LUMSDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 8 July 1903, Page 39

LUMSDEN.

3"nly 6. — 3Cot for many seasons past havo -we enjoyed such summer-like weather as v o are Laving now, midwinter though it is. _ Yet the farmers are- -very dilatory in starting ploughing, etc., and they can have no excuse, seeing the opportunities thc7 have had for carting away their grain and doing other preparatory work before the spring operations ■bag-In. It would seem that they are carr-ing out the contrary adage, "Not to do to-day what .they can put off tOl to-morrow." L.M.I. Society. — The ordinary fortnightly mscting of thiy society was held at tho rooms, 3£tson£o Hall, on Tuesday, 30th ult. Being- a ladies' night, Mts Todd was in the ch?ir, pad Mies Thomson secretary. There was a record attendance, standing room scarccrly bei'.g available, the crush thus greatly interfering with ■ihe carrying out of an elaborate programme, consisting of new record selections on the gramaphone, in charge of Mies Davies; songs i>y Miesdamcs MaJey and Lymburn, and Misses Thomson, Todd, Sma-11, Swe-eney, and Reid; recitations by Mesdamss Todd and Davies, and Miss Howarth; suml a dialogue by the ladies. The Managing Committee acd all the ladies •who helped to get up and carry out the programme on this occasion are deserving ofa ■word of praise for the capital evening's amusement they gave us, and also ior providing so abundant, a supply of refreshments for all and sundry present. It is now stated that tho members of the e.terner sex aro preparing a programme, to be staged in the near future, that lrill outshine and completely put in tho shade the efforts of the ladies. Of this, however, I ha-ve my doubts, but we shall just want and. see.

Sickness. — Severe colds &nd coughs are going the rounds among the adults ju3t now, *-nd many of the little fo",k tae sufi-cring from c general attack of prostration, followed by acute headaches and vomiting, and in one or 4wo_cases pneumonia- has supervened, but I tear that in tho latter case the htt?e patients fnnder Dr Toad's care) are progressing favourably. It is to be regretted that th's visitation should come so near the time of the school examination, to be held nezt Thursday. It is very noticeable with the pupils afiectrd how snuch concerard they are over the slight setback they are havirjc with their studies at this impoitsuit time This shows that they are well pleased and interested in their school Trork, &nd that they receive kii^d treatment at the hands of tbe school staff.

Football.— A match between the local tenm and a- Queenstowii fifteen came off on the grounds at Lusmdcu on TVed-iesdar last Ist iiist., and si decidedly noticeable feature of the contest was the manly, determined, yet friendly, Bpirit in which it was fought out. Much of this may be clue to the fact that a referee |(Mx J. Galbraith, of InvercurgiU) from the Southland Union was in charge of the game, and a better conducted match it has not been any pleasure to vratch here — that is, from a spectator's point of view. If Mt Ga.'hraith erred 1 at all, it was on thr side of leniency towards any of the contestants thr.t might have Bltght-!y forgotten themselves whilst an the throes of a hard struggle, and this, in. my opinion, should be considered a wisely exercised discretion on the part of a referee while in charge of country teams, many of whom could hardly be expected to know the very fine pomts of the game. It wou'd be invidious tin my part to partieularse any individual player on either side, but I trust the visitors will pardon me if I praise our own boys a Sittle. A more manly, sturdy, and determined set of young alhletss Lumsclcn, I venture to say, has never yet placed on the foofba.ll field, end that without training of any kind, and mot even one practice together prior to the match on Wednesday. Could the same lot of (young fellows have a few weeks' individual training and som-e combination practicfs, I Ihave no hesitation in saying that they wculd IloM their own with any second fifteen in Southland.