DISTRICT NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4443, 21 July 1922, Page 1

DISTRICT NEWS.

PATETONGA. HALL FUNDS. About £7OO has been raised in the Patetonga district in less than twelve montns in aid of the recently erected hall, which is without a doubt the finest on the Hauraki Plains. The Patetonga people have justified themselves as the owners of a good hall by the admirable way in which they have subscribed towards the cost of its erection. The incentive for the liberal donations was perhaps the locality. Its central position is realised by all the local, settlers, who evidently feel it their duty to patronise it and help it in every way possibleIt is apparent that it is in the most central portion, which is satisfactory to all concerned. The £7OO (has been raised by efforts of various kinds. Social functions have been a great help, a bazaar was the main revenue producer, a butchery helped considerably, while a large amount was given in donations. The following are the approximate sums raised: Bazaar £330, ball £35, butchery £lOO, basket social £2O, cash donations £lBO, sundries £lO, making a total of nearly £7OO. The efforts of the Patetonga people in this respect are commendable, and are an object lesson to other communities who can learn a great deal in the way to subscribe to a public utility. It is a matter for conjecture whether a town could show as good results as the settlement of Patetonga...

THE POST OFFICE. ■ Tenders, were recently let for the building of a new post office in Patetonga, Mr. W. Mackrell, who is at present erecting a similar building at Ngatea, being the successful, tenderer. It is to be of the same design, and size as the new Ngatea office (12ft by 14ft. inside measurements), but with a. few minor improvements. The local settlers are not enthusiastic over the size of • the contemplated structure, and think the Government is evidently ignoring the growth of the district and is not anticipating the future requirements. When the telephone exchange is installed, the ’phone boxes -and letter boxes built in, and provision made for office space and assistants, the office .will doubtlessly be hopelessly congested, apd the settlers have visions that on busy days theie will be a resemblance of a stock exchange in full working order. CHILDREN’S CONCERT. The recent. Sunday school children's concert was a successful function and very enjoyable, especially for the young folk themselves-. There were present representatives of. all denominations, and special thanks are due to Mrs... Fitness for the efficient manner in which she organised the affair and conducted the proceedings . Thanks are also due to tne parents of the children, who provided refreshments for the occasion. A collection taken up for next year’s prizes realised £2 6s Id. The items which constituted the programme were well rendered and many of them were encored- The following children contributed' recitations : Vbra Boatswain, Ruth Collins, Joy Fitness, Beatrice Taylor,. Phoebe Young, Thelma Thompson’, Gordon Boatswain, Willie Tapper, Frank Tapper, George Tapper, Griffin Tappc” Ronnie Thompson, Dudley Hunter, ■ and Allan Fitness. The following children rendered musical items a.nd songs : Mona Mayn, Joy Fitness, Doris Patersori, Laura Collins, Ruth Collins, Dulcie darken, and Nita Cumberland. A quartette which rendered a good item was composed of Marion and Rose Hubbard and Evaline arid Sybil Pulnian. Hilda and Nora Costello gave a fancy dance. Mrs. Thompson and Miss Lorna Cumberland played the accompaniments for the children’s vocal items. The following also contributed to the success of the evening: Miss Alma Burgess, Messrs. Smith, Tuhoe, and Shelley. , BASKET SOCIAL. Last week a very pleasant basket social was held in aid of the hall i funds. There were present nearly I 100 guests, who, despite the adverse | weatuer conditions, came from many miles around. The many baskets brought were daintily arranged, and were sold by Mr. T. Burgess during j the course of the evening, the prices j ranging from 6s to £4 10s, The high- i est price was gained by Misses Bu"- i gess and Cochrane’s basket, who j were accordingly awarded a prize- > The sale of baskets realised over £lB- - prize was also awarded for the ; most prettily arranged basket, and was won by Miss C. Pulman. For the dance splendid music was I supplied by Henderson’s orchestra ‘ from Waitakaruru, extras being play- ’ ed by Mrs. McGregor and Mr. J. ’ Blackburn. Mr. H. V. Maukes was I M.C. About £26 was cleared for the I hall funds. Messrs. Maukes and I Christie are to be congratulated on . their efforts to make the social the 1 success it was.

THE TRAM-LINE ROAD. Workmen are at present engaged in claying a portion of Tram-line Road to give the settlers along that road a p better outlet. The clay is being dug ! from a bill near the township, and is ! trucked down the road. h