LUMSDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3247, 7 June 1916, Page 31

LUMSDEN.

Juno 3. —This week we have had the hardest frost of the season, with _ foggy mornings, but beautiful sunshine during the day. Grain carting is nearly finished, and ploughing is now in full swing everywhere. Owing to the mild winter so far, there is abundance of feed for stock. The turnip crops are good and plentiful, and all tho stock is in tip-top condition. Owners are having their flocks eating off the turnips as fast as they can to get- the fields ready for spring ploughing and sowing. Music.—The Lumsden Presbyterian Church choir visited Dipton on Wednesday, May 24, for tho purpose of helping the Dipton people with a lied Cross and patriotic entertainment. Tho visitors, under the leadership of Mr S. F. Griffiths, the able and indefatigable conductor of the Lumsden Church choir, gave a very good account of themselves, and their share in tho evening’s entertainment 'was highly appreciated by an enthusiastic audience. A patriotic concert and fancy goods stalls at Five Rivers on Friday, May 26, was a pronounced success. A number of the Lumsden residents went up by car and buggy to take part to assist the Five Rivers residents in their good work. They are the most enthusiastic and patriotic community in Southland. Farewell. —A. farewell and presentation social was held in the Presbyterian Church on Monday evening, May 29, the occasion being a farewell send-off to Miss Winning (first assistant in the Lumsden Public School during the past 'three years), and Mr Arohi bald Allan, builder, of Lumsden. Miss Winning has associated herself on all occasions with tho best interests of the young people of the school and with church work. She was a useful member of the Presbyterian Church, choir, from which she will be much missed. The Rev. D. K. Fisher, as chairman of the meeting, spoke in praise of Miss Winning’s good deeds in school and church work during her sojourn amongst us. Mr S. F. Griffiths, choirmaster, also spoke highly of Miss Winning’s great assistance as a member of the church choir. He regretted very much the loss of Miss Winning’s services in connection with tho choir, and all other musical and vocal entertainments in local or patriotic interests. Mr Griffiths, on behalf of the members of the choir, presented Miss Winning with a handsome dressing-case. The recipient very gracefully and with feeling thanked tho donors for tho handsome present, and for tho many kind words spoken of herself and of the small service she had rendered —a service which was of the greatest pleasure to herself in the realisation that she may have been able to do something for the welfare of tho community as a whole. At the schoolroom on Thursday afternoon Miss Winning was presented with a gold wristlet watch. Mies Jessie Glen, on behalf of the school staff and pupils, made the presentation, and read a very nice and appropriate short speech. Miss Winning returned thanks for their kind words and good wishes expressed, and also for the handsome present. Every time she looked in the face of the beautiful watch it would always remind her of tho JLumsdcn boys and girls and of the many happy days that she spent amongst them. —Mr Arch. Allan was presented with a wristlet watch as a small token of the esteem in which the recipient was held by the church choir and congregation. Mr Fisher, in making the presentation to Mr Allan, spoke of him as an enthusiastic church w'orkcr, a Sunday school teacher, and a member of the church choir. Eulogies of Mr Allan’s Christian life and n-ood citizenship were spoken by Messrs Griffiths, M Fetridge, Small, Cunningham, and Fraser. Mr Allan in replying thanked one and all for the kind and sympathetic words spoken, and also for the handsome present. One thing he was sorry for in going away was parting with his Sunday school boys’ class. He made urgent appeal to the young people of the congregation to take up this useful and intorestino- work (Sunday school teaching), from which much pleasure could be enjoyed as time went on. After tea and cakes were handed round by the ladies, the meeting dispersed by singing the hymn, “God be with yon till we meet again,” and pronouncing of the benediction.