STEWART ISLAND NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 21849, 28 October 1932, Page 9

STEWART ISLAND NEWS

PERSONAL, (From Our Correspondent.) Passengers for the mainland by the “Tamatea” last Thursday included: Mr Nicholson, Mrs Gregg, Miss A. Peterson, Miss R. Peterson, Mr H. Pollock, Mr A. Pollock, Mr and Mrs Flack, Sister Casey, Miss Taylor, Mr Chain, Mr Burtenshaw, Mr Williamson, Mr Shaw, Mr and Mrs Archer, Mr C. Young, and Miss Coster. The Misses Peterson have gone to Invercargill for a holiday and will be away for two or three,weeks. Mrs Gregg left on Thursday for a short visit to town and returned on Saturday. Mrs Fred Traill returned from Bluff on Saturday. Miss Taylor, who has been staying with her sister for some months left for home on Thursday. Mr H. Pollock and his son, Athol, have gone to Invercargill for a week’s holiday. Mr C. Young left on Thursday to enter the Southland Hospital as an inmate. Captain Petrie of Invercargill arrived on Saturday on a short visit and is staying at Oban House. Mr and Mrs Horace Macalister and family arrived on Saturday and are staying at Thule. Mr and Mrs William Todd and Miss Margery Todd arrived on Saturday for the week-end. Mr Ollivier, inspector of Bank of N.Z., Christchurch, spent the week-end at the Island.

Mr and Mrs Wm. Johnston jun., of Horshoe. Bay, have left the Island to take up residence at the Bluff. Guests at Hicks’ Ferndale House over the week-end included:—Mr and Mrs Leys, Mrs and Miss McConachie, Misses Saxelby, Kane, Clifford, Babbage, Wilson, Gebbie, Alcock, O’Brien, Moir, Cook, Maltby and Todhunter. Messrs Cushen, McCaw, Ollivier, Ahnfeldt, Valentine, Wilson, Lewis, Pearson, Snowball, Schroeder, Martin, Milsom, Double and Derdidge. Sister Casey, District Nurse, has left for some weeks’ holiday. Guests at Hansen’s Oban House over the week-end included: Mrs R. J. Hamilton, Captain Petrie, * Captain Hamilton, Miss Williams and Mr Clark. The Rev. Mitchell of Isla Bank has been staying with Rev. J. Wylie. Cricket Club. A meeting of those interested in the formation of a local cricket club was held in the school last Wednesday evening. There being sufficient present it was decided to form a club and the following office bearers were elected: President, Mr J. Gaut; vice-presi-dent, Mr W. Hamilton; secretary and treasurer, Mr J. Webber; Messrs L. Bragg and J. Hamilton. Ways and means of obtaining a pitch were then discussed and it was finally decided to form a working bee of all present to make a pitch in the Recreation Ground. Before the meeting closed the president gave a short address stating among other things that as the Pres- . byterian Church Board of Property had given the land for a sports ground it was up to the local “sports” to help with the clearing and forming. Recreation Reserve. The forming of a cricket club on the Island marks a definite milestone in the history of the local Recreation Re-

serve. It will be remembered that some two years ago the Presbyterian Church Board of Property generously gave sufficient land to make a splendid sports ground. The area is large enough for football, cricket, bowls, croquet and tennis, but owing to the rough and broken nature of the ground it will require a considerable amount of work to make it usable. Nothing so far has been done with it but now that’the cricket enthusiasts have decided to “carve out” a pitch for themselves it is to be hoped that other sports bodies will continue the good work, as the site is really an excellent one. It is expected that unemployed labour will be available for some of the work later on as the Reserve is vested in the local County council. Progressive League. The monthly meeting of the Stewart Island Progressive League was held on Friday evening. Present: Mr J. Sloan (president), Mr C. Smith (secretary), Mrs Thompson, Miss Methven, Messrs T. Bragg, R. Peters and H. Pollock. The secretary referred to the minute passed last meeting in which he was instructed to write to the Bluff Harbour Board asking for a reduction in wharfages. He stated that the County Council had written regarding the same thing by a previous mail and that the Bluff Harbour Board’s reply had been published before he could get his letter away. He had consulted with the president and they had decided that under the circumstances it would be better to withhold the letter. In discussing the matter members expressed the opinion that it would have been better if the council had invited the league to join issue with it in the matter. It was resolved that the secretary write to the County Council suggesting that the council invite the league to co-operate with it when ap-

