LOOKING BACK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 274, 1 September 1939, Page 4

LOOKING BACK.

FIFTY YEARS SYNE, (From the-“ Guardian,” Sept. 7, 1889) Musical Talent.—Taking.into consideration the great amount of musical talent in Ashburton, it is somewhat surprising that no organised musical society exists in the town. Many towns in New Zealand with a population of one-fourth that ..of Ash Pur ton-have their long-established, and': prosperous musical or choral societies, which in addition to weekly meetings during several months of the year, give public concerts at various intervals, and are available for the contribution of musical selections on public occasions. Tne pleasure derived from taking part in the rehcarsa Is'and cohcerts, And tho nstructon reeeved are held to be sufficent recompense for the subscription paid to the society and the time given to practices. Those who might be expected to take the lead in such matters have not, it is hinted, ybeen in the;.past an invariably hanpy - famjljv'buh the removal of the principal causes of dissension has cleared the way for tho harmonious working together of eveiwbody to make the new Festival Qhoir«, a success. Tho choir and orchestra are being organised with the view of producing “The Messiah” at Christmas in a complete and creditable manner. TWENTY-Fiy.E YEARS AGO (From the “Gruardijan,f’,Sept. 1, 1914). Occupation of-Snmofu—The troopships carrying the force left Wellington harbour on the morning of August 14 and an account of the subsequent movements was given this evening by the Minister for Defence. The tvvo ■ transports proceeded north to a rendezvous near Auckland, where, they were joined by an escort of warships. The flotilla proceeded direct to Noumea, the capital of New Caledonia.' The. expedition proceeded.from Noumea to Suva, and finally to Apia. Very little information regarding these successive movements has reached the 1 Governmeait. Apia was surrendered at 10 a.m. on ; .'August 29 (Western time) as time in Samoa is 23£ hours later than New Zealand; time. The surrender therefore according tg the New Zealand time at 10.30 a.m. on Sunday. Mr- Allen remarked that the ultimate- disposition of the island was a matter for decision by; the Imperial authorities, but New Zealand might have something to say about it.