DISTRICT NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4452, 11 August 1922, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

NGATEA. MASQUERADE BALL, The Ngatea Football Club could not have wished to hold a more successful function than their plain and fancy dress masquerade ball, which eventuated last night. Though the weather was threatening large numbers came from most parts of the Hauraki Plains, Waitakaruru, Pipiroa, Kerepeehi, Netherton, Turua., and Kopuarahi being among the districts which were well represented.

The hall was tastefully decorated with greenery and paper streamers, and some rather novel lighting effects were introduced. The music rendered by Henderson’s orchestra, from Waitakaruru, was bright and evenly timed. Mesdames Potter and Hendr,en supplied extras, which were greatly appreciated. The floor, after the first few dances, was in very good order. Messrs J, Banks and S. Phillips were the M’s.C.

The number of dancers present was the largest yet seen in the Ngatea Hall. During the Grand March &9 couples paraded, and with those who subsequently arrived the number must have totalled 80 couples, a little too many for comfortable dancing, but the floor was not greatly overcrowded. The fpotball club’s dance committee, of which Mr C. G. Mellor is hon. secretary, has every reasnq to feel proud of the success of the ball, which was a m'ost enjoyable one. Th?, fancy dresses were numerous and varioui, there being some particularly good representations. The fact of it being a masquerade ball added greatly to the interest taken in it. The majority of the masked flg ures were unrecognisable, and there was much speculation as to their identities. The ladies’ costumes were very neat, and some beautiful, while the gentlemen appeared to favour gaudy or tattered fabrics, though among them there .were some original ideas The prizes were awarded only rfter much deliberation by the judges, their task being an extremely difficult one. Mesdames McMillan and Coppi us and Miss Clark officiated or. .behalf of the ladies, while Messrs D. Green J. Murdoch, and A. Henderson judged the gentlemen’s costumes. The prizes were awarded as follows. . Ladies: .Miss M. McConnell (Cleopatra) 1, Mrs Mantelow (Billiards) 2, Mrs T. Clark (Old English Fair) 3. Gentlemen: Mr Titcliener (Mephistopheies) 1, Mr Jarman (“Gazette" newsboy) 2, Mr M. Clare (Indian) 3. Prizes were donated by Dr. Bathgate, Messrs D. Green ,and W. Bailey. Of those who did not receive prizes there v.-er,e many with very pleasing and striking costumes, and one which att -acted much attention was .a .twofaced man, it being difficult to determine whether he was coming or going. A very striking pair, in the grand march was that of Mephistopheles and his daughter, both attired as stokers from the underworld. Among those in fancy costumes

were; Mesdames Hayward (Needlecraft), Mellor (Folly), Banks (Artist), Hudson (Night), Hendren . (Folly), McIntosh (Queen of the stars), Croit (Japanese), Potter (Little Miss Muf let), Elvidge (Daffodil). Misses D. Gemming (Folly), N. Gemming (Jazz), Oliver (Spanish girl), V. McDuff (Pierrette princess), D. Faulkner (Jazz pierrette), R. Hilfor, (Thistle), Thompson (Gipsy), Miles (sunflower), O’Carroll (Pierrette). D. McDuff (Russian dancer), E. Miles (United States), Lux (Gypsy), M. Senior (Folly), Kelly (daughter of Mephistopheles), D. Wade (Nurse), Candy (Night), Adams (Japanese). o‘Carroll (Grand-dad). Messrs Buckley (Ragtime), G. Green (Bachelor), G. White (Pierrot), Martin (Clown), R. Carr. (Cowboy), P. Harris (Age and Youth), S. Phil iP’ (Cowi oy), A. McConnell (Chin, apian), E. Ccppins (Tennis champion), O. McMillan (Tennis), W. Bailey (Twofaced), G. Elvidge (Tramp), Walker (Pierrot), Dr. Bathgate (Nurse). SCHOOL TEACHER. id vice was received on Tuesday evening that Miss M. McGuire had been appointed as relieving assistant for. the Ngatea school. Further advice has been received ,to the effecthat Miss McGuire’s services are not available, and that Miss McGinley has now been appointed.

TUBUA. the factory. The Hauraki Plains factory, Turua, is now reported to be working every day. The cows have been coming ip earlier than usual, and this, necessitates the early opening of the factory. VETERINARY CLUB. It is evident by the number of inquiries from various parts of the country that veterinary clubs will be springing up everywhere. Mr J. Gibton, the secretary of the Hauraki Plains Veterinary Club, Turua, states that recently he has received four applications for copies of rules, ope from Taneatua, near; Whakatape, two from the Northern Wairoa, and one from the Farmers’ Club. The club on the Plains was one of the first to be formed in this part of] the Dominion, and consequently settlers in other districts will watch the progress of this club with interest so that the new bodies will profit by its mistakes. GOOD ROADS SCHEME. It is reported from Turua that the northern area settlers connected with the Turua good roads proposals are not altogether satisfied with the progress of the scheme and intend launching out On a scheme of their own. TOWN BOARD ROADS. The Turua Town Board is endeavouring to patch up the roads in it.? area, and some metal for this, pui - pose arrived this week and will be put into the worst holes by a working bee of the local residents and settlers. PERSONAL. Mr J. Stewart, after spending a toupls ot years on the Ruawai Swamp, Northern Wairoa, has returned to settle at Turua.

KEREPEEHI. TENNIS SOCIAL. A very enjoyable evening was held by the Kerepeehi Tennis Club in the hall on Friday. There was a failnumber of dancers, all of whom enjoyed themselves immensely. Good music was rendered by Mrs Murdoch and Messrs Murdoch, Harrison, and Twist, while extras were played by Mesdames Hutchinson, Chatfield, FreclJington, apd Messrs Davies and Potter.

During the evening several musical items were given as follows: Song, "Waiting,” Mrs Frecklington; song, “Weeping Willow Lane,” Mr, Mrs, and Miss Leicester Chatfield, and for an encore they gave "Naughty Boy" ; comic song, "Burlington Bertie,” M>Arns, encore, “If I could I would” ; song, Mr Twist; "Sailor's Hornpipe’’ and “Scotch Reel,” Mr Devereaux. Mrs Murdoch and Mr Harrison gave a solo called "Humoresque” which received much applause. Messrs V. Dent and L. Chatfield made very capable M’s.C. The proceeds are to go towards the laying down of an additional tennis court at the school grounds. WAITAKARURU. THE SCHOOL, Coloured portraits of their Majesties the King and Queen have been received by Mr C. W. Harris (chairman of the local sc.hool committee). The portraits are to be framed and hung in the classroom of the school. One at least of the grain stores in Invercargill is stocked practically to its full capacity with part of the fruits of the Southland oat harvest (states the Southland “Times”). Tiers of bags each holding from 150 to 1801 b, and in rare cases 2001 b, are satcked up to the roof, and there are about 18.000 of these well-filled bags in the store, almost half of them being the property of different firms who have them stored there. “This is the largest quantity of oats we have ever had in the store,” said the owner. “Once, during the war, we put 10,000 bags on one steamer, but we were not then so fully loaded as we are now.” Half a dozen fat and half-wild cate frisking about the place prompted him to make a further remark to the effect that it cost quite an appreciable sum to keep the dozen or two canine rat catchers about the store supplied with milk.