BLACKS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1065, 22 September 1882, Page 3

BLACKS.

From our own Correspondent. The Dunstan Presbytery met at Blacks at noon on the 20th inst. There were p;e.. a.r,t : The fieverend Messrs Cosh Smith, Naseby ; Blackie, Cromwel ; Telford, Roxburgh ; Lolran, Alexandra ; also Messrs Hanson. Alexandra ; and Paterson, Black stone Hill. The only proceeding of interest to this portion of the district was the depu tation of delegatas from the different divisions of the district relative to taking steps to form this district into what is termed a permanent charge, the district at present to inclu le Black o , Matakanui, Cambrians, S . Balkans and Beck’s. The Fresh, tery ixp'ained the condi thins under whic t this could be carried into effect, also the provision under which grants for building a manse are obtained, both of which are wiihin the power of the people themselves if they •choose to exercise it, and I think there is good hopes of the matter being successfully carried out. The only thing likely to create a division of opinion will he the location of the manse, hut in matters of this sort it is impossible to please everyone ; but no doubt the committee to be elected by the diff rent oongrega’ions will be able to select a site which will at least please a la r ge majority of the district The social gathering in connection with the above meeting turned out a decided aui'ccss, and taking into consideration that th ■ affair was got up in the short space of eight or ten pays, great credit is due to ail the performers. Blacks sometimes fails in bringing musical talent to the fotegr mnd, but. it was not so on this occasion ; every lover of music must have been delighted with the high class performances of the evening. I have a thorough aversion in such like entertainments when all do so well, to single out and c riticise one by one . tbe several peiforraers, and I have n<> in ten ion of dour; so in thri occasion ; suffi :e. to say the chair was ably fillel by Mr Blackie.who now and again introduced amusing anecdotes with a sort of a “ pawky” tinge about them which took amazingly. Mr Millar Smith, (to whom 1 will refer lurewhom I tray term a musical en'husiast, was ably assisted in the vocal department by Mr. Ross and the Cambrians choir of five or six la-lies and genTtmen (whose names 1 did not hea ) contributing to tho evening’s harmony. In the instrumental division Messrs Campbell and Bdl played some beautiful pieces—solos and duets—in their customary excellent style, also chorded in several of the choruses given by the choir. Mr. Chappie, junr , gave a couple of recitations in a faithful manner ; the rendering of the piece entitled (1 think) 41 Demon Drink,” being most masterly The Revs. Cosh Smith, Telford, and B ackie give some appreciable addresses during tho The task of returning thanks to the performers, both local and instrumental, devolved upon the former Rev. gentleman, and to say that he was lay no means niggardly in his praise is but to speak mildly ; he f rirly ranged into the eloquent and ca - rted the assembly with him. The same y gentleman also pronounced the benediction at the close. Now with respect to Mr. Millar Smi'h. that gentleman has been es'ablished in the Blacks, or, I think I may f drly term it, the Lander (Presbyterian) district for over a year past, and a special feature of the meeting was to bid him farewell, he being about to retire ftom the district and to take charge of the Christian Young Men s Association Rooms in Dunedin. He, as it were, was put on his trial, and tbe unanimous verdict wns that he was an ■energetic good (musical) Christian, and that the deepest regret was expressed at his departure. The Rev. Cosh S t ith, whilst re turning thanks, referred to Mr Miliar Smith and his labors, saying that the Presbytery as well as the district regretted exceedingly his leaving, which I look upon as as graceful a compliment as could Lave been pai l him. In tbe course of his reply he said he regretted leaving a district where be bad lieen eo kindly treated, and in addressing the young men sidd be would be happy to to sec any of them in Dunedin when be woul l give them a hearty shake of the baud and endeavour to make them happv and comfortable. The evening was a truly enjoyable one, and it is to lie hoped it is but the precursor of many each.

INTERPROVINCIAL. Rewards to tho amount of £IOSO are offered in last Tuesday’s papers for the detection of the recent incendiaries in Canterbury. A monster public meeting was held at Beefton on Monday night re the East and West Coast railway, and resolutions wre adopted unanimously endorsing the action taken in the matter by the inhabitants of Canterbury, and affirming the desirability of co operating with the Christchurch people. A. railway league was formed, and the names of all influential residents enrolled. The agitation will be actively followed up. The appearance of the comet, clea-ly visible at Wellington at 2 o’clock on the 19th, created considerable excitement. It was a moat brilliant object, even to the naked eye, when seen from the shadow of a building shutting off the snn. Dr Hector states that it was within five degrees of the sun, and rapidly approaching it. He has observed it nightly since the 11th inst., and expects that it will get round the sun to morrow, when the snn also crosses the equator, being the equinox. After g-t----ting around thesun its course will be towards the No thern Hemisphere, and it Will not be visible here after sunset. Dr Hector says the head strongly resembles tho engravings of Danati’s comet. The tail is short, but very fanlike