OTOROHANGA NEWS

Waipa Post, Volume 31, Issue 1765, 1 June 1926, Page 5

OTOROHANGA NEWS

KING COUNTRY HAPPENINGS.

KAW-HIA MAIL SERVICE.

(Own Correspondent.)

So the Otorohanga-Kawhia mail route is to be a thing of the past. Why this should he is a matter of wonder seeing that the Te Awamutu route means going over the same road found fault, with so much by the contractor. ApiV'rently there has existed a wish to gejjjri route emanating from the end the ‘licensed houses’ are, under the impression that it will mean more passenger traffic. As far as the present contract is concerned people are wondering how its incidence can be altered before its period is up. As a matter of fact the two, out of three, remaining bondsmen are repudiating their bond and so there will have to be-—or should be new bondsmen. If such would be bondsmen are to be secured it is well for them to remember that the new route as mentioned before. entails the travelling over the same piece of road that has, supposedly, broken the heart of the mail contractor. FOOTBALL./ The football matches played here on Saturday were of such a mediocre order that those who had promised me reports of same did not furnish their returns. However, I can report th 9 following results;/ — Nehe Nehe v. Otorohanga 3 to nil; Power Board v. Huia 13 to nil. In the junior section Huia beat Otorohanga by 7to 5. In the junior match Kio Kio v. Otewa Rangers the score was something in the neighbourhood of 50 to nil in favour of the Kio Kio‘s.

“Onlooker” suggests that “many of the supposed exponents of our National game here might well be designated ''manballers’ rather than footballers.” It was, at least in one instance, a case of play the man and not the ball. It is also suggested by “Onlooker” that the element of a keg of beer for the occasion of an inter-club match should be obliterated and club officials ought to see that this growing custom is stopped. DANCE AT MAIHIIHI. The Maihiihi Tennis Club had their annual dance on Saturday last and ' ithe event proved most successful in every way, large numbers from Otorohanga and Otewa being present. The hall was tastefully decorated with lycapodium and toi toi etc., whilst the floor was in splendid condition for dancing. In expectation of a large attendance dressing rooms had been erected outside and thus the accommodation was equal to the strain. Most of the dancers were in fancy dresses which made a very brilliant effect and prizes were awarded to Miss Fry (’Arriet) and Mr Davis (Indian Chief) as the wearers of the best designed costume. The dance programme was an attractive one, Mrs Worsfold. providing the music, extras being played by Miss Bright and Mr J. O’Rourke. Mr J. Levien was M.O. The supper provided by the ladies’ committee was like Epps’ cocoa, grateful and comforting, and much appreciated. The affair went off with great eclat and the Tennis Club is to be congratulated on this celebration of the closing of their season. During inter- ♦ vals Miss Mexted gave exhibitions of sitep-dancing and Mr Bj Bartleman entertained with a musical monologue. The Club’s funds will be enhanced by about £lO as a result of the dance.

FUNERAL. T)ie funeral of the late Mr A. Briggs, whose death I announced as having occurred on Friday evening, took place yesterday (Sunday) afternoon. A quiet inoffensive man deceased Avas highly respected and this Avas evidenced by the very large attendance at his funeral. the motor hearse flanked by six pall" bearers, being followed by tAvo cars bearing the chief mourners and then by some 59 members of the football clubs, those of the Otorohanga club all Avearing mourning bands on their sleeves. After these came close on 20 motor cars filled with the general public who vied with deceased’s personal friends in doing honour to his memory. The service at the grave Avas conducted by the Rev. Kedgley and slr R. G. V. Garrett conducted the funeral.

PADDY’S MARKET

The Paddy’s market in aid of the .Otorohanga branch of the Plunket Society, held last Friday, proved very successful, a sum of over £24 being realised. There was a copper trail instituted in the main street, and this alone brought in close on £3. There were also competitions for turkeys and a cake. Mr G. Jeffs Avon the cake by estimating the number of peas in a bottle at -584, the correct number being 582. Mr J. Glennie, by estimating 450 as the contents of a bottle of ■beans (456), secured a turkey, and another turkey was tied for in a weightguessing competition by Mr T. Cumpstone and Mrs 8. J. Fortescue, who each guessed the correct weight (11 lbs). The winners agreed to toss for the prize, and, it was secured by Mrs Fortescue. It may be remarked that a few more -shillings to bring the total takings up to £25 would have meant that the year’s subscription of this local branch to the Society Avould have been secured.

