District News

Southland Times, Issue 19381, 3 September 1904, Page 2 (Supplement)

District News

• CORK. j The annual meeting of the Hands of Hope Union, in which i.s included nil the Societies (numbering 11) scattered around the country districts, was held here on 31 st August. All the societies were represented. 20 delegates being present, and encouraging reports were received from all the districts The annual balancesheet was adopted. The receipts a.r.'nunt. |ed to £U> 18s and the expenditure to ii-IJ. 7s Id. It was resolved to attempt something more in (he coming year in the way of trying to get scientific instruction for the children, a supply of good music, a bndge, an addition to the singing prizes, and prizes for essays An j effort will also be made to arrange in- I terchanges of visits between societies. The following office-hen rers were elected : — President, Mr .1. Forbes; vice-president, Mr I-.. C. Smith ; secretary. Mr V. Ayson ; committee : Miss Ludbrook, Messrs [•'. .Shpn. .1. Stuart, and Kev. _\'f Alcorn. It was resolved that the singing and recitation contests he held nt Christmas t ime. In the evening nn entertainment was fjiven in the hall at which a really good programme was presented, contributed principally by members of the country societies. The performers were Mr Clearwater (_fb v ersdalo). recitation ; Miss Lakem'an (Core). solo ;Mr Stevenson (North Chatton), solo with violin accompaniment by Miss Fullon' (Pukerau) ; Winnie Wright (Croydon), recitation ; Kv a Latham and Rosie Itankio. duet ; Miss Pullar, song ;Mr John Paterson (Waikaka), recitati'on ; Mrs Findlay (N. Chatton). song'. In the course of his opening address the President said that he thought that elocution ought to bo given j more attention in the public schools lie pointed out that besides being trained in the way to become thorough temperance people by abstinence from strong drink nnd other things, the children of (lie Bands of Hope were taught singing and music, and encouraged to go on to the platform ahd speak or recite, which nil tended to make them hotter men nnd •women and better citizens. Some people thought that because Prohibition was carried in the district these Bands were not needed, but they were needed as much as ever, The people had cultivated a very great love of amusement and pastime, which he considered was carried to far too groat a length. Quoting the Chief .Justice, he said : " There was a great want of grit among the people." He instanced the great amount of interest that had been taken in football the last few months, and ridiculed the few men who hail left England/ to come aU this way to kick a bit of leather about. ITe considered that they would have been bet--1 ter at home, and so would all the thousands who hail taken so much pains to vioto the matches, from the highest in Uie 1 land to little gutUir-snipes. An address wias also given, by the Rev. Mr Findlay of North Chatton. A collection in aid of the £und Was taken up. \ v<it,e of thanks to the performers and President and nil who had assisted was eat ried by acclamation.