KAPONGA NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 150, 1 December 1914, Page 4

KAPONGA NOTES.

HOSPITAL SUNDAY. j From Our Own Correspondent. i Hospital Sunday \Vas celebrated here , by the members of the Oddfellows and Hibernians' Lodges, but on account of the rain had to be held in the Hall and not in the Park. Considering the weather, a big crowd attended. The members of the Lodges, and visiting brethren from Manaia and Hawera ' marched from the Oddfellows' Hall to I the Town Hall. Rev. 0. M. Stent prej sided. Tlie band played tlie aceompani- | ments to the hymns. :'li" collection | amounted to ,£8 12s, wliich is to ie devoted to a child's cot in the Hawera Hospital, to be called the Kaponga cot. Rev. P. Rands delivered an address oil the subject of "The Cup of Cold Water," and laid stress upon the importance of kindness. He said (he significance of the gathering lay not really in tlie fact of the united service, or the music, or the band, but in the special object for which the meeting had been convened—the presentation of a Childrens' Cot fo the Hawera Hbspital. That was an object that would rejoice tlie heart of Him who said "Whosoever sluill give unto one "of these little ones a cup of cold water shall in no wise lose his reward." This, said the speaker, was a day of big things, of vast thought concerning the universe in which this earth Was but a tiny, speck, of wonderful invention, of extensive exploration, of mighty warfare, and the danger was that we might miss the importance of such virtues as sympathy and kindness. These were considered by some as trifles, but they ofen accomplished iiioro, than genius for invention or exploration. Deeds of. kindness could never fail to add to the world's joy. Not every person could be an Edison, or a Shaekleton, but everyone could lill up each day by emulating the example set by the Friendly Societies in the object of the gathering, by giving cups of cold water to needy ones. Not only did kindness assist the one to whom it was directed but it always reacted upon the life of the one by whom it was shown. It bore out the truth of Christ's striking paradox: "He that seeketh his life shall lose it, but he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." That which should in-1 spirit all to live a life of service was the knowledge that every kind deed was done unto Christ. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto tlie least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Concluding, lie said it was an honor to be decorated with the V.C. for act of valour, but the highest honor that could be conferred upon anyone was to hear in that last day "Well done, good and faithful servant," from the litspirer of all Good.. I

At the recent Band Ball the ladies' prize was won not by Mrs Bullock, as printed, but by Miss L. Bullock. The wind-up meeting of the local patriotic committee was held in the Town Hall on Tuesday evening last, when the balance-sheet showed that £'2Bl 7s Id had been collected, part of which had been devoted to the purchase of horses for local troopers, anil the balance sent' on to headquarters at Wellington. This was considered very satisfactory, the meeting passing a vote of thanks to the secretary and chairman, and also to those who had circulated the lists.

Mr Astbury, the Liberal candidate spoke here again on Friday last to a &ood audience, and received a splendid hearing. He severely criticised the present Government, and compared the achievements of the '"Reformers" as with those of the Liberals, clearly showing that his party stood for the interest of the masses and not" the classes. At the conclusion several questions were asked and satisfactorily answered by the speaker. Mr Guy moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Astbury, and confidence in Sir Joseph Ward. This was seconded by Mr Sargeson and aimed without dissent, ; with cheers for Sir Joseph Ward. : -

■ tvl >,! if • t - fed