BOWLERS’ FANCY DRESS DANCE.

The -plain and fancy dress dance of the Otorolianga Bowling Club, which took place at the Town Hall on Wednesday evening last, proved a brilliant success. The hall was almost too .crowded for comfortable dancing, close on three hundred people paying at the doors. The hall was gaily decorated with flags. and the floor was in splendid condition for dancing. Wade’s orchestra of two violins, two cornets, clarionet, 'cello, and drums, beside the piano, provided the music, and gave fverv «'»>isfaction. Mrs Birchall and Mr J. O'Rourke played extras. There were both plain and fancy dresses, which made the scene a very prettv one. and everybody thoroughly enjoyed the ball, dancing being kept up to almost 3 a.m. Prizes were awarded in the fancy costumes competition to Miss •Burrell (th® squaw). Miss England TWaitomo Power Board). Mr Davis (Indian chief), and Mr F. Hyde (nig-

ger). Just prior to supper being dispensed the president (Mr C. Message) addressed the gathering and reviewed the club’s operations during the past season, and then presented the prizes won during the year. Mr J. R. Porter received the singles champion cup (presented by Mr J. B. Young, and won last year by Mr Saunderson). The 4 prize for the best first-year player was* gained by Mr J. Tomlins. The president made grateful reference to donations given to the club by Mr R. Bell (an honours board) and by Mr L. Larsen (a 20-foot flag-pole), and by Mr T. Rowe (a pennant bearing the club’s initials). The club is certainly to be congratulated on the success of its ceremonial closing of the bowling season.

GENERAL NOTES. The local factory of the N.Z. Co-op-erative Dairy Association closed its season to-day and from now on ail butter-fat will be forwarded to Te Awamutu, The output of butter from here for the past season was close on 1300 tons. Those of the public who attended •the funeral yesterday were able to appreciate the disgraceful state which the Otorohanga cemetery has been allowed to get into. Surely the trustee or trustees should see to this matter and put a man on at once and periodically to thoroughly clear the place up. Then the relatives or friends of those buried there ought to at least see that their graves are tidied ana kept tidied up. The cost would be very small and perhaps the refraining from investing in art-unions or ihe totalisator once in a while might provide sufficient funds for this work to the memory of the dead. There is to be a new billiard-room opened here., Mr L. Meads having secured Closey’s Hall for that purpose contemplating having four tables of the best and latest make. Knowing the* town as 1 do I do not think-two billiard rooms are too many for. Otorohanga providing the cnducting. of same is on the proper lines. The hose reel of the newly formed fire brigade has arrived and work is being done towards the erection of the fire station and the installing oi the alarm bell. This work so far is confined to the Superintendent, Mr G. Phillips and Mr Casey, both old men and one wonders where the enthusiastic younger members of the brigade are.

\ week’s mission service was inaugurated at the Catholic Church here on Sunday and there was a large congregation. The Rev, Father Hefferman, of the Redemptorist order, is the Missioner and he preached at the 11 o’clock iyiass. Last evening (Monday) there were devotions, instructions and Benediction and confessions were heard afterwards. For the rest of the week there will be Mass every morning at 7 and 9 a.m. and evening service at 7.30. Now that the milking season is closed there is every expectation of large congregations at all 'Mhe services of the Mission which will end on Sunday next. It may be mentioned that Father Hefferman is a very fine preacher. A defendant in one of the cases ot supplying liquor to natives, heard at the Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, told the Bench that the beer was drunk out of the bottle. “That’s a very insanitary way of consuming the liquor,” said the magistrate. “Oh, I took the first drink,” said the witness. “ I mean it wag very insanitary for the natives,” retorted His Worship. (Laughter.)' . The concrete work of the Hangatiki electric power sub-station is about finished, and the contractors, Messrs F. and E. Closey. will be free to start the building of the Otorohanga county offices. The increase in the number of residents at the western end of the town has made those living there desire the convenience of a pillar posting box within convenient reach. Such a box erected at the junction of any two of the streets in a central position in that locality would meet the case, and thus obviate the long journey to the post office. Though parking places for motor cars have been appointed by the Town 'Board, there is no by-law enforcing the removal of cars from the main street after a given time. Consequently, on market day (Friday) the street is over-crowded, not to say congested, and the parking places are devoid of vehicles. Surely there could be a bylaw brought into force to ensure the main street being kept clear of vehicles.