MASTERTON AMATEUR ATHLETIC SOCIETY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1409, 26 April 1917, Page 37

MASTERTON AMATEUR ATHLETIC SOCIETY.

ANNUAL REUNION. With a view of celebrating the winding up of the season the Masterton Amateur Athletic Society recently held a smoke concert at the Club Hotel, Masterton, the president (Mr. Pryor Gilbert) occupying the chair, a full attendance of members being in evidence. Apologies for absence were rece'ved from several members who are at present in camp as members of the reinforcements. In the course of a spirited address Mr. Gilbert laid stress on the leading position held by the Masterton Club amongst kindred organisations in New Zealand, and it behoved those present to ever keep their club in the foremost rank and success would assuredly always come its way. The public of Masterton and surrounding districts had contributed most handsomely w'th trophies, and the society to-day was under a great debt of gratitude to the residents for their many acts of kindness in this connection. Mr. Gilbert specially mentioned the work of the treasurer (Mr. J. Bradbury), a well-known jeweller of Masterton. whose zeal and enthusiasm had contributed largely in placing the society in such a sound position. Several toasts were honoured, while songs, interspersed with mus’c, helped to pass a very pleasant evening. The singing of “Auld Lang Syne,” followed by cheers for the president, brought a very happy reunion to a close.

Major C. F. D. Cook, son of the late Professor Cook, of Chr stchurch, has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Lieutenant-Colonel J. Boyd, president of the Otago Medical Board, is in Auckland on hoEday leave. * Captain Charles McArthur, of Wellington, formerly managing director of the Maoriland Steamship Company, has been appointed general manager in New Zealand for Burns, Philp and Co., Ltd., in succession to Mr. D’Arcy S. Ferguson, who has enlisted with the 30th Field Art llery Reinforcements. > Informat’on has been received in Masterton that Lieutenant - Colonel Hart, of Carterton, has been promoted to the rank of Brigadier-Gen-eral. Mr. F. H. Morgan, who has resigned his appointment as chief subeditor of the “Dominion” to take up

a position on the head office staff of the Press Association, was presented by the literary and median cal staffs of the paper with a gold watch as a farewell token of esteem and good will. * ♦ * • Some £2OOO has been collected or promised for a memorial to the late Dr. A. A. Martin, of Palmerston North, who met his death on the western front some months since, and the Hon. G. W. Russell has promised to supplement the money to the full extent. The memorial is to take the form of an X-ray institute at the Palmerston Hospital. ♦ • » * Remains of the great bird that ate horses in prehistoric times —the d'atryma —are said to have been found in the Big Horn Basin by the explorers of the American Museum of Natural History. The small eohippus, which was struggling to evolve when this moster land bird was alive, had a hard time of it. The diatryma had no teeth, but it had a beak calculated to cut through sheet steel. It had a head larger than that of any other bird known. It was 20 inches in length. The jaws were like ponderous shears. There have been birds taller than the diatryma, but their

heads were small and their necks sLm and long. The neck of the diatryma was thick and short, like that of the dodo familiar to all who know their “Alice in Wonderland.” The diatryma was seven feet in height. The extinct moa of New Zealand was 15 feet tall, measured along its tapering neck. The modern ostrich often atta'ns the height of seven feet and more, but its neck also is long and its head small. The diatryma was more like that extinct South American bird, the phororhachos, which was probably taller, but not so powerful. All these big birds had small wings. The diatryma had only rudimentary flappers, yet its legs were so powerful that it could cover enormous distances. Its toes were big enough to enable it to get a firm grip on the earth. When the little eohippus started to run the great bird easily overtook it. • ♦ ♦ * Lecturing at Napier on the Somme offensive, Lieutenant H. T. Morton,

of Feilding, spoke very highly of the Maori men of the New Zealand divisions. There were no finer soldiers in France, he said. They got very l.ttle of the attention of the correspondents who wrote in glowing accounts of the deeds of the Anzacs. But the Maoris worked on at any task, no matter how fatiguing or dangerous, and never complained. They had always the cheerful reply for a comment on the.r long hours of duty that “Every day will be Sunday when this job is over.” * *■ * * New Zealand seamen are not slow in aiding the'r fellows in trouble. Recently an appeal was made by the Federated Seamen’s Union of New Zealand to its members for money to help a member of the union in Wellington, who had found life hard in his old days. As a result of the appeal, the sum of £lO2 was raised. A further appeal on behalf of the wife and two children of a member who has been admitted to a mental hospital also met with a good response; £6O has been subscribed to date. * * * * Mr. W. J. Brown, the popular host of the Central Hotel, Cambridge, is well known to the travelling public,

a good percentage of whom are cognisant of the lacilities to be enjoyed when staying at this commodious and up-to-date hotel. Central by name, :t is, indeed, centrally situated in the heart of Cambridge, directly opposite the Post Office, thus ensuring great convenience to travellers and visitors. Altogether it contains some 30 rooms. The bedrooms are lofty, well ventilated, spacious and well equipped. Commercial and writing rooms are available, while the drawing rooms are pleasantly appointed. The domestic arrangements of the Central Hotel are under the personal supervision of Mrs. Brown, assisted by a capable staff. The best brands of wines, spirits and Tqueurs are stocked, while the cuisine is equal to that of the best hotels in the Dominion. Those who contemplate visiting Cambridge

