OLD FRIENDS AND NEW

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 5 January 1916, Page 3

OLD FRIENDS AND NEW

AT WHANGATEAU.

A PLEASANT NEW YEAR ANNUAL.

The golden thread of friendship runs unevenly through the web and woof of life. Often it is obscured in the inequalities of the material, in accordance with the characteristics of complex human nature. Whenever the gleam of the gold is seen, however, it affords pleasure. So there is always a good time at Whangateau, not so much on account of the entertainment provided, but beoause it is a place where old friends look for old friends, and the brightening eye and eager and firm hand convey the message of glad hearts. And new friends are introduced by old to old; but they have yet to be tried. it *• * # Bright sunshine softly gilding tho gentle undulations of th« zephyr stirred Muo waters, the bit of beautiful native bush, and the hills in the background constitute a picture which will linger in the mind. I sit in the shade of the totara trees by tho side of tho tenuis courts, and dream of the future not only of this fair district, but of tho North as a whole; when fern and scrub shall be no longer seen on usable land, and there shall be in addition, to flocks and herds and fruit, olive groves and tobacco fields. The people shall be multiplied a hundredfold, and the riches and strength of the Dominion increased accordingly. •» * * « Whangateau lends itself to the annual gathering in every way. There is opportunity for aquatic sports as well as land sports. It would be well to develop the former. Anyplace can.have-land sports, but very few are so situated as to make the combination successful. ; Comic items in and on. the water are the main things to develop, and the great stretch of safe water makes this possible. Whangateau might very well become famous for the annual water pantomime more than once suggested in the •' R. and 0. Times." Tlie waterfront can easily bo further beautified by the; planting of shade and flowering trees —say in groups of three, the groups at inter- : vals of fifty yards. This would ■pro-- ■* :-.: vide v delightful finish to the Domain, and the attractiveness would increase v year by year., Thei Committee worked hard on Saturday te'secure a general success, and in addition to providing an agreeable, time netted about £35 for the * Sick and - Wounded Soldiers Fund. *^j»This, wns obtained from entrance fees H^Aand the sale oi" refreshments of all , Mr Oeorge H. Phillips, of earned between two and pounds for the committee by motor trips around the track. ' "'. ■*\-i'W'••'■'■■*'■ -: "':■■ ..* *' " all sorts ' included Not everyoue likes pipis. Some H | jffeot to snetr at them. NeverBfcj |.ey wore popular with many, and V i Jwei'e few i|ft of the waggon-load H :J /ped in.the paddock. ■ frVill -yoti take pipis ?" asked a B- f young volunteer waitress of a ■ J\Vill ;I take pipis ?" he replied. BLfe -' - *'' band me a kerosenytint'ul.'lt B said that he- punished the shellfish ■o tho HxtonV,' indicated, and then, said ono day when he had time ho v, ould no longer bo content with a ■ samplVbut would havo a real good . it-nd oiLpipiw. -c- . *■ * * * The \v*\o jr.g suu suggested the hoiniige'ftuo co her mhjosty the Cow, - and parti<?H stnrted* hastily for their home-, bent on getting the milking done bet(;rtj candlelights , And lion-iuilkers went too. Glancing back fit /tho beautiful tryeting place, hallov 1 1 . :;•■-• >" uories of «\« ny ami v .•/■ d • ar> lut msc» >"s uiniiily of th" !»o:iut,ifs : tho niind whimHicuiiv jwH-aiihrused One» Xhu) am— VViiHu-Hfoau i. O \Vhojiga-t.^-a" ! A hMkoi b-vad, a jat of wine, and n.,,,ii r . . . v

And perhaps (with hurried apologies to the sentimental Persian) a sideline of pipis! # # * *

THE SPORTS.

150 yds Maiden Race; Seven entries.—W. liaskell 1, B. Neely 2, D. Stirling 3. 100 yds Handicap; Nine entries.— W. Haskell 1, N. Wilson 2, A. Biorkland 3. ~ XV 250 yds Handicap; Six entries.—L. Wyatt and A. Biorkland tied for first and second place; P. Young 3. High Jump Handicap; Seven entries. —S. Morrison 1, (5 foet), P Young 2, L. Wyatt 3. Egg and Spoon Race; Eleven entries, (Ladies). This was run off in two Heats. First Heat.— Miss H. Saddler 1, Miss F. Melville 2. Second Heat. —Miss 1. Dunning 1, Miss Ivy Dunning 2. Final.—Miss Irene Dunning I, Miss F. Molville 2, Miss Ivy Dunning 3. Half Mile Handicap; Nine entries. —N. WiU-on 1, P. Young 2, L. Wyatt 3

Sack Eace; Six entries.—W. Haskell 1, L. VVyatt 2, K. Neoly 3. r Hitting Cricket Ball; Seventeen entries.—P. Young 1, 0. Matheson 2, G. Mathews 3. # \, The dance was well patronised, the Hall being crowilod. ■,■■: