DISTRICT NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4767, 22 October 1924, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

Y' ngatea. THE NEW CHURCH. Steady progress is being made with the erection o£ the new Methodist Church in Ngatea, and little more than the interior work now remains to be done. The building is similar to the church recently built at Waitakaruru. SCHOOL COMMITTEE. The Ngatea District High School Committed met on Saturday evening and transacted routine business. ■. The headmasters monthly report ? stated that the roll numbers were : Primary, 128 ; secondary, 12 ; and the average attendance, 127.4, an increase " of four over that of the previous quarter. The inspector’s report stated that the standard of work in the-school j,. was good, the buildings .were in satisK-* factor}' order, and a creditable attempt had been made .to beautify the , grounds by the establishment of flower gardens. Discipline was, on the whole, good, and the working spirit was satisfactory. FOOTBALLERS’ “ SMOKER.” . On Saturday evening in the Public Hall the Ngatea Football Club held a • smoke concert to wind up the season. The patron of the club, Mr J. Darlington, presided over an attendance of about 40 players and supporters. Among the long list of toasts honoured were : The Rugby Union, plains Football, Supporters, the Junior Team, the Seniors, Kindred Clubs, the President, Mr W. G. Hayward; the Association, the Ladies, and the Club’s Life Member, Mr ,R. Shaw. During the evening the president of the Rugby Union, Mr J. Costello, presented to Mr H. Stone, captain of the junior , team, the Patetonga Shield, which his team had won after a protracted struggle. The toast list was plenteously interspersed with musical items, among -/the contributors beiilg Messrs Ludlow, -*topole, Hortene,-Solomon, Molloy brothers, and Jones. Mr A. E. Ludlow was at the piano. TURUA. TENNIS. The official opening of the Turua Tennis Club’s new courts, to have taken place on Saturday last, was postponed until a later date probably Monday next (Labour Day). KOPUARAHI. • CRICKET. Owing to the wet weather the ’ cricket match which the Kopuarahi club had arranged to play with a Turua eleven on Saturday last Jo open the cricketing season on the Plains had to be postponed. It will probably '■ 'be held at Kopuarahi on Saturday next. KEREPEEHI. A CONCERT. To the Rev. J. Charteris, of Reefton, who is on a visit to his sons at Kerepeehi, the people of that township ar 2 indebted for. a very excellent concert he organised and staged in the Kerepeehi Hall on Wednesday evening, thereby raising about £l4 for the Hospital Building Fund. Opening with a bagpipes selection by Mr Charteris and his eons, Albert and Norman, all dressed in true Scottish national costumes, there followed in quick succession poi dances by groups of Native girls, songs and recitations by Mr Cox, sword dances and Highland flings by Mise Charteris, songs by Miss Johnson, a recitation by little Miss McFeteridge, part songs by groups ’of Maori boys and girls, songs by Master T. Baggs, a recitation by Master H. Thompson, and •songs by Mr H. Booth. The Rev Charteris, who proved an able entertainW er with a fund of humorous stories to recount, caused much amusement when introducing the various vocalisfo and dancers. THE PROPOSED HOSPITAL. ’ The position in regard to the efforts of the people of Kerepeehi to secure an accident and maternity hospital for the district was detailed by the secretary of the movement, Mr W. Booth, when moving a vote of thanks to the Rev. Charteris for his efforts, which had been the means’of raising a substantial sum towards the funds last week About two years ago, explained Mr Booth, many of the residents came to the .conclusion that a hospital would be required on the Plains in the near ‘ future. A meeting was held and subscription lists circulated with the object of securing sufficient funds with which, together with a Government subsidy, a site of five acres could be purchased for £290. One half of this was collected, and after a great deal of trouble an equal amount of subsidy had been secured. The money was now in the hands of the Thames Hospital Board, who were negotiating to purchase the site. When the site had been secured an effort should be made to secure the establishment of the hospital. karangahake. • VALEDICTORY. A quiet wedding wac celebrated at Tanina runui recently when Mrs Ansley, so long a resident of Kai angahake, was married to Mr McLaren. Before finally leaving for her new home a large number of residents, anxious to show their appreciation Of her many good qualities, assembled in : . the Church of England Sunday School, On behalf of the residents of Karan-

gahakc the Rev. F. B. Dobson presented Mrs McLaren with a beautiful afternoon tea set, a teapot, tea kettle, silver tea tray, and salad bowl. In making the presentation Mr Dobson referred to the long tiipe that Mrs Mcl.aren had lived in Karangahake, to the splendid help she had given in connection with the tennis and croquet clubs, to the Church, and in ministering to the sick, especially during the dreadful time of the influenza ; n 1918, and more iecently as postmistress. On behalf of the icsidents he wished her every good wish in her new home. Mrs McLaren suitably responded, and Mr Le Dette, her father, said how proud he was that such honour had been done to his daughter.