TAKAKA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1746, 23 August 1905, Page 24

TAKAKA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

A petition has been going round this district lately asking that the rating on unimproved values of property shall be brought into force. If the principle should be adopted it will be one of the best bits of work that could be done, for there is plenty ox property here that hardly pays any rates, which should be made to do so. The petition was largely signed. It is with regret that I have to record, the death of Mrs D McCullum, who passed away at her residence, Long Plain, on Sunday, 30th July. The deceased lady had been a resident of Takaka for the last fifty years, and was loved and respected by all who knew her or had any dealings with her. She had been ailing for a long time past, and reports regarding her health were anxiously looked for, and when the news of her death was announced it was received with expressions of sorrow and regret in all parte of this district. The deceased had reached the age of 68 years, and leaves a family of six sons and five daughters, all grown up, also twenty-one grandchildren. Tlie funeral was largely attended in spite of the heavy rain that was falling, which showed the respect in which tne residents held the memory of the deceased lady. The corpse was buried in the Lang Plain Cemetery. Mr Gordon Kirgan, Presbyterian Minister, read the burial service. Mr P. B. Packara has'' been elected Chairman of the Golden Bay Bacon Factory Company. Mr J. Reitly was defeated by one vote oupy for the same position. The Golden Bay football team succeeeded in beating the Collingwood Club by five points to nil in the final game for the Cup, and therefore they hold the trophy for the next year. The day was all that could be desired, and a large number of spectators went up to Collingwoood from here to see the match, and were treated to a real good thing, as the game was very fast and hard, the ball travelling from one end of tne field to the other every few minutes. From a bit of fast play F. E. Moore crossed the line, and scored a try amid loud cheering. H. Haase took the kick, and placed a beautiful goal. Golden Bay 5, Collingwood nil. There was a lot of give-and-take play from this out, but the Bay boys should have scored on several occasions, but over-anxiety spoilt them. Collingwood only had about two chances to score, but missed both.

A representative team are going over to give the Nelson representative footballers a "go" on Saturday next. It is about time that a team of Nelson footballers came over to play the Bay representatives, for our boys go over every year, but no return match can be got on the local ground. It is a bit) off-*side I think. On Sunday, August 6th, the Presbyterian Church was filled to overflowing, the occasion being the preaching of a memorial service on the death of the late "Mrs D. McCullum. The preacher, Mr Gordon-Kirgan, handled his subject in a most masterly manner, taking for his text St. Matthew, xxviii. 6 verse-. He is not here: for He is risen." The large congregation being beld by the exhortation of the rev. gentleman. The hymns were most appropriate for the occasion, one in particular being a favourite one of the deceased lady. The service is conceded to have been the most solemn and pathetic ever held in this place.

The controversy Prohibition versus State Control, is having a great airing here at present, and the temperance adherents intend to make a great fight at the gefieral election to get prohibition carried. If they succeed and the rates and taxes are raised to a few shillings in the pound for the up-keep of the country. I fancy the prohibitionists will be the first to cry out about increased taxation, for

that is what it will mean as soon as the liqnor trade is ehhl off. A rather sudden death occurred last Thursday morning, when the eldest daughter of Mr J. Campbell, manager of the local butter fastory passed away. The little girl (she was just about seven years old) was at school on Monday last, and complained of a sore throat, but it wa© thought she had onlv caught a cold, but, 1 am sorry to say, it eventually turned out to be diphtheria, and she passed awa,y on Thursday morning. Great sympathy is universally expressed with the parents in their bereavement. The funeral, which took place on Sunday last, was largely attended, a number of the deceased's schoolmates following the body and singing a hymn at the graveside. Mr Gor-don-Kirgan read the burial service with great impressiveness. Mr Bastard, the electrical expert in connection with the Hidden Treasure Company, left here last week for Auckland with the treated stuff from the twentyfive tons of stone. The result is anxiously awaited here, and it is hoped that it will turn out all right this time.