ONEWHERO. THE RED CROSS CAMPAIGN

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 416, 8 October 1918, Page 1

ONEWHERO.

THE RED CROSS CAMPAIGN

ONEWHERO'S EFFORT

RESULT OVER £4OO

The residents of Onewhero are noted among the lower Waikato districts for the hearty manner in which they undertake and carry out their public and social functions. It was not surprising, therefore, that on Friday last they should, if anything, have gone one better than their record when they held a fete in aid of the Red Cross funds.

Favoured by a fine morning most of those who had intended coming to the show had arrived before the unpleasant afternoon rain set in and though the damp somewhat marred the sale of stock it did not materially affect the financial result.

Fortunately it had been decided to hold the function in the hall instead of in the tennis grounds. The usually drab building had been renovated and brightly decorated with flowers, ferns and evergreens. However, the best decoration was the human one, smiling faces of young and old and middle aged, all ready to put hand in pocket for the good cause. A number of visitors came over from Tuakau and during the afternoon Mr R. F. Bollard, M.P, for Raglan, and Mrs Bollard were present for some hours. Hard and continuous work for weeks past on the part of the committee had resulted in the accumulation of a varied assortment of stock ranging from a thoroughbred colt to a ferret on one side, and from a bedstead to a packet of pins on the other. Mr Campbell Mitchell, of Messrs Alfred Buckland and Sons, Ltd, auctioned the live stock in a spirited manner, but it will not hurt his feelings when we say that he could not hold a candle to the wheedling of the ladies within the building. In fact he was himself a severe but willing sufferer from their blandishments, while the perpetual motion actions of Mr Pat Griffin's hand from his pocket to a lady's palm and back again must have added greatly to the total of the fund.

The saddest incident of an otherwise happy day was the fate of a goat. It was sold in the first instance by Mr Mitchell in all good faith to Mr R. F. Bollard but that gentleman refused to add it to his menagerie and bade it be sold again. In rapid succession it was bought and resold to and by nearly every man round the ring and it must have netted a neat sum to the total. At a late hour on Friday night it was still impossible to find a final owner. A lamb bought in the first place by Mr Mate Urlich had a somewhat similar fate, but finally found a home with Mr Bates, who had sold it to himself.

A spirited contest took place between Mr Tom Muir, President of the committee, and Mr S. H. Craw ford, "the old war horse," as to which should top the poll in the matter of purchasing the stock, and it ended in a close finish much to the advantage of the Red Cross. Messrs C. Walters and H. Eyre were also large donors and buyers. OPENING OF THE FETE Punctually on time and with everything in apple-pie order, the the fete was declared open by Mr Tom Muir, President of the Committee in charge. He first took the opportunity of thanking the people for the result of their previous spon taneous and unprepared effort on behalf of the Society when they raised about £70. However, he quite expected that under the present organised arrangements they would far overtop that total. They must remember, he said, that such comparatively poor districts as Tuakau and Mauku had raised over £400 and £300 respectively, and he felt sure such a wealthy and prosperous district as Onewhero would not allow itself to be beaten by them. In all their efforts of a like nature in the past the people of Onewhero had done well, and he asked them to do their very best and koop up their reputation. The ladies then got to work with their various well-meant "swindles" and things were moving briskly when Mr B. F. Bollard, M P., ar rived with Mrs Bollard. Mr S. H. Crawford called the buyers and sellers and idlers to order and introduced Mr Bollard briefly saying their Member had come to show his sympathy and give what assistance he could in their effort. He welcom ed their Member and Mrs Bollard to the fete in the name of Onewhero.

