WAITUNGURU (LATE RATANUI.)

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 455, 10 April 1912, Page 5

WAITUNGURU (LATE RATANUI.)

Own Correspondent

The opening function with regard to the newly-erected hall and school picnic took place at Waitunguru on April 2nd, before a gathering of people remarkably representative of all the surrounding districts, visitors being present from Pio Pio, Mangaotaki. Ngapaenga, Mairoa, Kinohaku, Te .rvnga, Marokopa and Mangaohae. The day was perfect though slight rain in the early part of the morning prevented some from a distance from cornnig. There were about two hundred people on thr ground. Numerous races were held for the children who had an enjoyable day and entered with enthusiasm into the various amusements provided for them. The married and single ladies' races for prizes given by the bachelors were respectively won by Mr 3 Barratt and Miss K. Were. The settlers' race for two nine-foot gates presented by Mr E. Kerr was a keenly contested event anclwas won by C. Armsrtong. Fourteen settlers lined up for the race, and a "cockatoo" after a gate does not walk. Three cakes of size immense were given for the bachelors' race by Mesdames Jones, Barratt and Dew. The first was won by Norman Thomas, M. Andresen being second and C. Sale third. Ladies' nail driving competition for prizes provided by Mr A. Robson was won by Mrs W. Jones after an amusing content, Mrs C. Summerfield being second. In the evening a concert was held, numerous songs and recitations being given by several of those present. It was an opportunity to find out the latent talent of which there is certainly no lack. Those who helped in this, are deserving of thanks from ail. At 8 p.m. previous to starting the dance Mr H. Thorns, in a brief but happy speech, opened the hall, also referring to the excellent way the Ratanuians had organised their picnic. This hall has been erected by the settlers to take the place of a school which over twelve months' agitation to the Education Board had failed to obtain, and is in every way a credit to them. To the generally expressed regret of many Mr C. K. Wilson, M.P , was unable to be present owing to previous engagements. The catering by the married ladiea was splendidly carried out, and their kindness to the bachelors was a very pleasing feature of this gathering. To have received such treatment would make one believe ,that the single life has some recompenses. , Dancing was carried on till 43.0 a.m. by over thirty couples. The music was excellently provided by Messrs Lindsay Bros.. Fritz and J. Kichardson. A vote of thanks to them was moved by Mr E. Buckley for their much appreciated services. Messrs R. Kerr and N. Larsen acted as M.C's , and were instrumental in making the evening enjoyable. Mr H. Thomas, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr E. Buckley, mentioned the work and energy shown by him both with regard to the picnic and the preliminaries of erecting the hall. This was accorded in the shape of three very hearty cheers by those present. The singing of "Auld Lang Syne" concluded the largest gathering of. its kind in the district.

A meeting wad held on April 2nd for the purpose of discussing the proposed metalling of* the Pungarehu road from Mr G. Summerfield's to the Waitunguru township. Mr R. Were, the councillor for the riding, was in the chair, and gave information as to the required'steps to be taken in this matter. It is the intention of the settlers to get this loan under way so as to get the work started early next spring if possible. Dairying has been started here in a small way, but with the opening up of the roads a butter factory will be erected on the township with a supply from five hundred cows. A committee was formed consisting of Messrs Murray, Quinlan, Junes and Buckley to further this movement. A meeting was also held on the same day for the purposes of discussing the possibilities of sending cream to the Pio Pio factory, a distance of seventeen miles, pending some better arrangement. Mr J. Murray was in the chair. Messrs O'Dwyer, H. Smith and Bevege represented the Pio Pio directors. An interesting discussion ensued, and the matter has been left in abeyance for further consideration, as those at present milking are supplying the Te Anga factory, Marokopa.