proaching the Government or any public body in connection with any matters of importance to the island. The Labour Day week-end excursion to the island attracted about 70 people. The weather over the week-end was fine but cold, nevertheless the visitors appeared to have enjoyed themselves. On Sunday last Young People’s Day was observed in the Oban Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Mr Mitchell, of Isla Bank, conducted both services, the one in the morning being for children and the evening one for young men and women. Fellowship Class Picnic. The Stewart Island Fellowship Class had an ideal day for their annual picnic on Labour Day. They left Halfmoon Bay at 10 a.m. in the Oslo and proceeded to Popotiki Beach, on the west side of the Neck. Here they landed and boiled the billy and spent the day rambling round the beach and bush, exploring the Old Neck Settlement wrestling, rowing and running races. It was very hot but a comprehensive sports programme was arranged and carried out on' the sand. The billy was boiled again in the evening and they arrived back at Halfmoon Bay at dark after a most successful day. The following is a list of the winners of the races: Men’s tortoise race; Mr J. Hamilton 1, Mr L. Bragg 2. Ladies’ tortoise race: Miss P. Bragg 1, Miss J. Burnett 2. Matrimonial race: Mr J. Gaut and Miss Ethel Hicks. Men’s 100 Yards: Mr J. Gaut 1, Mr C. Campbell 2. Ladies’ Race: Sister Burnett 1, Miss J. Burnett 2. Obstacle race: Mr A. Marshall I, Mr J. Hamilton 2. Sack race: Mr L. Bragg 1, Mr J. Hamilton 2. Sack race (ladies): Miss Vera McCrystall 1, Miss P. Rushton 2. Wheelbarrow race: Mr J. Hamilton and Mr L. Bragg. Blindfold race (ladies): Miss Bragg 1, Miss Topi 2. Blindfold race (men): Mr S. Robertson 1, Mr J. Gaut 2. Three-leg-

ged race: Mr J. Gaut and Mr A. Marshall. The official opening of Rakiura Tennis Club took place on Thursday afternoon, October 20. The day was fine and a fair crowd of members and their friends turned out for an occasion that is always a pleasant one. A working bee of members had spent a couple of days clearing and tidying up earlier in the week and the courts and surroundings look well. Play was started early in the afternoon by the younger members, one or two of whom it was noticed were shaping very well. Afternoon tea was served by the lady members after which Mr C. Campbell, the hon. secretary and treasurer of the club, addressed the assemblage. Mr Campbell expressed pleasure at seeing so many of the public present and said that it was due to their support of the various entertainments held by the club throughout the year that the club’s finances were in so satisfactory a condition. Despite the fact that they had been passing through difficult times he was pleased to state that they had been able to repay £2O of the mortgage on the courts. As the balance of the mortgage had to be paid by December 1933, he urged all present to continue their support during the coming year. The club’s membership stood at 30 last year and there were prospects of increasing this number to 37 this coming year. Mr Campbell then called on Mr R. C. Hicks, vice-president, to officially open the courts. In the evening a crib and euchre party was held in the hall the prizewinners being as follows:—Crib— Ladies: Mrs P. Moore-Carter 1. Booby: Mrs H. Squires. Men: Mr N. Whipp. Booby: Mr M. Adamson. EuchreLadies: Miss E. Hamilton 1, Booby: Nurse M. Pollock. Men: Mr B. Hicks and Mr R. Hansen. Mr Hansen won the cut Booby: Mr S. Robertson.