MILLER'S FLAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2850, 28 October 1908, Page 39

MILLER'S FLAT.

I October 20.— There is every indication of anotner dry season yet so far. There is good gro\\;b. and in the absence of the usual boisterous weather fcr the lambing season the p-sreentngc should be over tiia Debating Society.— At the beginning of th-3 -winter a Debating Society was formed, i opening with some dozen or fo member 0 . j Pes-imiUte, looking back ever the history ' of past societies of a like natnrs formed . in this district, considered the mselvos justified in predicting a speedy d£a.th. Hap- , p:ly, they proved to be wrong, and throughout the winter and spring months there have been very enjoyable a.nd highly successful weekly meetings, while the society lias been able to close the session with upwards of 50 members. The programme of the debates has been, varied, comprising; subjects eerious and amusing, and of local and universal interest. The fir=t difficulty over — of getting new speakers forward and the ice once broken — there wa-s no lack of earnest, initereat-ing, and amusing debate*. Quite a- number of promising young peoplo of both sexes, whose talents, but for tho help afforded by such a society, mu-»t have lain dormant, have been encouraged to come forward, and hare in several instances don© excellent work. It was therefore a fitting thing- to wind up such a successful season's work with, a social, to- which a number of friends of the members of the society wer© invited. A very enjoyable programme was gone through, the majority of the items beinif supplied by young members, -who made their first appearance in public, and whose efforts were deservedly , appreciated. Games ware aipo indulged in,

and the eociability of the evening was added I to by a book badge eompetiticau Thie afforded much merriment as the memoers moved round during tho interval examining each other's bad-ges. A prize (won by Mrs Innes) was giv-en to the one who guessed the greatest number correctly. Tea and refreshments were also handed round during the interval. Th-3 Roxourgih Debating Society, which had been invited, was represented by two ladies ar.d four gentlemen, and to the-e our society gave a hearty welcome. TII3 evening finished with a number of impromptu speeches. An. invitation was given to any present who wished to take part, and two prizes were offered, to be assigned on the vote of the audience. Eight ' ladies and gentlemen responded, and though tho matter was rather hurriedly arranged, all present were indebted for a good deal o£ fan to th© -ccinnetitors, who without ex- | eeptaon handled tneir questions in a way that won considerable applause. The competitors were Messrs AVaight, F. and A. Lalloli, Darling, and 3li«a Waight (Roxburgh), Miss Andersen, Messrs Faigan and Cunaiiingham (Miller's Flat). The winner of the firsc prize was Mise Anderson, to whom feHr th© question : " What means would you suggest for the raising of the social condition of mankind?" The second prize was won by Mr Darling for the question: " Should -fashions be followed?" Tho fol tow-ing members of i'he society eontrtbeted items to the programme, and were i well received :—Mias Anderson, Messrs A. \ Walker, H- Boctand, Gordon, It. Dempsey, Wallas, Eggleton, Haugh, Cunningham ; ' while rila following visitors kindily coiitributed scngs: Miss Ha ugh, Messrs Fisber and Wilson. Mrs Fisher and Mass White acted as accompanists, and Mar P. C. Grant as ehairma-n. A pleasant evening was brought to a close wj*h a vote of thanks to all who bad assisted in making it such a I success. i Obituarj. — Our- old i<ten*rtios are fast <3isappearing. Th« lat* Mr James Bowden, whoso funeral tcok place last Friday, was not only a rea-'dient in Miller's Flat district for over 30 yeare, bui was aLao one of ou* Weet Ooast mincn-g pioneers. Jfr Bowden was acknowledged by* our lafca lamented Premier (Mr R. J. Seddon) to be one of hf's principal supporters who first returned ! him (Mr Seddon) to Parliament. Mr Bowden was 72 years of a.ge, and although hi death was somewhat sudden, it was not altogether unexpected, and so far as the ■ writer w aware he lefb the world with a clean, sheet,' and to his credit be it said, ho was never known to utter a vulgar word or an oath under the most provoking circumstances. He wa» what might be termed one of Nature's gentlemen. He leaves a ( widow and large- grown-up family to mourn their loss. ' Political. — The topic of the day is the coming election, and fchoug-h- not a supporter of our present member (Dr Chappie), I admire his i.ndepoindent and outspoken principles. I do not think 1:© received the ■encouragement from the present Government which he ro a-bly supported, that hrs a-bility dec-srved. He mads a splendid fight at th© bve-eleelion, and was returned on his own m^irits. and I consider that his speech delivered en the Public Works Statement on Beptembet 28 ouprhfc to recommend itseif to all ssusiblo electors throughout the Dominion.