KAIHIKU ANNUAL SOIREE.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 197, 19 April 1878, Page 6

KAIHIKU ANNUAL SOIREE.

The annual soiree and concert in aid of the funds of the Kaihiku school, took place there on Tuesday evening. The weather throughout the day was wet and stormy but slightly improved towards evening, and there was a very large attendance, the capacity of the school being taxed to the uttermost to afford the necessary accommodation. The Rev. John Waters presided, and after all had assembled a blessing was asked and tea was served. This was provided by the ladies of the district, and was supplied with an abundance, richness, and delicacy, peculiar to the Kaihiku soirees. After tea the company joined in singing the hundredth psalm, after which the choir, under the leadership of Mr Aysou, gave from the Service of Song, " The Mourning Wanderer." The Chairman then addressed the meeting in a few appropriate remarks, and concluded by asking a hearty expression of thanks to the ladies who had so liberally provided the tea and other good things. He assured them lie never attended any soiree where everything was so plentiful and nice as at Kaikiku. — (Applause.) "Work, for the Night is Coming," was next given by the Choir. The Chairman then called upon their old friend — Mr Bannerman, who referred to the condition of - the district when he first visited it, 24 years ago. There was then only a hut on Moa hill and another in Kaihiku bush. The latter was inhabited by three individuals ; two of whom were now dead. He (the speaker) said it was to him a peculiar gratification to witness the advanced position the district now occupied, and the steady progress it was still making. He had no donbt the whole country would yet be peopled as Kaihiku was peopled, and if these were found tobe of the same mind as the Kaihiku people they would in every small district have their church and their school. Mr Bannerman then proceeded to refer to the excellent system of education that had now so long existed in Otago, and explained some of the changes introduced by the new Act. Although that Act was not according to his mind, still it was one for which the people had every reason to be thankful, and he was not disposed to regard it as affording only a godless education as some did. Some seemed to regard the Act as forbidding the imparting of religious instruction in the schools. This was a mistake, as it only provided that secular instruction be imparted by the teachers four hours every school day. Thus the School Committees were left at perfect liberty to arrange for religious instruction being given for Tialf an hour or an hour before or after the hours set apart for the ordinary secular education. He, the speaker, then proceeded to refer to the duties of parents in the matter of education, the duties of ministers of the Gospel, the proper position of Sunday schools, &c. He concluded by pointing out, in the case of colonial youth, &c, the special necessity there existed fcr religious instruction and the inculcation of the duty of obedience to parents upon which subject the young colonials seemed to. hold very loose sentiments. Glee — " Before Jehovah's Awful Throne."— The Choir. Mr Waddell, Warepa, was next called upon, and delivered a very eloquent and stirring popular address. In the course of his speech he humorously depicted the style of teachers and schoolhouses which were to be found in the home country in former days, and pointed out the superior comforts and advantages the youth of the Kaihiku district enjoyed as compared with these. He also referred to the system of education in force in this country, and pointed out, the .duties of ministers, parents, and others in connection therewith. Hymn. — " Yield not to Temptation. "— r The Choir. Song.— "The Sailor's Lament. "-—Miss Gregg. This concluded the first part of the programme, and an ibterval of a few minutes was given. Upon resuming, the Choir gave " Shall we gather; at the Rive^r," from the. Service of Song. *■ - : Mr A. D. Johnston was^ne;xt called upon, and after referringi;t6 old- times in •, .-' - ■ '- ' -;•■■ '-/''-" ,-'"'•- ■• - r v .'••.■' : ■

Kaihihu, explained the extraordinary progress being made in agriculture, church, school, etc., in the Mataura district where he had taken up his abode. Quartette — Messrs and Misses Johnstone. Hymn — "What a Friend we have in Jesus."— The Choir. Reading—" The Queen's Letter."— Mr Moore. "Jerusalem, My Glorious Home." —Choir. Reading — "The Lost Steamer." — Mr Howie. Song— "The Soldier's Return. "—Miss Gregg. Mr Fleming was next called upon, and made a few remarks. The Choir also gave " Beautiful Land on High" from the Service of Song, and Sankey's Hymn, " We are going Home." Mr John Johnston proposed a vote of thanks to the speakers. Mr Bannerman proposed a similar vote to the Choir, and especially to Mr Ayson, the conductor. The various pieces of music he said had been very efficiently and pleasurably rendered, and had contributed, materially to the enjoyment of the evening. Had he been returned to the Education Board he would certainly have brought up the subject of music with a view to its receiving more attention in ! the various schools. With reference to the election of the Board, he took that opportunity of thanking the Kaihiku Committee for nominating and voting for him, and he might mention that he had issued no circulars to School Committees, nor adopted any of the means some of them had had recourse to secure their return. The proceedings were brought to a close at 11 o'clock, the whole having passed off very successfully and pleasurably.