FEILDING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 168, 17 June 1936, Page 4

FEILDING

CIVIC CLUB. ADDRESS BY MR J. H. STEVENS. At tho Feilding Civic, Club's luncheon yesterday Mr J. H. Stevens, of Palmerston North, gave an interesting talk on “Old Maori Memories.” The president (Mr K. At. Little) welcomed the speaker, stating that Mr Stevens was noted as an authority on Maori history. In the course of his remarks, Air Stevens said that the Aln.ori language was a simple one. Professor Lee of Cambridge had written the Alnori language for the first time in 1820, said the speaker. Referring to vegetables. Air Stevens said that pumpkins and maize were not known l>y the early Alaoris, while it was not until 1865 that tomatoes were introduced to them. Alaoris never tried to copy Nature; the grotesque figures carved by them were not replicas or likenesses of ancient Alaoris, but were simply figures carved to inspire fear into the ranks of their enemies. Painting the body with red ochre was practised by cowards in order to protect them, while women did not paint with red ochre unless they were guilty of unfaithfulness. The pua reinga, said Afr Stevens, was the flower of the underworld and had been erroneously interpreted ns the flower of Hades. The Alaoris did not believe in a hell and therefore any suggestion that the pua. reinga was the flower of Hades was contrary to their beliefs. Actually, the pua reinga grew upon the roots of the koromu, and the ■speaker handed around specimens which in appearance looked like carved flowers beautifully arranged in clusters, and of remarkable beauty. It was difficult to realise that thev were specimens of subterranean nature and not the handiwork of a carver.

Referring to the alleged laziness of Alaoris, the speaker said that the natives could not work alone,' they had to have company. At Ratana, where hundreds of Alaoris were congregated, perhaps the best cereal crops in New Zealand were grown and the Alaoris thero were working industriously under the leadership of Ratana. Discounting the theory that New Zealand was a new country, Air Stevens said that from the 20 varieties of moa bones which had been found from time to time New Zealand must be centuries old.

Air L. J. Wild, in moving a vote of thanks to the speaker, said that he. with other members of the club, had thoroughly enjoyed All* Stevens’s address. The motion was carried with acclamation.

W.E.A. LECTURE

GREEK SCULPTURE

Last evening at the AV.E.A. sensum, Air C. H. Sayers, ALA., Dip, Ed., chose for his lecture “An Introduction to Greek Sculpture.” Owing to the inclemency of the weather the attendance tins only fair.

Speaking of the Athenian ideals, ATr Sayers quoted the following example of their high and sound ideals: “Our government is not copied from those of our neighbours. AVe are an example to thorn rather than they to us. Our constitution is named a democracy, because it is in the hands not of the few but of the many. But our laws secure equal justice for all their private disputes, and bur public opinion welcomes and honours talent in every

branch of achievement, not for any sectional reason hut on grounds of excellence alone. And as we _ give free play to all in our public life, so we carry the same spirit into our daily relations with one another. AVe have no black looks or angry words for our neighbour if he enjoys himself in his own way, and we abstain from the little acts of churlishness which, though they leave no mark, yet cause annoyance to who so notes them. Open and friendly in our private intercourse, in our public acts we keep strictly within the control of the law. AVe acknowledge the restraint of reverence AVe are obedient to those in authority, and to the laws, more especially tu those which offer protection to the oppressed, and' those unwritten ordinances whose transgression, brings admitted shame. Yet ours is no workaday city only. No other provides so many recreations for the spirit—games and sacrifices all the year round, and beauty in our public buildings to cheer the heart and delight the eye day by day. AVe aro lovers of beauty without extravagance, and lovers of wisdom without unmanliness. Wealth to us is not mere means for display, hut for opportunity for achievement; and poverty we think it no disgrace to acknowledge, hut a real degradation to make no effort to overcome. Early Greeks believed in cultivating the body, and gymnasiums, athletic games, military exercises, were popular with them. 'They encouraged sport of an athletic nature wholeheartedly, for the express purpose of cultivating healthy bodies. Their efforts for improvement of the human body were not confined to the physical side alone. Through music', poetry, and mathematics they trained the minds. Alusic was written with the object of establishing selfcontrol and temperance in the minds of those who heard it.” “Beauty and goodness go together.” said the speaker, “and the Greeks strove to bring about beauty of the body by athletics and beauty of the min'd by music. The Greeks were superior to the Egyptians in relation to the sculpturing of a human body. They succeeded in bringing out accuracy in detail.”

Mr Humphreys occupied the chair and announced that the usual weekly AV.E.A. lecture would be held next Tuesday evening. All* Sayers was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his interesting lecture and this was carried by acclamation. PUBLIC TELEPHONE. APPLICATION TURNED DOAYN. At the last meeting of the Chamber of Commerce the matter of providing a public telephone at the corner of Derby Street to serve residents on the eastern side of the town was discussed, and it was resolved that the P. and T. Department be approached requesting that a telephone be installed in that vicinity. All* ,T. B. Purcell (postmaster at Feilding) has received a reply from headquarters stating that the request cannot be granted on the grounds that if a telephone were installed as requested it would show an annual loss In view of the fact that tiie proposed telephone box was to be -situated close to Johnston Park, where sports gatherings are held at frequent intervals, and in cases of accidents a telephone would he of great value, it will he re gretted that the department cannot accede to the Chamber of Commerce’s request.

