TE HORO.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 15 August 1919, Page 3

TE HORO.

j WELCOME TO RETURNED SOLDIERS. A RECORD GATHERING. Last- Wednesday night’s function, held under the auspices "of the Te Horo branch of tho Horowhenua County

Patriotic Association for the purpose of welcoming home a number of returned soldiers, is generally recognised ns the biggest and most successful

- function ever held in Tc Horo. The s night was a perfect, moonlight one, and ■ the attendance, including a very large [ number of visitors 'from Otaki, and many also from Waikanac and elsewhere, was so great that the spacious hall was filled to overflowing. An energetic committee, • with Mr G. W. Kirk as secretary, had workod hard to prepare an enjoyable programme, and must have been well satisfied with the result of their labours, all present declaring the function a splendid success in eveiy way. The stage had been prettily decorated in patriotic colours. Concert. The first part of the evening’s entertainment comprised a concert programme, which was a specially inert-' . torious one. all of the performers doing ; well, and their efforts being much appreciated. After the National Anthem, Miss Alberta J. Muir contributed a pleasing pianoforte solo, “CupriI canto,’’ with rare artistry and good '* taste, being followed by Mr C. Saw- , ! ycr, the possessor of a nice tenor voice, j who sang ‘‘Until’’ in good style. Miss I Kilsby’s song, ‘‘A May Morn,’’ was • delightfully rendered, the singer being recalled, when she gave with equal 1 success ‘‘The Lilac Cotton Bonnet.” j Rev. W. G. Slade gave two violin solos pleasingly and tastefully, his first number being loudly encored most dcsori vedly. The management was fortunate in securing the services of Mrs R. 1 Harris, of Levin, whose beautiful voice I was heard to advantage in ‘‘When | You Come Home, Dear.” The audience ’ insisted on an encore, when Mrs Harris j sang ‘‘When Song is Sweet.” Another song by the same lady, ‘‘Only a Flower,” was also much appreciated. Mr Searle, of Wellington, always popu- , lar at Te Horo, sang "Take Thou This Rose” and "Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes,” eliciting loud applause, and his second item being encored, when he sang "The Sum of Life.” Miss Diaper’s song, the old favourite "My Ain Folk,” was one of the most pleasing items of tho evening, being rendered very nicely indeed. Responding to an encore, Miss Diaper sang "Fulfilment.” Mr Ferry’s ventriloquial exhibition was a pleasing and capable j performance, greatly pleasing the audience. The local jokes were smart, - and created roars of laughter. Mr Ferry had to re-appear before the audience would let him go. Mr Frank Penn sang "Zealandin.” Miss A. Muir played nearly all the accompaniments excellently. Mr Eli Allen, who acted as chairman, returned hearty thanks to the performers for the capital programme given.

Welcome Home. Mr Eli Alleu, in introducing Mr G. Alex. Monk (chairman of the Horowhenua County Council), whom he asked to formally welcome the returned soldiers present, said that we *ll appreciated fully what our boys had done for us. We could never repay them for all they had suffered and saccrificed for our sake. and their country’s good name. Mr Allen stated that apologies had been received from six returned men, who were unable to be with them that night. Mr G. Alex. Monk . expressed his pleasure at being present on that occasion to welcome home the boys who had done so much for them. He had re-

sided in the district for many years, j and had met many of the soldiers on the rifle range, when they had proved good sjiorts, and these good sports nearly always made good soldiers. Mr Monk said that, though saddened frequently by bad news during the war, they had been thrilled with pride when they heard how the New Zealand boys had “made good” at the front, and on every battlefield during the war w.- had had the same report of the valour of our lads. New Zealand j had every reason to be proud of her i achievement in this war, she having sent oue-fifth of her whole male popu- | lation on active servicCi Referring to the duty we owed our returned soldiers, Mr Monk said the Government was, he believed, out to do its best for the men, bpt he was of the opinion that they had made some serious mistakes, t more particularly in regard to putting the. men on the land. Mr Monk spoke . of the fine progress made by returned disabled soldiers at vocational training, and urged that we should do our very . best for every such soldier, while he strongly advised every man who was fit and well to “get into it,” and not wait for the Government to do everything for them. The country was threatened with disaster in the manufacturing industry, owing to the coal ( shortage, and it was the duty of every j man and woman to do his very utmost to overcome that difficulty and increase the production of the country. America was out after the trade of the .world, and we should do our best. Mr Monk said he was one of those who had been of the opinion that our manhood had deteriorated, but had been delighted and surprised to find that in deeds of bravery our New Zealanders had proved equal to those of any age and of any country. In conclusion, he heartily applauded what "the boys had done, most cordially welcomed them home again, and hoped they would assist to make New Zealand what it should be. We needed their help in the strenuous times ahead, in meeting the industrial and social problems that confronted us. just as much as we needed them during the great war just happily ended. At Mr Monk’s call hearty cheers were then given for the soldiers, with musical lior*ours-

Supper and Dance. A plentiful supper' was then handed round to the ’big assemblage, after which the floor was cleared, and-danc-ing indulged in. Though the crowd was far too large for comfort, all seemed to have a thoroughly enjoyable time. Mrs Day supplied capital music, while Mr V'. Allen acted as M.C.