OTAUTAU NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 22767, 18 December 1935, Page 15

OTAUTAU NOTES

SCOTTISH SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING (From Our Correspondent.) The annual meeting of members of St. Andrew’s Scottish Society was held in the Standard buildings on Thursday evening, when Chief D. C. McCrostie presided over a good attendance. The balance-sheet was read, showing a credit of £34 17/8. In his report the chairman said that the society had experienced a successful year. The membership for the past year totalled 147, and they were fortunate in getting good speakers for the various evenings. For Burns night they had Mr Peter Fraser, M.P., and for Hallow-e’en the Rev. Mr McEwan. The New Year’s Eve social had proved quite a success, as also had the Highland ball, which had been inaugurated during the year. They had had five members’ evening., which had been well attended. Some of the members .had a somewhat unique experience in that they were privileged to attend the twenty-first birthday of the Invercargill society, which had proved an allround splendid evening. They had lost a good friend and a staunch member in the person of Mr William Porteous, who had passed away, and who had acted as auditor for a number of years and they had forwarded a wreath as a mark of the respect in which he was held. The chief referred to the fact that they had also lost some good performers by removal from the district, notably Miss V. Bird, Messrs E. and W. Liddell, and the thanks of the members were due to them for the services they had rendered. Thanks were also due to the ladies who had always assisted with the social side of their functions, and they were deeply indebted to them. Financially they were better than ever before, due to the bumpei- social evenings they had had. They were also indebted to Mr M. O’Brien who had lent his sample rooms to the band for practice. He formally moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. In seconding the motion Mr A. Fisher said the society was in a wonderful position, and this had been largely due to the active interest taken by the members. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Before vacating the chair the chief thanked the committee and members for the loyal manner in which they had supported him, making his term a very pleasant one. In proposing Mr David Mitchell for the position Chief McCrostie stated he had been a stalwart for a number of years, and had been a keen member. He had brought the band on by leaps and bounds, and it was a good long time since they, had a “cocky” chief. On taking the chair the newly-elected chief thanked members for the honour conferred,_ and said he would do his best in the interests of the society. Other office-bearers elected were: Chieftains, Messrs C. Steven, G. Low and J. Millar; secretary, Mrs Ireland; treasurer, Mr A. A. Liddell; society’s piper, Mr D. Hawthorne; auditor, Nir G. H. Hodges; foreign correspondent, Mr G. D. Low; signing officers, the secretary and treasurer; committee, Mr and Mrs Maxwell, Mrs J, T. Thomson, Misses M. Low and M. Campbell, Messrs D. Mitchell, H. Pullar, T. Brown, D. C. McCrostie, A. Fisher, A. A. Liddell, J. Millar, D. McGregor, D. Campbell, with power to add. It was resolved that a minute of appreciation of the services of Mr T. Brown as master of ceremonies, be recorded and also a minute of appreciation of the good work done by the retiring chief, it being stated that a good deal of the credit of the successful year’s working had been due to him. It was left in the hands of the secretary to arrange for a speaker for the Burns’ night in January. Presbyterian Sunday School. The annual break-up social of the Otautau Presbyterian Sunday School took place in the Sunday School hall on Friday evening, when there was a large attendance of parents, pupils and friends, over which Rev, W. H. Howes presided. An excellent programme was given by the scholars, each item receiving due recognition. Following were the performers: Pianoforte solo, Mr E. Jellyman; recitation, Beth Gould; song, Allan Fisher; dialogue, “Pedlar of Dreams,” John Chandler, Marion McCrostie, Lesley McCrostie, Marie Birss, Hazel Mackie, Nancy Gutschlag, Nellie McCallum and Madeline Ireland; song, Dorothy Jellyman; banjo solo, Alison Angus; chorus, infant girls and boys; recitations, Dorothy Baker and Allan Sutherland; item, “Good King Wenceslas,” junior choir under the conductorship of Mr Jellyman; recitation, James Thomas; song, Molly Gutschlag; recitation, Alma Denniston; dialogue, “Bustard’s Custard,” Dorothy Baker, Alison Angus, Molly Gutschlag, Zora Sutherland, Dorothy Jellyman and Isla Anderson. The accompaniments were played by Mrs Fisher and Miss McCulloch.

At an interval in the proceedings the chairman apologized for the unadvoidable absence of Mi- G. A. Burnett, superintendent, who had to attend another function, and expressed his pleasure at the large gathering, stating it was the finest turnout of parents and children they had yet had. He was also pleased to see so many children in the Sunday School, and the superintendent had informed him that the teachers had done faithful work during the year, and the pupils had been attentive also. At a later stage the Rev. Mr HoweS proposed a vote of thanks to the performers, to the teachers for their self-sacrificing work, to the ladies who had provided supper, and to all who had contributed in any way to the success of the function. Mr Burnett apologized for not being present in the early part of the proceedings but stated it was very encouraging to see such a happy band of smiling faces assembled together. He said that the Sunday School to-day did not occupy the prominence it should, and exhorted parents to send their children along. The Rev. Mr Howes then presented the prizes as follows: Cradle Roll: Lindsay Gallop, Frank Butler, Keith McCrostie, Ronald Mackie, Anne Birss, Heather Patterson, Vida Sutherland, Shirley Fisher, Russell Officer, Errol Gillan, Raymond Lee, Barbara Ann Lindsay, Jean Margaret Sutherland, Helen Fisher, Chris Brown, Kenneth Patterson, Hugh McCrostie, William Butler, Bevan Brown, Lulu Turvey, Fay Laing, Mervyn Buxton, Alex Edwards, Sheila Sutherland, Baby Willis, Baby Gallop, G. McKenzie, Dawn Hayes, Ivan James, John Hayes, Alfred Coughlan and Rose Coughlan. Miss Shaw’s class: Lessons, Alison McCrostie and Eunice Jellyman 1 (equal), Fay Lindsay 2. Attendance, first class, Jenny Lee, Sally Chisholm, Margaret Fisher, Edna Thomas, Carmen McKenzie, Betty James, Betty Thomas, Gertrude Hawkins, Gladys Hawkins, Dawn Sheedy, Betty Sloan, Sheila Campbell, Noeline Hayes and Dawn Hayes. . - „ Miss McCulloch s class: Lessons, Ewen Sutherland 1, Howard Gould 2, Gordon Dickson 3 Dick Hodges, George Maxwell, David Davidson, Graham Lee, Allan Chandler, Ronnie Mackie, Joseph Dickson, Murray Fisher, Hugh Irving, James Lindsay, Stewart McCrostie, Neil Sutherland, Ronald Leckie, William Dickson, Bruce Sutherland. Miss Chilton’s class: Lessons, Beth Gould 1, Lesley McCrostie 2, Rowena

