KEREONE.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 75, 28 March 1918, Page 2

KEREONE.

SOLDIERS’ ANNUAL MEETING. The first yearly mile stone was passed by the Kereone Returned Soldiers Association on Monday, when the annual meeting was held in the presence of twelve members. Mr Malcolm Larney (president) occupied the chair. The president’s annual report denoted that the association had, in its first year, done work which fully came up to expectations, and had justified its existence. In the course of his report Mr Larney said: “Twelve months have now elapsed since the suggestion to form a Soldier Settlers Association was carried into effect, and the results so far have been satisfactory. I would remind members that it is due to the untiring efforts of the committee, after a deal of agitation, that a much improved railway platform, and other facilities for handling goods, are to be provided at Kiwitahi. Within the next few weeks a post and telephone office are also to be opened at the same station, and a daily mail service established which will be a great convenience, and a forward move not only for the Kereone settlers, but the whole surrounding district.” After mentioning the association’s actions in connection with obtaining increased financial aid for the members, the report dealt with the valuable services rendered the settlers by the Rev. Mason, who at great personal inconvenience travelled a considerable distance and spent many hours in exhausting work in order to locate water on various sections. Continuing the president stated : “ Although we have done much, there yet remains much to be done. The outstanding grievance at the present time is bad roads, and this is the matter upon which the new committee should concentrate most of its energies. We believe that if a grant is applied for at the proper time to put our roads in order, we shall succeed in getting it, in fact a verbal ministerial assurance has already been given in this direction. During the year members have been kept busy establishing themselves .on their respective holdings, and therefore have had little time for recreation. However, now that initial stages of pioneering have been overcome, a little time might be given to developing the social side of life. A hall, or some kind of meeting place, is badly needed in the vicinity, where members can meet together and spend a few hours of conviviality, and thus cement the bonds of friendship which are so desirable in a community like ours. The thanks of the association are due, and hereby tendered to the executive of the Morrinsville branch of the Farmers Union, who took the trouble to visit our settlement and advise in farming methods, and who also took up the cudgels on our behalf, and assisted in securing further financial aid to our members who required it from the state. In conclusion, the prospects of the Kereone settlement appear particularly bright, and whatever hardships are now being undergone will soon be overcome, and the district in a few years should be one of the best in the Province and its soldier settlers industrious and prosperous men.” ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Before proceeding with the nomination of officers Mr Larney stated that, through pressure of business, he would ask to be relieved of the position of president. Members spoke of the good work he had done, and thought that Mr Larney was the most suitable man in the settlement for the position. His objections were overcome. Officers were elected as follows : —Patron, Hon. W. H. Herries ; president, Mr M. Larney; vice-president, Mr N. Anderson; committee, Messrs A. Topharn, P. Peterson ! and A. Cunningham. The meeting concluded with a hearty vote of thanks to the outgoing officers, and a vote of thanks to Mr Peterson for the use of his residence.