URUTI BACKBLOCKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1920, Page 6

URUTI BACKBLOCKS.

HOME MISSION BAZAAR.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The bazaar held An December 17 was quite the most successful function ever held in the district. Several carloads came through from New Plymouth, whilst visitors were also present from every comer of the Home Mission district. v The bazaar was opened by Miss Godfrey, the secretary of the New Plymouth Home Mission Ladies' Guild, who, in a brief speech about the objects and aims of the Home Mission, wished the promoters of the very first Home Mission Bazaar in the district every success. Mrs. C. H. Burgess, the President of the Victoria League, was introduced as an old friend to 'Uruti by the secretary, who said that Mrs. Burgess had been connected with every good work in Uruti, first at the Nursing Cottage which was practically- furnished by the Victoria League, then the soldiers' days, 'which were made possible by the Victoria League donations of goods, and now once again the Victoria League came to aid them in their attempt : to complete the sum necessary before a second missionary, so urgently needed, could be obtained.

Mrs. Burgeas said, in her speech, how glad she was to greet them all again, and that she hoped to interest them in the Victoria League, and briefly describthe work the League was doing. She said the League was very glad to help the backblocks settler in every way, and was sending cases of books, not only to bacjcblock schools, but to the settlements far and near.

The secretary, (Miss H. Larsen) then spoke. After mentioning the very handsome donation, both of money and goods, from the Victoria League, and Urenui, the sum of £«> 10a from Pulcearuhe, and the parcel from Te Henui, and cases of goods from St. Mary's, and also the number of anonymous parcels of dainty goods, she asked the audience not to be too critical, as the committee had been short-handed owing to their President's (Mrs. Nicholls) illness, and that of others of the committee, and to remember that, under difficult circumstances, the committee had done its very best. Mr. C. Butt made a speech eulogising the Rev. N. H. Barnett's work for the past five years among them, and regretting his early departure for Christchurch, and he had great pleasure in handing him a wallet With the very best wishes of the Uruti people. He said they would miss the Rev. Barnett, not only lin the church, but on the tennis courts. '

The Rev. Barnett, in replying, said it was a wrench to leave 'the people, but Iw was a married man, and he had to think of his wife, who at present very seldom had his company as a backblocks missionary had to travel al! the time. Hie bazaar then commenced, and sales were very brisk. The lolly stall deserves special mention. It was so daintily fitted up. The Uruti stall-holders were:— Mesdames Fenn and C. Butt; "Sunny Tangitu," Mrs. Miller and Misses Averil and Faith Larsen; produce stall, Mr. D. S. Butt; lolly stall; Mrs. L&wrenee, Misses Smith, Agate and Cliing; surprise packets, Mr. and Mrs. Ross Johnstone; Father'Xmas, Mr. C. Butt; afternoon tea stall. Mrs. Agate. About £BO was cleared. In the evening the dance music was played by Misses E. Putt and Sullivan, Mi<g Larsen (violin), and Messrs E. Gusefltt "(violin), ißtx tarita, and Mim Jf.