HELPING THE WOUNDED.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 May 1916, Page 8

HELPING THE WOUNDED.

1 ©MATA'S CONTRIBUTION,

FARMER'S PAIR,

The settlers along tlie coast, in common with the rest of Taranaki, realise the great deot that thev owe to the men who have gone to the front. WliiM. recognising that they are unai.le to fully repay the sacrifice made, thev are doto mined to see that ,i fund shall be provided sufficient to ease the lot of any Who return incapacitated or the dependents of those who fall. Every week sees some function or other held in aid of patriotic funds. The latest function was held at Omata, where the residents have organised a strong committee, who have systematically canvassed the district, with the resuit that the fair and sale of stock held yesterday proved very successful, and it should result in nearly £250 being accumulated. It is 'barely twelve months since the Omata district held a similar function in aid of the Belgian Relief Fund, when £21.1 was raised. These fairs alwavs entail a lot of work, but when it is doiie willingly the work is considerably lightened. One and all of the Omata committee willingly bore their share. The chairman (Mr. E. R. Bayly) is a great organiser, and with the secretary (Mr. M. Meyenberg) and treasurer (Mr. d! Hooker) comprised a trio that would he hard to beat. The ladies also did their share. 'The hall was very tastefully decorated. The stalls were laden with a great quantity of good' things, and outside were the ]i c stock,-fowls, etc., collected by the cnergeti/ canvassing committee, w'ho found a willing response U their efforts. The lady canvassers were Mesdames Bayly, Pen'aVden, Moore. A Mice,. Hughes, Quickfall, Were and Spence, and the men were Messrs D. Hughes, B, T-loneyfield, A. Smith, G. Spence, J. Honeyh'eld, W. Quickfall. fj. Were, P. Morris, E. R. Bavly, R. Clemoiv, J. Locke and S. Vickers.

Inside the hall all was hustle aiu l business. The various stall-holders lost no opportunity of doing business with the crowd that thronged the building, whilst a nevy of ladies flitted about ami extracted coins jram the pockets of all and sundry with thVaid of guessing competitions. Tlje various stalls all did good business. The produce stall, in charge of Mesdames Frost. Kyiwlon, Quickfall and Bayly, took nearly "cili; variety stall (Mesdames Penwarden anl Moore), £7' os 10d; sweets stall (Mrs. Were and Misses E. Bayly, C. Penwarden and E. McDonald), £3 Us 4 1 /; d. Afternoon tea, in charge of Mrs J. Honeyfield, assisted by Mesdames Hughes, Spentv. Misses K. George, S. Penwarden, E. Mace, K. Meyers, and A. .Turv. £4.

A guessing competition for a pig. given by Mr. D. Penwarden, was won by Mr. W. Thompson, who guessed the exaft weight, and this realised £1 Os Gd. Mr. 1) .7. Hughes had charge of the sheepguessing competition for a sheep donated by Mr. B. Honeylield. This broug'ht over £4, and was won by E. George and J. Crockett, who each guessed correctly, 0-llb. Other'guessing competitions were in charge of an energetic committee comprising Mrs. Kidd, Misses 13. Mace and P.. Vickcrs. The competitions were for a patriotic cake, presented by Mrs. T. Williams, a veritable werk of art with dreadnought, guns, soldiers, etc.; an •eider-down quilt made by Mrs. Huse; patriotic cushion. Miss Plumen; cushions, Mesdames Locke, Revell and Bayly; doll. Mrs. Swanniek. These produced over £2O.

Mv. C. Fairbrot'her was kept busy for some time disposing of the stock and other donations submitted for sale. The auctioneer, who has officiated at so many of these sales since the outlbreak of tlie war, is an expert at obtaining full value for any article. He was in great form, and the sale added over £9O .to tlie Oakura-Omata total. Cash donations, a. full list of which will be published .later, will probably nalise over £l2O. Details »f the sale will also be published.

OAKURA'S CONTRIBUTION. At the same time opportunity was taken to dispose sf a lot 6f stock, etc., collected by the Oakura settlers, and this also found spirited bidding and added just on £3O to the fund. In addition there were cash donations of £24 Is fid, as follows:—E. 0. Meredith £2 m, O. F. Mace, £2 2s, J. C. Bell £2, Mrs. '!. C. Bell £2. A Stewart £1 Is, W. West £1 Is, G. A. Adlam. O. 11. 'Bell. McGratii Bros., W. Ernslie. Mrs. Anderson. H. Julian, each £1; P. McCabe, If Gordon. Mrs. G. A. Adlam. P. Seftou. Mrs. T. Scfton, J. Scfton, Mrs. C. H. Bell. E. Julian. G. H. (lower, 0. Early, W. Holmes, Mrs. Stoke. Mrs. Captain Mace, each 10s; Murray Sefton, Mrs. T. W. Telford, J. Pentecost, A. Huse. 11. Penwarden. J. Kurtz, each ss; Misses Ella and Dolly Smart 5s Od, T. W. Telford 2s.