James and Margaret Dickson 3 (equal). Attendance, third-class, Beth Gould. Miss McGregor’s class: Lessons, Hazel Mackie 1, Alma Denniston 2. Secondclass attendance, Hazel Mackie ana Alma Denniston. Special prize, Marie Birss. Miss Laing’s class: Lessons, Marion McCrostie 1, Nellie McCallum 2, Madeline Ireland 3. Second-class attendance, Nellie McCallum. Conduct, Joan Chandler. . , Miss F. Chilton’s class: Lessons, Dorothy Jellyman 1, Jessie Rowe 2, Molly Gutschlag. First-class attendance, Dorothy Jellyman and Jessie Rowe. Miss Thomson’s class: Lessons, lan Hughes and Allan Simpson 1, Peter Chandler 2 Richard Maxwell 3. Firstclass attendance, Allan Simpson; teacher’s prizes, Allan Simpson and Graham Gould. Mr T. McKenzie’s class: Lessons, Allan Fisher 1, Raymond Kirk 2, Ronald Lindsay 3. Third-class attendance, Allan Fisher, Raymond Kirk, Ronald Lindsay, Bert Chilton, David Mackie, Allan Sutherland and lan Sutherland. Mr J. Campbell’s class: Lessons, Allan McCrostie 1, Basil Jamieson and Walter Hassed 2 (equal), Colin Campbell 3. Good conduct, Basil Jamieson; general excellence, Allan McCrostie; superintendent’s special prize, Allan McCrostie. Miss J. Burnett’s class: Lessons, Zora Sutherland 1, Eileen Hassed 2; conduct, Zora Sutherland; attendance, first-class Alison Angus, second-class Eileen Hassed; superintendent’s special prize, Zora Sutherland. Mr Low’s class: Graham Sutherland 1, James Thomas 2, E. Coombes 3. Saleyards Company. The annual meeting of shareholders of the Otautau Saleyards Co. was held on Friday evening when Mr G. A. Burnett, chairman of directors, presided. The annual report (already published) and balance-shet were submitted. In his remarks the chairman stated that is was very gratifying to see the wonderful way in which stock had kept up, 75,000 having been put through the yards for the year. Some years ago the sheep from the back country were brought in in large mobs, and were offered in large lots. To-day, however, due to the fact that there were more farmers in the district pen lots were smaller in numbers. This necessitated the requirement of more pens and longer’ hours for the disposing of same. In spite of this the big sales had been handled expeditiously, both agents, vendors and buyers being pleased with the service and efficiency given. Increased yard dues had made a difference of £BB in the income. The directors at all times wished to co-operate with those using the yards and to consider any suggestions made. Application had been made to the Stock and Woolbrokers’ Association for a weekly sale during March and April, and he understood that the association had added extra sales to the schedule for 1936.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The retiring directors, Messrs G. A. Burnett and A. Fisher, were re-elected unopposed. Mr Burnett thanked shareholders for again placing such confidence in him by re-electing him to the directorate, and assured them of his continued service and interest in the company. Mr Fisher also returned thanks, and stated he was keenly interested in the yards and in assisting the company at all times. He added that satisfactory arrangements had been made with the Otautau Town Board regarding parking facilities for cars on sale days. During the large sales cars were there in hundreds, but obseiwation of the parking rules were not actually carried out by the farmers, consequently it was much more difficult to handle mobs of sheep going to and from the yards. He trusted that during the coming season all would assist in this direction, thus providing more facilities for the handling of stock. Mr John Fisher was re-appointed auditor. At a subsequent meeting of directors Mr G. A. Burnett was re-appointed chairman. Boy Scouts. At the weekly meeting of the St. Andrew Boy Scouts on Friday evening opportunity was taken to farewell two active members, Scouts Stanley and Geoffrey Butler, who were removing to Dunedin. > Mr W. J. Wesney, chairman of the committee, said it gave him great pleasure to be present in order to express the good wishes of the troop to the departing guests. They had both been good scouts, and had excelled themselves at games and general scout craft. They had also been regular attenders, despite the fact that they lived a good distance out of the township. He asked each to accept a scout knife as a small token of the service they had rendered and of the esteem in which they were held, and he trusted these would serve to remind them of the days they had spent in the Scout troop at Otautau. He wished them every success in their new sphere. Scouters R. R. Walker and F. A. Hill and Scouts Ron Pettitt, J. Wesney, Thomson, Roy Simon and H. Chandler endorsed the remarks of the previous speaker and wished them health, wealth, happiness and good scouting. The recipients suitably acknowledged the gifts, stating they had enjoyed the time spent with the troop in Otautau, and thanked the speakers for their kind remarks and good wishes.