DISTRICT NEWS.

Mataura Ensign, 4 July 1914, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

- HI VErtSOALE. FROM ODE owrf COBBESPONDENT. A Ml in aid of the funds of tho Rivcrsdaie ('iftholio Chiil'eh was held in the .Riversdaic" Drill Hail" 11 2t). There was a largp uUenchVnee una Father KaWinagh presided. Tho had been nicelv for the Occasion bv the ladies of tte 'church and the following programme Wil3 submitted Musical monologue (encored;. Mf W. 1). .Sholton; song, Mr J. KeHiner; t'ofrfi;,- Mr Durham; song (encored), (Mist Tito hall was- then cleared alitf »Hoilfc fiO couples took part iu the dance tlllit followed, the music being supplied by Mit'S ' piano) and Messrs T. SniitTi. '(p'.aiio) fih.n- ! Clias. J)akei« (violin). Supper, wllic.i was supplied by the ladies of the co:i£fegation, was dispensed after the coucr' t, and again during tho dancing. JUS church, funds will benefit (Substantially by the concert. The two last meetings of the Eivorsdnle Literary and Debating Society have been most successful. At the former tlie question "Should New Zealand have a Local Navy?" was debated, Mr Shelton taking the lead m the affirmative and Mr N, C/olqtihoun on the negative. A ballot res tilted in the triumph of the negative by n four to oae majority. In justice to Mr fehelton it should be added that ho was called upon at Very <&ot'fc notifce to ta/.e the leading part owing to the absence of the gentleman to whom, it had been allotted. At the meeting held last Tuesday night there was again a large attendance. The first part was devoted to impromptu speeches. There were numerous entries, and alter some interesting. and amusing efforts by the competitors the judges (Messrs F. Baylis and E. Sutherland) awarded tlie first honors to Mr N. Colqilhoun. Messrs Stephens and P. Cody fied for second place. Refreskments were then dispensed, the cater rag 'being in the hands of Mrs .McLennan, after which a sight-reading competition, which was won by Mr W. D. Shelton, and a missing word competition, which was won , by Miss Ross fWaipounarfhi). occupied ! fiie rest of the evening. M,r Joseph •Smaill (president) was ill' tho. chair. Hearty votes of thnnfel were- accorded to the chairman and the. judges. At the next meeting tlje question, "Should the Southland County be divided?" will be debated, Messrs P. Cody and N. Colqnhonn taking the affirmative and negative res-ppctivejy. On Friday niglifc last a farewell social was •hclrl iu the residence of Mrs M. Shea to bid goodbye to Mrs Smith, who with her family is leaving the district where she has lived for 15 ycai's, to take up farming pursuits at Waitati. The gathering took the form of an afternoon tea. Miss 'Smaill presided, and iu an appropriate speech presented Mrs Smith with a handsome silver teapot and hot water jug, Mrs Shea and Miss Lynch also bore testimony to the recipient's good' qualities', and Mrs "Smith feelingly replied, after which refreshments, supplied by the ladies present, were served, and a pleasant hour or two was spent in social converse. Hearty thanks 'with musical honors were accorded to ?.lrs Shea for tho troub'e .she had taken, and the meeting cou' luded with the singing of "For She's a Jolly 'Good Fellow."