AHURIRI.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 186, 1 February 1878, Page 6

AHURIRI.

[FKOM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Tlie sun ro-^e on tbe 25th uit. in all his glory, and tbe day broke with sublimity on this important district, but owing to unexplainable indifference, bred of familiarity. I was not in attendance, being otherwise engaged renewing brain tissue. During the .early portion of the forenoon the weather appeared threatening, which caused a. perceptible sinking of my heart, which naturally led me to suppose it would be found in tlie region of my boots ; and lo ! fathom it who can, it was aotually-in my mouth. As the day wore on, brighter prospects cheered, culminating in a lovely evening. Start not, gentle readers, when I tell you that this was the evening of our annual soiree. The cakes and the Committee, the tea and the table-covers appeared on the scene ; the billet-doux, or shall I say the two billies, were susspended ; the tea and mirth were infused, rimples of the later suffused the countenances of the yonng of all ages in j.*.*)7B. The children gathered, the guests flocked in, and all were evidently bent on pleasing and being pleased, the very tables intuitively aware that it would bt-out of placeto groan, swallowed their feelings, whilst the bipeds discussed topics and comestibles numerous and varied. For my own part, having succeeded in circumventing three cups of tea, I found myselt in first-rate fettle for the second part of the programme. And here let me say that the Committee were most handsomely encouraged in their efforts by Messrs Somerville and Paterson, who sent, tea, sugar, and lollies galore. Undoubtedly the feature of the evening which will survive the longest in our memories, was the singing of the ladies, who responded with the most amiable good nature to the wishes of an audience composed of sensible and susceptible critics who listened with wrapt attention to the entrancing melodies. The readings were immensely appreciated, if one may judge from the running fire of whispered comments accompanied therein, and in their turn were succeeded by the mazy evolutions of the terpsichorean devotees —

"No rest till morn .when youth and pleasure

meet, To chase the glowing hours with flying feet."

" Fiddlers three " vied with each other in enlivening the proceedings, and a most enjoyable evening's social reunion resulted in a considerable benefit to the school funds. Some of our friends were prevented from coming by sickness and other untoward causes, but we trust to welcome them on some future occasion.

The new School Committee was an-

pointed on Monday evening, and I may mention that letters from Messrs J. W. Thomson and John Somerville, containing their consent to be nominated as members of tbe new Education Board have come to hand, and will be laid before the Committee this (Friday) evening. It will be very necessary for the School Committes of the Ciutha.and surrounding districts to unite in endeavouring to secure the return of representatives living in their midst. Mr Wright, a theological student, has been sent to minister to our spiritual wants for two months by the Church Extension Committee, and has proved himself an indefatigable worker, adding to his labours the organisation of Sabbath schools, connected with .^hich there is to be a monster picnic in the

Lfuvi-r Owake. It is proposed to apply -o Mr Morris (who will shortly be at liberty) for his services as n resident mi.-sionary. lam al'mid that, ihe work •■eopssary to be dons- in so wide a fi i ud, will prove too math for any hut a man in the vi»-o.* ot yont:!., but, in any case it rem ;*i n s for the district to prove that- ita relic-ion ia essentially one cf lite, verve, and uutving- ofpur.se strings. What about ihe Catlins River railway 1 Row is it coming? When is it. coming? Where is it coming* 1 . The Hon. the Minister of Public Works having promised that the line shall be surveyed as soon ns a sufficient staif of surveyors can be spared for that purpose, it remains for the Committee appointed, to see tbat no such occasion is lost to us for want of an opportune and fitting pressure of our claims. I have no late reliable news as to the amount of corn in Egypt, but there is a very considerable quaritity in Ahuriri, one settler having just thrashed out, some twenty-two hundred bushels of last year's crop, and a pplendid sample I am fold, whilst, as for the new, I am much mistaken if this district does not prove once moie that it can do something more than hold its own among all comers for the production of oats. The ingathering will be late. Let us hope that the season will be propitious.