EKETAHUNA

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1680, 11 May 1904, Page 25

EKETAHUNA

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The annual meeting of the Farmers’ Union was field on tfie 30th. April, the attendance being large. Ihe annual report and balance-sheet were read, and unanimously adopted. Officers and Committee were elected for the msuing year. The Chairman who held office for the past year. Mr W. B. Mathieson, was unanimously re-elected. It was proposed and seconded that the subscription be raised to 7s 6d pei* annum. This proposition caused some discussion, A member moved an amendment that 10s .be charged. On a show of hands there were but three for the amendment, the motion being carried. The matter of the Union having an official organ was brought up, but was not received with any favour. Many stated they were perfectly satisfied with the way in which their interests were represented by the press generally. The Chairman read a letter from the Masterton branch re obtaining a veterinary surgeon for the Wellington province. This matter was held over till tli6 next meeting. The members of the branch retired from the Council Chambers to be photographed in a group, an artist having been procured from Masterton for that purpose. After the usual sitting before the camera, members returned to the Council Chambers to resume business. A member spoke of the “New Zealand Weekly Mail” (Wellington) as a paper which took great notice of the district in its illustrations and reports from time to time, and for that reason, coupled with it being a provincial paper, it deserved the consideration of the branch. The Vice-Pre-sident coincided with the views of the last speaker, and. moved that a copy of the photos be sent to the "Mail/' and it was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Secretary and Chairman. Other matters were brought before the meeting, none of which call for special attention. We have had beautiful weather here during the week. Though some of the nights were cold and bracing, we have had beautiful sunny days. •On .Tuesday evening the 3rd inst., a good-bye social was tendered to Gardner Bros., who are leaving the district of Hukanui. where they have resided and carried on business for a number of years. The attendance, which included persons from all the surrounding districts, was the largest which has assembled in the hall since its erection. Speeches were given in eulogy to Gardner Brothers. Mr David Gardiilr, Vice-President of the Bush Districts Rugby Union, was presented with a beautiful case of smoking pipes, as a souvenir of the regard in which he his held by the Union. Mr J. B. Eaton, President of the Union,, when presenting the present, spoke of the many good qualities which ;\Mr Gardner possessed. Mr Gardner suitably returned thanks. Cheers were given for Gardner

Bros., followed' by the song "They are Jolly Good Fellows.” The catering, which was managed by a Committee was really The major portion of the guests indulged in the ‘Tight fantastic” till the small hours, when “Auld Lang Syne” brougne the largest meeang ever held in Hukanui to a close. Air Ware, of STrling, acted as Chairman of the meeting. and Mr Goodin, of Hukanui, as M.C.