MINIATURE RIFLE CLUB. AVEEKLY SHOOT. Scores registered at the weekly shoot of the Afiniature Rifle Club- are as follow: —P. do la Cour, 39 —97—136; I. Aitkeu, 38 —97 —135; H. Richardson, 39—96 —135; A. Gulbra.nson, 37 —97 — 134; K. Cossor. 38—96—134; AV. Bray. 38— E. Booking. 39—95—134; AV. Griffon. 35—98—133; J Craig, 38 —95—133; L. Shailer, 37—95—132; N. Rosoman, 36 —96 —132; G. Bramwell. 39 J. Frazer, 38—93—131; C. Aitkeu, 39—92—131; L. Bailev, 37 —94—131; L. Curtis, 36—94—130; K. Bowden, 38—92—130; H. Brewster, 34 —95—129; S. A lay hew, 38—90—128; H. Beazcr. 33—93—126; R. Bickers, 34—90—124; C. J. AVickhani, 31—86 —ll7. The following are the teams to shoot in the Jones and C'ollinson Shield match: —First team (A grade): R. Stuart, J. Craig, N... Rosoman, H. Richardson, I. Aitkeu. Second team: S. Alayhew, L. Shailer. K. Cosear, J. Frazer, F. Booking. First team (B grade): A. Gulbransen, K. Bowden, N. Bramwell, AV. Bray. L. Shailer. Second team : It. AV. Bickers, G. Bramwell, H. Brewster, C. Aitken, It. Buchanan, C. AViekham. It is anticipated that thero will he riflemen from all the Alanawatu Miniature Bifle Association’s Clubs competing for the Jones and Collinson Shield this evening. VALEDICTORY. PLUNKET NURSE HONOURED. On Tuesday afternoon a large number of mothers, friends, and members of the AVomen’s Institue, AV.D.F.U., and AV.C.T.U. gathered in the Parish Hall for the purpose of bidding farewell to Nurse Armstrong, Plunket nurse, who is to he married shortly and has relinquished her duties on that account. Upon entering the hall Aliss Armstrong was presented with a pretty shoulder nosy .by Aliss Aturdock, on behalf of the Plunket Committee. The posy consisted of sprigs of heath and daphne, with Iceland poppies and maidenhair fern. Aliss Armstrong was wearing a irock and coat of Gloucester green repp. The afternoon was spent in competitions, tho winners being Alies Betty Eliot, Airs J. Garrick, and Airs Pratt.

Following afternoon tea served by the committee, Airs A. C. AlcCorkindate (president of the Feilding branch of the Plunket Society) spoke in glowing terms of Aliss Armstrong’s work in the district during her H) years as Plunket nurse. Continuing, Airs AlcCorkindale said that the resignation of Aliss Armstrong had been received with much regret by the New Zealand Plunket Society, who in a letter had eulogised the splendid service Aliss Armstrong had given. Airs Jenkinson, a past president of the local branch of the society, endorsed the previous speaker’s remarks, stating that during her term as president she had found Aliss Armstrong a particularly capable and conscientious worker, who had put her very best into the work which she had been engaged in. Airs Jenkinson wished their guest every hapniness in the future. Al rs J. H. Perrett (president of the Sandon branch) on behalf of the Sandon, Kimbolton, and Apiti branches, also paid her tribute to Aliss Armstrong and wished her every happiness. Airs A. C. AlcCorkindale then called on Airs T. Collins' (Alayoress) to male' the presentation of* a handsome silve tea service, a gift from members of til local branch and the mothers of the

district. Mrs Collins, in her remarks, said that she was happy to make the presentation to Miss Armstrong, who was very popular with all the people •she met. ’ ]t was her regret that Miss Armstrong had given up her duties as i J lunket nurse. The speaker then handed the gift to Miss Armstrong and wished her every happiness and success in her married life. Following the presentation musical honours wore accorded the recipient. In thanking those present for the beautiful gilt and tile speakers lor their eulogistic, remarks, Miss Armstrong said that she would always remember the happy times spent in Feilding during her term as Plunket Nurse. She intimated that her new hofne would be in the district and she would still be able to keep in touch with the members of the local branch and the mothers.

Apologies for absence were received from Mrs J. G. Elliott, Mrs F. Mason, Mrs 1). C. Cullinane, Mrs J. Sugden, Sister Smith., Misses Brown, Hansard, and Shortall.

For the function the stage of the Parish Hall was beautifully decorated with palms, bowls of berries, and flowers. The small tables from which the afternoon tea was served were decorated with chrysanthemums and Iceland poppies in shades of yellow and gold. GIFT EVENING. On Monday the friends of Miss A. Hink a.nd Mr B. Rink, who are to be married on Wednesday, met in the W.D.F.U. rooms, Manchester Street, for a gift party arranged bv Mrs F. 'Watson. There were about 40 guests present and many useful gifts were recevied. Mr Rink, at the conclusion of the function, thanked Mrs Watson for arranging it, and also those present for the beautiful presents they had given.