KAITANGATA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1341, 11 August 1877, Page 7

KAITANGATA.

July 26th. •A concert and soiree was held at Kaitangata on Wednesday evening, the 25th inst. The

evening proved beautifully fine, and the large

school-room was densely crowded by a most

orderly and appreciative audience. Mr A. N Hlslop occupied the chair. In his opening re*. marks, the Chairman said — You are all aware of what has brought us here this evening, it ig to celebrate the opening of another large and commodious class-room in addition to the preient one. The new room was built by our old friend, Mr W, T. Smith. It will be necessary for me to take a few steps of retrogression, to enable you to form a just estimate of the work that has been done, and of the advancement of the district, and also the great interest manifested'by the people generally in educational matters. I have little hesitation in saying that Kaitangata. has dene more iv the way of school building than any other country district In OtagOj and you will naturally ask me why I have arrived at that conclusion. The answer is simply this, viz., the lapid growth of the district, , caused by the opening of the famous Kaitangata coal mines. We are nowplaced on an equal footing with the Taieri district through having the lailway. We are only in an embryo state, but from our mineral wealth we will become, ere long, the great coal' mart of, Otago ; and those who ore spared to seethe next twenty years pass over will -see the district not only first in mineral, pastoral,.; and agricultural pursuits, but also famous for our woollen factories, &c. lam astonished that some enterprising person has not dene something in this direction already. About seven years ago a great want was felt Is this district of a suitable school and schoolhouM,aethe place then used was more fit for a cowshed than a school It is now better known by the soubriquet of St. George's Hall. Some of the leading men took the matter in hand,* and very soon a school and schoolhouse were erected. From a number of applications I was chosen teacher. Scarcely had eighteen months elapsed when 5t was found necessary to build a larger schoolroom, which was accomplished by the Committee then in office. Under the present teacher, Mr G. Steven, we have been compelled, from the want of space and overcrowding of our school, to take steps for a farther addition. So by putting our shoulders to the wheel you have the visible effect of our success.. The Committee have now reduced the fees to the Government standard of 6s, 7s 6d f 9s, 10s 6d, and 12s per quarter. This scale we hare no power to reduce further, and as we have now a schoolmaster and schoolJnistresf, and it is to the f ses we have to look for their, salary, I trust you will be punctual in your payments, as we are now considerably in arrears with our school fees. .The ladies who favoured the company with goiigs were the Misses Darling and Shand, all of whom acquitted themselves to admiration. Messrs Reidl Carrington, Stoddart, Sprightly. Parker, and Mearna each gave songs in capital style. Readings were contributed by Messrs E. Darlitg and G. Steven. Mr Reid, teacher of music, and a well-trained choir, rendered wv«ral glees in a most efficient manner, and proved that their teacher, Mr Reid, had been most successful in his duties. A dramatic farce— "Bex and Cox"— caused much merriment, Mr Cotton appearing as Box, Mr Dicki•on as Cox, and Mr Sprightly as Mrs Bouncer. The concert wa3 concluded by the choir singing the New Zealand National Anthem, wh'*ch was rendered in a most artistic manner. The proceedings were much enlivened by Messrs Clements and Aitchison, who gave selections on the harmonium and violin. An excellent tea was then provided, the eatables having been supplied by the ladies of the district. Votes of thankg were proposed to the per formers by Mr Fleming (Clutha Leader), to the ladies who had supplied refreshments by Mr Taylor, and to the Chairman and musicians. The rcom was cleared, and dancing indulged in for a few hours. The affair proved most successful financially, as the proceeds amounted to close on L2O.