RIVEKTON ART-UNION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 30, 16 November 1888, Page 31

RIVEKTON ART- UNION.

/ ( Wettern Star, November 7.) Oonsidbba»lk excitement was manifested on Saturday over the drawing of the Art-Union tickets at the Oddfellows' Hall. The weather was wet and disagreeable, and consequently the number of country visitors was not so numerous as otherwise would have baen the case, but the townspeople interested rolled up in large numbers, and the Hall, for the last few hours of the drawing, was well filled with those anxious to see if they had been lucky enough to draw a prize. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. Taylor) opened the proceedings at 10 a.m In a few well-chosen sentences he said it gave him very great pleasure to be present to wish success to the undertaking for which the Art-Union had been got up. The drawing then commenced, and was kept up without intermission until 9 p.m. For the first tew hours none of the chief prizes were drawn, the first to be announced being No. 3, the lady's gold watch, which went to Miss B. Leven, a resident at Milton. The first prize was drawn at 5 a.m., and the lucky number was found to belong to Mr. P. Cogan, who lives at Kyeburn. The ticket denoting that the holder was to become possessed ot a double-furrow plough came out of the box about 7 p.m. ; this prize also went to a distance, the ticketholder being at Waikouaiti, the name of the winner being Master B. Cain, son of a farmer at Beacousfield. As the lad's father had taken a whole book of tickets, the luck of a member of the family was well-deserved. Although the chief prizes went away from Southland, the remaining ones were pretty evenly divided over where the tickets were held. Among those who are known to have drawn prizes in the Western District might be mentioned, 6th prize, silver watch, Mr. D. Hart, Otautau ; 9th, History of Ireland, Mr. J. McKay, Gummie's Bush ; 13th, lady's gold ring. Mr. E. H. Bruce, Riverton. The fourth prize, sewing machine, was secured by Mrs. Hill, Invercargill. It might be mentioned that, at the request of the Rev. Father Walsh, the drawing was altogether conducted by Protestants. In our advertising columns will be found the numbers of the winning tickets, together with the prize numbers. A declaration under the band of the Mayor is at foot, setting forth that the drawing was carried out in the fairest possible manner. This, we should have thought, was hardly necessary, but those who directed the affairs of the Art Union are regular sticklers, and insisted on having everything carried out in such a manner that no one could possibly complain. The Rev. Father Walsh, at the conclusion of the drawing, said :— Ladies and Gentlemen,— lt is not my intention at this late hour of night to detain you with along speech ; however, the close of tbe Art-Union calls for a few remarks on my part. Tbe drawing has be in now very successfully brought to a close. His Worship the Mayor delivered a very able and instructive inaugural address this morning, and alter declaring toe Art- Union openeJ, tbe drawing has been carried on unceasingly during the day and a portion of the night with great credit to all concerned. The gentlemen engaged in the drawing deserve the greatest praise for the unflagging zeal, unflinching patience, and steady perseverance which they brought to their allotted task. On this account we have been able to bring the drawing to a conclusion much sooner than anticipated. From what has fallen under your own notice during the day, you will no doubt be fully impressed with the thorough fairness with which it was conducted— in a public hall, under mayoral auspices, and in your own presence ; by such tiieans as these you have given undeniable evidence of the just and honorable method by which the fate of all interested has been just decided. You will. I am certain, ba gl-id to learn that the Art- Union is a grand financial succefs ; after all the labour, and all the anxiety as to the result, this is very satisfactory and very consoling. The Catholics of tijia mission have now within their reach the means of liquidating the entire debt on their churches and presbytery. This success, no doubt, is due to seveial causes : In tbe first place it is due to tbe union and harmony with which the Catholics worked, as well as to the untiring energy with which they laboured in their own cause. In the second place much of the success is due to the kind, liberul and very generous patronage accorded us by our nonCatholic friends — particulaily in this and surrounding districts, and throughout all Otago and Southland. And in the third plac^, the zealous and generous co- iperatiou of our Catholic brethren throughout the Colony has largely contributed to bring about tbe grand result just achieved. We have every rtaaon to be grateful to a kind and beneficent Providcacd, which has inspired all to work so harmoniously in such a praiseworthy and deserving cause, and with such eminent success. I regret much that few, if any, of the valuable prizes remain in Riverton. However, as the result just arnvod at is entirely your own work, you mu3t not be dissatitfied. You have been good enough to send avray the best of the prizes to other placte; and in doing so. you wer^, perhaps, only giving further proof of the good taste and consideration tor others which are your usual characteristics. I beg to tbank you very mucb. To the Mayor, who so ably presided at the drawing, to you, ladies and gentlemen, to ail our Catholic and non-Catholic i'neuds throughout the Colony, who have rendered the least assistance to our Art-Union, oa my own account, and on behalf of ihe Catholics of this mission, I de.-ire to tender the expression ut our sincerubt gratitude. We are pleased to be able to state that as a result of the ArtUnion, the whole of tbe debt existing on the Catholic churches at fcivertou, Orepuki and Wrey'd Bu&h has been paid off. Altogether the sum of £532 was realised.