District News.

Southern Cross, Volume 9, Issue 20, 17 August 1901, Page 9

District News.

WOODLANDS.

The local school examination took place on Friday last, and resulted in the whole school passing, which must be eminently satisfactory to all concerned. On Friday evening a banquet to returned troopers (McKerchar, Alexander and Hodgson) was held at Mr Gobi’s hotel. There were between 20 and 30 present, and a very enjoyable time was spent. During the evening each trooper was presented with a gold Maltese cross. Last Wednesday a football match was played here—Woodlands v. Mataura, the ' local representatives being the victors by two points. We boast a “ Magazine Club ” here. It has been in force for one year, and is now circulating nine or ten magazines. The Mutual Improvement Society’s session is over. On July 18th ‘ Is the encroachment of women on man’s sphere productive of good to the race ?’ was debated, Mr W. Alexander, vice - president, in the chair. Mr Dawson, in the affirmative, held that women in many walks of life would exercise beneficial influences on the human race, and considered that with equal opportunities, she might even excel in some of man’s tabooed spheres, for, as he said, ‘ she neither drinks nor smokes, therefore her head is clearer for her work.’ Mr Hiddleston, in the negative, relied upon women’s physical inability to undertake the many callings of men, and also upon the fact that the incursion of woman into the industrial and professional arena would depreciate the wage earned, and thus inflict hardship on those already engaged therein. Members having spoken to the question, a vote was taken and resulted in a tie ; the casting vote of the YicePresident was therefore given in the affirmative. On Thursday, Ist inst, the final meeting was held, and consisted of a mock banquet. The ladies of the Society had tastefully laid out and loaded the tables with good things. The whole mockery —as one gentleman pat it—lay in the drinkables—nothing stronger than tea or coffee being provided, and probably this had a good deal to do with the real satisfaction with which we spoke of the gathering next morning. An extensive toast-list was gone through

I (space forbids my including it), and many speakers were heard during the evening. ‘ The Guest ’ was proposed by Mr Leith, President, and he referred in eulogistic terms to Mr George Dawson, who bad been selected for that honourable position. The Rev. Mr Bissett, on behalf of the Society, then presented Mr Bissett with a silver-mounted walk- ) ing stick, and in a very appropriate f speech, wished v God’s blessing upon Mr and Mrs Dawson' throughout their lives. Mr Dawson, in replying, stated that as ‘ the guest ’ he had been led to believe that the position he would occupy that evening was merely an imaginary one —but his eyes had been opened—he saw the whole to be true and real. He was no imaginary man, he told them, and therefore he thanked them heartily for the words they had spoken of him. and with regard to the stick—well, he could say a good deal about some things, but not about this—they muse simply let him thank them for it. The gathering broke up about midnight, after singing Auld Lang Sang. Daring intervals, songs, readings, and a pipe selection were contributed, Miss Stott accompanying.