DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 April 1918, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

CARDIFF. ) (From Out Own Correspondent). An enjoyable social was tendered to Private -Sullivan ut the Cardiff School on Friday. The night was favorable for dancing, and the iirsL rate music supplied by Mr. Fox helped to make the gathering an exceptionally enjoyable one. The songs contributed by Miss Sheehan and Messrs Rani'ord, Wilson, Harris and other performers from Stratford, were received with much applause, iind each one was forced to respond to an encore. Mr. Wade further enlivened the evening with 'his pipes and excellent Highland dancing. About 11 o'clock Mr. Richards proceeded with' the main event of the evening, that of saying good-bye to their guest, and asking him to accept a wristlet watclt as a memento of the occasion. ■During his speech, Mr. Richards referred to Private Sullivan's eagerness to do his bif in this titanic war, and he was glad to he able to bid "God Speed" to a lad. who, after repeated efforts, had at last been accepted- After discussing the serious issues at stake in France, the speaker concluded by expressing the hope that Private Sullivan would add further to the glory and honor won by 'ho many Cardiff boys who had preceded Mm. The guiest isuStably replied. It was a disappointment to the Cardiff public that Private L. Marchant could not bo welcomed hack from the front, but the nature of his wounds necessitated his removal to the hospital on hi 3 arrival in New Zealand.. The arrangements for rebuilding the Cardiff factory are well in hand, and a start will be made with the work as soon as the season ends.

LEPPERTON. (From Our Own' Correspondent). The parishioners of St. MarkX Church held (heir annual meeting last Friday evening. Rev. F. G. Harrison, who is shortly leaving the distriet, presided over a large attendance The finances of the church were shown to be in a satisfactory condition. After the formal business of the meeting was concluded, opportunity was taken by those present to mark their appreciation of the good work done by thb vicar. Mr. W. N. Ackiand voiced the regret of the parishioners at Rev. Harrison's departure, and eulogised his work in the parish, showing that under hia ministrations the local branch of their church had considerably advanced. Ho then, on behalf of the parishioners, presented Mr. Harrison with a L'aautiful travelling rug bearing a silver plate suitably inscribed; also a fountain pen, mounted with a gold band and Initialed. The vicar, briefly and feelingly, thanked the parishioners for their gifts. A musical programme was then submitted, tho following contributing: Songs:— Misses Wheatloy, Ackiand, Copestake, and Mr. Ackiand: pianoforte solos: Misses Leech and H. Copestake: violin solo:—Mrs Clark. Accompaniments were played by Mrs Whcatley, and the Misse* Whcatley, Ackiand and Horinof. Supper concluded an enjoyable evening. During the service at St. Mark's Church last Sunday, a memorial tablet in memory of the late Lieutenant Harper M- Lepper, was unveiled by the vicar, Rev. F. G. Harrison, who preached a sermon appropriate to the occasion.

The annual meeting of subscribers to the Lepperton library was held on Saturday evening. The balance sheet showed a credit of £-2 17s 5d The following committee were elected for the ensuing year—Messrs Hellicr (chairman), Taylor, T. Crowe, Dickinson, and Hamblyn. The library is open every Friday afternoon from 3.45 to 4.15 for the benelit of lady subscribers, and on Saturdays from 7.15 to There are some 000 volumes on the shelves, and, with additions to be made shortly, it will easily be seen how valuable asset to the district the library is. And the subscription is still os a year: about the only thing, Mr. Editor, that has not "riz" during the warThe annual meeting of the local branch of the N.T.P.L." was then tield, Mr. F. W. Atkinson presiding. As the night was very rough, the attendance was a creditable one. The following is a statement of amounts raised during the year:—Red Cross (per Miss Heppel) £2, W.S. Fund (concert)' £l3

4s fid, Y.M.C.A. £440 lCs lid, Christmas Tobacco for Soldiers £9 12s, Church of England Chaplains' Fund £B'3», Donation general fund ss, in hand Gd. Total £483 Is lid. Tn moving the adoption of the balance sheet, the chairman said that since this branch of the League commenced operations two years and three months ago, it had raised the sum of £llBO Cs ■2d. inclusive of the sum of £124 14s 9d raised by the recent house to house canvass for the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. The expenses during that period amounted to £1 Is Sd, which, considering the total raised, was not to be cavilled at. The chairman .also enlarged on the need for building up the League's general fund, on which there were often urgent calls. If this fund were not kept at a certain level, it was impossible for the League to deal with what were often deserving cases for assistance. The moneys which were earmarked for specified purposes, such as Y.M.C.A. funds, cannot be touched by the League- Benee the need of a strong general fund to meet cases requiring special consideration. Mr. P. A. Openshaw brought up the question of welcoming returned soldiers, and .save an instance of where he thought the patriotic committee might have been 7nore to the fore in a welcome social to a returned man. A considerable amount of discussion ensued, and it is probable that more adequate stepg will be taken in future to give our local boys who return from the front, a fitting welcome home. The following are the members of the committee for the ensuing years:— Messrs Atkinson (Chairman), Brown (secretary and treasurer), Taylor, Hamblyn,. Cloke, Crowe, and Hellier.