OHAKUNE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19733, 30 December 1926, Page 2

OHAKUNE

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. (From the “Chronicle’s” Special Correspondent). Sunday. December 19, was anniversary day in the Presbyterian Church and Sunday School. At 3 p.m. the were held, when the children sang hymns for the occasion. The Rev. W. H. Nicholas gave an interesting address and Mr N. Christie, the superintendent, distributed the prizes for the past year. In the evening the church anniversary service was held, when the choir, under the conductorship of Mr J. G. McGregor sang appropriate hymns. Mf Nicholas choose for his text, “And He said unto me: Son of Man, stand upon thy feet and I will speak unto thee.”—Ezek. 2-1. During the course of his sermon he briefly outlined the history of the Ohakune Church, and particularly that portion of it as a separate home mission station. The members of the Young Women’s Bible Class paid a surprise visit to Mrs Nicholas, who recently resigned the leadership on account of ill-’/salth, and presented her with a handsome Bible in appreciation of her work. Last Thursday evening was a very busy time Manse, when a committee of energetic workers assembled to make up into parcels the various goods for the prison camps’ Christmas treat. The ’ parcels, numbering 144, each contained cake, fib. butter, three kinds of fruit and a stick of chocolate. The amount received towards the fund this vear did not allow of a small gift of tobacco. The parcels were distributed amongst the prisoners on Christmas morning. GENERAL NEWS. A party of about twenty Maoris from Taupo passed through Ohakune on Friday in a motor lorry en route to Katana. Leaving Taupo at 3 a.m., they arrived at Ohakune Junction at 11 a.m. without mishap of any kind, although they ourncy from Horopito via the old Horopito road, which is reputed to be almost impassable. They proceeded to Katana via Taihape. The exceptionally heavy thunderstorm experienced on Boxing Day prevented many residents of the town from carrying out arrangements for the day. Tho thunder, which was accompanied by most vivid lightning and a downpour of hail and rain, was very heavy. Despite the adverse weather conditions the annual Friendly Societies’ picnic was held at Makarauui. Mr T. ’A. Blyth, of Ohakune. and Air E. H. Farmer, of Hamilton, were the only occupants of the Ohakune mountain hut on Christmas night, having journeyed there on Christmas Day. The weather was not favourable for climbing on Sunday, but they ascended the mountain on Monday, and whilst on the summit had Ihe novel experience of encountering the heavy thunderstorm. It was the intention of Mr Blyth to investigate the condition of the crater lake, but this was impossible , *wing to the calamitous weather conditions. A party of nine from Wellington. in charge of Mr. Diedrich, arrived at the hut about 8 a.m. on Monday. and left on Tuesday morning for i Whakapapa via the tussock and scoria slopes. Mr Holl (of the University Training College. Auckland) and party are encamped in the Sulphur Stream \ alley, and will remain there for some Many attractive programmes broadcasted by Dominion and Australian stall ions have been listened to with interest by many residents of Ohakune during the Christmas holidays through the j medium of My. J. D. O’Connor’s radio set. situated at Mr T. Herbert’s residence on Mangawhero Terrace. Those interested in racing have also been freely supplied with the results of races as they were run at some of the most important race meetings held .in the Dominion. During the heavy thunderstorm on Monday a local resident. Mr Dick Gordon, was struck by lightning and rendered semi-conscious for a period of four hours. He was attended by Dr. Cook, and was able to bp about again next day. although still suffering from his unenviable experience. Several local anglers who visited ; Tokaanu on Christmas Day had pro--1 verbial luck, and a party of three wellknown knights of the rod were successful in landing about thirtv beautiful fish.