TE KOPURU.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 199, 26 May 1893, Page 3

TE KOPURU.

[From our own Correspondent.] The stoppage of the Kauri Company’s mill does not seem to have affected business here. We have the new bakery, two new stores under way, and I hear there is likely to be another butcher’s shop shortly. The general talk is all about football and gum ; in fact most of our people are now in the gum line, and some of them are making better wages than they were at the mill. Our footballers had a smoke concert, in the social room on Saturday night, where they played their game over again, sang songs and had generally a good time of it. On Monday the local school committee closed the school for three weeks, owing to a lot of the children being away through sickness. The Kopuru Football Club gave Mr C. IT. Matthews a farewell, in the form of a social dance, on Tuesday night in the Kopuru Hall. Mr Matthews, I am informed, is going io Sydney, to start a timber yard there. The dance was fairly well attended, about twentyfive couples being present. During the evening there were songs, flirting in the corners, and other amusements. The refreshments were provided by the committee and wore very good. The M.C's- were Messrs T. Smith and C. Molloy, and the music was supplied by Messrs F. Molloy and J. Sullivan. Mr T. FJliott in a neat speech, said that the football and cricket clubs would miss Mr Matthews very • much, both as a player and an officer, as Mr Matthews had always supported them financially as well as in the field. On behalf of the hands at the Northern Pine Mill he said they were very sorry Mr Matthews was going away, as he had always proved himself a good master,, and treated the men in a proper manner (cheers). And to wind up he hoped that Sydney would prove too hot for him, and drive him back to the Wairoa. Mr C H. Matthew's on rising was received with cheers. He said that the farewell had come as a surprise to him, as he did not expect anything like it, He was very glad to see that he had made so many friends, and he hoped that if he came back on a visit he would see all the old faces again. Fie had always felt that his home was at this end of the river, although his people lived at the other end, and he spent part of his time there. With regard to Kopuru and Tatarariki cricket and football clubs, he always had and always would take a[great interest in them. He would always be glad to hear of Kopuru and Tatarariki holding their own in the cricket and football fields, and he especially hoped that the Kopuru football club would come out at the top this year. With regard to the men at the Northern Pine mill, he had always tried to act fairly and treat all men alike ; so long as they did their work that was all he wanted. Again thanking them for their kindness and hoping that if he came back again he would •till see all the old faces, Mr Matthews sat down amid rounds of applause. The dancing was then resumed and continued till the small hours of the morning.

The Mascotte Dramatic Club appears on Saturday evening, June 3rd, in a new programme. Two scenes from Balfe’s romantic opera “Satanella” are to be given, also a clever comedy. The staging of the operatic selection will be most effective, Miss ERhodes as Satanella and Mr Webster as the demon Arimanes will give a good rendering of grand opera. The choruses have been well drilled, and as I have seen a dress rehearsal I can say that the whole mounting of the affair will be up to the Club’s standard. Mr F. Perkins, stage manager, is busy with new scenery. I see by the W.R.U. fixtures that Kopuru II v. Aratapu II is the match for Saturday ; the Kopuru Seconds are in heavy training and expect to score a win. Last Friday evening some of the Red Hill young men gave a select social and quadrille party in Dickson’s Hall, to mark the departure of some of them from the district. I hear it was a success ; “ your own ” had an invitation, but he thought it was too far from home.