools and their supporters who had obviously come prepared for a lively evening. They were not disappointed. Jack Ilorrax, Chris. Smith, Ngaire Graham and Mary Adams were tho four stalwarts chosen to uphold the honour of Pahiatua and “boost tho country.” This they did to such good effect that the judges pronounced them the winners of the debate, defeating the Woodville team led by Willoughby by a narrow margin of points. After the eight principals had finished their speeches, the meeting was thrown open for discussion, only children participated, in tho wordy warfare which followed. The arguments exhibited striking originality, and adults who considered they knew all the arguments “pro and con” came away with their confidence sadly shattered. Nothing was forgotten. Even the Garden of Eden failed to escape and was adduced as a convincing argument that tho Deity approved of the country and abhorred the town. The opposing party were not to be outdone, however, and pointed out that a wise and beneficent Creator could not reasonably be expected to do everything for men so he left to them the building of their towns. Blany were the gruesome pictures painted of. towns, “tho hotbeds of disease and crime,” and the country where unwashed hands and uninhabitable shacks apparently abound. These things and many others, we were solemnly assured woro absolute and incontrovertible facts. The discussion closed with most of tho onlookers in that woak and exhausted condition which comes from much laughter. After the debate a pleasant social hour, concluding with supper, brought an end to an enjoyable evening. Blr BlcKay, of tho AVoodville School staff, briefly addressed the meeting and called for three cheers for the winning debaters. Mr M. J. O’Connor tho headmaster of tho Pahiatua District High School, in responding said that a return debate to bo held in Pahiatua would be arranged within the next month or so.

A wedding of particular interest to the Kaitawa distric' took place in St. Brigid’s Church, Pahiatua, on June 3rd, the contracting parties being Gertrude Dorothy Mavis, second daughter of B(r and Blrs George Baker, to AVilliam George, second son of Blr Edward Beckeft. Rev. Father Cashman officiated.

On Saturday afternoon, Mr and Mrs 11. -P. Perry, who arc leaving Pahiatua, were farewelled by a gathering of citizens. Blr D. R. Richards, of the staff of the branch of the Bank of New Zealand, has received notice of his transfer to the Wellington branch and leaves to-morrow for his new appointment. Blr Richards is tho secretary of the Pahiatua Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, and a member of tho Pahiatua Golf Club. RUGBY. FOOTBALL.

The following players will represent the Bush R igby Union against Dannevirko at Pahiatus- to-morrowß. Stevenson, B.

Ud.v, A. Tait, G. Harris, R. Riddle, P. Humphrey. L. Humphrey, Kendall, C. Raleigh, A. Mahoney, N. McKay, J. Moynahan, Bond, G. Mavey, J. Galvin. Emergencies: V. 81. Wright, Lowe, 11. Udy and Small. The junior representative trial game North v. South, was played at Eketahuna on Saturday, and resulted in a draw, three all. The following team was afterwards chosen to play Puketoi on Saturday, June 22, at Pongaroa:—Barker, Low, E. Herbert, White, Brady, Mexted, E. Lett, Donovan, Murphy, Lamont, Daniels, Hudson, Cooper, K. Lett, BlcKenna. Emergencies : Mathews, AVebby, Dunn and Wright. COUNTY COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of tho Pahiatua County Council was held on Saturday, when there were present:—Crs. S. Bolton (chairman), T. Hodgins, T. Fouhy, A. W. Bisset, 11. Cornelius, F. Y. Bryant, J. Champion, H. R. AA 7 liitta and 11. S. Mason. The county overseer (Mr S. Blacrae) in his monthly report stated : “I would suggest that as the traffic on your Blain Highways is constantly increasing and the cost of maintaining same is annually getting higher, you seriously consider the question of a permanent surface between Pahiatua and AA’oodville County boundary.” The overseer estimated that it would

cost £9OOO to tar-seal the road from Pahiatua to the Woodville County boundary. The permanent work was certainly the best, but the Highway Board would only pay £1 for £1 subsidy on it, whereas the board paid two-thirds of the cost towards tar-sealing. The following motion was carried: “That this council advise the Main Highways Board that it is its intention to proceed with the permanent surfacing, penetration method, of 5 miles of No. 15 Highway on the Pahiatua-Woodville section ; also No. 85 Highway (the station road!.’’