SOUTH OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21976, 10 June 1933, Page 16

SOUTH OTAGO

MILTON NOTES (From Ope Own Correspondent.) MILTON, June 9. ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY. The Milton Orchestral Society has been resuscitated. Mr William Kennedy has been appointed conductor in succession to Mr J. H. Wells. EARLY LAMBS. The first lambs of the season in Tokomairiro district made their appearance last week on Mr A. Melville’s farm, North Branch. ’ GOLF. Owing to the uncertainty of the weather it has been deemed advisable by the Tokomairiro Golf Club to postpone the proposed match arranged for to-morrow afternoon against Kaitangata. EXHIBITION OF ANTIQUES. The Tokomairiro Presbyterian Church Hall is at present the scene of an interesting exhibition, which has been organised by the ladies connected with the congregation with the object of raising funds, for the church. The proposal for an exhibition of antiques and historical records received such wholehearted support from town and district residents that the catalogued exhibits number 868, and scores of others have been added since the catalogue was printed and the exhibition opened. The spacious hall has been converted into a veritable museum of interesting exhibits, the majority of which possess almost priceless value to their, owners, especially from a sentimental viewpoint. The exhibits are divided into 15 sections. The first section (46 exhibits) consists of pictures, old oil paintings, steel engravings, and drawings. The furniture section (50 entries) comprises many interesting exhibits of craftsmanship of the earlier days, and includes beautiful inlaid tables, escretoires, cabinets, and writing desks. The chinaware section is particularly strong (122 exhibits), the oldest exhibit dating back 250 years, and several others'have been in existence for over a century. The bric-a-brac section (139 exhibits) comprises a wonderful miscellaneous assortment of articles which date back many years or possess other outstanding features. In the brass and bronze section (37 exhibits), brass candlesticks form a striking collection. Old grandfather clocks and watches of the eighteenth century and other novel timepieces are exhibited, including the old-time cuckoo and Wag-a-wa’ clocks. The oldest exhibit in the 118 classes of shawls, plaids and needlework dates back 250 years, and some damask linen and a Christening robe arc over 200 years old. Silk dresses and a bridal trousseau of 70 years back make striking contrast with the modern trend of fashion. In the war section (72 exhibits) there are some grim reminders of the Great War, Boer War, the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny, also swords from the fields of Culloden and Bannockburn. Old books and church records (27 exhibits) also early Tokomairiro records and relics (33 exhibits) contain many interesting souvenirs of the early pioneering days, The final sections of interest are Nature (46) and miscellaneous (34). An exact replica of the Scottish “ but and ben’’ has been erected, and is equipped with the austere but serviceable furniture so familiar in the kitchens of the early pioneering days. A homelike touch is added by a housewife spinning wool from the raw material on a spinning wheel. The success of the display has encouraged the promoters to extend the original period of three days, and it will be continued next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Musical programmes are contributed each afternoon and evening session, and at the latter session the Scotch haggis is played in and addressed in appropriate terms.