MILTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2369, 27 July 1899, Page 30

MILTON.

July 2i. — Work at the local potteries, which has been suspended for the past week or two, pending instructions from Home as to future operations, will, I am told, shortly be resumed. Musical.— For a long time past there has been in Milton no organised' body of vocal musicians apart from tho local church choirs. At one time a philharmonic society existed and flourished, but musical enthusiasm, began to wane, and the society soon became one of the things that have' been. At present there .seems to be a slight revival in musical circles, and an endeavour is being 'made to form a male voice choir. There is plenty of talent available, and if only a little energy is put into the matter, there is no reason, why the idea should not become an accomplished fact. Amusements.— The Royal Biograuh Company gave an exhibition in St. George's Hall on the 15th ins.t. From the accounts of those who were present it would scarcely seem to have been as good as was expected. It was premised in the advertisements that the ' bright ! scintillations of light which mar the effective- , ness of the ordinary kinematograph pictures > would, in' the case of the biograph, be pleasantly absent. In spite of the promises, however, • they x'ersisted in appearing, and proved themselves as lively and brilliant as. of yore. In other respects, too, the performance was said to- .have been disappointing. Lectures.— The Rev. Mr Fergus, of Tasmania, who has occupied the pulpit of the Pres- I bytenan Church for two Sundays, took advantage of his stay here to deliver two lectures JJie first, on " Robert Burns," was given in aid of the Presbyterian Sunday School Library and in a very fair and impartial way the lecturer treated of Scotland's national bard as a man and as a, poet, pointing out in connection with the much-debated question of Burns's moral character that while there was much that called for criticism, we must remember the great influence environment and social conditions had on a man's character, and that it was unfair to judge him without taking these into consideration. In his lecture on " CentraF v T' j W V ch , was given in the Church of schoolroom under the auspices of St Johns Club, Mr Fergus, with the aid of a large map, traced the work done by the missionary and the explorer in that once unknown country and after describing the way in which it had been divided among the European Powers, concluded his lecture by referring to the condition of affairs at the present time In neither case, unfortunately, was the attendance at all commensurate with the worth of the lecture. Progress.— If the briskness of the buildinotrade may -be taken as an indication of the general prosperity of a town (and no doubt it may) then Milton has lately been in a flourishing state. During, the past year or so there must have been, on a rough estimate, over 20 new dwelling houses erected in the town and its immediate neighbourhood, the majority of these being large and -well-built buildings much above the average of what is to be foiuid in colonial townships as a rule. The openin" of the woollen mills caused a large influx ol population, and at one time a vacant house could not have been obtained for love or money ! liven now matters, from a tenant's point of yiew, have only slightly improved, and what for a country town can only be called exorbitant house rent has still to be paid. At present a large house is being built in Spenser street to the order of Mr J. W. Petrie; while two others will, I understand, shortly be in course of ; erection. School.— What is not at all in keeping with ! the above is the fact that the attendance at the local school is steadily falling. It has now come down to 258, and as it is on that basis over-staffed, the junior male assistant, Mr Parlane, has received three months' notice that his services will bo dispensed with. i Volunteers.— The Bruce Rifles aro another local institution which appears to be on the downward grade. Curiously enough, in everything, financially and otherwise, the corps is said to be flourishing, except in what is the most important of all, interest of members in their work. This want of interest shows itself m the miserable turn-out at parades. To improve, matters, recruits are being enrolled, and practice with Morris tubes held after parades to induce members to attend. It is felt, however that to touch the pockets of the absentees will be the most effectual way to ensure their attendance, and it has been agreed that a fine shall be imposed on them in future. Colonel Polo Penton inspects the corps on Thursday night, and a big effort is being made to have a good muster, and so save the company from being disbanded. Ecclesiastical.— A largely-attended congregational meeting was held in the Presbyterian Church to-night to take steps to fill the vacancy m tho church caused by the resignation of the Rev. James Chisholm. A report from the selection committee was submitted to the meeting, in which the Rev. George Miller, of Waikaka Valley, was recommended to the congregation as a most suitable man. On a motion that the report be adopted, and that Mr Miller's name be inserted in the call being made, an amendment was proposed that the name of the Rev. Mr Hall be inserted instead. A vote resulted in Mr Miller obtaining the support of 61 members and 15 adherents and Mr Hall of 47 members and 17 adherents. On an opportunity being given for the minouty to fall in with the majority, 81 members and 17 adherents voted ' for Mr Miller and 27 members and 16 adherents for Mr Hall. As it was considered that Mr Miller had now a sufficient majority, it was resolved that a call be given to him, and commissioners were appointed to represent the congregation before the Presbytery in the matter.