TAPANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2009, 25 August 1892, Page 21

TAPANUI.

August 22.— 1 he regular meeting of the Mutual Improvement Society was held on Monday night in the Y.M. Rooms. The subject for discussion was the female franchise. Messrs Brown and Ferguson took the affirmative and Messrs Burrcll and Whitefield the negative. There was a large attendance, the majority being of the fair sex. The Rev, W. Scorgio occupied the chair. _ After the principals had expressed their views, criticism was invited, when Messrs Hay, M'Farlane, Harlock, and the Chairman spoke on the question. Mr Brown having replied, a vote was taken, when 17 voted for the affirmative and 22 for the. negative. A vote of thanks was accorded those who had taken the leading part, and a pleasant and profitable evening's amusement was thus brought to an end.

Petition. — A numerously-signed petition has been despatched to the Minister for Lands requesting that the land lately surveyed in block XI, Glenkenich Survey district, be thrown open a? small farm allotments instead of on the homestead principle as presently intended. The reasons given are that the district is unsuitable for homestead principles, as the demand for labour is so small that the system would in all probability prove a failure. It is also pointed out that the homestead principle debars any settler around from having a chance of obtaining any part of this land, though many would like to acquire some of it. Poultry Show. — The annual show, which is to take place on the 3rd prox., bids fa.r to prove a success. A. larger number of special prizes is offered this year than hitherto. M. I. S., Waikoikoi. — At the last meeting of this society Mr Whitefield read a paper on '" Prohibition," which was attentiveiy listened to by a large audience. At the conclusion a vote of thanks was unanimously accorded the reader, who, in replying, thanked those present for the nnnner in which they had received the paper, and said he trusted that although we perhaps could not all see eye to eye on this important subject the day was not far off when there would be more helping hands to unfurl the banner.