WAKEFIELD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1749, 13 September 1905, Page 28

WAKEFIELD.

"\(From Our Own Correspondent.) Mrs Parkinson of Dovedale was seized \*ith a paralytic stroke on 29 Dr Deck was immediately sent for, bur all efforts proved unavailing, dying on the next morning. The deep Christian love she bore to others endeared her to all; the whole district mourn® her loss. She leaves a husband and a growa up family, some of whom live up m the Auckland Province. *" Messrs W. Route and Son, land and estate agents, have sold Gum Grove, the property of Mr© John Price, Wakefield. The purchasers intend opening up this estate* by means of a good i'O a <l ™ e chain wide —and ’cutting it up into building sites. This is just what is wanted, as building sites in Wakefield are unobtainable, and the advancement of the township will be thereby greatly promoted. Miss Florence Smith, daughter of Mr Alexander Smith of Wah-iti Valley, who left this district ©ome six years ago as a missionary to India, has nust returned, and was invited to a social at Foxtail. The schoolroom was packed, and Mies Smith received a most hearty welcome from parents, friends and scholars. Miss Smith ha® chiefly worked at Masulipatnm, under Miss Brandon, and at the college there. For fully an hour Miss Smith discoursed on the good work done m the homes and orphanages for women and children, the training of the native Christians, and conversions among them, describing the strange habite and customs of this ancient race, the difficulties encountered, and encouragement given by the natives to Christianity. The President was the vicar of Yv’akefield, who while welcoming her home took occasion to congratulate Mis© Smith on her having taken up such a noble work, which meant briefly put: “None of ©elf but all of Thee/* Mr ! A. Neilson also spoke of the pleasure they all felt in steeing Mies Smith amongst them. The following programme was gone through. Solos: Misses Waters, Cole, Hunt, Price and Fowler, Messrs L. Hoult, Cole and Field. Ducts: Misses Palmer and Price, the Mis©bs Higgins, and Miss* Price and Mr L. Hoult. Mieses Palmer and Tarrent worked hard and had the pleasure ox a successful night. Liberal refreshments 1 were handed round, and Miss Stanth, the guest of the evening, had many a chat with old friends. . The usual weekly gathering of the •Wakefield Literary Society was, held on Thursday, Mis© Faulkner senr., presiding. Being ‘'ladies night** everything was in their hands and well they carried their programme out. Mis© Faulkner gave a sensible address on the advantages of debate and literary gatherings, stating that many great men commenced their career in such societies. Headings were given by Mrs Hooper and Miss Tidd, a recitation by Miss Prentice, pianoforte pieces by Misses Watkins, Martin, E. and F. Hooper, a violin and piano duet by the Misses Currin, and songs by Misses Fowler, qC. Faulkner, C. Hanron, Williams, Price, Palmer, J. Baigent, Prosser and Prentice. Refreshments were handed round during the evening./ The local Juvenile Oddfellows* Lodge invited the members of the local Juvenile Rechabites to a combined social. The lads thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Mr Bert Painton was kind enough to bring his new large phonograph, and put through a great many “records/* Messrs Harris and George Johnson were in charge. Messrs J. Ricketts, Harry Tunnicliffe, B. Hodgson and F. B. Peart were present. Mr Benson of 88 Valley has had the misfortune to he burnt out. He rose shortly after 5 o'clock on Thursday; lighted the kitchen fire, and went out to catch and feed his horses. About a quarter to six he saw smoke issuing from the roof and back. He ran to the house, woke hie wife, and then broke a window in the children's bedroom which was on fire, and got them out none too soon, a© some of them were scorched and half suffocated. He is a hard-working man and had just got his house painted and

furnished when this unfortunate circumstance throw© him back considerably. Little of any value was ©aved, and he wag insured for but a trifling sum. The storm from Australia reached here on Thursday evening, and remained with us till Saturday morning. There was a flood in the Wai-iti, but no great damage was done. \ Another landmark has been removed from our midst by the death of Mrs William Sutton of Richmond. The deceased was a daughter of Mr Thomas Oresswell. Mir Cresswell died on hoard ship, off Nelson, and was the first person buried in the settlement, being buried on the Boulder bank. The deceased had resided with her husband on their farm at Richmond for nearly fifty years, where they brought up a large family of seven eons and ten daughters. Mrs Sutton was a kind neighbour, a sympathetic friend, * a good kind mother, and a faithful wife. The deceased was sixty-nine years of age. She was one of the good old hardy stock of early settlers, who have almost all gone from among us. The Hev J. McKenzie, Presbyterian M/iniisbea? 1 (from IN bison field his usual monthly service on evening. There was a good attendance. The committee have had the school front fence painted, greatly improving the appearance of the ground from the road. They v are busy erecting a new flagstaff. At the last Friday’s meeting of the Wai-iti Literary Society Mr Harold Hoult was in the chair. The debate ‘‘Does Education Tend to Lessen Crime** waa opened in the affirmative by Mr J. Tunnicliffe, and in the negative by Mr A. McKenzie, the latter winning by a substantial majority. Miss Jordan, who for two years has filled the position of postmistress in Stanley Brook, was presented with a beautiful marble clock, the gift of many friends. It„ bore the inscription, "Presented to Miss A. E. Jordan by Stanley Brook friends, August 30, ISos.** Miss Jordan is leaving the Valley and the residents could not let her depart without ©bowing their appreciation of her willing services cheerfully rendered. About forty men are at work on the Maniaroa-Tadmor section, and twenty on the Upper Tadrnor section of the Nelson end of the Midland Railway. At the Wakefield Debating Society rooms on sth instant, Mr James Bruce read an interesting paper on heat, steam and power. He kept everyone interested, and answered the many questions to the satisfaction of the Society. b