OPOTIKI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4124, 1 February 1875, Page 5 (Supplement)

OPOTIKI.

A li'iujr meeting was held oil tlie evening of tlic l'Jtli, at the Koyal Hotel, convened by 1 the trustees of the public library, for the '• purpose of rendering an account of their I stewardship and of electing a fresh com- 1 mitteo for the current year. The meeting , was largely attended, and Mr. K. King was ' ; voted to the chair.—The Chairman then rose, 1 and called the attention of the meeting to ' . the special object for which they were called ; ; together, viz.,—to hear ail account of the ' ' success or otherwise of the public library ] during the past year, and to elect a new com- 1 | mitteo to carry on the duties during the pre- 1 j sent year ; and lie (the Chairman) felt it his 1 especial duty to call attention to a highly ' objectionable practice which obtains largely ■ I in Opotiki, and which cannot be too strongly I deprecated, namely—that several persons had I from time to time, either under the inllueiice * of an overweening vanity or through the '• grossest carelessness, allowed themselves to 1 be nominated as committee men or stewards ' of public trusts, and that once elected they 1 gave themselves no further concern on the matter ; and although duly notified and even personally requested to attend meetings, had always a frivolous excuse on hand of some imaginary appointment or press of business, 1 " save the mark," and so left the whole work ami onus of the proceedings upon the earnest few. Jte trusted that these remarks would be borne in mind by such gentlemen as would now be elected, and that they would be prepared to share their duties eijuallv, and lie would now call upon the secretary for ' his report.—Mr. J. F. Connelly, secretary to the library committee, rose, and read an abstract of the balance-sheet for the past year, shewing a small credit surplus.— The report as read was adopted. Tlie following gentlemen were then elected as library trustees :—Messrs. D. Addis, J. K Connelly, G. Bates, \V. Luttrell, and J. Connelly, sen. Various matters of business connected with the advancement of the interests of the library were then discussed, and a number of new subscribers gave in their names.— The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman. Placards are posted up in various parts of the settlement to day, signed by the principal business men in the place, notifying the public that on and after Monday, the '25th, the stores and otiices will close punctually at 7 p.m., excepting on Saturdays, when they will remaiu open until nine o'clock. The desirability of this arrangement needs no comment. During the last month the lieat has beeu intense ; the crops liavo ripened rapidly, and everything promises a bountiful harvest. We have also had some foreign visitors in the shape of some singing birds, never before seen in this district. They are somewhat larger than an English sparrow, with bright yellow breasts and green wings and backs. They tly in pairs ; the male bird whistles clear and shrill in notes, much resembling the canary, but not so varied. An old South Sea Islander, to whom I pointed tlieui out, says that they are common in the Fijis. A children's treat and distribution of prizes took place on the 20th, at the district school-house, where upwards of ninety children of both sexes were congregated. H. W. Brabant, Ksij., I!. M., opened the proceedings in a short and appropriate speech, and then proceeded to deliver tlie prizes in the following manner :—

Girls.—First class : First prize, Mary Geary : second prize, Alary Wyatt. Second class : First prize, Julia Alahoney ; second prize, Annie Smith. Third class: First prize, Florence l Allen and Christina Allen, equal; second prize, Rachael AlcGregor. Boys.—First class : First prize, H. G. T. Wyatt; second prize, H. Elliott and Al. Alahoney, equal. Second class : First prize, Jno. Davis and Robert Swanson, equal. Third class : First prize, W. Elliott ; second prize, A. Patton. Attendance.—Firstprize, Julia Malioney; second prize, Emily Husst; third prize, M. Mahoney; fourth prize, G. Kelly; fifth piize, L. Richards. A substantial repast, generously provided by Air. aud Airs. Wyatt, was then laid out, ."lid the childreu turned to with a hearty good will, making the viands disappear at an astonishiug rate, and keeping the lady volunteers—Airs. Brabant, Airs. Wyatt, Al rs. Busst, and Alisses Wyatt, Litchfield, Dette, aud : Hullv—employed in supplying their wants. After tea, the amusements continued until sunset,when the children were dismissed.

Oil the 23rd, the Maid of the Mill, ketcli, T. Short, muster, arrived from the Hay of Islands with a cargo of heavy timber for the Waioeka bridge, which long delayed contract will now be speedily completed. A public meeting was held at the schoolhouse on the afternoon of the 20th, fdr the purpose of electing a new school committee, and of receiving the report of the old, —Mr. R. ICing in the chair. Mr. D. Litchfield read a report of the various proceedings and improvements effected during the past year, as also a balance-sheet of receipts and ex- : penditure, the chief item of which was a handsome addition to the teacher's residence, 1 which without interferingwitli the uniformity ; I of the main building, added greatly to its ; general appearance, besides supplying a great i and serious want, from which Mr. Wyatt, j our highly respected teacher, had suffered. ! Messrs. Kichards and Bates were then ap- ' pointed auditors, and examined and passed ' the balance-sheets. The meeting then proceeded to elect a new committee, and the following gentlemen were unanimously voted in : —H. W. Brabant, Esq., K. M., Messrs. C. D. Litchfield, John Parkinson, G. Ball, and L. Kichards. —Mr. Croon proposed, and Mr. Kichards seconded—" That a cordial vote of thanks be accorded to Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt on behalf of the parents of Opotiki for their unremitting kindness to and satisfactory management of the children during the past year." Carried.—Mr. T. E. Wyatt, in responding, begged to avail himself of the opportunity of thanking the retiring committee publicly for their hearty co-opera-tion and invaluable assistance they had rendered liitn during the period of their holding oUice.—The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair.—[Own Correspondent, Opotiki, January 24.] —