DISTRICT NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4999, 12 July 1926, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

NGATEA, FARMERS’ UNION MEETING. Since before' Ngatea was known as Ngatea there has been a; branch of the Farmers’ Union in the place. Known as the Hauraki Plains Farmers’ Union, it was* a power in the land, and its meetings were attended by practically ©very settler for miles around, despite the difficulties of travelling over the virgin swa,mp< Much good work was done, and it was due to the efforts of the union that the Ngatea bridge and hall were built. On account of the bridge Ngatea became the centre df .the Plains and the foundations' of the township weire laid.

With the passing of years closer settlement and improved facilities have changed the needs of the district from acute necessities to general desirabilities, and the union, not hating the same active progressive policy, and therefore tailing to, secure the good results of the past, its membership ' fell off and' its power waned. On occasions, 1 -• when the need, a : rose, settlers rallied round the skeleton organisation, and their united action showed the. power of co-operation. With the formation- of a branch of the new 'Dairy Farmers,’ Union the branch df the.’N.Z. Farmers’ Union voluntarily went dormant flor a year to give the young organisation with -its active policy >a- fair trial in an open field. The Dairy Farmers’ Union was short lived, and the old union was reorganised and changed to a local union in air effort to. secure i'j» creased members by allowing the am nual-subscription to be merely suffi‘cXnt for local Jiceds. A Chambn of .'Commerce was . formed 'and strife between ‘the’-two - , bodies killed the one and sent'the'other back into ob.iviop. . Dast.' Thursday evening an effort was,-made to revive the Farmers’ Union- aijd a meeting- tor which 40 ■notices ’had : been. sent out was held in the hall.. Nine settlers attended. -Deploring the apathy ofl the settlers the president, Mr A. Cleave'r, said that" while'the union'was largely -to blame,’’the smallness of the attendance,:was .an - indication of the interest farmers took in matters affecting their welfare The' question to -vbe decided 'was . whether the Ngatea Farmers’- Union should. remain in being, should revert to being a branch of the’N.Z. .Farmers’, Union, or should, , altogether.. As a result of'the canvass made’, by the N.Z. Farmers’ 'Union organiser, -.there were many .financial members of that body in the district,, and it might be possible to get them to take an active interest in local affairs'. .■ Eventually-it was decided that this course be ; given' a? trial, .and - that meetings would be held! on the first Tuesday 'in i each .month,.. -in ■ the Ngatea hall. ; Mr 'A. Cleaver ,was appointed president "of the branch, Mr E.‘ Martin; .. secretary and treasurer, Messrs. J. Darlington and C- WSchultz vice-presidents, and Messrs. R. Burke, Gr'Phillips,' E. Fla,veil, R, Rowlings, the committee,.

BENEFIT BALL. During the present football seasonseveral; members of the Ngatea. Football Club ’ have- been injured while playing in inter-club games. On'the second Saturday in May L. Cotter had a leg'.broken and is. still in hospital making slow progress, towards recovery. .Another'’player had two ribs .broken and. was absent- from work for a fortnight, while" two others' receiv-, ed injuries necessitating surgical operations and loss of wages. To provide some compensation for these -men, should they require it, the club organised' a fancy dress ball in the public hall on'-Wednesday evening and 1 -raised about £3O. .Being a benefit function the hall was given rent-free, (the prizes, for the fancy .costumes were donated, as ■ also was m'uc'h of the supper, and Mr Rooney made ■ no'> charge for" the excellent music • prqvided ; by .his. orchestra. There'werejaboiit fBO. couples present at the function)-despite .the numerous attractions' in other, places. -The hall was prettily- decorated with ■ paper' streamers in ‘the club colours and with native foliage.. ■ | The prizes for .the best lfahcy dresses were awarded to Miss . and Mr G. Birkenhead, Russian dancer and. Court page, while the awards for the most original costumes were made to Miss Irwin, Maori Maideai, and Mr. Nelson, swagger. Others in fancy, dress were :. Misses Wheeler, Oriental dancer; Lux, Egyptian ; E. McDuff, slave girl; G. McKay; rose; M, Megg, Egyptian ; McDuff, ■ mystery; ' Cam-: erom pierrette; M. Johnson, Eastern > dress ; M. Kelly, -Ruslsian-; E, Nelson, Queen, of Hearth ; Mi’s Norcott, Eastern ; Mrs Adlum,. Maori; Mr R. Jobe. Order of the. Bath. ■PERSONAL. - : Mr N. Boyne, postmaster at Ngatea, and Mrs Boyne lelft for Sydney on Friday. Mr Boyne will be away for six weeks and Mrs Boyne .for three ■months; Mr W. J, Kingham, Thames, : is acting as postmaster. TURUA. i ■ •■- ■* ANGLICAN SOCIAL. The Turua’Anglican Ladies’ Guild held its 'monthly dance on Wednesday evening, there being about 30 couples present in the Victoria Hall. The building-was tastefully decorated with paper. streamers of many colours, and good 'music was provided by Mrs Mules’ orchestra.