Mr Bollard, who was cordially received, on behalf of Mrs Bollard and himself thanked Mr Crawford and all present for their kind words It was his duty to do all he could, he said, to assist all Fuch movements in his electorate. He was pleased to assist in such a noble work and he hoped the Onewhero effort would be a success and would result in the addition of a handsome sum to the Red Cross funds. He had no need to dwell on the value of the Red Cross work, but he would say that there was a tendency among some of the people to take too lightly their respensibilities in regard to such work. They should ask themselves: " While these boys are at the front fighting for us what are we doing ?" and if some could be shown to be slack in their duty he would assist the Government in measures that

would bring such slackness to an end. Some of the most liberal in financial support of war efforts had also sent their sons to the front, others would give neither men nor money. It was a good thing to have money and the things that money would buy but in having them they must take care not to lose the things that money would not buy. SALE OF STOCK. The sale of stock was then earned out by Mr Mitchell and resulted in a sum of over £220 being raised. Those who donated stock and other goods for the Fund were: Messrs A. Muir snr., T. Muir, S. H. Crawford, Lea. and Arnold Allen, H. Eyre, W. Dweti, Wai Peki (Whiskey), Pana, Pehi Clark, Erickson, Blackmore, W. Logan, G. Cunaold, E. Andrews, Attewell, Keyes, Martindale, Parsons, B ColeBaker. W. Pellow, A. Cameron, C Walters, J. Dromgool, G. Bates and Lees and Mesdames Tom Muir, S. H. Crawford, H. Eyre and Peter Rail. Mrs Roa Hira, Mrs Kukutai and Remi Hura also contributed valuable articles. Cash donations in lieu of stock were received from the following: Baker Bros, and L. Keals, £10 each ; W. Pellow, J. Griffin, J. Logan, £5 each; E Nolan, £3 3s; G. Willis, J. Aston, W. Liddle, £3 each; Mrs H. Eyre £2 9s, W. Ingram, £2 ; J. Carroll, S. Cripps, K. Kelsey, Cobourne, H. Watson, T. Miller, Paul Geraghty, W. McKinney and a Friend, £1 each; Knowles, 10s. Also very few men escaped the goat. WITHIN THE HALL. The stalls were in charge of the following ladies Plain and fancy needlework : Mrs Eyre and Miss Crawford. Cake and home produce : Mrs J. Logan and Mrs Raby. Vegetables and Surprise Packets: Mrs G. Logan. Sweets : Mrs McKinney and Miss McNaught. Tea: Mrs Fox and Mrs W. Pellow. Post Office: Miss Clark, assisted by Misses Willis and Andrew. Fish Pond : Miss McKenzie. Flower Stall : Miss Clarice Henderson. Mesdames Allen and Aislabie, Misses Revell, Rita Crawford, Lees, McKenzie and others gave much needed assistance to the busy stall-holders. The goods in the stalls were all supplied by the ladies of the district, guided by an energetic committee consisting of Mesdames W. Pellow, Eyre, McNaught, G. Logan, Keyes, McKinney, Collier, Fox, Jos. Logan and Misses Crawford and Henderson. Mrs J. Logan had plenty of work as secretary and the result must have pleased her. The men's committee was Messrs T. Muir (President), L. Allen, Eyre, Kelsey, Dromgool, J. Liddle, L. Keals, C. Walters, Parsons, Crawford and W. Logan. During the later hours of the evening Mr Crawford auctioned off most of the unsold articles and the committee were able to announce that the grand total cleared for the fund amounted to over £400. Mr and Mrs Bollard were met at Tuakau railway station by Messrs T. Muir and Crawford in motor cars. On their arrival in Onewhero they, with Mr and Mis Muir and other friends, were entertained at lunch by Mrs Attewell.

After the goods had been cleared the hall was tidied up and in spite of their strenuous day those present had a pleasant dance for a few hours. Mr W. Andrew acted as M.C. and the music was supplied by ladies and gentlemen present chiefly by Misses Clark (violin) and Crawford, Henderson and Messrs H. Crawford and A. Liddle

Onewhero received a visit from the Bishop of Auckland (Dr Averill) last Sunday afternoon, service being held in the church and the Bishop delivering an eloquent sermon. Subsequently Mrs Norman Cole-Baker entertained the Bishop and parishioners at afternoon tea and the opportunity of meeting Dr Averill was much appreciatod.