Awanui.

Northland Age, Volume 1, Issue 17, 6 December 1904, Page 2

Awanui.

(From our own Correspondent.) In a letter in your issue of November 29th, “ 1.W.” takes exception to a report in a previous issue, and to a report in some unspecified earlier number, attributing the purchase of the organ to someone also unspecified. 1 deem it well therefore to vindicate both reports in the interests of your paper and tins community. Some months back, just after Mr. Allen P. Matthews had started services at Awanui, he and Mr. C, S. Beazloy were in conversation with Captain Subritzky at the latter’s house. Captain Subritzky suggested that an organ was needed. Mr. Matthews said that lie had intended* when people had had time to feel that the services had come to stay, to propose getting an organ. Captain Subritzky enquired what an organ would cost. Mr. Matthews said a suitable one could be got for £ls, and if the rest could bo subscribed he would himself give £5. Captain Subritzky then said lie would take up the canvass for donations. He did so, and with such success that within the week lie had over £5 and more promised. Upon this lie handed over £i() to Mr. Matthews, who ordered {lie organ in Auckland, and Captain Subritzky delivered it (about three-quar-ters of a ton measurement) gratis per aux. sch. Greyhound in Awanui. No public notice was then given of the part Mr. Matthews took ; and it was a natural inference from Captain Subritzky collecting moneys and delivering the organ that he being in town had selected the organ. I was under this impression, and may have made some allusion implying it, but as .1 have not got your back numbers before me I cannot say how I worded it. Neither does it appear in the leas’t material to mo. Mrs. Subritzky made a cover for the organ; and lamps and a music stool be ing required, Captain Subritzky procured these, subscribing £1 to the cost. Now, having proposed the purchase of an organ, canvassed the district for subscriptions, advanced part of the money to buy it (taking the risk of any shortage of donations), brought the organ from Auckland, procured and subscribed liberally to the lamps, Captain Subritzky and his wife

appear to me deserving of high credit and that without in the least detracting from the merit of Mr. Matthews’ liberal subscription, or anyone else’a donation. Now for the meeting “very insufficiently

notified.” A meeting re church matters being suggested to Mr. C. S. Beasley on Tuesday, ho called it for Thursday by writing notices, one of which was sent to Waipapakauri minus date (no doubt by oversight), and the balance remained unposted in his drawer until after the meeting. No notice was issued to subscribers

by letter, nor was any notice posted at the school or post office. Though the meeting was held in the school, the teacher was unaware of it till next morning, the key being obtained for the purpose of a choir practice, and this although the teacher was a subscriber. Messrs. Evans and Sulenta (also subscribers), not knowing the date, could not attend, and others possibly were in the. same position. However, by the hole-and-corner methods of verbal notice, a meeting was brought together, and little exception could have been taken to its action if an individual had not seen fit to inveigh against the credit given by the press to Captain Subritzky in the matter. The diatribe was naturally humiliating to Mrs. Subritzky, who was put in the position of hearing her absent husband blamed for receiving credit allegedly not due to him. This, when he deserved fully as much credit as he had received, Seemed a poor case of public gratitude, and was remarkably ungentlenmnly treatment on the part of the speaker. I could very easily find further fault with my critic, but. leave him to consider “ how a plain tale has put him down.” I have to apologise for dragging the names of Captain and Mrs. Subritzky before the public in this manner, well knowing that they prefer “to do good in secret.”

The annual meeting of the Kaitaia Medical. Club passed off satisfactorily on the 26th ultimo, an amicable policy in connection with Forestry being unanimously adopted. Great satisfaction is expressed on every hand in connection with the new doctor.

Very considerable indignation has been engendered by the remarks made on the late Awanui Show by a correspondent in a contemporary, and such, as far as this part is concerned, will not tend to increase said contemporary’s subscribers’ list.

On 29th ultimo a meeting of the committee of the Foresters’ picnic was held at Mr. C. S. Beazley’s. A programme of the picnic, drawn by Bro. Cosson, C.R., was considered and adopted. On the Ist instant a public meeting was held in the school, to arrange for a Sunday-school picnic. Mr. L. H. Claudet was voted to the chair, and a committee formed, the same gentleman being chairman. It was arranged to hold a picnic on the West Beach on January 2nd, if sufficient conveyances for the* children were obtainable. Canvassers for subscriptions were appointed and have goiie to work with such energy that the success of the picnic is assured. On 2nd instant a dance to inaugurate the entertainments of the Social Committee came off in the hall, W/tipapakauri, Excellent music was provided, and the assembly was notable [for the proportion of ladies present. , \ /