DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1921, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

PUNIHO. (From Our Own Correspondent.) On Friday, 19th inst., the final windup of the Puniho Social Committee’s fortnightly dances was held in the Warea Hall, taking the form of a plain and fancy dress masquerade ball. There was a record attendance, visitors being present from as far afield as Stratford and New Plymouth. Music was provided by Parker’s Orchestra, extras being played by Miss C. Julian, Mrs. Beck, Mrs. Doyle, Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Corbett and Mr. A. Payne. The duties of M.C.’s were ably carried out by Mr. E. B. Cooke and Messrs. G. and H. Wells. During an interval a sit down supper was provided, the cooking for the same being done by the Puniho Ladies’ Committee and Mr. H. Clarke. A feature of the evening was the judging of the fancy dresses, the judges’ (Messrs. Sole (2), Wills and Larkins) task being no easy one, but their decision was met with great applause, Miss Daisy Wells, as “France,” winning the lady’s and Mr. Rugby Hawkins, as “Golliwog,” taking the prize for the gent’s. The judges also highly commended the following: Mrs. Evans and Mrs. Butler (Darby and Joan), Mrs. Cook (Holland), and Miss Ivy Johns (Japanese). Those in fancy dress were:—Mr. L. Cooke (Tennis), Mr. S. Cooke (Sandwichman), Mr. Hanwright (Clown), Mr. K. Agate (Rags and Tatters), Mr. Venner (Departed Spirit), Mr. P. Wilson (Day and Night), Mrs. Corbett (Weldon’s Fashions), Mrs. Hanwright (Sutton’s Seeds), Miss P. Murray (Bride), Miss A. Murray (Ship’s fireman), Miss Paterson (Indian chief), Miss D. Elwin (Queen of Hearts), Miss M. Elwin (Japanese lady), Miss M. Lawn (Bridge), Miss J. McEldowney (Red Cross Nurse), Miss Sole (Nurse), Miss S. Julian (Butterfly), Miss C. Julian (Peace), Miss Payne (La Belle France), Mias Simmons (Good Luck), Miss Jones (Good Luck), Miss Andrews (Day and Night), and Bert Payne (Japanese Man). The local factory (Brooklyn’s) has commenced operations for this year. Mrs. Murdock has sufficiently recovered from her recent motor accident to be able to leave the hospital.

The recent warm rains have brought the grass away a lot earlier this year, and everything promises to be a record spring.

The Oakura Pierrots are giving a concert in Okato Hall later on in the month. The proceeds are to be devoted to the Warea-Puniho church funds.

W AI-TOI-TOI—URENUI.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The Urenui Library Committee have every reason to feel satisfied with the result of their efforts to procure funds for the purchase of more books for the institute, as the Urenui Hall was well filled on Friday evening last, on the occasion of the social and dance held under their auspices, and pro-bably the attendance would have been larger still, but for a party being held at Uruti on the same evening. The proceedings consisted of dancing interspersed with musical items, quartettes being rendered by Mrs. McKinney, Miss Purchas, Messrs. Des Forges and Smith, and needless to say these popular vocalists were heartily applauded, as were the songs contributed by Misses Smith and Purchas and Messrs. Smith and Des Forges. The recitations rendered by Miss McKinney also greatly pleased the audience, and this young lady is to be complimented upon her ability in this direction. Mrs. A. Thompson played the various accompaniments in her usual accomplished style, and Urenui is fortunate in possessing a player of so much merit who so ungrudgingly gives her senices on occasions of this kind. Mr. J. O’Neill was, as usual, most attentive to the requirements of the dancers as M.C., whilst Miss A. Terrill left nothing to be desired in the matter of time and swing for the dancing portion of the programme. Extras were also kindly contributed by Mrs. Bleakley and Messrs. Broddo and Rikiana. It is satisfactory to note that the librajy will benefit substantially as a result of the success of the function.

Owing to counter-attractions, there were not so many present as usual at the Mimi schoolroom on the l occasion of Mr. Gould’s fortnightly visit, those present. however, thoroughly appreciated the interesting address delivered by that gentleman, and during the evening several hymns were sung. Frontiersmen are reminded that the ordinary monthly meeting of the Ati Awa troop takes place on Friday evening next, the 26th, the night of meeting having been changed from Saturday to Friday. Sergeant Major Bell will pay his customary fortnightly visit to Urenui on Thursday and Friday next, for the purpose of giving drill instruction to cadets and territorials. Mrs. F. C. Rowe, who built and has successfully conducted the Ngatiawa boarding house in Urenui for the past eleven or twelve years, has sold the establishment to Mr. Howell, who has disposed of his interest in the dining rooms in Inglewood. Mr. Gordon. Palmerston North, is at present in Wai-toi-toi, being engaged in tiling the whey sump at the dairy factory. The process is a most tedious one, and necessarily slow, but when finished is expected to prove a decided acquisition, and be of great assistance to the staff in the manufacture of butter. Mr. W. Corcoran is having erected on his property near the Mimi school, a small cottage for his manager, Mr. J. Casino. The next residence to be built will bo that of Mr. Buckley on the property adjoining. This will make the fourth dwelling house erected in this locality near the main road during the past twelve months, and Wai-toi-toi is beginning to beat the appearance of quite a busy settlement. On Saturday last, the North Taranaki Hunt Club brought a most successful season to a close with a meet on the property of Mr. A. H. Ilalcombe, the popular master of the Hunt, when there was a large attendance of members and visitors. The hospitality dispersed at “Ferngrove” on these occasions is widely known and appreciated, and on Saturday was fully up to its usual high standard.

The steeplechase meeting of the Club, to be held in New Plymouth on September 3, is being eagerly looked forward to, as both the number and quality of horses engaged are most satisfactory. That the meeting will be carried out in a. most up-to-date manner goes without saying, and as the Club will have the use of the totalisator, patrons will have ample means of speculation, besides witnessinc some interesting racing.

RAHOTU. '(From Our Own Correspondent.) The hall’s euchre party was fairly well attended. A lady’s umbrella, the lady’s prize, was won by 1 Mrs. Morgan Coffee. The “hard-up social” could hardly be called, “hard-up,” as the supper and music were quite on the usual style, and only three gentlemen wore “hardup” costumes, viz, Messrs. F. and P. Chapman and Patton. The committee decided to have a waltzing competition, which was won by Miss Grace Gayland and Mr. E. Coombes. The prize was a jewel case for the lady, and 5s for , the gentleman. Mr. M. Gibson, eldest son of Mr. G. Gibson, of Manihi Road, was visited by a surprise party of friends at his father’s house to wish him good luck and goodbye and ask him to accept a suit case as a memento of their friendship and of Rahotu. Mr. Masham Gibson sailed on Thursday for Sydney, where he is intending to take up wireless telegraphy. We wjsh him every success in his new venture. He will be much missed from his home and the football team. Mr. Williams’ little son was taken into New Plymouth, suffering from diptheria. Mr. Colson is ■still not well, and has gone to New Plymouth.

The factory directors met on Friday, no offers of cheese for the coming season were received. The re-engaging of the staff was dealt with.

Several car loads from Rahotu journeyed to Warea for their grand ball. Mr. E. Hopkins (Ned), sth son of Mr. H. Hopkins, has arrived home with his young bride, and they were Visited by the Tin Can Band on Saturday evening.