MOTUEKA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 14 December 1932, Page 2

MOTUEKA

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION SAjLE OF POPPIES LKTTRIt FROM HEADQUARTERS (From Our Own Correspondent) At the last meeting of the executive of the Motueka brnneli of tire R.S.A. the following letter was received from Headquarters; and, after discussion, it was decided to give the letter the fullest publicity: —“It has come to the knowledge of Headquarters that the question of selling poppies for a street (lay, has been talked of by an organisation in Wellington. As is wellknown. the replica of the Flanders Poppy has been the memorial flower of ex-service organisations in America, Britain, Belgium, Canada. Australia and other parts of the Empire, including New Zealand, for some 12 years past, and, furthermore, in the majority of instances, the blooms are manufactured by the disabled soldiers or dependants of the fallen. With this knowledge in mind, also the fact that it is sold “For Rememrbance,” and remembering that the funds accruing from the sales" of poppies are universally used for the relief of distress and necessity amongst ex-servicemen and their dependants, Headquarters places this •matter before your Association with the request that the following draft resolution be considered and carried into effect: —‘That the local authority controlling the granting of street sale days be approached, and, in view of the sentiment and objects attached to the sale of poppies by component parts of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, be requested to stipulate that any authority or permission for a street sale day to any organisation, not connected with the N.Z.R.S.A., be granted subject to the proviso that the Poppy Flower design be in no way imitated.' It is also recommended that publicity be given to this resolution, on the subject, which may be passed by your Association. The widest publicity regarding the subject will impress on the general public that the poppy as a memorial token is definitely for disabled men to make and the local Returned Soldiers’ Associations to sell.” SCHOOLCOMMITTEE MONTHLY MEETING At the monthly meeting of the Motueka District High School Committee, the following members were present:—Messrs S. G. Smith (chairman), G. Manifold, T. Hickmott, J. Wilkinson, ,T. Martin, J. Anderson, and B. Warren. RESIGNATION OF HEADMASTER. Mr IT. G. Johnston wrote as follows: “As I have received an appointment under the Hawkes Bay Education Board 1 beg to notify you that I have tendered the Nelson Board my resignation as headmaster of this school. In doing so I wish to thank the members of the present committee and of previous committees for their co-oper-ation and help in falling in with any suggestions that I. have put forward; and to express pleasure at the friendly relations that have always existed between the committees and myself. I have always had reason to feel that the individual members of the committee and, in particular the gentlemen who have held the office of chairman and secretary, have had the interest of the school at heart.”

Miss J. E. Neve tendered her resignation from the position on the staff of Motueka, as she was leaving the service. Mr J. Spears wrote tendering her resignation on the staff of the Motueka District High School as she had received an appointment at Taihape. Thanks were extended to the committee for its kindly attitude towards her as one of its teachers and wishes for the success of the committee’s work. On the motion of the chairman and Mr Hickmott, it was decided that Mr Johnston’s resignation be accepted with regret, and that the committee express appreciation of his services during the last five years. The resignations of Mrs Spears and Miss Neve were also accepted with regret; and the meeting agreed that letters of appreciation of their services be forwarded. F. Carling expressed pleasure in accepting the invitation of the committee to be present on Thursday afternoon at the closing function and farewell to Mr Johnston, especially as he would like lo add his congratulations to Mr Johnston on his appointment. Accounts amounting to £2O 6s lOd were passed for payment. HEADMASTER’S REPORT The headmaster (Mr 11. G. Johnston) reported for the month as follows :—“Attendance secondary department, average 53.4, roll 57; primary school, main, average 272.8, roll 284; side school, average 28.3, roll 30; total primary, average 301,1, roll 314. Dental clinic subscriptions to date: I have received £8 IQs in fees payable by parents towards tile upkeep of the clinic. Probably some twenty-five children have not paid, but, considering the times, the response must be considered good. ‘ ‘Proficiency examination : Twentyeight pupils sat for the examination, and of these 24 gained the certificate of proficiency and four the competency certificate.”

Mr Johnston, in again referring to the assistance he had received from the committee, said that, in many ways, he was sorry to leave Motueka school. The chairman, concluding the meeting, extended good wishes to all members.

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY

PREPARATIONS FOR NEW YEAR’S DAY With the. near approach of the festive season, the executive of the Motueka Caledonian Society is busily engaged making arrangements for the. ninth annual gathering of the clans to be held in Motueka on New Year s Day (2nd January). This very popular event probably advertises Motueka and surrounding districts more than any other held during the year. Competitors and their friends are attracted from all parts of (he North and South Islands to the gathering. Their stay is usually of three or four days duration; and,, during that time, the visitors are afforded every opportunity of becoming acquainted with the potentialities of this section of the Nelson province. This year the society has affiliated with the Piping and Dancing Association of New Zealand and has been allotted the South Island championship event, Highland Fling, for girls under 18 years of age, which should be the means of bringing many new competitors to MoIn the correspondence, dealt with on Monday evening, a. number of enquiries were received from as far south as Dunedin, Intimation also came to hand that

a lady piper from the Waikato district would take the boards as a competitor on New Year’s Day; and, from all accounts, she will give a good account of herself against all comers. A knotty problem the executive had to deal with was the question of billet ing of competitors at Motueka; and for this purpose a special committee was set up to go into the matter and to report back to a meeting to be held on the 23rd instant. The transport of competitors to Tabaka for the 3rd January was another matter that was reviewed by the meeting. Finally it was decided to appoint a sub-committee to make tentative arrangements in regard to same. The secretary was instructed to write to the Nelson Pipe Band expressing the society’s thanks for the assistance rendered on the occasion of the St. Andrew’s Day service at Motueka. It was decided to ask the Mayor, Mr R.. York, to tender a reception to the visiting competitors and representatives of societies at the Post Office steps on Saturday, 31st December, at 9 p.m. The society agreed that a church parade be held on Sunday, Ist January at 6.45 p.m. The parading of the Pipe Band on New Year's Eve was left to Pipe-Major Topp to arrange. Committees for carrying out the respective duties in connection with the gathering were set up, and concert arrangements discussed. A vote of thanks was accorded Air D. Simpson for services rendered to the society. WEDDING McNAB—DOIG At the Motueka Presbyterian Manse, on 12th December, a quiet but pretty wedding was solemnised, when Thomas Fowler McNab, eldest son of Mr Thomas McNub, Pangatotara, was married to Margaret Husband Doig. youngest daughter of Mrs Doig, Edinburgh, Scotland. The Rev. Air Feist nerformed the ceremony. The bride, who wore a Lido blue satin frock with hat to tone carried a bouquet of orange blossoms and was accompanied by her sister, Mrs V. James, as matron of honour, attired ill a green floral silk voile frock with black hat and carrying a bouquet of sunset antirrhinums. The bridegroom was attended by Ids brother Mr Norman McNab. After the wedding a reception was held at the Motueka Tea Kiosk and later in the afternoon Mr and Mrs McNab left for Blenheim.