ENTERTAINMENT AT WAIWERA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1490, 5 June 1880, Page 14

ENTERTAINMENT AT WAIWERA.

(VKOM A COKRifU'ONDENT)

A soiree ami concert were held on Thursday. th» 27th ult , in Waiwera Schoolhouse, in aid of the funds of the Benevolent Institution. The weather, which had been simply wretched for a fortnight previously, cleared up, and was all that could de desired. The Indies of the distric provided for tha occasion in a most extravagant manner, each one vicing with the other in sup plying the hesfc they could produce. Messrs Lange and Scobie, of Clinton, sent donations in lollies, which seemed to create a good deal of amusement for old and young. The room was tastefully decorated with ferns, evergreens, and flowers, and the words " Otago Benevolent Insiitntion" were very prettily worked in Berlin wool, the credit for which is almost entirely due to Mrs Wm. Stewart The chair was occu pied by MrS. Broad. After grace had been sung, tho stewards woiked with a will in bringing in trnya loaded with all the good things imaginable, which must have pleased _ the most fastidious. The soiree over, the chairman said that when asked by Mr Fraser to occupy the chair on this occasion it was with extreme diffidence that he contented 'o do bo, and had he expected such a large attendance it is very pro bable that he should have declined the invita tiou altogetber. Under the circumstance he thought thai, ho would be more at ease if he occupied a back seat, ready to pick up any slip of the tongue which might fall from the chairman which, he observed, we are nil too ready to do. An urgent appeal bad been made by the Committee of the Benevolent. Institution to tho set; lera and others throughout Otagn^for subscriptions in money or in kind iu^ aid of the inmates Hnd others ivcoivhg relief from that body. Tho speaker then [said that he had no statistics to lay befoie the meeting excepting the following extract iv->m the Otago Witness :—" The returns of the Benevolent Institute for the week eudiDg May Bth,

1880, show that outdoor relief waa pirtici pated in by 46 men, 139 women, and 414 children, or a total of 599, the weekly outlay was £47 2s. In tho Institute at Cavcrsham just now there are 48 men, 16 women, and 39 children, or a total of 94, exclusive of tho staff." He then said that he had no means of ascertain ing whether distress is increasing or not, but taking that as an average week it requires a sum of no less than £2450 annually for outdoor relief alone. The question naturally arises what is the cause of all this distress ? The speaker thought that it is to be attributed in a great measure to Sir Julius Vogel's public works and immigration scheme in sendiug out a class of people totally unsuitable for this or any other colony. We have ako entered on & period of very great depression, the end of which is appa rently afar off, which also adds in a corresponding degree to the destitution already prevailing, and at the same time makes it harder for those who give their assistance than it otherwise would be. " You may perhaps think that lam taking a gloomy view of things," continued the ohairman ; " but what I state is just my own opinion in the matter. Although it is best to do what we are doing in a cheerful manner, the time is not far distant when we shall not be able to cope with this subject by voluntary subscriptions, as I have no doubt tbat in a short time all subsidies will be stopped, and si soon as it becomes a burden on the State it will have to be provided for as it is in the Old Country by a poor rate, which I think would be the most equitable way of dealing with it." The following programme was then submitted :— Duet, : Misses H. and S. Roseveare; reading, Mr Augur; song, Mr S. Eoseveare; reading, Mr Spiers : oong, Mr Fyfe ; duet, Messrs Lange and Styles ; song, Mr Augur ; reading, Mr M'Kenzie. The Now Zealand National Anthem coucluded the first part of the entertainment. The second part comprised reading, Mr Spiers ; song (in charaoter), Mr HRosevearej quartette, Mrs B. Cook, Messrs Roseveare, and Mr Augur; reading, MrPraserj song, Mr Chambers; reading, Mr Augur; lecture on electricity, Mr Quoyle; song, Mr Styles. The various items on the programme were gone through in a manner which surprised and pleased all present. Votes of thanks were passed to the ladies, Mr Praser, and those who had assisted professionally, and to the settlers generally who had attended in such strong force, some haviug travelled from six to eight miles to bo present. " Auld Laug Syne " was then sung by the whole <nmpany. This ended one of the most successful soirees ever held in the Wai wern Tbo net proceeds wll be forwarded to Dune li" during tho wick. They amount to between £L4t ami £15