WAIMATUKU.

Otago Witness, Issue 2201, 7 May 1896, Page 30

WAIMATUKU.

May 4.— On the 9th ult., the Key. Mr Lochoro, Wesleyan minister in chaTge of the Western District circuit, presiding a service of song entitled 1 Frozen to Death" was given. The reverend gentleman gave the connective reading, which was of a very pathetic nature. The mußical part was well rendered by a choit of 15 voices, 13 of them belonging to " bonnie lasses," who made th heart of "Your Own," though an old stager, go pit-pat. Probably the name of the service, the wintry sound of the night, and the number of enteitainments many of them cold enough— held here this year would account for tbo small audience "Frozen to Death" being got through. The members ef the choir gave an excellent concert, consisting of soloe, duets, quartettes, quintettes, recitations, and speeches, the whole being, as the chairman said, "well worthy of a larger, if not a more appreciative, audience. —Another evening's amusement of a yarwd character was given on the 28th ult. under the auspices of the Salvation Army One pexaon said it was to be a "harvest festival," another wo* auite crtain it would be a "coffee supper," 1 t2s?i?«2£i!. Ned % \ a i <4iale ot ***** *» *k prepffl! Aefattioa, while a fourth, with sdema

awe, denominated ' it a " religious service." All this it was, and .something more, for bags of chaff, sacks of potatoes, dressed sheep, bnioni, ferns, and flowers were 1 there- fteaand coffee, fowl 'and mutton, bread and cake were there; amateur cheapjacks, selling, bargaining, shouting, laughin?, wearing* balf-Bovereigus for eye-glasset, poking fun at on" auother like corner men, were there ; preaching, singing, praying; Bibl ereadmg were also there. Tho proverbial distance of a foot from the sublime to fcHo ridiculous was there shown to be but half a foot. The Salvation Army is in some places, in its own peculiar way, doing good— in large cities a great, a noble work ; but old-school, old-fashioned Presbyterians find it very difficult to % see tho elevating, 'refining influence of Him who is '* thje light and life of men" in a Salvation Army officer marching up and down the Waitnatuku Hal) with a halfsovereign stuck in his eye. | School Committee Election.— This annual event has come and gone without causiag any excitement, or without anyone, beyond the six or seven who attended, 'caring anything about it. From the'Rortb Gape to Half Moon Bay is there '. auother election in any shape, or foim fraught with so li+tle interest as a school commitee election? Let there be a, rumour of removing the 3 ■ school (a frequent occurrence in our education I district) or removing the 'teacher (a less costly \ though a more difficult operation than the former) and some lively interest; is taken at committee eleotion time. This suggest! the idea that were more given them to do greater interest would be I taken in country school committees.