NORTH TARANAKI PATRIOTIC FUND.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 October 1915, Page 3

NORTH TARANAKI PATRIOTIC FUND.

URENUTS FINE RESPONSE. OVER £SOO NETTED. The settlers of Urenui, Pukearuhe, and Okoke districts have every reason to feel. proud of the success that attended their great gala day yesterday at Urenui, which marked the district's latest effort in raising funds for Wounded Soldiers and other patriotic purposes, and so enthusiastically did the large committee work, and so admirably were they supported by the whole district, that a sum of considerably over £SOO will probably be handed over to the North Taranaki Patriotic Committee. The climatic conditions were somewhat against the organisers, for the day broke unpleasantly, and by the time the grand opening performance—a fancy dress processionwas ready, the rain was falling steadily. This, however, did not damp the ardor of the participants, though doubtless some of fie youngsters were considerably disappointed. Later in the day the weather cleared and the sun shone out, though probably too late to ensure the attendance that there would have been under more favorable conditions. The organisation throughout was good, reflecting great credit on the committee, of which Mr. A. H. Halcombe was chairman and Mr. R. Piggott secretary. The opening procession was a bright incident, and could have been staged without fear of disapproval in any town. A great deal of pains had been taken by those responsible for the get-up of the various exhibits, and the effect was particularly pleasing. In all, some two hundred persons took part in the show. Some of the designs were quaint and original. The procession was marshalled by Mr. R. H. Piggott, and was headed by Mr. McLennan, on horseback, bearing the Union Jack. He was accompanied by a Red Indian, and then came motor lorries representing: Britannia and the Allies, ambulance and Maori Whare, Ragtime band in two-horse waggon, Old Taranaki, the Hurdy Gurdy Man, organ and monkey, etc., followed by a host of charming children with decorated vehicles of every description, one young lady leading a bovine, who looked quite at home, though doubtless she thought that in Taranaki her place should have been at the head of the march. The procession was brought up by a Belgian refugee, and the get-up of this was, most realistic. The refugee (Mr. Fraser), in an old cart loaded with a few miserable goods and chattels, was accompanied by his child. Suspended beneath the cart in a cage was the sole survivor of his poultry run, while the wife (Mrs. Fraser) and grandmother (Mrs/Stewart) trudged wearily behind. On arriving at the school, the exhibits were judged by Mesdames Beckbessinger and Young. For motor waggons, the first prize riband was, awarded to Mrs. Waite's turn-out (Mr. S. Marsh's lorry). The characters were taken as follows: Britannia, Miss Howell; New Zealand, Mrs. Burke; France, Mrs. Spurr; Canada, Miss Drader; Russia, Miss Sheard; Servia, Miss Waite; Belgium, Miss Rogers; Japan, Miss Marsh; John Bull, Mr. Marsh; Angel of Peace, Miss E. Waite. Mr. C. Dunbar's motor, decorated as a Red Cross waggon, was second, the characters were: Doctor, L. Burke; nurses, Misses Annie and Elsie Glentworth; wounded soldiers, Messrs Brinsley and J. Gibbs; Mesdames Oibbs, Gilbert, and Dunbar were also nurses. The Ragtime Band, comprising Messrs Vincent (conductor), Brown, Buckler, Elliott, George, Pukere, Waite, Rodke, and G. Bertrand kept things lively; and, with the Belgian refugee, were awarded special mention. A long list of children received ribandß, so good were their exhibits. The various stall-holders were all kept busy. The stalls with the attendants were as follows:—Urenui and District (sweets, etc.), Misses Piggott, Waite, Hunter, Smith, Rogers, Mrs. Trim, and Mr. Fuller; produce and fancy goods, Mesdames R. H. Piggott, Smith, Dunbar, Fuller and O'Grady; Okoke jumble stall, Mesdames Lucas, McEwen, G. Rogers, and Miss Wallach; refreshments, Mesdames J. Rogers, W. McKenzie, Sowry, and E. Pepperell. The tables were decorated with cartridges and rifles. A number of competitions were held, and added considerably to the funds, the ladies allowing few to escape.

