MATAURA NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 21822, 27 September 1932, Page 10

MATAURA NOTES

(From Our Correspondent.) In conformity with the rest of the congregations throughout the Presbyterian church of New Zealand, Sunday was the close of the month of witness, being specially devoted to services for the youth of the church. At the Mataura Church the order of service set apart for the day was observed. At the morning service the choir pews were occupied by 24 members of the several Bible Classes who led the singing and sang a well-known hymn while the offertory was being received. The pulpit was occupied by the minister, the Rev. David McNeur, who preached a sermon appropriate to the occasion.

The ladies of the congregation of the local Methodist Church held a sale of cakes in the sample rooms in Bridge street on Saturday and were successful in raising a satisfactory sum. The daffodils which were planted out on the river bank adjacent to the Town Bridge under the unemployment scheme are now commencing to bloom and present a pleasing appearance—a contrast to the appearance of this section some twelve months ago. Mrs A. Aitken, of Riverton, a former president of Mataura, is at present on a visit here as the guest of Mrs Bums, Bristol street.

The fortnightly meeting of the Mataura Lodge 1.0.0. F. No. 40, held on Thursday, was attended by twenty members, N.G. Bro. J. Williams presiding. Sick pay in favour of two ’members was directed to be paid. The principal business of the evening was the election of officers for the ensuing six months. This resulted as follows: Noble Grand, P.G. Bro. L. McPhee; Vice Grand, Bro. L. Shrimpton; Financial secretary, P.G. Bro. E. Calder; Recording Secretary, P.G. Bro. N McLeod; Treasurer, P.G. Bro. W. T. Richmond. Following the completion of the business the lodge adjourned to receive a large mumber who had assembled for the final of the series of euchre parties and dances run throughout the season. The winners for the evening were Mrs L. Johnston and Mr L. Shrimpton who tied for first place and divided the trophy. For the aggregate for the season Mr L. Johnston, with 111 points, proved the winner with Mr C. D. McConnell a close second with 110 points.

The annual report of the Mataura Evening Sports Club states: The year that we have just concluded has been a very strenuous one for the executive, but with our chairman, Mr J. W. Aitken, at the head of affairs and a willing enthusiastic band of workers under him everything went with a swing. The committee particularly wishes to thank the handicappers, starters, judges and marksmen who gave of their services gladly and in no small measure contributed much to the success of the evening meetings and also the half-day meeting. The evening meetings were well patronized both by competitors and the public. A feature was the keen interest taken by the outside competitors and they usually had a fair measure of success. Our first half-day meeting was a great success from a competitor’s point of view if not from a financin’, one. Still this was really to be expeJ. d, as it was our initial attempt at conducting a bigmeeting and it was run at a time when interest in sports meetings was waning. Our biggest success from a financial point of view was when the committee decided to hold a monster ball. No effort was spared to make rt a huge success and the committee’s efforts were rewarded by seeing the door takings amount to the magnificent sum of £Bl 4/11. A pleasing feature of the year’s operations was the success gained by local competitors who competed and held their own against their more seasoned rivals on both cycle and track. A number of trophies were donated during the year and thanks are due to the donors. The cycling trophy was won by A. Redmond, and W. Coster, the runner-up, was also presented with a trophy. Bruce Suther-

land was successful in winning the medal for track events, while Duncan McCaughan secured most points in the field events. The committee wishes to thank all who in any way assisted at our meetings, also the general public who helped us considerably by their presence and financial assistance without which we could not carry on. The experience we have all gained will be of great assistance to us next season and the committee trusts that the incoming officers will receive the same measure of support as accorded in the past. On Sunday evening at the Mataura Presbyterian Church there was a very large congregation, the occasion being the exchange of pulpits between the Rev. H. C. Orchard, of the Gore Methodist Church, and the Rev. D. McNeur, of the local church. Accompanied by his choir the former clergymen conducted the service and preached an impressive sermon on the Bible. A feature of the service was the singing of the choir, both in anthems, solos and in the congregational singing. The preacher expressed his pleasure at the exchange and trusted that having now commenced it would continue from time to time.