MATAURA NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 22073, 21 July 1933, Page 5

MATAURA NEWS

MATAURA PLUNKET SOCIETY.

(From Our Correspondent.) The quarterly meeting of the executive of the Mataura Plunket Society was held on Tuesday afternoon, there being present Mesdames A. N. MacGibbon (president), R. Hutton (secretary), T. G. Boyd, E. J. Murphy, A. W. Halliday, D. Russell, C. H. Hargest, E. W. Benfel, F. N. Downard, C. D. McConnell. A letter enclosing a donation of 10/6 from the Mataura Horticultural Society was acknowledged with thanks. The Gore branch advised that the annual meeting of that centre would be held on Saturday, 29th inst., and as it was desired that the local branch be represented, the president and secretary indicated their intention of attending. A good deal of discussion ensued on the programme for the forthcoming children’s party and it was arranged to have a maypole dance and also a country dance, while the local company of Girl Guides would provide a display. Lodge Meeting. The usual meeting of the Mataura Rebecca Lodge was held on Tuesday evening, Sister S. Redman presiding over a good attendance. Routine business and correspondence having been dealt with, a bring and buy sale of sweets was held in aid of Lodge funds, a good response resulting. Men’s Meeting. Under the auspices of the recently formed Men’s Club of the Mataura Presbyterian Church about 50 men attended the second meeting of this year’s session, the programme taking the form of community singing, solos, recitations and a continuation of the lecture on “Fiji” by Mr F. N. R. Downard. Mt J. J. Griffith, who was voted to the chair, expressed pleasure at the attendance which indicated interest in the affairs of the club. He paid a tribute to the qualities of the minister of the church, the Rev. D. McNeui, who had done such good work since his arrival in Mataura. He had pleasure in calling upon Mr Downard to give his address.

Mr Downard acknowledged the honour at being requested to continue the lecture he had given last meeting. At the outset he desired to say that the islands had a glamour about them which attracted the young man. There was no denying the fact, however, that many temptations lurked around for the unsuspecting youth; but if he had the grit to withstand them the experience gained would serve him in good stead for future life.. The different varieties of shell life which incidentally provided decorative and commercial means for the natives was also of an intensely interesting character. It was regretted that owing to the importation of an Indian bird severe depredations had been made upon the native birds, but notwithstanding this there was much of interest in this life.

These islands, the lecturer continued, were among the few where the malaria mosquito was absent, but there was a great variety of all kinds of insect and animal life, ants, spiders, hornets, luminous beetles, rats, lizards and brown non-dangerous snakes. Many other phases of island life were given, principally the “Kava” ceremony, and the audience was assisted by a series of photographs as well as a club—a gift to Mr Downard by a native chief. At the conclusion a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the lecturer and the meeting closed with Auld Lang Syne and the National Anthem.