THE SALE. The district had been well canvassed, and as a result there was a vast quantity of stock and goods of every description to dispose of by auction. Mr. C. Fairbrother wielded the hammer, and bids came very freely, a sum of over £350 being realised. Details were:— Four-tooth wether (J. Wilson), E. G. Bleakley £2; two hoggets (K. Blundell and W. Davis), E. G. Bleakley £3 12s; two rams (V. Eckdahl), T. Lacey £2 15s; ram (McDonald), 0. Richards 17a 6d, T. Coloran 15s, C. Hanley £l, Haseler 15s, T. Wright 15s, A. Lord 10s, E. G. Perrott 10s, J. Whitehead 10s, S. Sutton 10s, H. Thorn 10s, G. Bertrand lis, O. Richards 10s, A. Davis 10s, J. H. W. Martin 10s, O. Handley 7s 6d; wether (McDonald), W. Corcoran £1 12s 6d; two wethers (G. Rogers), W. Corcoran £3 8s; two hoggets (K. Blundell), E. G. Bleakley £2 12s; five shorn fat aethers (W. J. Bowman), E. G. Bleakley \£7 10s; one shorn fat wether (Miss Bowman), E. G. Bleakley £1 10s; one shorn fat wether (Master Bowman), E. G. Bleakley £1 10s; one shorn fat wether (G. S. Taylor), E. G. Bleakley £1 lis; one ewe and one wether (W. Jones), Lucas £2 14s; fat hogget (A. J. Honeyfield), E. G. Bleakley £3 10s; heifer and calf (W. J. Bowman), E. J. Butler £6; cow, and calf (Cook and Henwood), W. Corcoran £5; fat heifer (Mrs. A. Gibbs), E. G. Bleakley £8 ss; fat cow (T. Wright), E. G. Bleakley £9 15s; fat heifer (W. Corcoran), E. G. Bleakley £8 15s; cow (Sorcnsou Bros.), E. G. Bleakley £8 ss; heifer (G. S. Taylor), W. McKenzie £3 10s; Jersey heifer (E. J. Butler), R. Kcndrick £0; heifer (R. Sly), E. J. Butler £ti 10s; heifer (Mrs. S. Sutton), J. Whitehead £5; heifer (Glentworth), W. Corcoran £8; cow (H. Sheard), R. Greenwood £7 ss; cow (\V, G. Glassford), R. Greenwood £8 10a; heifer (Mrs.' J. F. Phillips), W. Corcoran £6 15s; heifer (J. F. Phillips), W. Corcoran £4 7s Cd; heifer (A. Sowry), W. McKenzie £2 12s 6d; cow (C. Smith), W. McKenzie £5; heifer (Geo. Marton), R. Greenwood £4 10s; heifer (Spurr Bros.), W. McKenzie £4 12s Cd; heifer (T. Lee), W. Corcoran £2; heifer (A. Lord), W. Corcoran £2 10s; heifer (B. Wells), W. Corcoran £3 ss; springing cow (R. H. Piggott), E. J. Butler £8 10s; cow (A. Whitehead), W. McKenzie £6; store cow (T. Lee), R. Greenwood £5 15s; heifer (A. H. Halcombe), R. Greenwood £5 10a; heifer (A. H. Halcombe), W. Corcoran £G 10s; heifer (A. Lord), W. Corcoran £3 ss; heifer (C, Rowe, Pukearuhe), AV. McKenzie £2 10s; lieifer (C. N. Rowe), W. Corcoran £2 15s; heifer (L. o'Neil)', W. Corcoran £2 10s; heifer (S. Sutton), W. Corcoran £2 10s; heifer (donor unknown), W. Corcoran £2 10s; heifer (W. McKenzie), W. McKenzie £4 10s; bull (T. Lee), W,

McKenzie r £3 10s; two steers (S. Managh), W. McKenzie £8; steer (J Smith), W. McKenzie £2 17s 6d; steer (W. Gulliver), W. McKenzie £3 2s 6d; steer (S. Sutton), W. McKenzie £3 2s 6d; bull (E. G. Topliss), T. Lee £i sa; two heifers (Cecil Bleakley), W. Corcoran £4; Jersey hull calf (Mrs. D. Wiley), A. Cole £1 15s; heifer calf (E. J. Canning). W. McKenzie £1 2s 6d; heifer calf (J. Marsh), W. Corcoran £1 12s 6d; heifer calf (P. O'Grady), VV. Corcoran £2 10s; Shetland pony <W. Colson), A. H. Halcombe £l4; pony (Miss Bleakley), E. J. Butler £5 10s; pony (J. W. H. Marton), S. Topliss £5; hack (R. Whitehead), J. Atkinson £2 10s; harness horße (A. Smith), C. Handley £2 10s; harness horse (R. Glentworth, Rainati), £1; ha.k (E. G. Bleakley), K. Blundell £8 10s; pet lamb (G. S. Evans), Nekton King £1 ss; E. Dunbar £l, G. S. Evans ss, Burnett 7s 6d, W. Fuller ss, Mrs. Evans sa, C. Johnson 159, C. Fairbrother 10s, Mrs. Dunbar 10s, E. Cox 10s, S. Managh 10s, Mrs. Gibbs lis; another lamb, W. Fuller 12s 6d, A. Richards 10s, Mrs. T. C. Rowe lis; fat sheep (W. Corcoran), T. Lee £1 lis, and wool, shorn on ground by A. H. Halcombe, T. Lee 15s; store pig (T. Wright), £1 7s 6d; cattle dog (Whittaker children), J. Atkinson £1 ss; cattle dog (Pukere), los; poodle (Mrs. T. Northcote), 15s Od; pedigree Berkshire boar (G. H. Herbert), G. Rogers £3 8s 3d. In addition, a miscellaneous lot of sundries realised over £3O, many of them being sold again and again.

Mesdames Burke and Gibb collected £23 13s in cash, and donations were also received from R. Greenwood £lO, S. Topliss £3 3s, Mrs. O'Grady £2, A. Thompson £2, Misses McK. Freeth £l, Mrs. C. Rowe £l, W. Honeyfield £l.

THE ENTERTAINMENTS. There was a varied programme submitted. The school children, who had been well trained by Mr. Pope and Miss Drader, performed some marches and evolutions, which included the word Urenui. The Maypole by twenty-five girls, with Miss Dorothy Pitt as queen, was a pretty feature. A number of items by Maori girls were also applauded. The Waitara Brass Band, under Bandmaster Hughes, rendered a fine programme, their numerous selections, which were well received, comparing more than favorably with any other Taranaki band.

THE FINANCIAL RESULT. It is difficult to calculate the actual result, but it is safe to say that nearly £6OO will be netted, as, with other amounts to come, the following receipts have been taken, Sale £350; jumble stall £23 4s Gd; lollies, etc., £l2 2s; refreshments £ll Is Id; Okoke stall £2l 0s 4d; competitions £l2 6s; Guessing weight of wool and sheep £4 9s; gate (about) £8; cash collections and donations £43 17s. There is yet to be added the takings at the evening entertainment in the hall, which was literally packed.