HUTERVILLE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9065, 4 February 1908, Page 5

HUTERVILLE.

(From Gur Own Correspondent). ' Mr Thomas Higgie, after a long and painful illness, passed away on Saturday night. He was one of the pioneer settlers, owning till quite recently the farm on the Marton road, part of which Mr John Wilson bought, and the balance leased to Messrs Gorton and Son and Geo. Morris. Besides the widow and family (all of whom are young) h© leaves his brothers, Messrs William, James, George, and Abel Howie, all of whom are residing in this district, tp mourn their loss. The deceased was of a quiet and unassuming nature, taking a great and, till his illness prevented, active ’interest in volunteering, being one of the first to join the Hunterville Mounted Rifles. The Tennis Club are starting almost immediately making another tennis court, to which is to be added a croquet lawn for those who find the former exercise too violent. Later on the club intends ploughing and re-sowing the old lawn. I understand the club is, bn . the season, well in hand financially, and on the night of a meeting to discussion the proposed improvements were promised a further substantial amount. The Mounted Rifles have gone into camp at Porewa, and hold their sports next Wednesday. J hear the muster is not up to the past years, and the proportion of officers to men somewhat overwhelming. The officers, with their naturally superior strategical knowledge, should be well able to hold their own—should there be a sham fight composed of officers versus men.

The Sports Committee meeting was again enthusiastic, something over £4O being donated in subscriptions and trophies, not to speak of the sale of members’ tickets. The programme is of a very lengthy nature —too long I should imagine for one day, at any rate there will need to be no long waitsjbetwean the events. The committee decided to put on three dancing and two bagpipes items, so that we shall again have the pleasure of seeing the kilts and hearing the skirl of the pipes. Everyone here, with the exception of the children, is praying for rain, but so far with but faint success. Many of the householders are already compelled to go to the creek; one hotelkeeper, through an accident to his tanks, has been doing so for some time.