FUNCTION AT TOKO.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 83, 6 August 1915, Page 3

FUNCTION AT TOKO.

THE SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION. Tlu' annual social of the Toko Settlors' Association was held in the Coronation Hall, Toko, last night, when there' was a large attendance. During the early pari of the evening d:>ncing was indulged in. ant! before supper the prizes won during the year in connection with the Association's competitions were presented. Mr \V. H. Were, President of the Association, in the course of a sh-iri speech, said that twelve months ago

it wes announced that the second annual show under the auspices of the Toko Settlers' Association would he held in the autumn, hut it was not fulfilled owing to the war. The war had completely knocked them into a "cocked hat." Some of the members of the Association had been called away, and a lew had been killed on the field of battle. Concluding, Mr Were said that the herd competition would he held again in the coming season. Mr Were then introduced Mr R. Dingle.

In opening his address Mr R. Dingle said lie bad a pleasant duty to perform, that of presenting the prizes won during the year for the herd and root competitions. He was disappointed to see so few of the old settlers present, hut be was pleased to see the yonng ones. He had little doubt but that the Toko Settlers' Association was doing good work. He was pleased to note that many of our young men had lei'! for the front, and some of our young ladies had gone to nurse the sick and wounded. They had a duty to perform, and that duty was to produce as much as possible off the laud. The Toko settlers had taken the lead as far as Taranaki was concerned in the matter of production. Mr Dingle said that he had wanted to talk about butter-fat, but he did not want to keep the young people away from the dancing floor, so he would let them devote their time to the learning of the military two-step. In presenting the prizes, Mr Dingle said that he was willing to give C 5, if subsidised by the Association to a similar amount, for the man the greatest value oil' the land per acre, the prize to be competed for in the whole of the Stratford district. The main farter was how much a man could get oh his land per acre and make it a commercial concern. As a member of the Hoard of Agriculture, he wanted to see a model dairy farm in Taranaki and near Stratford, so that the settlers could see the working of the farm when they came into town. In concluding his remarks, Mr Dingle said the nation was lace to face with a great crisis. While in Wellington a lew weeks ago he told the Premier and the Hon. .1. Allen that he was willing to give his services if they would he of use in the fighting of our battles. He was pleased to see the women helping the men in every possible way to produce food and' clothing for .the .<it.se.. of-.0ur... boys who had gone to fight for us.—Applause. , ; The following were the competitions .and the results :

Herd Competition.—Challenge Cup, to be won three .times (presented by Mr J. H. Mine. M.l\)—C. Bayly 1 (previous holder M. Gernhoefer), M, Gernhoefer (£3), 2; C. Bayly (£1). 3. Swedes, host of~tlirec acres.—Challenge Cnp, to be won twice in succession or three times at intervals, presented by Mr C. Bayly—E, Jones 1 previous holder K. Marfell); K. Marfell (£2). 2; W. H. Wore £'l). 3. Carrots ($-acre). —A. Xeedham (Douglas), £l. 1 ; C. Bayly (Ids), 2. Mangolds (J-acre).—E. Marfell (£2), 1 ; A. Xeedham, Douglas (£1), 2. Alter the prizes had been distributed, Mr Wore read a letter from Mr E. Marfell. who was unavoidably absent, in which ho sait! the money won by him was to lie donated to Dr. Barnado's Home. The following resolution was enclosed -in the letter:—

"That we members of the Toko Settlers' Association and residents of the district, after one year's duration of war, hereby declare our fixed determination to steadfastly do all in ouu power to assist the nation to carry on the war until such time as the power of our ruthless enemies has been broken, and the rule of militarism lias been put down, and until the cause of freedom, equity, and true liberty again

shall be in the ascendancy." In seconding the motion, Mr Were briefly mentioned that two of the Toko boys had been killed. George M. Cieary and M. Marfell. The motion was carried by the singing of the "National Anthem."