WYNDHAM.

Otago Witness, Issue 1894, 9 March 1888, Page 17

WYNDHAM.

Makch s.— On Friday evening, the 23rd ult., the local dramatic club produced the evergreen society play, " Our Boys," reproducing it on Saturday to a fairly numerous audience. The retired butberman, Perkyn Middlewick, was impersonated by Mr Algie in his characteristic manuer; while Messrs Hilton and Smythies, as Talbot and Sir Geoffrey Champneys, appeared to great advantage, and secured the favour of the audience to a marked degree, the latter gentleman especially showing no small amount of finish in the rendering of his character. Mr Wrenn appeared as Charles Middlewick, and his inexperience at times interfered with his successfully " scoring points," but his acting generally gave promise of improvement with experience. The acting of the ladies was excellent all round. Miss Walker made a capital Clarissa, and her beautifully modulated voice and effective acting called forth frequent marks of approval, and leads us to regret the few occasions we have of witnessing this lady's abilities. Mrs Algie and Miss Hill, as Mary Melrose and Violet respectively, also called forth the hearty commendations of the audience, who were deeply interested in the fortunes and misfortunes of the lovely heroines. The minor characters— the Belinda of Miss M'Millan, and the Poodles of Mr Fahey— were well sustained, and the characters all round merited the applause that fell to their lot. The scenery was, as usual, the work of Messrs Tait and Nutford, and was appropriate and artistic. Miss De Schmid presided at the piano, and ably discharged the duties of her position. Distribution of Prizes.— This long-expected and long-delayed event, much to the delight of the juvenile portion of our community, took place on Friday afternoon last, and passed off very successfully. The chair was occupied by Mr Frazer, by whom tho prizes were presented to the successful competitors. A fair number of ladies graced the schoolroom- aad the deepest iuterest was manifested by them in the proceedings of the days. The prize list was a large one, consisting of the usual ela^s prizes, together with quite a number of special prizes the gifts of the entire committee, the head teacher (Mr Clark), the mistress (Miss Walker), and Mr Jas. Horsburgh, bookseller, of your city. Special prizes for arithmetic and recitation were given for work done on that day, in both of which subjects the childreu acquitted themselves with great credit. I cannot ask you to find room for the long prize list, but two prizes, awarded by vote of the school children themselves, are worthy of mention — viz., to the most popular boy and girl in school. These much-coveted prizes fell to Robert KiM and Ettie Davey, both of Standard VII, which standard, by the way, our sapient rulers endeavoured some time ago ineffectually to " retrench." Agricultural. — Harvesting is now pretty general throughout the district, and notwithstanding the long spell of unsettled and unseasonable weather promises very fair results. Those whose crops are somewhat late are eagerly studying the signs of the heavens, inwardly hoping for the continuance of such weather as we have experienced during the past week. Several phenomenal readings of the thermometer have been observed, the register on one occasion being BSdeg in the shade, while in the sun the ordinary length of tube failed to allow sufiicieut room for expansion, and the mercury in disgust stopped when it could go no farther.