DISTRICT NEWS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4467, 15 September 1922, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS

—.—* TURUA. FOOTBALL TROPHIES. To celebrate the winning ofi both the senior and junior grades in the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union’s competitions the Turua Football Club ■held a most successful smoke concert on Monday evening in the Victoria Hall, which was well filled with supporters of the club and representatives from Patetonga, Ngatea, and Waitakaruru. Mr G. Porfeous, in the absence of the president, occupied the chair. Occasion was also taken to present the trohpies won by the club. The toast list was interspersed with musical and vocal items. Mr J. Costello, preside!? of he Hauraki Plains Rugby Union, in making the presentation of the senior cup and the Patetonga (junto) shield, congratulated the Turua club on its unique achievement in winning both grades. Mr Costello also responded to the ‘oast to the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union. The toast to kindred sports was responded to by representatives of other sports bodies, and the local bodies toast by members of local bodies present. A toast to the donors of the trophies was also heartily drunk. SPORTS CLUB’S DANCE. The final of a series of successful dances organised by the Hauraki Plains Athletic and Sports Club was held in the Victoria Hall last week. There was a good attendance, and a very enjoyable evening was spent. Mrs H. Brown and Mr D. Hill provided the music, NEW TENNIS CLUB. Tennis as a summer sport appears to be very popular in tlie Turua district. Besides the Turua Club being a strong one, there is now a new club in existence at Huirau Road. Courts are to be laid down on Mr Daily’s property, and for' this purpose a working bee will be organised to-morrow.. Negotiations are being made to purchase the necessary gear for the starting of. a new club and ‘.t sjiould not be Tong before the members are making use of their courts. PATETONGA. VALEDICTORY. In order to bid farewell to two local families who are leaving the district a large number of Patetonga settlers gathered at the Patetonga Hall on Saturday afternoon. The honoured guests were Mr and Mrs Costello and family and Mr and Mrs Cotter and family. Mrs J. Patterson, in making pre r sentations of a Doulton jardiniere each to Mrs. Cotter and Mrs Costello spoke of the loss they would be to tlie district and wished them every happiness in their new homes. Messrs J. F. Mayn and A. J. McDonald also had kind words to say. Mr- Cotter and Mr Costello suitably repsonded. A dainty afternoon tea. was served by the ladies. During the afternoon an excellent musical programme was rendered, the following being contributors : Mrs Cotter, Misses Cotte-, Tizard (2), I. Wilkins, Clarken. Pullman, and Beatrice Taylor, Messrs Booth, and N. Wallace. Communit?/ singing and dancing were also held. The singing ofl “Auld Lang Syne” terminated the afternoon’s function. In the evening members of the local football club assembled at a smoke concert to bid farewell to their president, Mr J. Costello, and their vicepresident, Mr Cotter. Mr S. Appleby presided. THE, TRAMLINE ROAD. Considerable activity is at present being shown by the Lands Department in forming the road along the tramline from the township to the wharf. At present, all goods have to be carried on the trolley. The existence of the road will enable settlers to procure their own goods from the wharf if they wish to. I.t will also be a better outlet for the farmers who have holdings along that road. BUILDING ACTIVITY. A start has been made by Mr W. Mackerel], the contractor, with the work of erecting the new post office which is to be of the same size and design as the recently opened Ngatea office, but with a few minor im-, provements. The site chosen for the Office is a most suitable one in the centre of the township, A new billiard saloon is also in the course of erection. A NEW LANDING. A request by a nifmber of Mangawhero settlers to Mr E. Taylor, resident Lands Drainage engineer, urged the construction of a wharf on the Piako River at the end of the M'angawhero Road, on which there are a large number of suppliers to the Ngatea butter factory. Mr Taylor, while recognising the necessity of a wharf, said nothing of a permanent nature could yet be built, as at some future date it would be necessary to dredge the river at the proposed wharf site. The Department would, however, construct a temporary landing. It is tlie intention of the settlers to erect a shed beside the landing to accommodate .their cream cans. Up to the present the cream has had to be carted to Patetonga before being sent down the river to Ngatea. THE CREAM SUPPLY. Despite the dry winter the supply of cream at the Patetonga depot, which opened at the beginning of this month, shows a marked increase over w.hat was received during the corresponding period last year. The pastures are verdant and the grass is growing well considering the meagre rainfall. This week’s rains have had a very beneficial effect. NGATEA. PROPOSED LIBRARY. Now that the old post office has been vacated in the Postal Department has no further use for it the local settlers are considering utilising their “dog box” as a public library. tl is intended some time during the coming week to hold a public meeting to discuss the matter and to put it on a business tooting. The outlay required to purchase a supply of selected books could be obtained ,

by public subscription or from a series of entertainments, or perhaps some public-spirited bookseller could be induced to supply the books on the payment of a deposit, the remainder of the money to be paid bv instalments. Next Tuesday has been suggested as a date for the meeting, which will probably be preceded by community singing. PERSONAL. Tlie many friends of Mr I. B. Macken (until recently 'headmaster of the Ngatea school) will be pleased to learn that while relieving at the Taumarunui school he was prominent in the football field, being among the best centre three-quarters hi the King Country. He has now gone to Te Kuiti to take up duties as a teacher there. NEW POST OFFICE. Ngatea’s new post office was opened for business on Monday. Though it is not as large as the local settlers would wish, it is far more convenient than the old one. To demonstrate its diminutive size, the two assistants appear to have difficulty in moving around when the mail rush is on; also one door cannot be used on account of a table being placed against it There was no other available space to put t!he table. The building, however, is a nicely finished one, inside and out, and is a credit to .the builder, Mr W. Mackerell, and the painter, Mr F. Powley, who is now resident in the district. It is an ornament to the township and if it had beeft a few feet longer it would have been quite large enough for present requirements. HALL FUNDS. The energies of a ladies’ committee at Ngatea are at present concentrated on an effort to organise a bazaar in aid of the local hah funds. One of a series of efforts to augment the bazaar funds was held last evening in the form of a dance. Quite a> large number of local dancing folk and numbers from Waitakaruru, Kerepeebi, and Kopuarahi attended, and a very enjoyable evening was spent. Mrs Potter was responsible for the aKrangements.. while Mr S. Phillips was entrusted with the duties of M.C. Mesdunes Potter and Hendren attended to the musical portion of the programme. while. Mrs Clark obliged with a vocal item, which was enthusiastisally encored. As a result of the evening's entertainment a considerable sum should -be available for purchasing material for a bazaar, NEW STORE. Yet another building is to be erect • ed in Ngatea, the timber for a new store being .at present on the wharf. It is believed .that the work of erection is to commence immediately. KEREPEEHI TENNIS CLUB. A meeting of the Kerepeehi Tennis Club’s executive committee was held on Tuesday evening, Mr J. Twist, presiding. It was decided to purchase the necessary gear for the courts. SURPRISE PARTY. Once more some merry-makers of Kerepeehi met'together to give a surprise party, tlie residence of Mr and Mrs B. Frecklingtpn being their, destination. Without any preliminary knocking the visitors in single file walked -stealthily into the house, completely surprising the inmates, who were all in one room enjoying some music. The various- expressions of amazement flitting over their faces betrayed how complete the surprise was. The evening passed all too quickly with parlour games interspersed with vocal and pianoforte music. The latter at .times took the form of a waltz, enticing some of the folk into an adjoining room to dance. “Cheer germs,” so common nowadays from song and laughter spread everywhere. With the approach of midnight came supper, after which, before departing, three hearty cheers were given by the party for Mr and M’-s Frecklington, and the song “Fur they are jolly good fellows” was sung in their honour.