MATAURA NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 22207, 27 December 1933, Page 9

MATAURA NEWS

GLENCOE SCHOOL. (From Our Correspondent). The annual concert by the Glencoe schoolchildren was held simultaneously with the prize-giving and took place in the school, when there was an excellent attendance of parents to witness the performances of the children. Mr G. H. Mackay, chairman of the School Committee, presided and after briefly mentioning the objects of the gathering called upon the school teacher, Miss Meyer, and under her direction the pupils presented a lengthy programme of solos, duets, folk dances, character sketches and dialogues in a very pleasing manner. Special mention must be made of the despatch with which the items were given—a tribute to the organization of Miss Meyer, hollowing the concert each child was presented by the chairman with a book, and special prizes, donated by Miss Meyer were awarded to Isobel Rance for neatness, Winnie Mackay for severing and Robert Sutton for agriculture. Thirteen attendance; certificates were presented out of a roll number of twenty-two.

The opportunity was also taken to farewell Miss Meyer, who has secured another position in Otago. Mr Sutton stated that it was with genuine regret that the people of the district learnt oi her imepnaing departure. She had taken a very keen interest in the social life of the community and her valued help would be greatly missed. He eulogized her work as organizer for the services conducted by the Presbyterian Church and Salvation Army, while the series of “snowball” evenings inaugurated to augment the congregational funds of the former body had had her entire support. The concert they had just listened to indicated that their departing teacher had a special gift for bringing the best out of the children and he concluded by wishing her success in her new sphere. Further complimentary remarks, indicative of the esteem in which Miss Meyer was held, were made by Messrs G. H. Mackay (chairman of the School Committee) and J. Graham (secretary of the Church Committee), the former asking her acceptance of two pieces of crystal ware—a rose bowl and salad bowl with servers—and assuring her that the thanks of parents and district residents went with them. Musical honours were accorded Miss Meyer when she rose to respond She thanked the speakers for their remarks and the residents for their handsome presents which would remind her of her happy two years among them. The opportunity was taken to present

to Mrs J. Sanderson the MacKinnon Trust medal for most points in agricultural products at the recent Hedgehope Horticultural Show. Personal. Mr and Mrs N. Sandes and their daughter, Shirley, are the guests of Mr and Mrs D. M. Lockhart, Suburb street. Mr R. E. Burns, of the Land and Income Tax Department, Wellington, is spending his annual holidays with his parents, Mr and Mrs Bums, Bristol street. Mr Allan Scott, son of Mr and Mrs W. L. Scott, “Pinegrove,” Mataura, who has been a student at Lincoln College for the last two years, has been advised that he has been successful in obtaining his diploma in agriculture. Mr and Mrs W. J. Mair, of Ross Place, Lawrence, are visitors to Mataura as the guests of Mr and Mrs A . N. Mac Gibbon, Kana street. Christmas Shopping. Inquiries made from several business houses in Mataura indicated that business had been exceptionally good throughout the Christmas shopping period. It was apparent that presents of a more useful nature had been selected in most cases. Large crowds paraded the shopping area on Saturday night and a spirit of jollity prevailed. The proceedings were considerably enlivened by selections by the Mataura Brass and Pipe Bands, while the small boys were, as usual, evident with crackers. Unfortunately heavy rain commenced to fall at about 9.30 p.m., I but even this did not dampen the ' ardour of the crowds. Altogether the Christmas trade of 1933 was most encouraging. Brydone School. The annual school concert at Brydone was held in the public hall, when i there was a splendid attendance of > parents. The prizes won throughout i the year were also presented by Mr > S. Rice, chairman of the Southland Education Board. Following is the prize list:— Form ll.—Gordon Smith 1, Ella McDonald 2, Joan Mountfield 3. Form 2.—Colin Baynes 1, Emilv Fuller 2, George Kennedy 3. Std. 4. —Horace Dillon 1. James Kennedy 2, Flora McDonald 3. Std. 3.—John Archibald 1. Ruby Smith 2, Ralph Baynes 3. Std. 2.—Lindsay Bagrie 1, Sylvia Mason 2, William O’Donnell 3. Std. I.—lan Squires 1, Robert Baynes 2, Phyllis Burgess 3. P. A—James O’Donnell and Winifred McDonald. P. 1. —Monica Cooney, Phyllis Spencer. Graham Squires, Leo Cooney.. Committee’s sewing prize.—Senior, 1 Emily Fuller; junior, Sylvia Mason.

j NATURE—AND MAN A SADNESS OF SUMMER. CARELESS FIRE-RAISERS. (Edited by Leo Fanning.) When I have seen the glory of the sky At dawn; have heard the music of the I wind; ; Seen white mists moving ‘round a mountain high; Read poetry to treasure in my mind; Remarke-I pale sunshine slanting o’er a lake; • Lived in a storm and felt the cold rain wet My brow; known the warm sun and watched it make 1 Flow’r petals soft unfold, and so beget 1 A greater beauty, when I have wandered ! Alone by the wind-tossed sea, when the tide 1 Preys on the lajxd; have waited quiet, and heard A tui call, and seen it dart aside , Then doth my heart rejoice, my soul up1 rise; ' And is not of this Earth but Paradise! ‘ —M. von Keisenberg in the “New Zealand Railways Magazine.” In the bright colourful country of New Zealand summer brings its own special pleasures and inspirations to nature-lovers, but it is frought with one dread—the fires that mar or wholly destroy beautiful native forest. Although the driest period of the season is ordinarily after Christmas, already some noble scenery of the [ Marlborough Sounds has perished in flames, and a pall of smoke has been hanging over a stretch of the Orongoronga range, visible from Wellington City. I Usually this loss of a delightful asset lis due to the carelessness of picnic parties or other excursionists. Unquenched ashes of cooking fires or “live” butts of cigarettes or pipe dotties may be the cause of a deplorable flare. Even an empty bottle conceni trating the sun’s rays on highly ini flammable material may start a coni flagration. The smoke of these horrible I fires is a reminder that the beauty of ■ nature is offered up as a sacrifice to I the devils of carelessness and recklessness. The destruction of the woods is a triple loss—the loss of charming

