COUNTRY NEWS.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14140, 17 July 1916, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS.

MURCHISON

(From our own Correspondents.)

At Tuiald en Monday afternoon a large 'number :of settlers, including a number, of Murcliison visitors, assembled for the purpose of saying good-bye to Messrs J. "\Vhittem,'J. L. Dick son and L. Crowe, who are going into camp with the' next Reinforcements. Each of the men received a presentation as a memento from the settlers of the district; while in addition to this a iittle schoolgirl presented Mr. Whittem with a tobacco pouch and sovereign case, for ifc was chiefly owing to his efforts that the Tutaki school won one of the flags donated last year for the Sick and Wounded Soldiers Fund. Another man to bo honoured was Mr. P. O'Connor, who received a set of carvers as a slight token of the district's appreciation of his services to his country. Mr. O'Connor, in returning thanks, mentioned' that he was thoroughly satisfied with the treatment Ihe had receiAred, both from the Pensions Board and from the Nelson Land | Board. At tlie . conclusion of the ceremony, which was presided over by Mr. F. Page, refreshments were handed round, and a very pleasant gathering terminated with the singing of the National Anthem.

Three members of the Nelson Harbour Board, Messrs. Bell, Macmahon and Snbdgrass, journeyed to^ Murcliison on Tuesday to lay before the settlers the necessity for the county joining the Nelson harbour district, and to secure signatures -to a vsetition asking that Murcliison be included. In the evening thy three.members were entertained by the County Councillors at a dinner in the Commercial Hotel. Cr. Win. chairman of the Council," presided, and after a number of toasts had been duly honoured, including the health of the visitors, Mr. J. Whittem was presented with a wristlet watch suitably engraved as a token of esteem from the Council and staff. Cr. J. Brown, in making the presentation, referred to Mr. Whit-, tern's sterling qualities as a citizen and as a councillor, and expressed the hope that- when the war was over he would once more take his place among them. The visitors also spoke eulogisti^allv of Mr. Whittem.

At the conclusion of the dinner the members of the Harbour Board addressed a public meeting in the Council Chambers. The necessity of the county's being included in the harbour district was urgently impressed on those, present, and. evidently the visitors' remarks had the desired effect, for at the conclusion of the meeting practically everyone signed the "petition. Even then these -three energetic members dit! not rest on their oars. Mr bnodgrass visited the Maruia, Mr Bell canvassed the town raid its neighbourhood rv.sd Mr. Macmahon journeyed to the Owen. It is satisfactory to'know that the petition has been'signed by most of the. ■■settlers, and that th^ dele«ttep' pfforts have not been in vain. Ihe -Aelsoi! district is indeer; fortunate m having mi the Harbour Board jr-eiV Avho are willing to cive time ar. f ] ef'rort 'for the v.elfare of the crminirmit*-