Apiti

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 308, 17 December 1940, Page 3

Apiti

(From Our Own Correspondent.) ; Home Guard. I A well attended meeting of Apiti j men was held to consider the matter of forming a Homo Guard company in this district. The chairman of tho Pohaug- . ina County Council, Mr. S. J. Strahan, , who convened the meeting, was unable to be present. Mr. S. F. Morris was in ■j the chair. The area commander of the Home Guard, Lieut.. C. V. Ciochetto, ' was present to explain the need to form , a Home - Guard and following his address a committee was elected, com--1 prising: Messrs. W, McKenzie (chnir- , man), W. McKay, J. Elliott. A. W. , Yiles, A, McMurtrie and A. W. Bensetnann to further local arrangements. Sixty-five men present signed up and » enrolment forms will be filled in as soou as same are available. W.D.F.U. Mrs. L. J. Hod sou presided at the December meeting of the Apiti branch of the W.D.F.U. and welcomed the High School girls who exhibited an excellent collection ot‘ arts and crafts. Mrs. Hodson thanked members for their help , with the catering at the recent patriotic sports. A sum of £1 is to be sent 1 to Miss Matheson for W.D.F.U. Christmas cheer fund. Tho president referred to the impending departure of Mrs. S. F. Morris and Miss Gilmore-Srnith, two 1 valued members of the W.D.F.U., who will be greatly - missed from the Apiti , branch. She wished them -happiness in , their new home et Waverley and presented Miss Gilmore-Smith with a bouquet and also asked her to take one ■to Mrs. Morris. Miss Gilmore-Smith ■ expressed her regret at leaving Apiti r and the good friends both she and Mrs. > Morris had made here, and she also . thanked members for their flowers and - kind thoughts. Mrs. A. Yiles and Mrs. I T. Purnell judged the High School girls’ - j competition for wood fibre flowers as ■ follow:—Joyce White 1, Mary Mclntyre 12, Rae Muir 3. The points prizes for ' H.S. girls’ competitions during the year were wou by Rae Jensen I, Annie . Bensemann 2, Mary Mclntyre 3. Mrs. » Hodson and Miss Gilmore-Smith judged , the members’ competitions as follow: ■ Best bloom, Mrs. J. H. Cowan 1, Mrs. : H. Jensen 2 and 3; collection of roses, I Mrs. Mclntyre 1, Mrs. Vilcs 2; vase of flowers, Mrs. F. Massey 1, Mrs. J. D. , Kilgour 2, Mrs. Yiles 3; Christmas gift, ' not costing more than 2s Cd, Mrs. H. j Jensen 1 and 2, Mrs. A. Yiles 3. An , enjoyable social programme was ar- • ranged as follows: —Recitations, Mrs. .T. R. Osborne and Miss Gilmore-Smith; . -pianoforte solo, Mrs. A. W. Viles; hum- , orous readijig, Mrs. .T. D. Kilgour; songs, - Mesdames A. McMurtrie and A. Yiles. Tho president, Mrs. Hodson, and her , daughter, Miss HodsoD, the competition • steward, are leaving Apiti soon and , Miss Madge McKay presented each with a posy. Mrs. Watkins voiced the [ regret felt by members at losing their , president and her daughter who had dono so much to make the W.D.F.U. meetings pleasant. Their play-readiugs will be missed from the programmes. Mrs. Watkins presented Mrs. Hodson with a pair of crystal vases and Miss . Hodson also with a crystal vase, at the same time wishing them happiness in \ their new home. Mrs, Hodson returned thanks and urged members to be ! loyal and active supporters and not silent, members taking no part in their [ branch activities. Mesdames R. V. , Stewart and A. Dobson were the tea hostesses. R.S.A, Mr. W. McKenzie presided at a meet- \ ing of the committee of the Apiti R.S.A. Also present were: Messrs. W. 1 J. Osborne, A. E. Prujean, J. R. Stewart, [ A. Dobson, C. M. Stanley, W. Hogan 3 and S. F. Morris. Mr. Morris’ resigna- ' lion was received with regret and Air. McKenzie expressed the appreciation of members for the interest taken in R.S.A. ’ affairs during his residence in Apiti, 3 particularly during the past year as Mr. • Morris has been a capable secretary. ’ Mr. Morris was tho recipient of a gift ’ with good wishes for the future. Mr. W. Hogan, auditor, tendered his resigna- ’ tiou and was later appointed secretary and thanked for accepting the position. Anglican Farewell. ’ Ladies of. the Anglican Church call- ; ed at the schoolhouse on Friday with ’ n. farewell gift lor Mrs. Morris and Miss Gilmore-Smith. Both ladies have taken » active interest in.St. Luke's Church and > Guild, and Mrs. O. M. Stanley and Mrs. 1 JY'H. Cowan presented them with cry- . stal. vases and-flowers as tokens of ap--1 predation of their services to the J church. > High School Dinner. 9 The combined rural and home science 7 committees of the Apiti ; District High ) School entertained pupils, ex-pupils, staff, parents and school committee at t tho third annual dinner on Friday even--1 ing. The tables were decorated with > crystal vases of red and pink roses, j while further colour was provided by. •> rninboAv-h 'cd serviettes. Mr. W. Me'j Kay. presided, and Grace, was sung bef fore the niuciy -people present sat down , to dinner. Following the Loyal Toast, the High School teacher/ Mr. J. R. Osborne, proposed a toast to pupils past and present and expressed his pleasure at such a large'ga thering, before passing on some good advice to the young ppople as to their opportunities of making a. right choice in life, and being 1 pelf-reliant and not expecting the easy ! way to be the best way when decisions ‘ ( had to be made. The High .School girls’ ' quartette, Misses A. Bensemann, S. HarJanci, N. Churcher and M. Prujean, 3 gave an item. Miss Audrey Le Quesne and Master Bob Stewart replied, speak-

