DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1917, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

LEPPERTON. (From Our Ow*n Correspondent). At a public meeting held here on Saturday evening, Mr. F. W. Atkinson, who presided, made feeling reference to the late Mr. C. M. Lepper, who spent the greater part of his life here prior to his removal to Nc-w Plymouth. Both in private and public life, the late Mr. Lepper was highly esteemed by local people. Among his public activities locally. Mr. Lepper held the position of chairman of the school committee for many years. He was also a member of the Waitara West Road Board and of the Taranaki County Council, As one of the original trustees of the Lepperton Hall, the present day users of this building are under a debt of gratitude to him. The following resolution was carried with the usual token of respect: "That this meeting of residents of Lepperton and district desires to place on record its appreciation of the services rendered to the district in bv-gone years by the late Charles Maxwell Lepper, and to offer sincere .sympathy to Mrs. Lepper in her sad bereavement." In connection with the "Red Triangle" Baby candidate it has been arranged to hold a monster market day in the I.epperton hall on Thursday. September 27. The ladies are running the general produce, fancy goods, and sweets stalls, and afternoon tea will be dispensed. A special feature.of the market will be a but : cher's shop run by tho "London Br tellers," one of whom assures me that no order will be too big for their capacity, and none so small but will receive their best attention. Messrs Opeiishaw and Hinge have kindly placed the whole of their buildings and butchers' plants at the disposal of the patriotic committee for that day. Private If. Wills; and 11. Bowman are home on their final leave.

Great pleasure is evinced locally at the news that Charlie Lepper, who was one of the first of our boys to volunteer for the front, is returning to New Zealand shortly. URENUI. (From A Correspondent). The concert in aid of the North Country Baby- candidate, held at Urenui on Thursday evening last was a most enjoyable function, and a great success from a financial point of view. All the talented performers, as advertised, duly attended, and the numerous encores demanded bv the packed audience was ;t great tribute to the excellence of the items rendered. The solos sung l>v Mr.;. Wilkes, of New Plymouth, and Miss Laing, of Inglewood, were vefy pleasing indeed, and each lady was presented with a beautiful bouquet by little Peggy I!?.": ■ combe and little Hazel Ellis respectively. The latter two Lilliputians were adorned ill semi-Brittania costumes, and looked very sweet and winsome in their successful efforts of exchanging buttonholes and. sweets for silver coin. Of the male performers it would indeed be difficult to extol' one more than another, ibut it must hj« ani'l C&otu.in A.l laa'a

rendering of Ruebenstein's Piano-playing was one of the gems of the evening. Mr. Arnold Sturroek (L.M.S., T.C.L.), .was very deservedly recalled after each of his delightful pianoforte recitals, whilst his accompaniments came in for special praise. Mr Frank llanford, of Stratford, had to submit to double and treble encores for his intensely mirt'i-provokmg comicalities. At the eonek; >n Mr. A. 11. Halcombc, in a well-chosen patriotic speech, conveyed the grateful thanks of the Urenui Patriotic Committee to all the performers for the delightful entertainment they had given . to Mesdames Newton King, Stanley W. Shaw, and Alfred Lee for gifts of choice flowers, the salo of which netted about £2O; and to Mr. Newton King (two cars) and Mr. W. E. Dockrill for conveying the New Plymouth performers to Urenui. Mesdames R. Piggott and H. Ellis entertained the visitors to a sumptuous and mirthful supper after the concert.

RAHOTU. (l-'rom Our Own Correspondent). The ladies' prize for the last euchre party was a crochet tea-cosy lined with blue silk, worked and given by Miss R. Jamieson. It was won by Miss Mollis Burns. Mr. Baker won the gentleman's prize. A sociable little dance was held up the Kahui for patriotic purposes, when over £6 was collected from-the dance and refreshments that were left from the supper. Miss Gladys Wilcox, who is quite a new performer and has a nice voice, sang, and was very well received. A humorous recitation was given by Mr. Gibbins and caused a great laughter. Altogether it was a pleasant evening. Mr. Jones lias resigned the position of manager of the Kahui road factory, and Mr. Parker, assistant, has been appointed to the position.

Quite a number of farms have changed hands on this road lately.

mahoe. (From Our Own Correspondent). A farewell social and dance took place in the hall last Tuesday evening to Private Arthur Brown, who is leaving with the 30th Reinforcements. During the evening a presentation from his friends in the form of a wristlet watch, was made. The chairman spoke of the good spirit that Private Brown had shown, and said he was the second married man who had gone from the district and wished him the best of luck and a safe return. The soldier suitably responded, j Cheers were then called for, and "For 'He's a Jolly Good Fellow" and the National Anthem were sung. A capital supper was then handed round. The rest of the evening was passed in dancing. singing, and card playing. Miss Gardiner supplied the music for the dance, extras being played by the Messrs Tapp ; Coates, Foster, and R. ißarleyman. The* duties of M.C. 'was carried out by Mr. Mellow, who kept the dancers busy. The hall was packed to the doors, the visitors representing all parts of the district. Quite a gloom was cast over the district when the sad news reached us of the death of Miss Lorna Cumberworth. She had been in indifferent health for some time and much sympathy is felt for the bereaved ones. She was loved by all who knew her, and was always ready to assist the school children or anyone else requiring help. Another of our local boys has made the supreme sacrifice, Lance-Corporal Arthur Scott, who was killed on August 30. He was the third son that left for the front, one having returned, and the other being seriously wounded. Much sympathy is felt for the sorrowing parents. A memorial service will be conducted by the liev. Blair on Sunday evening, September lli. The name of one of. our local boys, the late >1 rivet- U Pi'"-', appears in the tenth ballot. He made the suprem sacrifice on July HI. There were not many so eager as ho to do his "bit." He enlisted three times and put three weeks in the training camp, only to be sent home as medically unfit. He again went to work at Urenui, but, not being satisfied, enlisted in New Plymouth, passed the doctor and proceeded to camp He stood a terrible 'winter in the trenches without complaining, and went through several battles without a scratch but fell in the battle of Lens. His death came as a great shock to everybody, as he was well liked by all who knew him, and now 1 the Defence authorities publish his name in the tenth ballot It is altogether too bad.