Country News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 59, 14 March 1904, Page 2

Country News.

OKATO. (From our correspondent.) The fact of (Ikato being the oldest place on the coast and the last to have a hall of its own is a subject for proverbial comment which has become ancient, history. "Slow and sure" is now the maxim applied to the place, if the general observation of an assembled multitude counts for anything. l'robably never in the annals of the const has a larger, more enthusiastic or more brilliant gathering taken place than that which assembled in our ipiict little township on Monday evening, to do honour to the occasion of the opening of Hcmpl'mi Hall with a plain and fancy dress ball.

Notwithstanding a postponement, it was evident h.v H p.m. that at le.st. the , efforts of the ball committee were to be rewarded. Soon all the available seating accommodation was tilled, and then counts in noble attire began, in the courtier fashion of olden days of chivalry lo give place to countesses in stately robes.

The aesthetic etTects. so often neglected in country places, were in this case a conspicuous success. From a large circular, ornamental, eentrepiece. made of various and wellblended coloured papers, there stretched diagonally in convex form reil, white and blue paper chains. |h (; intermediate spaces hung a brilliant array of unfurled Hags. The windows were drapi'd with lace curtains and between the windows nikaii palms tvere placed in the form of an inverted "V," it ml interlaced with toi-toi. Between the palms were hung oil-paintingj,. .The four urners were decorated with uikau, I'iakia, and furled llags pointing obliquely upwards. In carrying out these arrangements -Mr W. Hammond was left a free hand, and proved .vliat a little artistic taste, combined with patience and skill, can do to i-.iovc even him "who is no moved by coilcord of sweet sounds and is fit fir' treasons, stnitc|{ems and spoils." When the M,C.'.s, Messrs W. <uul F. Hammond, N. Andrews and W, les Forges, announced the (Irund Afarch, and the lights Mere turned up, one could not help In,t reflect, lis* he looked on that scene of gay robes mid smiling faces, on a similar event in Brussels before Waterloo. The Wellington of this occasion was Mr C. Andrews, and many were the tributes of praise passed in remarking how lie had stuck to his guns despite adverse criticism, withering indilference, and wet blanket sympathy, and carried the erection of Ule i'.jijl from its inception to its foundation and opening to a Buct'eHHi'ul ibsae. In his generalship of the whole affair he has been ably assisted by Messrs Fox, (Jill and linker, as chiefs of stall'. On these four fell the provision of the sinews of war at a critical juncture.

] lighly complimentary wore the many references made to Duckor's orchestra and Mrs F. Hinnie for the music supplied. Among the principal characters represented were Miss K. C. Putt, Crissilda ; Mrs Long, Japanese ; Miss C. Putt, nnrrii; ; Misp N T , Shaw, I'or-get-nuMiot ; Mr 'l\ Atlenby, bluejacket ; Mr F. Hammond/Henry, Marquis d« Corneville ; Miss 11. Stortdntt, fancy dancer : Mr A. Wadsworth, page boy : Mr V. Binnie, ?.Sth copitury ; Miss Bliss, dahlia ; Miss C. Julian, tlower girl: Miss F. ..'ult, (lermaine fronn Li»s Cloches de Jorneville ; "Mr 11. Putt. Count Bambino, from " Tambour Major " ; Miss Sampson. Chinese drill dress ; Mr (J. Petch, fjjeward ; Miss f<. Andrews, but terliy ; Mr Kolilnnou, tea planter; Mr W. King, Indian chief ; Messrs F. (Jill anil 11. Kothery, coons; Mr A. Penwarden, Lord Nelson ;A 1 r Spencer, Paul Jones; Mv L, McIsaac,naval gunner ; Mrs F. Hammond. Countess La Mascotte : Mr W. Hammond, ca\alier ; .Mr L. Putt, gondolier; Mrs Pes Forges, folly; Miss Jeans, (Jipsy Queen ; Miss Francis. music : Mr T-. Putt, Turkey ; Mi,s« K", Humphrey, |ijirv»'S( ; Miss Q. Andiwrs, ri'd, while ami blue; Mrs 10. Leedom, hrkle, Miss A. Putt, patch and powder.

A yupper table, lifty feet long, was erected outnide Hn> junt temporarily covered in with Iron and tarpaulins. 'Phis won laden with the best, dishes of (lie eulitinrv art and alily taken charge of by Mesdames MeCullum, Robinson, Hammond, Uadsworth, Allenliy, Andrews and (Jill. It was estimated that itiere were lour sittings of sixtv people eacii. 1 1

'■' lie gross takinge will aim to between .Cai and tiiiii, anil will he a Welcome aildi,lioii to the hall funds. During the e\,.|iii, K -. Mr (>. Andrews (chairman of the hall committee) gave a hriel lin'auciu! statement and apologised for the uuavoidalile absence of Mrs lleiiipton and family. Mr Andrews made appropriate reference 1,, Jlr.- I l|.ui|ito ( i';; public-spirit-ed benevolence in donating such a centrally situated Kite to the people, and I hen declared the hull open to I Arier Mr \y. ilray hud 'he chairman's remarks three ringing cheers were given for Mrs lleiiipton and the guarantors. Dancing was kept up till the "wee sma'hours," when the people began to "thin ofY," acknowledging as I hey went that Okato cun, when so minded, rise to the occasion.

It was intended to hold p c.jijldren's ii,inun ,ni '.V/.liiijsda.v iilght, hut some Diogenes reiimrked that the eld chickens wunted fin excuse to 'tnper Oil,"- '