ing for present, and past pupils and thanked Air. Osborne for his interest in the pupils. Mr. H. C. Mclntyre toasted “The Stuff," Miss Woods, Aliss Osborne (infant mistress), Messrs. J. I\. Osborne and S. F. Alorris stressing the particular merits and work of each teacher. Revs. Hodson and Ashworth, who gave of their time for classes for religious instruction, were included in this toast. • Airs. J. R. Osborne gave an elocutionary item. In his reply Air. Alorris eulogised his staff whose cooperation and team spirit was evident in all their work. ' Revs. Hodson and Ashworth both expressed pleasure at the opportunity given them of taking classes for religious instruction. Mr. J. R. Osborne expressed his gratitude to the members of the home and rural science'committees when proposing the next toast. He said that he could not have carried out his programme without' the committees and other willing I helpers to whom much of the success of the work was due. Air. and Airs. A. AV. Vile Bang a duet. Airs. C. M. Stanley said that the ladies’ committee had been fortunate in having the assistance of such, competent helpers to aid the girls, in their home science work. Mesdames J. C. Ashworth, H. H. Jensen, U. Jensen, Aliases P. Hogan and A. Hodsou had taken many classes, and it was gratifying to see that the girls had made such practical use of these classes for helping in patriotic work. Mr. Mej Kay, replying for the men’s committee, said that local farmers were only too willing to help the boys as the interest shown in the various phases of work proved. Air, Osborne's enthusiasm in the experimental plots as in all other branches, was such that he met with ready co-operation. The departing head master, Air. S. F, Morris, was next honoured and Mr, Ale Kay regretted that Mrs. Alorriß was not well enough to be present. He congratulated Air, Morris on his promotion. Air, C. AI. Stanley sang “For England.’’ In his reply, Mr. Alorris said he had been fortunate in Apiti, having in Air. J. R. Osborne a colleague of such zeal and enthusiasm, as well as a school committee which gave him wholehearted support. Mr. W. tL Osborne eulogised tke school commit-

tee for their interest in the affairs of the school. Miss Muriel Prujean gave a recitation before Mr. Wildbore, chair man of the school committee, replied, saying that in all their work they were greatly helped by the parents and the school staff. Kindred High Schools was proposed by Mr. J. H. Cowan, who spoke of the importance of school in the life of young peple. Replies by Messrs. J. D. Kilgour and A. W. Viles found both speakers hoping that the young people of to : day would benefit by their education and help to make a better world after the war. Master Colin Watkins gave a musical monologue accompanied by Mrs. Osborne. An impromptu toast to “Apiti Homo Guard leader, Mr. A. W. Viles/’ was proposed by Mr. Geo, Watkins. Mr. Viles, in reply, said that he believed local residents realised the necessity lor a Home Guard, which was a voluntary effort that called for full support for a. high standard of efliciency. In a one act, play produced by Mrs. J. E. Osborne, the following. High School pupils acted: Joyce White., Mary Mclntyre, Ngaire Hogan, Colin Wat kins, Arthur McNicol and Bill Bense Leading Aircraftsman Howard Viles, now in training at Weraroa, visited his father, Mr. W. J. Viles, at the week end. At St. Luke's Anglican service on Sunday afternoon, the children brought Christmas gifts for the Orphanage. Eev. F. E. Fleury conducted the service and Mrs, C. M. Stanley was at the organ. In Mohammedan countries pilgrims