MOSGIEL NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 18808, 5 December 1924, Page 9

MOSGIEL NOTES

[From Our Corresronount ] The meeting convened for last Tuesday evening for the purpose of forming a first-aid and ambulance division in Mosgicl was but sparsely attended, and the lack of interest was a poor compliment to pay to Major Fleming and the baud of ladies who had come from Dunedin to get the movement started. The mayor, wno presided, explained to the visitors that the probable reason for there not being a larger attendance was the time of year not being opportune for meetings of this kind. He said ho felt sure if the meeting were adjourned until the autumn that a fairly large class could bo formed. There were several ladies present who were holders of the certificate, all of whom expressed their willingness to join the class, and also the opinion that there would be no difficulty iu bringing others along when the time was opportune. Major i‘Joining addressed the meeting briefly, explaining the procedure to be gone through to form the branch, after which those present funned themselves into a committee to carry on the work. By the number who, since the meeting, have given in their names_ as members, one would be led to believe that neglecting to advertise was the primary reason for the failure of Tuesday’s meeting. WOMEN AND CHILDREN. The quarterly meeting of the Taieri branch of the .Society for the Protection of Women and Children was held in the Coronation Hall on Tuesday afternoon, tin* president (Mrs Arundel) presiding over a well-attended meeting. The secicliny of me linuicn (Mrs i). T. Shaml) was able to report that, as a result of the special appeal, the Taieri would hand over to the centra! fund the very respectable sum of £57. After the routine business had been gone through, Nurse Mnthieson, of the Plnnket Society, gave a. most interesting lecture on ‘The Prenatal Period.’ The lecturer, whose many years of experience as a Blanket nurse had evidently given her a good grip of her subject, was able to hold her audience at close attention during her most interesting address, and at its conclusion, on the motion of Mrs Wm. Allen, a hearty vole, ot thanks was accorded to the nurse. The president regretted that the attendance was not larger, and said she would not be satisfied until every woman in the borough attended their quarterly meetings. EXPANSION LEAGUE. The Taieri branch of the Otago Expansion League held a social evening and euchre party in the Coronation Hall on Wednesday evening. The president (Mr \V. E. ADLean) extended a hearty welcome to about 100 guests, include*! amongst whom were Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P.) and Air ,S. B. Macdonald and Air .Steel, of the .Dunedin, branch. After an interesting euchre tournament, the company was entertained with a short musical programme. Supper was then handed round, and after ample justice had been done to the many dainties the president called upon Air Sidey to ad areas the company. As is always the case, Mr Sidey met with a most flattering reception.' He said that it always gave him tri'ear. pleasure to spend an evening with his Alosgiol constituents, more especially on such an occasion as the present ; for, strange to relate, they had no requests to make of him. As a general rule, when he was asked to a gathering of this sort they invariably had some matters to bring under Ins notice, or something had to bo done; but no sndi requests had been made to him on this occasion, so his visit was one. of unalloyed joy. He, however, was fully acquainted with all the burning questions of the borough, and could assure his audience that they were receiving his closest attention. In regard to the question of railway extension, he doubted if the residents were not themselves partially to blame for there not having been more progress made, for on each occasion when they had an opportunity of pushing their claim to a successful issue there had always been a division of opinion locally as to exactly what they did want. This, of course, was playing right into the flepai't'i’cnt’e hand, ana gave it the opportunity of stalling Hie question until Mosgiel decided upon what it wanted. However, ho was led to believe that unanimity had now been arrived at; and. that being so, he felt sure they would be able to hammer away to good effect. He concluded by wishing the league every success, and assuring bis audience that his services were always at their disposal. The President of the Otago League gave one of his characteristic: fighting speeches, giving the company a resume of the many progressive works the league had been the means of bringing about., and he assured the Taieri branch of his wholehearted support of anything progressive the® might bring forward. The meeting closed with tho usual vote of thanks to the president and the performers, THE WATER SUPPLY. The long-continued drought is having its effect upon the borough’s water (supply —not so much that there is a shortage, but that householders arc not altogether reasonable in their use of the water. A daily consumption of fifty gallons per iir>’<( of the romdatioii can hardlv be said to be a limited supply, mid if the residents would only be more considerate in their use of the water for purporos ether than domestic, there need be no apprehension. It must be remembered that tho demands on our water arc increasing daily, and it is just a question as to whether the borough is not in tho position of a tradesman whose increase of business has outgrown the size of his premises. The council, however, is fully alive to the seriousness of the position, and the report that has been asked for from Mr Couston ou the water supply should settle nil doubts, and let the councillors know the. true position. VISIT OF AIINISTER. We are to be favored with a visit from the Don, the .Minister of Lands on Thursday afternoon next. Air Al'Leod is motoring through from Invercargill, and will break his journey here in order to give the council an opportunity of stating its case in regard to Melville Park rates. This should be The means of bringing the question (which has occasioned the council so much anxiety) at least closer to finality. It is to be Imped that lis pleasant journey through Otago and Southland will have put the Minister in a generous mood. THE PLAYGROUND. Before the schools break up for the Christmas holidays it is to be hoped that (he playground in Gordon road will be in full swing in more senses than one. The swines and maypole merry-go-round are already on order, and a start has been made, by the borough workmen towards the construction of the sand pit. With these varied forms of amusement, and tho’pack next door, the school children will be well catered for this Christmas. SPORTS GATHERING. The second of the evening sports gather--’ ings of the Taieri Athletic Club will ho held in tho Recreation Ground on Thursday evening next, and, with the school concert on the preceding night, we arc in for a busy week. Judging by what has been seen at the rehearsals, the school concert should be something out of tho ordinary. MOSGIEL PICTURES. On Saturday evening at the MosgieT pictures the drama will be ‘ The Butterfly Girl.’ It is the story of a “ bom flirt,” who at last has her eyes opened. ‘ The Butterfly Girl ’ is in serio-comic vein. Miss Daw is youthful, vivacious, and girlish, touching comedy and emotional heights that proclaim her an actress of power.