Awanui.

Northland Age, 11 October 1904, Page 2

Awanui.

(From out own Correspondent.) On Saturday, 24th September, the monthly meeting of Court Pride of Awanui, A.0.F., took place. There was a good attendance, and a large amount of important business was transacted. The Court funds are in an (excellent way, and much satisfaction should exist on the part of officers and members at the state of affairs. As a result of Saturday’s business, an agreement was signed on Monday, September 26th, with Dr. Scatchard of Kaitaia, by which on the payment of a certain sum per member by the Court, the members and members’ families will have Dr. Scatchard’s services, medicines, etc., free. An arrangement is also being made on behalf of honorary members. In consequence a considerable accession of new members is already promised. Much sickness has been induced here by the raw and inclement weather. Nearly half the schoolchildren are sick, and of those attending some would be better away. Mr. H. Subritky is nearly recovered, but Mr. Claudet has been suffering with quinsy, and incurred serious risk in attending to carry on his very necessary duties as secretary of the Foresters’ Lodge. Mr. Geo. Evans and Mr. C. W. Cooper are also in the doctor’s hands; and Messrs. Claudet and Hudson, the Awanui Foresters* representatives on the Advisory Committee of the Mangofmi Hospital, should see to it that our side of the County has shortly a Bister institution. In a former number I regret, in mentioning our new lay-reader’s name, to have misled the public, being myself in error as to the gentleman’s name, which is Mr. Allan P. Matthews. He is conducting services in the Mangatete schoolroom as well as here, ;Rumor has it that the organ is to be removed from the , schooj to the church, and .that a good set of lamps has been obtained for that, building. Arrangements also are under way to establish a Sunday-school on the advent of fine weather. This is as it should be ; for with a hundred and twenty schoolchildren in the three local schools (Awanui, Mangutete and Paparore) some religious instruction should be provided. Wednesday, 28th September saw a repetition such as that I alluded to in a former number, when the auxiliary schooner Greyhound, the s.s. Chelmsford, and the mail coach all came in within a few hours of each other. We are urgently in need of some better steam service here in regaid, to mails and passengers. If the pW proposed by Mr. Thomas, the N.S.S. Co/« agent, were carried out, it would produce a very markedly improved service. This is to have a power* ful steamer plying in say 24-hour runs from Awanui Heads and Hohoura to Auckland; and a good steam launch to tender to the steamer. We should then have some certainty about our mail service ;. but the present boat without ]>ower to face a head sea is a mere imposition on the public. In fact, such prehistoric survivals should he kept in museums to illustrate the early stages of mechanical inventions. If they are allowed on the water at all it should be with a tow-line attached to them, like the toy boat a schoolboy trails after him on a pond. The Awanui Flower Show Committee’s schedule shows an extended programme, though it is doubtful if some of the classes can be largely filled. The committee met on the 3rd instant. I hear on every band the complaint that gum is slow of salo and ready money very scarce, a consequence I suppose of the usual glutted tendency of the gum market at this season. I can only sympathise with sellers, and hope. that, the beginning of summer will show a more vigorous trade. The programme of our local footballers as I sketched it, was varied hv subsequent arrangement. On the 241 h September Awanui played Waimanone at Waipapakauri. and on October Ist a third match was played in Mr. L. A. Subritzky’s paddock. The former went in favor of Waimenone, while the latter resulted in Awanui 6, Waimanone nil. Mr. Fred. Russell refereed on both occasions.