STRATH-TAIERI.

Otago Witness, Volume 01, Issue 2123, 1 November 1894, Page 25

STRATH-TAIERI.

October 21.— The recent "bowers have done much to refre-ih the face of Nature, though hi^h above our notes of gratitude comes the cry, " We could do with such ehowera every week." And as the mouthpiece of the district I say Amen. Progress.— Telephonic communication has been established between Gladbrook station, where Mr Elliott, manager, and Mr Crawford, accountant, reside, and Gladbrook farm, where the overseer, Mr Spratt, lives. As there is necessarily a great deal of correspondence between the two places, entailing not only loss of time, but wear and tear of hor-eflesh, this must be a consummation devoutly needed. The distance is about three miles, and the instrument in uwe is one of Hunningcomb's latest. The w oik of erection has been very successfully carried out under the able supervision of your townsman Mr H. G. Kettle, of Kettle Bros., Bond street, agents in New Zealand for the Lonette telephone. Kindersptki.. — Averysucccssfulrenderingofthe kinderspiel " Old Friend* with New Faces ' took place on Friday last in Webb's Hall under the conductorship of Mr Matheson, teacher. Though a great number of the children took part in the choruses, the following were the principals:— Sister Ann, M. Cartwright; Mistress Mary, L. Freeman ; Humpty Dumpty, J. Sutherland; Old Mother Hubbard, A. Brown; Jack and Jill, A. Johnston and A. Sutherland ; Little Boy Blue, W.Webb ; Little Jack Homer, G. Steel ; Little Red Riding Hood, E. M'Kinley ; Little 80-peep, S. Neill. The unanimous verdict is that everyone did very well, and tho entertainment was well worth the money. The proceeds- over £20— go to augment the funds of the school. The orchestra— consisting of Mi»s Macadam (piano), Mrs Matheson (oijsan), Me-srs Scott (riohn), R. Walker (ilute), aud Mutheson (cornet)— performed its part with that precision for which the names of its performers .ire a sufficient guarantee. In the first part the very small children under Miss Macadam contributed theirquota to the evening's amusement by v rendition of " The Kittens," " The Spider and tbe Fly," and an action song, " The Fanner" ; while some of the older pupils, Miss M. Webb. Miss S. M'Lay, and Misses M. and N. O'Brien, favoured the company with nice selections on the pianoforte, showing that the musical part of their education is not being neglected. A martial exhibition of the "Middlemarch Mashers" under the captaincy of Willie Neill, wherein real swords and guns were u-sed, was given with great gu=to. In fact, in spite of Japanese troubles and bushranging exploits, the mothers aud si'-teriof the devoted little bnnd sat with such composure as to indic.itc a sense of perfect safety and immunity fiom all .such dangers while their darlings were about. Mr T. M'Lay, who presided, by the brevity and point of his remarks, showed his good sense as a chairman. Mr C. D Smith, who is always laid under tribute by the children, supplied them with confections. Mrs Matheson and Mi»s Macadam acconrpnnied the singers. Too much praise cannot be bestowed on Mr and Mrs Matheson for their uutirinju efforji in brinjjiuu out tUe musical

ability of the children, which erstwhile was an unknown quantity. lam sure that this honourable mention will be largely supplemented by the gratitude and kindly remembrances of the pupils in the future, as they are laying the foundation of a training useful, ennobling, and good. The inevitable dance followed under the M.C.-ship of Mr G. M' Donald, at which— m is always the caso here — the utmo-t ha; mony prevailed. Mr (J. Home supplied the nius-ic, which was a treat in itself.