ST. BATHANS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 106, 10 March 1871, Page 3

ST. BATHANS.

March 5. On Tuesday, 2Sth February, a musical and dramatic entertainment, in aid of the Dunstan District Hospital fund, was given in the schoolroom here. The house was literally crammed. Mr. Pu<rton delivered an interesting address, in which were; embodied the history of the hospital and its present financial position, as also the number of persons who were admitted to the hospital during the last year or two. Songs by Messrs: Murray, Pyle, and Kelty drew, .down merited applause-, while the recitation—Sergeant Buafuz's : Address to the Jury, from the great trial scene, Bard ell; v. Pickwick—crivera fey Mr. George, was the most effective of the k&od ever heard here, and I question if it could be excelled anywhere else. Mr. George's make-up was perfect; so much so, that if a stranger happened to drop in without any previous knowledge of what was going on, he might well be excused for supposing himself in a law court and the solemn presence of a learned barrister eloquently pleading the cause of a much injured client. Mr. MacCormidk danced the Highland fling and sailor's hornpipe in character, and in his usual fine style. The musical part was under the direction of Mr. J. Melvyn. "When an interval of ten minutes was announced, Mr. George was cal'led before the curtain, and received a regular ovation for the leading part he had taken since lie came here in raisinomoney for the hospital, and great re-

'" gret was expressed by the audieace upon hearing that lie was leaving the district in a few days. . ■ - The news of Mr. Mervyn's intention fe to contest the -district for the honor of W a seat in the Provincial Council arrived I too la*te td £ain for him the full mea- ' sure of support which his experience and honesty entitled him to. Most people in this place had previouslypledged themselves to "plump" for " Hpriest John Armstrong," and;l con-' .sider that most of them will do so, or, af-»few-«plit'their votes withMr. ; Mervyn, it is all they can honestly ido uifi- , 4er the I

i A.lar<re quantity of snow fell on the 'range* on Tuesday'night-" Some person has had the misfortune —I would call it —to shoot a fow belonging to Mr. Eaglo. The belief of many persons whom I have heard speak of the matter is, that the party firing the shot did, so with the intention of frightening the animal out of damage, not thinking that common -shot would take such deadly effect. lam inclined to this belief myself, for the reason that the owner of the cow is long known '4nd well respected in the neighborhood. Everyone feels dissatisfied that such a thing should have occurred, ; and it is more than probable that the person who. caused it feels more dissatisfied than all the others put together. But mere expressions of sympathy will not compensate the owner fer the loss (however unintentional) of a valuable cow. Besides, it is just.,possible that the owner (Mr. Eagle) may set the, act down—-rightly or a feeling of " malice aforethought,'' and that; perhaps his neighbors in; such a case cared not to resent ifc'7 Therefore, in order to give a practical turn to our expressions of dissatisfaction at the occurrence venture to suggest that each' man on the Creek subscribe a small' amount—and the smaller the better,, so that the' expression may be general—say 2s. per man —and with the:sum total purchase for Eagle a cow-equal in value to the one he has lost.

The leading industry- of .St.; Bathansj —mining —continues "to go on without i milch, variation or intermission. There ! is/ : plenty..of water, . ( ;and. ihe sludge channel performs its functions admirably. In agriculture, small patches-of hay and. oats at St. Bathaiis,' and larger ones at Hill's Creek and t\m Woolshed have been cut an4 the yield, in all cases is abundant.:

" The St: Patrick's Picnic Committee have decided to hold their picnic on the same spot as that of last year—viz., a short way below Allen's station, on the roadside, and close to the Manuherikia Eiver. A more suitable spot e©'iald not be met with in the neighborhood. They have also come to another and a wise decision, "that the dance to be held in the schoolroom at might shall be advisedly called M a dance, and not a ball." This is meant to save ladies the cost and troiubLe of getting a ball dress perhaps for that particular night, (when they (the ladies) may attend a dance in any plain, neat dresaes already provided, and enjoy themselves fully as well.' While friends outside St.;, Bathans may subscribe towards the picnic, they will be equally welcome to attend both picnic, and dance ita. the schoolroom at night, free of charge. Taking Hill's Creek, Welshman's, and'Sijb. Bathans together, oua? papulation is small, but very unanimous on the carrying out of anything they may take in hand, and they are now unanimous that next St. Patrick's Day shall be worthily honored. --Horses, conveyances, music, &e., &c, ane already offered by good friends.—A. B.C.