Te Arakura

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 40, 18 February 1935, Page 4

Te Arakura

From Our Own Correspondent, Garden Fete.

On Wednesday afternoon a very pleasant time was spent by all who visited the garden party held by the Te Arakura Hall Society in the grounds of Mr. J. Linklater, M.P. Though the attendance was, owing to counter attractions, a littlo below expectations, there should still bo a good credit balance to help the hall funds. A very well stocked produce stall was well patronised, proving the most remunerative feature, while soft drinks and ice creams were also popular. Clock croquet, tennis and quoits were provided, while a putting competition held in the intervals between the dancing was keenly contested. The dance pavilion or shack made a delightful kiosk lor the afternoon tea, the decorations being baskets of pink tamarix and bella-Uonna lilies and crimtamaresk and bella-donna lilies and crimson miotiana. The gardens, though showing evidence of the dry season, were still bright with bella-donnas, hibiscus, cannas and other flowers, and the green lawn* spoke for the work and water expended on them.

The popular bust, .Mr. J. Linklater, M.P., was, thru ugh Parliamentary duties, unable to be present, and was much missed by ait present. The thanks of the hall committee are due lo Mr. and Mrs. Linklater and family for their generous hospitality and willing Help throughout tlu; fete. Miss It. Linklater won the competition, guessing the weight of the cake. Miss Tricker (Bulls) won the putting competition.

Those in charge of the various stalls were:—Produce, Mesdames A. Griffith and A. J. Barter; needlework, Mrs. W. Ansin and Miss E. Baxter; ice cream, drinks and sweets, Mr. D. Lewer and Mrs. M. Lewer; afternoon tea, Mesdames W. E. Thomas, A. Hume, P. Danielson, F. Russell, G. Firth, Wallace and Miss PL Bennett, also a number of young girls who acted as waitresses. Messrs. C. Whisker and J. Bennett had charge of the tennis court and ice cream stall; Mrs. Bradley, putting; Mrs. Sorenson, clock croquet; Mr. I’. Bradley, quoits. Messrs. W. E. Thomas and D. Whisker were gatekeepers, while the efficient secretary, Mr. A, J. Baxter, was everywhere at once, attending to all details. Visitors were entertained throughout the afetrnoon by a number of ladies from the Bulls Women's Institute, who, under the direction of Mrs. W. A. Churchill (who also accompanied on the piano), gave a number of folk-dances. A number of girls, under the tuition of Miss Taylor, from the Feilding Agricultural College, also delighted with several of the more modern Greek dances. Miss Taylor also accompanied her pupils on file piano. Mr. P. Hansen, in tho unavoidable absence of the chairman, Air. J. J. Hume, officiated in that capacity. Tlie friends of Miss Marjorie Burnham, who recently underwent an operation, will be pleased to hear that she is progressing favourably, Mrs. R. Grant’s friends will regret to hear that she was compelled to undergo an operation for appendicitis on Tuesday last, and will all join in wishing her a speedy recovery. Air. and Airs. Collier, Wellington, have been'the guests of Mrs. P, Hansen. Aliss Elsie Whisker has leave of absence from her school duties for health reasons, but expects to return to Ngahape School shortly. Ail-. W. Hudson and Airs. M. Lewer were both successful district exhibitors at the recent Woodville show. Large quantities of apples have been faffing with the dry conditions, while pears, about ready, have had to be picked to save them being windfalls. Peaches seem to hang to tho trees better, though impaired in quality. The rain on Saturday, while beneficial to many, was by no means general. While some are rejoicing in full water tanks and refreshed pastures and gardens, others, with empty tanks etc., watched the rain stop at their neighbours’ and wondered if their farms harboured a hoodoo. On Thursday a very heavy shower was experienced while a soft rain continued on Friday morning. j The road grader has been bfisy on Allison's and Cameron’s lines, but with the fast moving traffic the dry weather makes the metalled roads a problem difficult to handle. A Hut has been stationed at the junction of Milson’s and Cameron’s lines for the last week, housing a county employee who lias been making a count of tho traffic. , The weather not having so extremely hot on several days, the school has not had many half days. The school attendance is well maintained, the number on the rolls being: senior room 34, and infants 30, about the school’s full capacity. Tho Newbury players defaulting, tho tennis match arranged for last Saturday did not take place.