MILTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 1456, 11 October 1879, Page 20

MILTON.

(from our own cokrespohdent.)

The question of j the school has been happily put at rest, and the number of the tenders for their erection shows the importance with which the matter was regarded by the building fraternity. During' the course of the work the considerable number of men that will have to be

employed will materially help the somewhat stagnant state of trade here. When completed, they will form a noticeable feature among "things worth seeing" in Milton, and be more worthy of the good work that is done in the High School here than the present rather out-of-date resort of learning. At the same time the latter, when subjected to a little judicious reformation, will form a capital courthouse, &c, and so it is to be hoped everyone will be satisfied. By-the-way — some people are grumbling, in print too — because the whole of the stone to be used is not to be quarried close to the township. Some of it will come from Port Chalmers, and this seems to be the grievance. It is of course an unreasonable one, and does not call for analysis.

Talking of alterations to the building used as a courthouse reminds me (like Abraham Lincoln) of a " little story " which I hope you will allow me to relate. It has the merit of being strictly true, and., for Milton readers, of having happened " not a hundred milea" from this "loveliest village of the plain." It happened that when the present Courthouse was being enlarged it was thought advisable to remove the whole of one gable end before completing the addition to the building. As Court day came round, the Bench, bar, and the rest of the dramatis personce found themselves about to proceed to business more or less alfresco. No notice, however, was taken of the trifling circumstance, and the proper officer was directed to " declare the Court opened " in due form for the despatch of business. This he did by gravely advancing to the place where the wall and door should have been, and proclaiming in stentorian accents and the very richest of Mileßian, "The Magistrate's Court is now very open !" The laughter in Court was of course instantly suppressed, but the official in question never moved an eyelid.

Once more to refer to the schools in connection with a matter in which many of your readers throughout the province and Colony will take perhaps more than a passing interest. It happily occurs that the building will be commenced just as the Milton Lodge of St. John (S.C.) is showing very strong symptoms of restored animation, after a prolonged period of coma. The suggestion of laying the foundation-stone of the new building with ample Masonic honours emanated from the worthy chairman of the School Commit te, J. Elder Brown, Esq., and was eagerly accepted by the brethren. Fortunately the 8,.W.D.G.M. was in Milton at the time the question was being ventilated, and at once gave the proposition hi? highest approbation and promise of assistance. In a short time, therefore, the uninitiated will have an opportunity of witnessing an imposing spectacle of by no means am every- day character. No pains will be spared to make the ceremony worthy of the occasion, and, given good weather and a large gathering of the oraft, the event will doubtlesß be worthy of note and recollection.

Other local institutions whose influence is felt outside the place are waking up with returning spring. The annual meetings of the cricket and bowling clubs have been held, and matters put in train for the early commencement of the campaign. As far as may be judged, both these bodies are setting to work with a will, and intend to show some sport. _ As was pointed out by Mr Matheson, the winner of the bat for last year, many capital cricketers have left the neighbourhood, andithe Club is, in consequence, weakened. There should, however, be no lack of reoruits in Milton to bring the strength of the Club, on paper at all events, up to a very respectable standard. "In this connection," as the lawyers say, it may be permitted to affectionately look back upon the drys when in any public school of decent standing the lower boys had to do a certain amount of perfunctory cricket, or football, as the case might be. It had certainly its merits as a system, and very considerable ones. If it only obtained here, what a noble check it would be on the constantlygrowing larrikinism of the rising generation ! How much more profitably to themselves and their elders wonld those sweet youths be employed in learning to " field : ' than in pursuing their researches in the profane languages and questionable tobacco at the street corners after work for the day was over ! But this is Utopian.

With respect to the Bowling Club, matters seem to be on a very satisfactory footing. The members have to begin with the advantage of a green the superior to which is possibly not to be found in the Colony. Although but newly laid down, the work has been so scientifically and thoroughly under the personal supervision of the secretary to the Club, Mr P. Bastings, that it is already in fair playing order. There is ample room upon its level surface for five rinks to be played at one time. Many new members are joining. The High School Cadets are to be attached to the Bruce Rifles. There has been some unpleasantness connected with the revival of the former corps, which at one time threatened to assume more than local importance. Let us hope that the hatchet has been buried, and the trenchant side-arm on the one side, the tawse and ferrule on the other, laid (metaphorically, at all events) on one side. The Bruce Rifleß, I notice, have declared in favour of "scarlet tunics, white belts, dark blue trousers, and helmets " as a uniform. When duly accoutred in a fashion so closely resembling the apparel of her Majesty's regular infantry, the corps will be doubtless hard to restrain from availing themselves of the next invitation to the front, and will take the first opportunity of showing that the heroes of Isandulano and Cabul are not the only ones in the British army worthy of admiration.

Claba (to friend who is arranging for a carpet dance) : " Why not ask the nice American we saw at the Sinclairs ?" Julia : " What the man with the big feet ?" Clara : "Yes."— Julia: "Gracious, Clara! fancy those feet in my poor little room; they would dance all the quadrille." A very old lady on her death-bed, in penetential mood, Baid — "I have been a great sinner more than eighty years, and didn't know it." An old colored woman whe had lived with her a long time, exclaimed. "Lors 1 I knowed it all the time."

Rule of three— Wife, mother-in Jaw, and maiden aunt.

Zap me in soft Lydian airs, Married to immortal verse.

— MnvroH.