Wanganui in Wisps.

Free Lance, Volume XVIII, Issue 984, 14 May 1919, Page 10

Wanganui in Wisps.

I>EAR; . ' ' ' A..,.;;, CHRYSANTHEMIJM : '■ .competi- ■ was ' held- on-; Friday ' under the auspices of the -Wanganui Horticultural'' Society. It took" the novel form of' separate displays in various shop windows. This meant dodging up and down the length of the Avenue, but the blooms so artistically arranged, were worth it. Prizes were, awarded for the cut blooms, also for the actual window decorations in the display. Messrs T.: E. Thomas and Co., showed the Marton exhibit; Purser .and Co., Ltd., the Hawera blooms ;. Mr Andrew Ross, Hutt exhibits; Messrs George and Keirsley, Wanganui exhibits ; Messrs McGruer and Co., Turakina and Feilding flowers. - The . window displays were judged by Mrs Loyell, of Hawera, the prize being; awarded to : Purser's, Ltd. (Hawera). Mr C. Goodson (Hawera) got the silver cup for the best collection of twelve- speci--men blooms; Mr Gibson, Marton, coming second, and Mr Lance, Wanganui, third; • • -•"• ' '"'J ■'-•''•' .; i /.'.-■." ' : ,* ... *.. * ■ : .* • . Among the pa&sengers-to-be embarking on the Port Sydney, are Mr and Mrs Addison Pinard and family, and the Misses B. and F. Williams, of Wanganui. # * * * Mr Sid Swan, eldest son of Mr G. H. Swan, is home just now on leave. Mr Swan went away seven years ago as an engineer on tlie-s.s. Indrabaran, but. is now on ,the Remuera. Since leaving home, Mr Swan has seen something~of the world, being with Admiral squadron at* tne Falkr land Island's'fight and in" the North Sea. He was alsb engaged on transports carrying troops,, to v Salonika, Mesopotamia and India. Mr ,Swan is looking very fit, his blue 'uniform standing out well whenever he is the centre . .of a little group of school friends and old-time acquaintances.'. • The, popuiaritv of ladies as ''committeemen'' has been instanced often

enough, but. the election-of a committee for the Kauwatee-Okoia school resulted in Mesdames McLeod, Neilson, Gray, Higgie and Groshinski being elected to the first absolutely Adamless Eden of the kind about here. * * * " * Miss M .Newcombe and Miss E. Taylor have gone to the South Island for a few weeks' holiday and rest. * •■..■.."# .*"'.■•*• Mr Reg. Somerville, of Gkoia,met with a nasty accident during the week. He and a friend were chopping willows, and once, just as the axe was coming down, Mr Somerville's foot slipped getting the full force of the blow.. Dr. Anderson was soon in attendance and later the sufferer was brought-into the hospital. * * ' * . *, Mrs, Mary Brough, who has been, in private hospital for. some little time, has sufficiently recovered from her serious operation to leave the institution, and. is, just now with her daughter, Mrs Higgle, at Denlair. * . * # * A Wanganui lad, who is home again from the war, looking as bright as a new penny, has achieved a lucky record. He was a little over 15 years old when he enlisted, and was spared to come through. the experiences of the Somme, Paschendaele. Messines, La Basse, Oambraii and . Rheims. Back again safe and sound, he is still under twenty. * * * ' •* Miss Gilbert and her brother, Sec-ond-Lieut. M. E. Gilbert, M.M.. are holidaying at Rotorua and Auckland. Lieut-Gjlbert is just' home after more than four years of active service, most of which .was scent in the East, and it was there that; the "medal" was picked up:.'. A few months in England, with just a little leave before coming bacik-—-Jfche fond dream of our boys in Egypt—was Xaeut. Gilbert's good fortune. * * * * Died a.t her residence, Plymouth street, Mrs James Farrell. a very old resident of Wanganui. Mr and. Mrs Farrell have lived here well over 50 vears, Mr Farrell being one of the few surviving veterans of the early wars in vthis : country. He wns a member of the second battalion of the I.Bth Royal Irish, and one of the eruard of honour at our late King Edward's

marriage. A quiet, unostentatious couple, devoted to each other- . and their large family, much .sympathy is extended to the old gentleman. left in the little,home of many years. The family of three sons and five daughters are- all grown-up and married, Mrs G. H. Clapham, and Messrs John and M.•■ Farrell living; here, Mrs JMcßeath (Dunedin), Mr J, Farrell (Sydney) • Mrs Day (Timaru) Mrs Innes (Wellington) and Mrs GrimleyWhirlwind.