HOWICK NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 275, 20 November 1899, Page 3

HOWICK NOTES.

OPENING OF THE PARISH READ-

ING ROOMS

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The pile of buildings formerly known as the training school, Kohimarama or '''Fountain of Light," which were lately Removed and re-erected at Howick, wa% on Thursday evening ■ utilised for .holding a concert in aid ; of the new parish rooms just built for reading and recreation for the young people of Howick near the parsonage. ; The range of buildings cover a large area, the main body being over one : hundred feet long by sixty-eight feet wide. There is also a deep quad--1 ranglc 64 x 42, as well as many ' offices, and they are re-erected as near as possible in the same order as they were set up on the beach njear Orakei Bay by the late Bishop Patteson. The Rev. R. G. Boler, chairman, , congratulated the people of Howick . on now having a hall or parish room as it is called in the home country in which to assemble to read, converso or otherwise amuse themselves during week days, and on Sundays the building would be used for Sunday school purposes. The materials alone had cost over £50. The whole of the labour of building the place ; had been done by working bees. He • sincerely thanked all those who had assisted, and Was glad to say there would be no debt left. (Applause.) An instrumental quartette, organ, piano, first, second violins was played by the ladlies' orchestra; a song, "The Clang of the Wooden Shoon," was sung by Miss Harley; "He Wipes the Tear from Every Eye," Mr Higgins; recitation,' "The Kiss at School," Master Athol Boler; song, "Yesterday," Miss L. Andrews. Bishop Cowie, who attended the opening ceremony, then gave a shortaddress concerning the historic building in which they were gathered, relating how the great novelist, Miss Yongo, gave the whole of the profits from one of her novels, "The Daisy Chain," to build ! the Kohimarama school, she being a relation of the late Bishop Patteson. He also referred to the time when as a young' man while labouring in one of the large manufacturing towns, in the home • country himself and others had never once thought of establishing reading | rooms for the young people, but now j they were common everywhere, and | he Avas glad to see Howick marching ' i with the times. The Primate then ' j gave a sketch of the causes leading | to the Boer war,- hoping everyone ■ would pray for its speedy termina- ;! tion, and after touching on other sub- ; jects wished success to the new parish j I room. '■!■ Mr F. Boler gave a delightful entertainment with a first-class phonograph, which was very much enjoyed. ' Refreshments were served. The se- ' !cond part of the programme included: ! Song, '^Island of Peace," Mrs Phillips;. ! recitation, "Hanging the Picture," ' MisWOlphert; duet, "Bright Flowers," . the Misses Harley; song "Crown of | Life," Miss Alice Lindsay; song, ,' "Remember Thy Creator in the Days- [ of Thy Youth," Miss Harley; instru- . mental quartette. Ladies' Orchestra; r recitation (by request), "The Inveui tor's Wife," Miss Olphert.

Air Robert French gives an address in St. George's Hall, Grey Lynn, on Wednesday night next. . Mr W. Crowther speaks in St. Bene- ! diet's Hall on Tuesday night next. | Mr J. Bollard will address the electors at Lake Takapuna to-night. I Mr Hull gives au address at Tamaki j West Public Hall on Tuesday next, j and at Tamaki East on Wednesday. ilr H. N. Simson will address the Marsden electors at Pahi on November 21), and elsewhere as advertised. Mr George Fowlds speaks at Sowerby's Hall next Friday' evening. , Our Coromandel correspondent wires that Mr E. H. Taylor, one of the candidates for Thames seat, addressed a large gathering of Coromandel electors in the Caledonian Hall on Saturday evening. The Rev. T. A. Norrie occupied the chair. Mr Taylor spoke for an hour and a half, the address being on the same lines as that delivered at the Thames. Mr Taylor was accorded a good hearing', and at the conclusion of his address received : a very hearty vote of thanks. Mr Napier addressed a large meet-ing-it the Auckland Dock on Friday, i and was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. I A deputation from the Auckland ! Branch of the Educational Institute .waited upon Mr W. J. Napier on Friday afternoon to ascertain his views i on' the education question. The depuj tation consisted of Jfessrs T. U, Wells i (president), R. Stewart, and S. H. Fer'gnson. Mr Stewart stated that a re- | Frenchmen! scheme might at any time ! cause a local Board to reduce' salaries, and advocated tbe introduction of a colonial scheme, of salaries. He referred to the dearth of male teachers, which he attributed to lack of encouragement for the better class of boys to" enter the . profession. Mr Napier in reply said he was decidedly in_ favour of placing teachers in a position of security and obtaining an equitable adjustment of salaries. If elected he would be pleased to move, in the direction of having a colonial scheme of salaries for teachers. He, was also in favour of raising the capitation grant from £3 15/ to £4.

ELECTION NOTES.