CAMBRIANS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2273, 23 September 1897, Page 25

CAMBRIANS.

September. 20.— '1 he Loyal United Brothers* Lodge, M U.I 0.0. F. (Bro. W. B. Appleby, P.S., Bro. I>. Owen.«, Guardian), held its firet meeting under the control of its own officers on Wedn«Bday, 15th inst. Things passed off exceptionally w>ll, considering that this is a new thing to nearly everyone. There was a very good attendance, and a capital start has been made. After a few more nights the business will be put through in much less time. As the present week of meeting it not convenient for some of the officers, a change has Leen arranged, the meeting to be held again on Wednesday, and thenceforward fortnightly. Ten new members were proposed, and I believe some six or B«ven more ar« to be proposed next night. At the first meeting those who have passed the medical examination will be initiated and admitted into Oddfellowship. Bro. J. Craig; Loyal Gavershain Lodge, and Bro. J. M'Combe, Loyal Roxburgh. Lodge, responded to the second toa3t of the evening. These are the first visiting brothers to the new lodge. So far, we have had to do without regalia, but by next meeting each officer will, no -doubt, .be able to don his new lvgalia. Songs were pi*eu during the evening by Broi. W. Mills, J. Craig, and G. A. Francis, and also a recitation by Bro. J. M'Combe, The receipts of the evening were £i 17s. '■

Weather.-- The weather, although threatening, still continues veiy dry. Farmers and miners are one and all anxious, and will .suffer very much if there is to be another dry season like last year. Dkedoing.— This work is the oider of the day now, and the Oambjians Company will be putting on their dredge soon. A good many other dredging claims are pegged out. Ihis will brighten up the place considerably.

School — The attendance is not what it should be, but this may to n certain extent be put down to sickness, although there are a few careless

Medical Attendance.— Afairly attended public meeting was held on Saturday last to try and see what is to be done to secure medical attendance for the district. Between publ'c subscription and the contributions from the Oddfellows a very fair amount could be guaranteed fora good man. At the me ting held in the Victoria Hall on Saturday, Mr Williams in the chair, the following resolutions were proposed and carried :— (1) " That the doctor reside at Becks, seeing it is the roost central." (2) "That a deputation consisting of Messrs O. Hughes, J. Beattie, and W. B. Appleby wait on the public meeting to be held at St. Bathans on Saturday, 25th inst., to bring forward the viev/s of this meeting and also to discuss on behalf of the residents, any question that may aiise." (3) "That the secretary write to Opbir, Matakanui, ant Beck?, asking these paces to hold public meetings immediately to pass some resolution •on the matter, *nd also 1o appoint deputations to wait on the St. Bathans meeting."— . This is a very irupoitant matter for the district, ; which includes Hills (Jr. ek, St. Bathans, Cambrians, Lauder, Matakanui, and Ophir, etc. So far we have never been able to' have a d- ctor | ( thoroughly settled among un, as there has always been .so much trouble about the centre for £he doctor to reside at. gome few years ago an.attempt was made to secure a cottage hospital to he erected at Becks, but through the selfishness ' of the d fferent places the proposal came •to ' nothing, although many hundreds of signatures , we-e obtained, Seeing that Becks is the most central position, I think one and all ought to set aside any selfishness in the matter and do everything they can for the benefit of^the whole district. Seeing that the telephone is laid between . each of the districts, the doctor is within easy call in ca;e of an accident or illness during the night, and in any case he would not be more than 10 or 12 miles away when wanted, and that is not so far to go, seeing that at present the nearest mediral man is at least £5 miles from one end of the district. Some seem to think that Becks would be too lonely for a doctor, but I am of opinion that a man would have plenty to do if stationed there, • especially if he had a certain day to visit each place. There are a good many clever young men who would be only too glad to get the offer of the district if there wag a fair guarantee along with it. It is a strange thing that some one has not settled in the district long before this. If one had settled at Becks he would have commanded the whole district, and would make a good living without a guarantee.