HAMPDEN.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3906, 4 May 1877, Page 3

HAMPDEN.

[froji our own correspondent.] April 30, 1877. . One of the peculiarities of the New Zealand climate is that, while winter usually approaches with steady and unfaltering steps, it occasionally makes a sudden bound over the barrier of time and suddenly appears at our doors. Not long ago the Ruahine was clothed in dazzling snow, but in a few days after changed that imposing garb for one of no less imposing colors. The snow disappeared, but left behind it indelible traces of animate and inanimate nature. The myriads of little creatures which were lately our daily companions have retired into winter quarters. The sere and yellow leaf strews the ground, and nature seems to have withdrawn her forces within her inmost shell. Here man alone seems to have retained summer weather ; he can sing and dance whilst other animals are obliged to order out all the forces at their command by way of defence against wet and cold. Our monthly entertainment came off on Friday, 21st instant. Mr Craven occupied the chair. Nearly all the contributors were local individtials. The ladies came forward more numerously on this than on any previous occasion. Mrs Weekes played on the harmonium, and sang with great acceptance. She rendered "Bother the Man" in an animated and masterly style. ' Miss 'Weekes recited "Lolly-pop Dick V with ease and precision, quite surpassing the stj-le of lady amateurs in such performances. Mrs Allan's singing was sweet and engaging. No one can hear her sing without feeling the soothing and inspiring reverberations which a fine human voice invariably telegraphs to the heart. . Miss Piper also sang, .' but I. must refrain from commenting - on her performances on the ground that I did not hear her. The rest of our local amateurs acqiutted themselves well in singing, reading, and reciting. The ' chairman congratulated the meeting upon • the amount of help obtained from the ladies on that occasion, and trusted that others would follow their example. The usual votes of thanks brought the meeting to "a close. ■ The Road Board sustained applications from Messrs Howard and Holden for a grant-in-aid to open roads to their respective places. Tins is a step in the right direction, for it facilitates communication between the township and the outlying districts. Mr Colenso examined the school on Thursday, the 26th instant. The subject -. of his address to the children was, on this occasion, the conditions of success in school. In his usual simple style he showed the children that success depended upon regular attendance, diligence at home, and attention to instructions. By simple but striking analogies from the operations of common life, he showed that results in educational matters were in a direct ratio to the extent to which these conditions were complied with. He knew some children whose sole ambition was to learn something new. He would like to see them animated by the same spirit. A noble ambition to excel, formed at school, , frequently led to great results in life. It ..showed a determination to succeed. ;. Great men and noble women, whose genius led the van in the march of human :" progress, left many maxims on record to the effect that success depended \ipon constant and assiduous application. He trusted that they would take that into serious consideration, and endeavor to walk in the steps of those who have been a credit to themselves and benefactors to their race.