TAPANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2008, 18 August 1892, Page 21

TAPANUI.

August 16.— 0n Wednesday last a temperance entertainment was given in the Heriot schoolroom hy a few of the members of the Blue Mountain Lodge 1.0. G.T. with the view of opening a new lodge there. Thero was a good audience, and I am sure a more orderly one never occupied a building. The chair was taken by Mr A. Stead. The programme was a long and varied one, consisting of instrumental music, solos, duets, recitations, quartettes, and a reading, besides addresses from Dr de Lautour on "Moderate Drinking and the Moderate Drinker," Rev. J. A. Lochore on "Prohibition," and Mr Stead on "The Aim and Object of Good Templaiism.' At the close the Chairman requested those willing to become members or the 1.0. G.T. to come forward and give their signatures, and in a very short time 17 names appeared on the list, and there is every probability of there being three times that number. Miss Gunn was very attentive in looking after the ladies, and Mr and Mrs S. and E. Ottey with Mr and Mrs Adanis very generously entertained the visitors with refreshments. A vote of thanks was accorded to the School Committee for the use of the schoolroom, and on leaving on the homeward journey three cheers were given for the entertainers. Flaxmill. — Messrs Batson and Dodson are going ahead with the erection of the plant for their flax mill, and in the course of three weeks all things will be in readiness for a start. Mr Batson informs me that when they get properly started 24 hands will be employed, but at the start only 16 will be engaged. Good Templaris-m.— At the last meeting of the members of this order, the whole of the evening was taken up with business matters. The installation of the oflicers for the ensuing quarter took place, and the several oflicers gave in their quarterly reports, wh'ch were highly satisfactory — indeed, more so than even the most sanguine expected. The membership during the quarter closed has increased from 37 to 93, and at every meeting new names are added to the roll. Financially there is also a credit balance.

Tug ok War.— The Kelso and Tapanui lightweight teams tried conclusions on Friday night in the Athemeum Hall, and a most determined struggle foi supremacy took place, ending in a draw, but greatly in favour of the Tapanuites. These competitions, which have been all the go for some time past, are now beginning to be a little stale.