In addition each pupil attending the school received a prize. Prior to the distribution of the prizes an enjoyble concert programme was given, those contributing being: “Minuet,” primers; recitation, Stds. 1 and 2 boys; drill, boys; song and dance, Stds. 1 and 2 girls; songs, senior pupils; play, “Red Riding Hood,” Stds. 1 and 2; pianoforte duet, F. and R. Smith: song and dance. S. Mason and E Fuller; “Our Band,” juniors; song, senior girls; song, juniors; song, juniors; drill, senior girls; “Farmyard Song,” juniors; play, senior boys; song, pupils.

scenery, the loss of shelter and food for native birds, the loss of protective covering on the slopes of watersheds. Year after year appeals have been made for careful conduct in the forests, but the disastrous fires do not cease. In many cases the basic cause is that many individuals lack a proper sense of responsibility to the general community. As an example of that attitude one may mention the selfish stupidity of some men who belonged to a public works camp in a northern district of the North Island some years ago. While they were out hunting during the week-end, some wild pigs took cover in a clump of thick bracken and scrub. The men set fire to the vegetation, and thus began a blaze which spread to a native forest and destroyed many acres of big trees, centuries old. The Famous John Audubon. Occasional reference to the Audubon Societies of the U.S.A in the “Nature— And Man” series has induced a correspondent to ask a simple question: “Why the name Audubon?” Well, that name of the nature-cult associations is the perpetual honouring of a great man, John James Audubon. “It is doubtful whether the life of any other great American has become more invested with undying interest and romantic charm than that of John James Audubon, illustrious naturalist and painter of birds,” writes Alden Hadley in “Bird Lore.” “Audubon was born on April 26, 1785 on the Island of Haiti His father was a' French sea-captain, and early in life young Audubon was taken to France where his boyhood days were spent. In his early manhood his father sent him to look after an estate in Pennsylvania. Here he lived for a time, and here he met and later married Lucy Bakewell, without whose unwavering faith and constant devotion Audubon could not have successfully completed his great life-work. This was the painting of pictures, in life-size, of North Ameri- | can birds, and the writing of their i descriptions. To this task Audubon set himself with loving enthusiasm and grim determination. The great work which he had undertaken required much time, and there was a family to support. Before long, all his property was gone and, from time to time, he was compelled to turn his hand to var- | ious callings in order to keep the wolf from the door. He gave fencing, dancing and music lessons. He also tried business, but at this he was a failure He painted portraits, landscapes and street signs. During this time, too, he 1 travelled many thousands of miles, collecting and studying birds whose beautiful likenesses were portrayed in colour by the genius of his brush. At one time he lived in Kentucky; at an- I other in Lousiana. |

“After many years full of hardships and disappointments it seemed that Audubon’s dream of painting and describing the birds of America was about to be fulfilled. There yet remained, however, the very difficult task of raising money and securing a publisher who could faithfully reproduce these great paintings in the form of life-size colour plates. Such an individual Audubon at last found in London. England, in the person of Robert Havell. Thirteen years were required to complete the publication of the Elephant Folio Edition of the ‘Birds of America, and Audubon himself took subscriptions for the sets at 1000 dollars each.” The kind of work which John Audubon did for the birds of the U.S.A, is being done for New Zealand birds by the Native Bird Protection Society. Already the society has published one helpful book with a number of reproductions of full-coloured paintings of birds, and other pictures are in readiness for similar use when the financial position permits the enterprise. Imprisonment of Birds. Great Britain has a law which prohibits the capture of certain wild birds for sale, and forbids the sale of such birds. In the original Bill, promoted by Lord Buckmaster, power was sought to prevent the keeping of such birds in cages, but unfortunately this section was struck out. However, distinguished men and women are busy in a campaign for the rousing of public opinion against the callous or thoughtless imprisonment of wild birds, and the friends of freedom will win, if their present zeal is maintained. “The caged wild bird cult,” says Dr. Moon, “only exists because the supporters de not know of the cruelty attaching to the capture and taming of the victims, and base their judgment on the hardy birds that survive. If they realized that for every survivor they see ten die, under horrible conI ditions, many who support the cult would cease to do so. My advise to | those who doubt the cruelty of the caged wild bird traffic is to see the various stages of capture and training from start to finish. Or, if that is not possible, accept the statements of those who have—and nine out of ten will cease to support a system they | know is iniquitous. Owners of caged birds will use many specious arguments to prove how their birds prefer the safety of captivity to the perils of freedom. Do not believe them, for they don’t believe it themselves. The 1 birds will continue to exist as prisonI ers, but their whole attitude, as they sit dully in their prisons, bewildered and unhappy, is one of protes 4 against restraint. Wild things crave one thing | alone in life, and that is freedom.” “The subject of caging -wild birds,”

states Miss Irene Vanbrugh, “is one upon which no one can reflect without sorrow for their sufferings and horror that so much cruelty can be inflicted, even if ignorantly and unthinkingly. . Every stretch of woodland or of open country and every garden should be a sanctuary for all species of wild birds, and the law should be only concerned with the limitation of such birds as are a danger to agriculture.”