TAKAKA

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 12723, 15 December 1909, Page 1 (Supplement)

TAKAKA

Last Friday evening a very bright and succossfcul gathering was held in the Oddfellwos' Hall, the occasion do ing a farewell send-off for Mr. and Mrs A. S. Pirani. Mr. Pirani has been postmaster hero for the last three years and during that time bar, made himself v.cry popular with the public by his never failing courtesy and attention to his business. Mrs. Pirani had also made a host of friends and one and all decided that their leaving should be marked in some way. A progressive ouohro tournament of fourteen tables was the main feature of the evening, a few dances and phonograph selections, and a splendid supper also being pari of the programme. During the evening Mr. J. G. Page, chairman of the Takaka County Council, on behalf of the residents of the district express-, d appreciation of Mr. Pirani's services and the general regret felt at his departure and handed to him a handsome dressing case and a travelling rug. Mrs. I'irani was then presantcd by the ladies with a very handsome glars

and silver rose bowl. Mrs. Alex, llaklajie being spokeswoman. Several others present ma:..: complimentary remarks as to Mr. Pirani's capabilities as a postmaster and wished hrm successful his new sphere (Port A Hariri). Mr. Pirani expressed his thanks for the handsome presents and kiixl remarks and the evening concludtd with the singing of "Auld Lang Svnp" and "He's a Jolly good Fellow."

Mr. and Mrs. Morrish, of Greymouth, have now arrived and Mr. Morrish has entered on his new duties as postmaster of Takaka. The new comers express themselves as well pleased- with the appearance of Takaka, and are prepared to settle down amongst us. I regret very much having to report a rather nasty accident which happened to that veteran sportsman, Mr. Isaac Walker, of Puramahoi, well known in past years for his feats on his famous jumping mare, Chess, in tlie hunting competitions Loth at our local A. and P. SLow? -and. rt Nelson. Mr. Walker,, although over eighty years of age, is still a very venturesome horseman, and on this occasion was riding a horse he recently purchased, when the animal managed te throw him. giving him a rude shaking and breaking his arm. Great regret is expressed OH all sides at the unfor tinuvte accident, as .Mr. Walker is very well known and equally pnpu'-r from end to ci:-d of our district. Last accounts' state that he is lii.v progressing favourably, though tVo shock was naturally a 'Severe one for a man of such an age

A sensational runaway took pi nee at Takaka last week. The horses attached to a two-hoise coach bolted from the vicinity of the Globe" Hotel, the coach being empty -it the tin:- -1 . The horses had gone but a short distance when the coach capsized, _ .iitd came away from the ui.dev-carriage. The liorses continued for seven mi lea in the direction of Collingwood, and were then found by ti\r> \«nng men, who had followed them fiom Takaka, quietly standing with the polo hooked to a wire fence, they thus being effectually anchored. The horses had negotiated the hiils and dangerous turns without any damage whatever to the undcr-ca-rriage, a.nd their captors mounting the" frame triumphantly drove back to Takaka.