HUNTERVILLE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 2035, 24 December 1907, Page 5

HUNTERVILLE.

From Our Own Correspondent. In the final of the Tennis Tournaments the victors were:—Ladies: Mrs Meldrum and Miss Ellis. Men’s: Messrs Meldrum and Southcombe. Two sales have taken place lately, Messrs Duncan Bros, having acquired that portion of Braemore across the Turakina, and Mr McEldowney’s Hunterville branch has been purchased by two gentlemen of the township. The breaking-up of the school took place on Friday morning and resulted in about 160 prizes being distributed, and a presentation to Misses Jeukinsou and Edwards. Miss Jenkinson who has been with us some years has endeared herself to the children and commands the respect of all parents as a capable and most painstaking teacher. Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re.. In the afternoon the school children’s picnic and sports took place. With regard to the former it would have required a fractional part only of seven baskets to have gathered the fragments remaining of the provender provided by the parents after the children and adults had finished. The races were won as below:— Girls, under 14: O. Howie 1, B. Ennis 3. Girls, under 13: May Thomson 1, Sheila Cameron 3. Girls, under 13: Maggie Howie 1, P. Ingpen 3. Girls, under 10; E. Norris 1, F. Watkins 3. Boys, under 14: O. Petherick 1, H. Hallam 3. Boys, under 13: O. Howie 1, H. Dudding 3. Boys, under 13: 0. Chisholm 1, A. Bull 3. Boys, under 10: A. Middlemas 1, W. Steinmuller 3. All the races were over 100 yards. Numerous other races were' given for the little ones, so that I fancy few did not go home with something as a memento of the break-up for the Xmas holidays.

Re our branch train; whatever the Department, which instead of being run by the general manager, seems to be run by Sir Joseph Ward, will eventually do, can, it is to be hoped, be altered finally, but at present it is absolutely ridiculous that the mail train or as it is sarcastically termed the “express.” should stop at every flag station between the Junction and Mataroa. There is no earthly reason why it should stop anywhere except perhaps at Rata for water between here and the Junction, or at any but accounting stations north. The Premier tells us Taihape is to be the sleeping place. Why Taihape? Fifty miles, and not less,, should be a sleeping place, more if possible. Another matter the Premier might look into. Why should not the Junction be the crossing place for the mail trains? You could not find a better half-way place for the mail trains north and south, the difference of mileage between New Plymouth aud the Junction and Wellington and the Junction being inconsiderable.