NIGHTCAPS.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 349, 16 January 1912, Page 5

NIGHTCAPS.

From Week to Week.

Coronation Hall Committee. — A meeting of the committee was held on Friday evening, when various correspondence was dealt with. Messrs Wm. Smith and Co., Ltd-, Invercargill, were the successful tenderers for the supply of 80 seats, eight of which are to have railed hacks, the rest being plain. Messrs A. and T. Burt, gereral engineers, of Invercargill, wrote m regard to the lighting of the hall, stating that they were prepared to supply all material and in6tal lighting plant for the sum of £37 10s. Tho plant to consist of the following : One No. 4 universal generator, capable of supplying 36 lights of 30 candle power each, for 6 hours with full charge. The number of lights to be 28, made up as follows:— 8 centie lights, 9 side lights (three on each side), one m each ante-room, two at tho back of the stage, aod four footlights along the frort of the stage, and also one outside lamp. They would also make provision by means of bypass valves of lowering the hall lights without extinguishing them complete ly (a very necessary arrangement for picture shows). A similar fitting to apply to the stage would also be arranged m the same manner. The job when finished would present a neat and finished appearance. — It was decided to write and ask Messrs A. and T. Burt if their quotation included a generator house- It was decided that a public meeting be held m Griffin's Hall on Wednesday evening at 8 o'clock: to discuss the lighting question, opening date, etc. At a previous meeting of the committee the secretaries were instructed to reply to an inquiry from the Defence Department that the hall would be available for drilling purposes subject to satisfactory arrangements being made.

Pictures. —

Stevenfon's Pictures pa : d a visit here on Thursday night, and the management are to be complimented for the excellent series of pictures shown. A very good hearing was given the management, and Mr Stevenson intimated that it was his intention to come back frequently when the new hall is opened.

Billiards- —

Nightcaj s still retains its claim as a sporting township, as hardly a week passes but there is some athletic feat or game arranged for decision- One of the most popular pastimes here is the art of billiards, and there are few against whom the locals would not back the home champion, J. Welsh, a proof of which is the frequency with which he engsges m matches. Last Tuesday, a game for more than usual stakes was played between a Bluffite and he, the stakes aggregating £13. The aggressive manner m which the Bluffite is prepared to back his man is constantly proving a joy to Nightcaps sports, as witness the recent lazy-stick contest, and the present match, played on Mr H, Newton's tables, was just as much a "good thing." The match was the best of three games of 200 up. In the first, Joe Welsh downed his opponent, the well-known "Snowy" Stewart, to the tune of 200 to 60, and followed this up by completely outing hia opponent to the tune of 200-30, despite the fact that the said "Snowy" is no mean cueist. Nightcaps has now proved its superiority over Bluff at "soccer," the lazy-stick, and at billiards, and still the "Bluff Press" persists m acclaiming Bluff as the champion township of Southland- A tug- of- war is spoken of as the next link m this seenrngiy endless chain of competition, all the honours from which are m the hands of Nightcaps. General, — A very large number of residents visited the annual race fixture on Wednesday, which is quite as much a Nightcaps affair as Wairio, a proper state of affairs, considering the proximity of the two places. The meeting was a most successful and enjoyable one. ! Local fishermen have heen meeting with good success m the upper reaches of the Aparima of late, the writer having heard of two fish, 61bs and lOlbs respectively, being taken therefrom. During the past week the weather has been all that could be desired, but the farming community are m urgent need of rain. Cricket practices are being well attended of late, and if a match could be arranged with some other country club, it would certainly stir up inter" est. The same can also be said o* tennis. It is understood, however' that a match will eventuate shortly with Otautau. The plasterers are now at work on the hall, which is rapidly nearing completion.