ANDERSON'S BAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2059, 10 August 1893, Page 23

ANDERSON'S BAT.

August 8.-The hall was very well filled on Thursdjy evening, when Mr Barmy delivered his lecture '*An Evening with the Poets " with musical illustrations. The poets selected were Longfellow, Burns, and Moore. Mr Barmby treated his subject in an exceedingly interesting and instructive manner, giving short sketches of the lives and works of the poets named, and reading appropriate selections from each. The musical illustrations were an exceedingly happy thought. Beinacont.ributed by other membersof the society, they relieved the lecturer, and formed pleasant breaks in the reading. The songs chosen as illustrative of Longfellow were "The village Hacksmith," Mr J. T. Wilson ; " The ; bridge," Miss N. Burnside: "Pulaski's banner." duet, Miss N. Burnside and Mr Wilson. Miss Brown sang "Ye banks and braes" and "Robin Adair, the former illustrating the songs of Burns ; and ICiss Gallichan sang "The last rose of summer, and another of Moore's Irish melodies. Political.— During the week the question of our future representative has been much di«. cussed. Mr Larnach has a vast number of friends in this part of the eleciorate who were holding back until satisfied that he would not be a candidate. As he has now publicly intimated that he will not contest this district, the way is clear for the candidature of Mr Scobie Mackenzie, and he will without doubt receive very warm support throughout the Peninsula. In this part of the county the requisition asking him to stand is being very largely signed, and even those who do not care to Rigu a requisition promise active assistance. We will indeed be extremely fortunate if we succeed in inducing Mr Mackenzie to offer us his services as our representative. Those Trees.— The question of the trees on the main road came before the RoabT Board on baturday in two aspects— first, in the shape of a petition from some dozen or 15 milkmen and others, most of them non-resident* in this part of the district, asking the .board to have the tree-guards removed ; and secondly, by Mr White, chairman of the Tree-planting Committee, who appeared and requested the board to maintain the gaards in their present position, pointing out (as was admitted by all the members) that the guards were strictly in the form described in the original letter of application, that they were not in any respect a hindrance to the traffic, were not objected to by any of the persons who live in the vicinity, but, on- the contrary, thejlatter almost unanimously desire to maintain the guards and plant cabbage trees which had been promised by Mr Matthews. The members of the board suggested that small guards made of pickets might be substituted for the substantial guards now in position, but Mr White declined to accept the suggestion-in the first place because of the expense, and secondly because he considered that fight guards would simply be purposely run into and carried away. It was finally resolved that the surfaceman should remove the guards ana trees and restore the road to its former state. Thus ends an attempt to beautify our village street, the local authority and the local police, man, law and order being trampled under foot by a few miscreants who are permitted to have their own way. Apparently to prevent the possibility of reconsideration of the matter, the surfaceman was early on Monday taken off useful work and set on the tree guards, which have now all been Arbor' Dat.— The school authorities were not quite ready for Arbor Day, haying found much difficulty in obtaining the services of a man to prepare the ground. The day was cold and wet— aot at all a day to keep cbildren standing about— and it was therefore decided to postpone the proceedings until Tuesday, meantime to get everything in order. Trees had previously been planted round two sides of the ground, and Tuesday's proceedinga were devoted chiefly to the bank in front of the school,' which has been planted with natives. • .