PATEA MINISTER DEPARTS

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1929, Page 6

PATEA MINISTER DEPARTS

KEV W. V. MARTIN FAREWBLLED

A representative and large number of people assembled in the Town Hall supper room on Friday to bid farewell to the Rev. W. V. Martin, who is leaving in a fortnight for Ireland after a short stay in Feilding. ' Mr. C. Aker, on behalf of t,]|e Methodist church, expressed the regret felt at the circumstances that necessitated the departure of Mr. Martin from Patea. By his ever-ready" sympathy. had made many friends. Captain Williams (Salvation Army) said though he had been only eight months in the district, he had many pleasant recollections of Mr. Martin, and would be very sorry to lose him. Ou behalf of the Salvationists he wished Mr. Martin every success in the future. Mr. J. Thomson, on behalf of the session, referred to the great esteem in which Mr. Martin was held by the people of the district. He had been thorough in all his activities, and his sermons always gave food for thought. He felt sure his departure would be everywhere regretted.

Other speakers included Mr. Sutherland (Alton), the Rev. Walsh (Wanganui), Mr. Muggeridge (Manutahi), Mr. Carmichael (Kakaramea), Mr. E. F. Hemingway, Mr. S.. Gluston, and Mr. J. Clarkson.

Mi*. Huston, after expressing sentiments in accord with the general feeling of regret, asked Mr. Martin to accept a well-filled wallet as a mark of gratitude for faithful and eminent services. Miss Luxton, on behalf of the Bible Class, presented Mr. Martin with a fountain pen.

Mr. Martin, amid sustained applause, said he was deeply moved by the tributes paid him, and tl i representative nature of the gathering. He was more than sorry at having to leave Patea so soon, but could assure them that he would never have any regrets at having come to Patea.

During the evening items were contributed by Misses F. Boagey, M. Hamerton, E. Harvie, L. Sutherland, Mrs. Barclay, Mr. A. G. Reid, and Master S. Pauling. , CYCLING RACES AT PATEA. The Carlyle Cycling Club’s Saturday races in the Patea Domain drew a good crowd of spectators, and provided some thrills. Jackie Julian, the popular champion, was dazed when he collided head to head with a spectator who was more enthusiastic than wise. A spill in the mile saw A. Clarkson ride right over another competitor; neither rider was much harmed. H. Gunn promises to develop into a champion cyclist, and in good hands should be hard to beat. In the mile he won easily from W. Beer, with Featonby third. In the- three-mile event Gunn was just beaten by A. Clarkson. Julian was third.

GENERAL ITEMS. Immediately following the' striking by the post office clock of the hour of eleven at Hawera yesterday, the whistle of Syme’s mill shrieked as a signal for the commencement of two minutes’ silence. The Union Jack was run to half-mast on the post office tower, and all became silent, traffic stopping and pedestrians uncovering their heads. The only sound to break the stillness was the shril] whistle of an approaching train. Another whistle and Hawera recommenced its day’s business. At Stanners Street, Eltham, to-mor-row at 1.15 p.m., Messrs. R. P. Morrissey and Co. will hold a sale of household furniture for Mr. W. P. O’Meagher, who is leaving the district.Mr. and Mrs. Antoni Bonett, the wellknown Hawera -musicians, will commence teaching pianoforte, violin, man-doline-banjo, guitar and all stringed instruments. Further particulars can be obtained from Mr. IT. E. Lloyd, Manaia. PERSONAL. Mrs. E. Purchase, of Christchurch, who has been on a visit to Hawera as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. E. Dixon, left yesterday on her way home. According to advice received by friends in Hawera, Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Bone have left London on their return to Hawera. They are expected to arrive at Wellington on December 30. Mr. T. A. Winks, Hawera, left for Wellington yesterday, where he will attend a meeting of the National Dairy Association. GOOD OATS CROP AT OTAKEHO. > A remarkably good crop of oats has been grown this year on Mr. S. H. le Fleming’s property at Otakeho. The crop stands about five feet high, some of the longer stalks reaching sft 6in. The crop, which covers nine acres, is being made into ensilage in a stack 30ft by 25ft. The oats is Algerian, planted in April at the rate of bushels to the acre with 2cwt of super, and is remarkably well developed for this time of the year, the plants being in full head. This is the fourth crop of oats grown in the same ground and it is the best the land lias yet produced. The crop was sown among lucerne which has been down four years. The soil was prepared by one discing, two workings with the cultivator, a harrowing and rolling. The seed and manure were drilled in. Portion of the land was originally largely infested with couch grass, but this has been smothered by the successive crops of oats and lucerne. The lucerne is coming away well where the crop has been cut, and there is every prospect of a good cut of this summer fodder. Mr. le Fleming does not believe it necessary to go in for too much cultivation in the lucerne field. All he does is to give it a light harrowing to loosen the boIL