Waihi Notes.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXIX, Issue 8693, 24 March 1897, Page 2

Waihi Notes.

[By Yorick,]

• LITERARY AXD DEBATING SOCIETY. ' This Society has now a firm hold on : the public who attend its ; meetingsin great numbers. This result df their effort.3 ihusfc be very gratifying to the promoters. I trace the interest takeii in the Society by the public, chiefly to the "'moclc Parliament 1 ' series of debates introduced. This. form of discnssion has caught on highly, . and the Government and : Opposition are watched and listened to with quite an ' eager enthusiasm. TJjf first Bill introduced by Mr Staffan's Government ' on Monday week last wis one to pay ■ wofflen the same This proved most mterestiifg iitid entertaining, and the leader of the Opposition, . Mr- Tasker, came out jery strongly, The main argument of,tliQ Opposition was that once women were entitled by law to the same, fages as her brother,, she would cease to be employed. On these, and including broader lines, the House rejected the Bill by a large majority, and Mr-Tasker's party ■ is in power. On Tuesday last, for ' some reason or other,' a weak aud unin-> teresting; discussion' was taken on . " love, courtship, and marriage." , -At the close of this Mr Tasker asked leave •••; of the House to bring in a Bill for " State intervention of the control of the liquor traffic.'' -This, Mr Sfcaffan stated,', was against the rules.of the: Society, religion and the drink traffic' being subjects barred by the Committee, however, he stated, he was ready to enter heart and soul into the r matter, if the majority of. those present were in favor of the Bill being ' introduced by the Government.;: On a vote beiug taken the introduction of the, ■■ Bill, was agrjedupoii. It is quite certain; that this debate will prove-a lively and interesting one, as Mr Staffan, the Opposition leader,- i 5 a.stern prohibi- ■_■■■ tionist, and ho is likely to be supported - ■ by Mrs Edwards,, and Messrs' Ball, Collins and Courtayue, Ou the Government side Mr Tasker, a host in himself, will be supported by Messrs ■ Palmer, Birch, Mollis and Hatherley, The debate takes• place on- Monday-'' first, At. the next meeting of the Society an elocution contest is arranged. to take place.

\ POSTPONED CQNCP.UT. The 1.0. G.T. lmd arranged a concert for Friday, night lasfc, but, at the last-.. moment, postponed it, ou account of - the rain, until Friday next. This is, • rather an unfortunate choice of date, as the Amateur Dramatic-Cllib per- ' form on the Saturday.' .

A.0.0.D. The Pride of Waihi Lodge of Druids is now an accomplished fact. At the opening on Friday week last theie were admitted some 40 members,. Paeroa lodge was very strongly represented, and performed the opening functions. A. great feast was partaken of later, in the evening, and toasts were drunk with a large amount- of enthusiasm. -The speeches were,-by the bye, noticeably weaker than the ' whiskey 1 Hon. Jennings is expected to attend the next raeathg this we .'k to instal the officers of the Lodge, who were duly elected at the opening, '■ WAIIII AT PAEItOA.

St. Patrick's* Day saw a big brakeload.of; our hie away to Pacroa to assist at , the .. Rojnau Catholic concert "ivon there that night. Pour members of the Dramatic Club —• Misses Mary M and Nellie Spargo, and Mesers Mick Johnston and Birch—played two Irish rou-icol sketches, and met with a big success. The ladies especially are to bo congratulated upon the excellence of'tlnir performances, both doing : theMselyea the greatest'credit.' Amongst; other-"Waibi-p'Tforraers.niei'o seen the Lovell Bros., and MrG' o.iKoyse. aUof whom were very successful.

BEASS BAND. Rumour has it that ih? Band, is. ; changing their practise quarters, Host Stevens having offered them his new - drib room for their purpose at an ad- . vantageous figuie. The Band ccncert , on St. Patrick's night was well attended considering the number of people . .. who went. away to Paeroa for the , races. Another show is on the tapis , for two weeks hence, and on Sunday last the band journeyed out to Cap.tain Stuart's at Katikati and dis- ■„ :, T coursed sweet music on the lawn, ' LOCAL, j The development of the New. Zea- » land Exploration Company's scheme -. for the Paeroa-Waihi railway is being - ■ watched with great eagerness here., - Needless to say a large, majority are.,;'';.' hoping it may come to puss. /tL^It is reported that Mr Jack Mcl)onnell is the latest sufferer from typhoid n<y which is still in evidence here. The Foresters are arranging a giand .t concert for abtiut the end of April, The Dramatic Club.have offered their assistance. ' • Wnibii fell ?Gik,