HIKUTAIA NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4641, 21 December 1923, Page 4

HIKUTAIA NEWS.

SOCIAL. ; A very enjoyable social was held in the hall last Wednesday night, when a large number of residents were present to show their active sympathy in a good cause, the object of the social being to raise funds to help .to defray the medical expenses of the son of two esteemed native residents who recently underwent a somewhat serious operation, which has been apparently successfully effected by Dr. Douglas, of Hamilton. Excellent music was rendered by Mr M. C. Smith’s local orchestra, whose efforts are being more and more appreciated, while the supper was greatly enjoyed. With a good flooi’ and a capable M.C. (Mr C. Murdock) the dancers appeared, despite .the high temperature prevailing, to enjoy themselves, hugely. The euchre competition was so keenly contested ■that no fewer than seven ladies and six gentlemen tied, thus necessitating a play-off, which eventually was won by Mrs V. Brown and Mr G. Mitchell. The hail-driving competition proved very popular, and was a source of much amusement, the prizes being annexed by Mrs J. Martin and S. Wyatt. A vocal solo, followed by an encore, was. well rendered by Mr N. Pryce who is the possessor of a fine voice. The organisers of the social as well as those present were very cordially thanked by the grandmother of the < lad for whose benefit 1 the entertainment was held. Though the proceeds will not meet the expenses entailed by the surgical operation the district nurse (Miss Jarrett) has undertaken to open a subscription list to make up the balance. Judging by the energy displayed on 1 the night of the social and the willing response made Miss Jarrett will 1 soon have the balance in hand, SALE. At the usual fortnightly Farmers’ Auctioneering Co. sale, held last week, there was a good yarding, and bidding was fairly brisk considering that the late dry, warm weather has had a deleterious effect on the pastures, so that farmers, with the prospect of continued dry weather to face, are more inclined to sell than to buy. Lambs sold from 26s to 30s, rough beef at 20s per 1001 b and prime at 28s. Pigs showed a slight drop on the prices made previously. SPORT. Bowling green, tennis courts, and croquet lawn were well patronised on Saturday, a large atendance keeping the various games going until cows or failing light called a halt. The rooster competition was advanced a stage when the holder, Mr I. M. Robinson, beat his brother, Mr A. R. Robinson, after a close and exciting game by one point, the finals scores being 19 against 18. As the secretary of the Tennis Club (Miss Frost) will be away on her long holiday the club committee at its last meeting appointed Mr J. Ross Elliot as her locum tenens. ACCIDENTS. While Mr G. Gibb and his two sisters were driving home from Turua on Saturday night one of the wheels came off and the vehicle was dragged ato ng on the axle for over a chain: Fortunately, the horse, though young and fresh, took the episode as a matter of course, and the occupants had a lucky escape. On Sunday night Mr and Mrs Henwood had a very nasty experience, which might easily have been of a serious, nature. As they were driving towards Paeroa one of the shafts broke. The horse, a fresh and powerful animal, plunged and reared to such an extent that-Mr Henwood was thrown out. Fortunately he retained possession of the reins, and was in time able to control the animal, but not before Mrs Henwood was precipitated on to the roadway. Though the latter received a somewhat severe shock, both miraculously escaped with only a few bruises. PERSONAL. Mrs H. Brash, who successfully underwent an operation in the Braemar private hospital, Thames, and .Mis Johnson, who "has been an inmate for some weeks of the Thames Hospital, have returned to Hikutaia.