WAITARA'S GALA DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 October 1917, Page 6

WAITARA'S GALA DAY.

grand patriotic effort.

A TOTAL OF £4OOO.

During the past three months resirtents of Waitara, Lepperton district and 1 oith laranaki lmve been very keenly working, through the medium of a babvvotmg contest, to raise funds for patriotic purposes, and no device has been left untried by one or other of the four committees interested in the respective candidates _ North Taranaki. west county, Waitara business, and freezers' babies—with the object of adding a few votes. All worked hard, and there was throughout a spirit of friendly rivalry. The result exceeded the most sanguine expectations, £3SOS I (is !)d being raised by the babv-voting contest alone, and when yesterday's function is added, it is expected that it will reach close on £4OOO. To Mr. T. Buchanan (organiser) and C'. Hallain (secretary), as well as the committee supporting them, is due great praise. ,

Opportunity was taken of the holiday yesterday, by an energetic Labor Day committee, comprising representatives of all the patriotic societies in Waitara, of which Mr. Morgan (Mayor), was president, Messrs Beckbessinger chairman. T, Buchanan organiser, and C. Hallain secretary, to run a monster gala day, the proceeds of which are to be handed over to the various patriotic organisations, and their efforts were so well organised and so ably supported that considerably over £IOO will result. The function took place on the Camp Reserve, which, for the nonce, was converted into a fair, with its numerous tents, booths, etc.. all of which spoke volumes for the energy and hard work displayed by those In. terested, for some days past! The weather in the morning'was dull, but this did not damp the ardor of those responsible. nor prevent the public from attending, the sum of £42 being taken at the sate. The threatening rain hung off until the evening. The committee ran various stalls, and all did good business, whilst the supporters of both the business and freezers' babies mingled with the crowd, and made the best of their opnortunitv. The New Plymouth Citizens' Band headed a procession shortly before 11. and from on there was not a dull moment. The band's playing was a feature of the gathering. Mr. T. Hughes, conductor of the Waitara Band, was deputed to look after the interests of the visiting bandsmen, and right well did he perforin this duty, the bandsmen aporeciatin!? V- efforts. Mr. F. W. G. McLeod. conductor, submitted a very varied programme, comprising popular and patriotic selections, and there were so many special requests, that several sacred items were rendered. Among other items might be mentioned: "Bright Gems of Melody" (W. Scddon*; "Melody in F" (Rubenstein); "Handel's Larsro"; ffi'and selection "William Tell": and the Barcarolle from "Tales of Hoffmann." The band was entertained to dinner and afternoon tea.

Tn the afternoon there was n varied and interesting programme of competitions, etc., comprising club swinging by the Waihi school girls; Swedish drill by Central school children, and physical drill by Waihi boys. The relay race resulted: Waihi (Rona, Cole, Richmond, Buller) 1; Central (Frethey. Hoffmann. Ovenden and Morris) 2. Another Central team started. In the football match, a team comprising nine Waihi boys and sbj Waitara bovs' defeated Central, after a good game, by C points to 3. Mr. D. George refcreed. The tug of war proved very exciting, Waihi and Waitara pulling a tie. Wathi beat Central, and also beat Waitara in the pull-off. Numerous other races were run. The stall holders all did good business/ The tea tent, run by the ladies' guild, took £25; the sewing stall, run by the Red Cross ladies, £3O; the produce, bran tub, flowers and dolls stall, run by Mesdames Collier and Wyllie. and a host of helpers, realised over £l7. On either side of the main stalls the business and freezers' committees had , their headquarters, and did great business, which, however, was kept secret, as each did not want the other camp to glean any information. Both ran competitions galore, tickets for all sorts of articles, from a bottle of tomato sauce to a pony, being obtainable at prices ranging from Id to Is. The business | baby's executive ran hosts of side shows, including knock the Kaiser, skittles, Christmas tree, hoop-la, d'ovley stall, etc., and got off innumerable competitions, the winners of the principal ones being; Pony, Hilda Rogers, Hawera; tea and coffee service. J. 'Purdie, Brixton; sewing machine. Miss B. Carr. Okau; case cutlery, Mr. Hutcliens Tongaporutu; electroplate teapot, Miss Atkinson; case of knives. Mrs. G. V. Tate; wristlet watch, S. Crowe; suit of clothes, Mr. White, Mokau; clock, H. Purdie; children's cots. Mrs. H. Purdie and Mrs. Kempsall. The freezers' executive also worked very hard, a special draw being the Maori entertainers, who delightel the crowds in a large marquee. Pony competitions, darts, singoletti, hoopla, sheep guessing were other means of extracting the nimble coin. The result of the competitions will be announced later.

THE BABY VOTING. NORTH COUNTRY WINS. In the evening there was great excitement at the picture show, which was crowded, when the result of the competition was announced as follows: North Country (Baby Willison), 358,096, £1483 14s - Bd. Freezers (Baby Allen), 257,487, '£1072 17s 3d. Business (Baby Gribbon), 230,682, £O6l 3s 6d. West Country (Baby Crowe), 69,136, £2BB Is 4d. Total: 913,401 votes; £3805 16s 94. The amounts taken at the various districts by the North Country baby will be published to-morrow. All the committees deserve to be congratulated on the result of their efforts. The two town babies combined totalled £2034 Os 9d, and the two country babies, £1771 16s. — 1 .v ~