Ashurst Notes

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 51, 6 October 1888, Page 2

Ashurst Notes

« fFEOM OTTR CORRESPONDENT.] Ashurst is looking for a little stir now that the contract for the Pohangina bridge is let, as it will be certain to give employment to a good many hands. We are a very religious people, Anglican, Wesleyan, Salvation Army, and the Brethren each having' regular meetings, and yet there are many who worship at other shrines, and not a few who consider they worship nowhere. Considering the size of the town we are as woll off for amusements : two halls for rinking, dancing, plays, &c. ; and, I believe, m the hall belonging to Mr T. Nelson, a billiard table is soon to be put up, if indeed it is not there already. Mi Nelson has an eye for the bawbees. The wrestling fad has had a turn here too : scene, the new hall ; contestants, two men from the Gorge ; stakes, £5. On Friday night the Dramatic Club gave an enteitainment in the new hall, consisting of Christy Minstrels, songs, recitations, and a farce. The Christy Minstrel part was not up to the average. Wilson in " My father's picture," Stevens in " Under the parlour stairs," Dooley in " Laughing' and " Sally Ann" did very well, and Mr Sexton recited two pieces very creditably ; but the jokes were rather stale, and fell flat on that account, or because the audience did not always catch the point. Mr Freeman presided efficiently, as he always does, at the piano. After the Minstrels came a farce entitled "Tricks," in which a man who had adopted a girl when she was a child finds she has become heiress to a hundred thousand dollars, and wishes to marry the girl to get the dollars. He is, however, tricked and outtricked into marrying the servant girl by mistake for the heiress, while she marries the man of her choice. Mr Sanders took the part of master, Miss Nellie Craven was the heiress, Mr Crabb her lover, Mrs Jennings ' the servant, Mr Dooley the servant man, ! and Mr Crayen was the Jnstice who married tne master and servant. Very little acting was required, but what was wanted was very fairly carried oat by all, and the efforts of the Club, and the purpose for which both farce and songs were given, merited a better audience. The obiect was to supplement the capitation allowance to the public school which has been cut down one half, and is not sufficient to make both ends meet in echo 1 management. About £3 would be handed to the Committee, but had people the c ■ ucation of their children as much at heart as they should have, the amount woald have been at least doubled. The school has been closed since the examination for a month on account of the serious illness of Mr Campbell, the head teaoher. I hear he is much better, and the acnool re-opens on October Bth. The examination was a very successful one. 87 per C 9 it. having passed; If it is true that No. 6 ward loan has been granted, aB I hear, I suppose we ; h al • have the r n nroach of having ::o *.•<.> roads in the district' taken »w»y uoavuß. . ..,,■',..,.