MISS AITKEN.

Bruce Herald, Volume II, Issue 51, 30 March 1865, Page 4

MISS AITKEN.

We have great pleasure in being able to announce that Miss Aitken purposes paying a visit to Tokomairiro, and giving one of her readings in the School-house, on the evening of the 11th proximo. Mairy of our readers have already heard Miss Aitken, some in Dunedin, some on the occasion of her former visits to this district, and some in the old country, and we are sure that all who have elone so will be eager to listen to her once again. An evening' passed in listening to her sweet voice repeating the worels and giving life to the thoughts of Shakespeare, Tennyson and 'Burns is an intellectual treat. As an elocutionist Miss Aitken has earner! an enviable reputation both at home and in the Colony, and the thousands who crowded to the City Hall, Glasgow, to bid her farewell before leaving her native land, tell a tale of the estimation in which she was held both as a candidate for public favor and in private life.The 'London Era' pronounceel Miss Aitken the most; accomplished reaeler of the day, and the ' Glasgow Commonwealth ' writes thus : of her rendering of the Laureat's May Queen. ' Her reading was perfect, every pause, every intonation each look and gestures told the exquisit art which the accomplished actress had brought to her task, while the witchery of a voice — one of the most magnificent female voices to which we have ever listened, confineel to throw arounel those simple recitations a nameless anel inelescribable charm. ' i The same paper also speaks of Miss Aitken's ' inimitable elocution.' The ' Ayre Advertiser says ' To an elocution the most refined, Miss Aitken adds a propriety of gesture- and an expressive play of countenance which reneler her readings irr-esistably thrilling. In a farewell address to Miss Aitken delivereel by the Rev. Wm.. Wallace, at the City Hall, Glasgow, he said ' I am not presuming too much when I say that I am speaking on behalf of thousands beyonel this city who have been moveel to laughter or to tears by the readings of our friend, and have been at a loss which most to admire j'.- 'the power of the poet or the genius of the fair reader.' The meeting -where this was said was characterized by the < Glasgow Citizen ' as a ' perfect ovation,' and the same paper states that the immense Hall was crowtleel to suffocation, anel hundreds had to be turned away from the eloors.. The 'Kilmarnock Post' noticing her departure says ' Miss Aitken will leave Scotland with the warmest wishes of all who have listened to her thrilling elocmence, anel we can assure her, that on her return she will be warmly and enthusiastically welcomed back again. The few extracts show the- appreciation in which Miss Aitken was held at home, anel from our own- experience we can say that she thoroughly deserves the flattering terms used- towards her by the home press, and of which th > above are but a sample;. The success which attended her former visit's to Tokomairiro assures- us^ that her merits are known and appreciated here, and we trust that on the- present occasion she will ;b& greeted, with- a bumper "house.- From ! Tokomairiro Miss Aitken purposes proceeding, to Lawrence, Clutha Ferry,, Inch Clutha, and Pbrfc Molyneux,. She- is also to give a reading, at Waihola* The days on which she jwill appear- in the various districts wiil be \ learned- on- reference to our Advertising ; columns' as well as the programe of the en•tertainments.-

DISTRICT ROAD BOARD MEETINGSDuring the past week Meetings for the election of Road Boards have been held in an umber of the districts recently proclaimed. As a rule, howevez-, the attendance of ratepayers has been very small in consequence of the greater number being entirely ignorant of the meetings having been summoned. With its usual miserable economy the Government advertised the notices calling the meetings in the Government Sheet only, and it is scarcely necessary to say that very few of tlie country settlers ever see the sheet. We are glad to see that some of the meetings have entered- a protest against the system of advertising in the sheeir only. Milburn District. — The meeting for this district was held in the School-house, on Thursday, and was pretty fairly attendee!. Mr J. Hardy, Commissioner of Roads waspresent and was voted to the Chair. He gave explanations as to the reason for the recent division of the Road District into five new districts, and pointed out the boundaries of the various districts. A general opinion was expressed approving of the division, but regretting that the Mil bum clistrct had not been subdivided. Mr Hardy pointed out that the ratepayers might divide it into two Wards. This suggestion was approved of, and the number of members of the District Road Board being fixed at eight, it was resolved to elect four members- from each Ward, the whole eight to act as one body, but each Ward to be rated separately and the expenditure to be kept distinct. The following gentlemen were then elected as members of the Koad Board. East Ward, Messrs. William Black, J. Strain, John France, and G. Lindsay. West Ward, Messrs T. Reid, James Sutherland-, J. Grey, and John Finch, junr. II elensbrook District. — The meeting was held in Dyer's Hotel, on Friday, but the attendance of ratepayers was very limited. J. Hardy, Esq. ,. Commissioner of Roads was voted to the Chair. Mr Dall, Mr Gillon and other ratepayers expressed dissatisfaction at the conduct of the Government in cutting up the old Tokomairiro road district into nine new districts without consulting the ratepayers- on the subject. Mr Hardy offered some explanations on the subject, and recommended that an arrangement similar to that adopted in the Mi-burn District should be adopted in Helensbrook. This was agreed to but before proceeeliag to elect Trustees Mr Brookes proposed the following resolution which was seconded by Mr Thomas Dall and carried unanimously. ' That in the opinion of tins meeting the conduct of the General Road Board in advertising the District iioad Meetings in the Advertising Sheet only, is exceedingly inconvenient inasmuch as but very few ol the ratepayers ever see that publication, and in consequence the majority are left in ignorance of the meetings being called. Tliis meeting considers therefore, that all distriot meetings should be advertised in the local newspapers.' The following gentlemen were then elected members of the .uistrict Koad Board, and the meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. West Ward, Messrs. Thos-. Muir, T. Dall, and T, Brookes. East Ward, Messrs. J. Parlane, E. T. Gillon, and W. Chapman. Southbridge District. — The Meeting for this district was to have been held in Mr VV. Gray's, on Friday last, but as only five or six ratepayers assembled no trustees were elected, the ratepayers present declining to proceed with the election, such a small proportion of their number being, present in consequence of the notice of the meeting, being insufficiently advertised. The meeting, therefore lapsed. Milton District. — The Meeting for this district took place in the School-house, on Saturday last, and was but very thinly attended. John Hardy, Esq., Road Commissioner was voted to the Chair. Great dissatisfaction was expressed at the manner inin which the meeting had been called. Mr R. Mackenzie proposed the following, resolution, ' That in the opinion of this meeting the conduct of the General Road Board in not advertising meetings of ratepayers in thevarious districts in the local newspapers is very reprehensible, inasmuch as the Government Advertising Sheet in which only they now appear, totally fails in making, the meetings known.' This was seconded by Mr Charles Falconer,, and unanimously approved of; The following gentlemen were then elected Road Trustees. Messrs. James Scott, J. E. Brown, R. Mackenzie, Charles Falconer, E. T. Gillon, and E. Martin. 1-lii.l.ingdoin District. — Comparatively few ratepayers were present at this meeting. Mr T, Murray, occupied the Chair, and the following, gentlein en Avere eleeted- District RoadTrustees. Messrs, J. Noble,. Gardyne Loudon,. C- France,. Ferguson,. Byres and Bissett,