should communicate e.ther by wire or letter with Mr. Brown with a view to securing accommodation. * * • The Canadian people are devising plans for placing disabled soldiers on the land as they are sent back from the battle front, and, anticipating conditions at the close of hostilities, they intend these plans to include such able-bodied soldiers as return home without any fixed means of support or chance of employment. The British Columbia Soldiers’ Homestead Act provides a free grant of land and a loan of money for improvements for each soldier settler, with exemption from all taxes except for school purposes, and five years’ exemption from seizure for debt. * =>■ F * Amongst last week’s arrivals at the Grosvenor Hotel, Timaru, were:—Hon., Mr. and Mrs. Arthur, Myers, Mr. and Mrs. H. McCullough, Mr. G. W. Sharp, Auckland; Mr. D. M. Sutherland, Waimate; Mr. and Mrs. Colin MacDonald, Invercargill; Mr. D. C. Gillies, Mr. J. Enright, Mr. H. H. Mirams, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Hutchings, Mr. H. G. Haines, Mr. G. B. Mann, Wellington; Mr. J. A. Frostick, Miss Frostick, Miss Clarke, Mr. and Mrs. Fife, Mr. E. C. Armitage, Mr. A. G. Ivory, Mrs. Fletcher, Mr. D. Redpath, Mr. A. E. Ridley, Mr. James Arness, Mr. S. T. Hincksman, Mr. A. Turner, Mr. and Mrs. Phillips and family, Mrs. Marsden and son, Mr. A. C. Horni-

man, Mr. E. Hickey, Christchurch; Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Hamilton, Miss K. Hamilton, Ashwick; Mr. M. Matthews, Mr. R. C. McNeilage, Mr. R. G. Harley, Mr. D. V. Gain, Mr. C. N. Crawford, Mr. A. Anderson. Mr. J. Shaw, Mr. W. G. M. Spong, Mr. W. Thomson, Mr. W. H. Duke, Dunedin; Mr. and Mrs. J. Vaughan, Kohukohu; Mr. F. R. Gillingham, Fairlie; Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Chapman, Amuri; Mr. W. S. Keddell, Pahiatua; Mr. and Mrs. Dempster, Sydney; Mr. Hennessy, Gisborne; Mr. and Mrs. McClintock, Miss McClintock, Melbourne. * * * * Guests at the Central Hotel. Auckland, last week included:—Mr.’ J H. Power, Nelson; Mr. E. Caughey, New Plymouth; Mrs. J. B. Hooper, Mrs. P. Ryan, Mr. Fraser, Mrs. A. Hyde, Mrs. T. C. Blackett, Hamilton; Mr. J. Franklin, Whakatane; Mrs. McHardy, Misses Green, Hastings; Mrs. A. Breen, Mr. W. G. Wade, Mr. and Mrs. G. Mitchell, Wanganui; Mr. C. Grey, Mr. W. Moore, Milton; Mr. J. Stewart. Mr. M. Henderson, Dunedin; Mr. W. Seymour, Mr. Haisman. Mrs. Pitt, Mr. R. Caulton, Gisborne; Mr. Chas. Chard, Christchurch; Mr. P. Regan, Mr. G. Holmes, Miss A. M. Pearse, Mr. C. C. Larmour, Mr. R. Wall, Captain Petty, Mr. J. B. Clarkson, Mrs. L Hay, Mr. S. T. Silver, Wellington; Mr. H. Cooper, Cambridge; Mr. E. Frater, Raglan; Dr. Herbert, Mrs. and Misses Herbert, Rotorua; Mr. Jas. Renner, Waitara; Mr. C. H. Carpenter, Helensville; Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Smith. Foxton; Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Mills, Misses ’Mahoney, Mr H. S. Arathovn, Mrs. J. R. Ireland, Mrs. G. H. Blackbourn, Sydney; Mr. E. De Ernest, Tokomaru Bay; Dr. and Mrs. Hustler, Fiji; Mr. S. Turner, Hutt; Mr. J. Morgan, Melbourne; Mr. J. Blair, Hawera; Mr. P. J. Ryan, Nap.er; Major Brown, Parana.

The deer shooting season gives promise of being very successful. If anything, the herds are, according to reports received, too numerous, and “culling” operations may be found necessary later on. Good heads are scarce, but one party at Te Awaite got a bag of four, ranging from ten to fifteen tines. The biggest was well worth the trouble. It is, however, evident that stalkers should make a start as soon as possible. “Roaring” is now in full blast, and delay may be dangerous. It is stated, also, that the herd on the Rimutakas is going on well; that deer are frequently seen around Kaitoke; that the Paraparaumu herd is likely to prove a great success, and that there are plenty of deer at Wainui, though no good heads have yet* been seen.

A good story is told of a New Zealand soldier who has passed the Dominion “full back” and arrived at Sling Camp. The company was paraded, and the New Zealander who was 56 years of age, hale and hearty, was among the number. “How old are you?” he was asked. “Fourtytwo,” was the reply. “I didn’t ask you how old you have been,” said the C. 0., “I asked you how old you are.” The middle-aged patriot did not go to the front.

Many Home-going New Zealanders will remember stopping at Teneriffe, that sunny island belonging to Spain, and buying baskets of fruit, spun silk, shawls, embroideries, and other such luxuries, says the Christchurch “News.” It is sad to hear that this beautiful place, that seemed always so prosperous in a simple way, is suffering from the war. The tourist traffic has, of course stopped, and the exports of the island cannot be directed to Spain, because they compete with its products and are subject to a protectionist tariff. It was hoped that the parent country would make concessions, but unfortunately it is suffering itself, and cannot afford to do so. The Islanders, it was - thought, would consume their own produce, but the new crop of potatoes is not ready, and the old ones are as dear as in London. So ,we hear of soup kitchens being established in Teneriffe, while food and other necessaries are sent from Barcelona.