District News.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 4 February 1916, Page 2

District News.

TE HOE. (Own Correspondent.) A most enjoyable evening was spent in the Te Hoe Hall on Tuesday last, when the members of this branch of the Farmers' Union entertained Private Twining on the eve of his departure for the front, at a smoke concut. Mr W. D. Thompson presicßfe and after welcoming the proposed the toast “ The King.’, After which the following programme was gone through : Recitation, Mr M. Welsh ; toast, “ The Army and Navy,” Mr Hubbard, responded to by Mr Welsh ; song, Mr Howe ; toast, “ The Ladies,” Mr Mclntyre, responded to by Mr Irwin; song, Mr E- A. Thompson; toast, “The bachelors,” Mr Irwin, responded to by Mr Coleman; recitation, Mr Irwin. The chairman then proposed the toast of “ Our Guest.” In doing so he mentioned the fact that as far as this district is concerned, its young men have answered nobly to the call of the Empire, so well indeed, that every single man- has offered his services, and that over thirty per cent, of the members of this branch of the Union are at the front. He also expressed his firm conviction that “ Our Guest ” would uphold the prestige of our boys already at the front. ' Mr Thompson concluded by wishing Mr Twining God speed, and a safe return. He then presented the guest with a buck-skin tobacco pouch as a memento of the occasion. Messrs Hubbard and Irwin also spoke eulogiizing the Many good qualities of the guest. Mr Hubbard further said that he considered that Mr Twining, sen., had every reason to be proud of the fact that he had so worthy a son, and he was sure that whatever happened at the front Mr Twining would ever have caused to be proud of the boy we were so happy to be able to entertain Mr Irwin said that he was more intimately acquainted with “ Our Guest ” than anyone else present, and he could assure them, from what he knew of Pvte. Twining, he would play the game.

Pvte. Twining in reply said that he felt very grateful indeed for all the good things that had been said about him. Every time, when at the front, he used the tobacco pouch it would remind him of this gathering. He would do his best to live up to the traditions of the brave men who made New Zealand famous at the landing on Gallipoli. Mr Twining, sen., thanked me various speakers for the kind remarks about himself and his son. He said that he was pleased to hear that such a large per centage of the members had already gone to the front. He also brought to the notice of the gathering the manner in which this district has prospered in the past, and paid a tribute to the public spiritedness of our settlers. He would ask those present to drink to the prosperity of the district. The chairman suitably responded. Song, Mr A. Letteson; recitation, Mr Irwin ; song, comic, Mr A. Letteson ; recitation, Mr M. Welsh.

The chairman proposed the health of absent friends coupled with the name of Mr S. Phair,

late secretary of this branch, who is now at the front, and Mr R. Aulsebrook now in Australia.

The singing of Auld Lang Syne and God Save the King brought a most enjoyable evening to a close.