KING COUNTRY NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17586, 15 December 1928, Page 9

KING COUNTRY NEWS.

ITEMS OF INTEREST.

WELCOME RAINS. EARTHQUAKES AT OTOROHANGA. (Our Resident Reporter.) The Te Kawa Sports Society has decided to eliminate from its March sports programme all cash athletic events and to give more valuable prizes for the amateur pedestrian events, and also the horse events, which have in previous years proved so popular at this fixture. Weather Conditions. Welcome rains commenced to fall throughout this territory on Sunday afternoon, continuing at intervals throughout Monday and Tuesday. The downpour was extremely welcome to herdsmen of the dairying districts, but proved a set back to those engaged in haymaking activities. Slight earthquake tremors were felt at Otorohanga on Sunday evening, but no damage resulted. Fancy Dress Ball. The Maihiihi Golf Club's annual fancy dress ball was held in the local hall on Saturday evening, when there was a large attendance from the neighbouring settlements and from Otorohanga. The fancy dresses were extremely good, and covered a wide range of impersonations. Mrs F. Chiles secured the verdict for best ladies' dress, "Target," while Mr A. Chiles was similarly successful as "A Lassie." Other striking dresses were :—Mrs Swainson, "Fashion"; Mrs Farmer "Milkmaid"; Atrs Levien, "Waitress"; Miss Worsfold, "Cabbage"; Miss E. Worsfold, "Miss Fit"; Miss Pemberton, "U.S.A."; Miss H. Worsfold, "Bathing Girl"; Miss P. Langkilde, "Sir Walter Raleigh." Some of the men's dresses represented: "Country Yokel," Mr Farmer; "Continuance," Mr F. Levien; "Sinbad the Sailor," Mr Worsfold; "Naval Reserve," Mr F. Chiles; "Steward," Mr Winter; "Naval Cadet," Mr Geo. Chiles; "Barman," Mr T. Levien. Splendid dance music was provided by Mrs Geo. Worsfold, while extras were played by Mr T. Fry. A satisfying and very dainty supper was a pleasing feature of the function, which was classed by the guests as the most successful of its kind yet enjoyed at Maihiihi. Obituary. The death occurred at her son's residence, Otorohanga, on Monday evening, of Mrs W. McKibbin, who was born at Bangor, near Belfast, 76 years ago. The deceased lady had been ailing for several months, but her legion of friends did not expect her passing so suddenly. Together with her husband, the late Mr Wm. McKibbin, she had endured many earlier years of pioneering activities in South Canterbury, and had resided at Pleasant Point, near Timaru, for over forty years. During that period she assisted her husband to conduct a largo general storekeeping business run in conjunction with farming and other ventures, all of which provbd highly successful. About two years ago the late Mrs McKibbin arrived in the King Country and took up her residence at Otorohanga, with her son, Mr William McKibbin. She is survived by three sons, Dr. McKibbin, Messrs William (Otorohanga) and Victor McKibbin (Christchurch), and one daughter, Miss Kathleen McKibbin, of Otorohanga. The body of the greatly-respected lady was transported to Pleasant Point, where it was laid to rest beside that of her husband. Proficiency Examinations. At the Standard VI. examinations, held at the Otorohanga District Consolidated High School, the following pupils of the schools in this district gained certificates: — Otorohanga. Proficiency: Ngaire Alexander, John Burrell, Moira Bluck, Ronald Burrell, Marie Cook, Alex. Cockburn, Olive Hill, Vera Edwards, Olwyn Fairbrothcr, Myrtle Harris, Colin Lee, Gladys Miles, Mary McColJ, Leslie Ornisby, Mavis Hughes, Leslie Smith, and Phillip Phillips. Competency: Mattie Bluck, Ernest Sanders, lsobel Ireland and Logan Cameron (endorsed for handiwork). Kio Kio. —Proficiency: Morton Wallace, Linda Anso, Bruce Luxmore, Jean Milhvard, Edward Black. Competency: Yvonne Anderson. Otewa. —Proficiency: lidward Moon, Helen Farmer, Ida Hill.

Paewhenua —Proficiency: Irene Verncr. Competency: Jolin McDowell. Whawharua. —Competency: Maggie Smith. Personal. Among visitors to the King Country arc Miss E. Harkness (New Plymouth), Miss Mavis Zellmau (Hamilton), and Miss W. Boon (New Plymouth). Miss Zellman is assisting the Otorohanga Amateur Operatic Society in dancins parts during their season of the production at various centres of "A Country Girl." They are the guests of Mrs 11. M. Quin, of Otorohanga. Mr Theodore Taylor, son of Mr and Mrs Taylor, old residents of Otorohanga, was recently ordered to the sanatorium at Hanmer Springs, where he is an inmate. Mr Taylor lias suffered grievously from the effects of long service during the war, and his many Otorohanga and district friends hope for an early improvement in his health. Dr. Mary Champlaloup and Nurse E. P. Gray, of the Health Department, are in this territory, visiting the schools. Dr. R. S. A. Graham, of Te Kuili, succeeds Dr. G. W. Cower as surgeon and assistant superintendent at the Waikato Hospital. Dr. Graham enters upon his new duties early in the New Year. General. At a special meeting of the Otorohanga County Council the balance-sheet-for the year ending March 31, 1928, was received. There were no "tags," and the chairman and councillors commented very favourably on the results reached by the council and office staff. Dr. V. 11. Nicholson, who recently sold out his extensive and well-estab-lished practice at Otorohanga, has arrived in London, and has joined his brother, Mr <:. Nicholson, in Sussex. The popular medico is working to complete his thesis on the subject of neurasthenia, as he lias always been interested in psycho-neuropathy, and is now attempting an original search for the causative factors and the modern methods of treatment. Dr. Nicholson proposes to remain in England for several years. At a special meeting the Otorohanga County Council passed a resolution declaring gotse a noxious weed within the -county. Cricket. ' Uorohanga is leading for the Hamill

Shield as a result of the first round of the Maniapoto Association's competitions, played at Otorohanga last Saturday. Otorohanga met and defeated the Mercantile Club's "A" team, and is the only eleven which has won all its matches in the first round. The total scores were: Otorohanga 162, Mercantile. 93. Swimming Weir. Work at the swimming weir being constructed on the Mangaokewa river, at Te Kuiti, proceeds apace, and it is expected the pool will be ready for the holidays. The four bathing sheds—girls, boys', ladies' and men's —have now been completed. It will be necessary to await normal conditions of the river before the centre span can be erected. Recent rains have considerably swollen the river. With Rod and Fly. Anglers have been enjoying excellent sport, fishing the upper reaches of the Waipa River. Fish are plentiful, principally rainbow trout. During the last week-end Messrs J. and A. J. McCready, of Otorohanga, were successful in landing 12 beautiful rainbow trout for a few hours' fishing in the waters of the Marakopa, near the West Coast. Medium-sized fish were very numerous, and the total catch averaged 231bs. The Marakopa is fast becoming a fisherman's camping ground of great popularity, the virgin bush scenery in the vicinity of this waterway being really very beautiful. His many friends in Aria and district will be glad to learn that Mr C- J. Riddle, who is an inmate of the Te Kuiti Hospital, is making good progress towards recovery.