INVERCARGILL D.LF. LITERARY AND DEBATING CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 85

INVERCARGILL D.LF. LITERARY AND DEBATING CLUB.

Motto " Excelsior. On Wednesday night, August 18, despite the wet weather, club members turned out in full force to hear Lola's lecture on Robert Burns. Shasta took the chair, sad there •w«re present Octav* and Luceda (vice-presi-dents), Casino (secretary), and Prospector's Double of the General Committed, and 10 members. TVr minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, members settled down and prepared tt enjoy a, paper on "Eo-bert Burna," and they were not disappointed. To us -who live in a Scotch - settlement * .paper on the gteat poet of Sootland was particularly interesting, and as few of us oan read the Scotch dialect, it xna nice tc hear someone who could. Lola opened her paper by giving an outline of the poet's life. Wh*n we understood with what poverty the poet was surTourded end the toil he was forced into our admiration for him increased tenfold. Two other fads about the poet's life which struck ue 'were his wages, which amounted to the magnificent sum of £7 a year, and the debating society of two members which h« and his chum kept up against all opposition. Lola then treated on the works of Burns, and read several" of his poems as samples of his thought and -style. To judge from the hearty round of applause which followed liola's paper .it was evident that all present had enjoyed it to the full. Shasta then moved a hearty vote of thanks to Lola, which was carried with acclamation. 'I .regret I hay« not Lola's paper on hand, but trust she will send it to the Witness to be printed in full. Tha subject for next week is "The Press xs aft Influence on New Zealand Life and Politics." Will country members please record" iheir -rotes as soon as possible? The members nominated are- MHlicent, Iris, and Mother's Help. It witi greatly oblige club members, as is is rather- inconvenient to have the committee in * state of incompleteness. Suggestions for a new syllabus will "be very thankfully received, as our syllabus is nearly inn out. Now, all member*, please xemwnber full v attendance and plenty of papers for next week.

LUCEDA, Acting Secretary.