CAMPBELLTOWN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 59, 25 March 1881, Page 2

CAMPBELLTOWN.

(FROM: OIK OWN CJiIUESrONUEST.) CiMPniLLTJWN, M roh 19. N<itwtth«U*rliu» the iiicl<'*n<iucy of the wua'.htir in the forouoo i >>f Ttiii'dlay lint, in c'e-irrtil away to war Is th<* afterno ni. and .im added ib i i lera'dv- t < ths a ten 'an.c .»'.» aoiren iu'ul at the son » »1. T'nneh • •' 2om:nittea were hard to work f .o.n early : i ."•riiiu^ getting tables and siati r_vly f<\'. tlie occasion. Aliout 3 o'clock all was i-rtady, aild (.ha p -oitle be/vi to gather fr-im c lit, wcsc, uorch, aud so itti, uxtund.ng as far as Foxton and Sandon. A look at the four tables, elegantly aud sumtuously supplied by Mesdames Browning, Staff, Ransom, Hunt, Bull, Gray, Mitchell, aud Miss Porter, showed them worthy of great credit. Everything that is nica and good was there. At a littlo after four o'clock the building was full. A blessing was given out by the Rev. Mr Harper, which was sung by the people, and then tea was served. Justice, lam sure, was done to the good things, from the lookß and obstinate manner of some of the guests. All were able to Bit at the table with the exception of a few children, who were seen to by the ladies. After an interval of about an hour, during which the committee were i vigorously employed cleaning away the tables, aud the visitors were enjoying themselves playing games, feats of strength and elasticity, Mr Sanson, with several ladies, arrived, having been unavoidably delayed on the road. By the time he and his lady friends had refreshed themselves, and the lights were throwing their luminous rays throughout the building, showing the varnished crossties and dado work, also the light blue wall and white painted roof to advantage, the people began to assemble once more. The seats were all filled, and every one seemed to be seated comfortably. At the south end of the building, where one of the tables waa left with fruit, sweetmeats, &c. , on it, was the chair. Mr James Raid, the secretary to the committee, invited Mr Heury Sanson to take the chair, which was occupied by that gentleman, who in opening the meeting delivered a neat and eloquent speech, admiring the design of the school and the professional work of the contractors, who ha-1 spared no expense in making their work a credit to them. He explained to the people that the school would have to be open at least a week in this month, so that the Board will be able to send in the return of attendance, &c, to the Minister of Education, as the second quarter commenced in March, and if they did not open the school this mouth the Board would have to pay teacher's salary aud other requisites for a whole quarter and receive no remuneration from Government. He waa glad to inform them that the committee had two days previously received five applications, with testimonials, from the Board, asking the committee to recommend one of the applicants as teacher, which they had done, and he believed they had selected a very good man, tit in every respect to fill the position. After discoursing for some time he apologised for taking up so much of the evening, but wonld now proceed with the programme, and had much pleasure in calling upon Mr James Reid for a song. Mr Reid, on rising, apologised for the non-at-tendance of several gentlemen whom we had (as secretary to the committee) invited, some of whom wer* asked to sing, rfo had no idea of having to sing until that evening, and the reason why he had to be the tirst was on account of the bashfulness of the other gentlemen who were to oblige. Soliciting the audience to overlook auy shortcomings that might occur, he then sang " The Wheel of Life," a motto song, which nearly brought down the building with applause. It was a very good song, which delighted the ladies, I have no doubt. "Hold fast the reins," a motto song by Mr J. Reid, was fairly rendered. " What I saw in the tire as I sat in my chair," by Mr R-id, was applauded, being verj well sung. Mr John Sanson sang two songs, " Thy voice is near" and " Little Sister's gone to sleep," which were applauded, being very creditably rendered. He has a very sweet voice, but I think if a little stronger would be improved. Mr Kirk, of the New Zealand Bank, Sanson, gave two humorous songs. "The Bashful Youug Man," with the delineation of the character, took very well, and elicited applause. " Little pigs," a very funny soug by Mr Kirk, was very well rendered. Two sougs by Mr Slade, one of the contractors, were to my idea the best of the evening. I oould not catch the words, being rather indistinct, but the musio was Btibblimo. Mr Slade haa a baritone voice of great compass. Mr Taylor, of Marton gave "Jack's Yam," very well, but I should say a little praotice would improve his sin ring. Mr Borrisen, of Campbelltown, sang " Wont you buy my pretty flowers. " The firrt two verses. I think, were German and the remainder E_„liuh. However, it was sung very well indeed. Mr Borrisen has a very sweet voice. A little more pleading expression in the song would have improved it. Mrs Dowling, of Feilding, gave several selections very creditably on the harm *.niu*n. Mr George Hedges, of Sanson, was to have ;iven several humorous readings and recitations, but did not feel equal to the occasion. Mr Reid, in rising to tender the thanks of the committee to those ladies who had so kindly and so liberally assisted them, said that he had seen and heard remarks re the school being too good for Campbelltown, but he failed to see it. He said that on one occasion he wrote to the Education Board, pointing out to thtm that in the precincts of the settlement 'here were two saw mills, one in particular, Messrs Freeman & Wylds', where dressed t'inber of all descriptions were to lie had at a ver> low rate, which he, the speaker, thought had influenced the Board to give their architect special directions, as it would not entail any further outlay than a school built of rough timber at say Sanson or Foxton, and he honed that the important remarks made by Mr Sanson would be carried out, and that when the school wa* onened, due notice of which would he given, the children would be sent to school, as many as possible, and that the parents or guardians wonld not be guilty of hackdidiug. He (the sneaker) also hoped that ojr obildren (Mr Reid being a bachelor occasioned excessive laugh tor and cheers. Sut he politely a<«ked to bo allowed to say so being one of the committee) would be taught, not only knowledge that would make thens fit for and useful in thia world, but that we ourselves should be taught with the children that higher knowledge pertaining to immortality. He again thanked the ladies for their kind assistance, which was carried by acclamation. A vote of thanks to the Chai-man, proposed by Mr Reid, and which was courteously replied to by Mr Sanson, followed, and then closed our very successful meeting by singing "God save the Queen." There were over 150 guests, but judging from the proceeds, which amounted to £6 8s 6d, plus £1 Is from J. M'Lennan, E*q., a good many went away without paying, owing to the careless plan the committee had in sending round the plate after several had left the tables However, they still have the opportunity of contributing towards, the funds, which are to bs applied to tho ■

n-.iroiiaie of a ha-m uii'im for D.viaeSjrviid A_yc'uitrib'ition will be thankfully received by Mr J. Reid, Secretary, or any of the O'm-nittee. it, i, with heart felt regret that I have t-i chronica \.h<s death <>£ o-ie nf our number, who, I h.p*, ban gone to a better world. Mr II Denton, of Campbelltown, to whom I refer, was tt young man, having only :«ta : ved hij twenty-first year. The d ce.;s jlhal be i ailing f--» p ,llts liat fm T or Aye wouk-i, *mfc was ultimately compelled to go to S-or?on. hit S i.-j;;.--.y wsek to lw nearer mtdicai aid. Ha gradually became w.irms till Saturday lrwt, 19th inst. when hi died fr.nn typhoid Lv_r. Ho was buried on Monday, at the cemetery, Sandon, when several of th_ deceased's old friends availed themselves of the opportunity of paying their last respect to hia memory. Mr H. A. Whitcombe, of Marton, was ] recommended by the local committee as a suitable teacher for the school They asked the Board to appoint at once.