OPENING OF THE TUTURAU (OTAGO) DISTRICT SCHOOL.

Southland Times, Issue 1300, 29 August 1870, Page 2 (Supplement)

OPENING OF THE TUTURAU (OTAGO) DISTRICT SCHOOL.

(from a correspondent.) The first annual soiree in connection with the opening of this school was hel I on Tuesday, 9th inst. There was a very large gathering of settlers, many coming distances of over twenty miles to attend the meeting. Tea was reaiy at 7.30 p.m., several well-supplied tables being furnished and^ presided over by ladies resident in the district. After tea, the 100 th Psalm was sung by way of returning thanks. The temporary tables being cleared away, and replaced by forms, Mr John M'Lean, chairman of the local committee, took the chair. Nearly 100 persons were present, being the largest gathering that has yet taken place in this district. The Chairman opened proceedings by giving a brief sketch of the successive steps that had been taken by the local committee. The Education Board had made a grant of £175 for the building, and the sum locally collected up to the .present time was £67, in all £242, leaving a deficit of £7 on the contract price of the building, £219. Some subscriptions were not yet collected, and the. proceeds of the soiree would amount to a handsome sum, so that he expected the committee would be able to start free of debt. The Rev. Charles Connor, Presbyterian minister of the Popotunoa district, read a long and interesting paper upon the advantages of education, which was patiently and attentively listened to by the meeting, and the rev. gentleman was loudly cheered at the conclusion. The Chairman, after reading aomo extracts from' a speech delivered by ' Lord Shaftsbury at Liverpool, introduced the Rev. Mr Rishworth, Wesleyan Minister from Invercargill, to the meeting. The Rev. Mr Rishworth said that he had come quite unprepared to speak on any special subject, but that- while preceding speakers had been addressing the meeting, he had jotted down a few heads as pegs upon which to hang his thoughts. The rev. gentleman then proceeded to speak of education generally, showing how vastly more important the education of the soul was than that of the mind, whether as regards present or future happiness. He then passed on to remark upon the necessity of vital religion, the bringing into actual practice in daily life the golden rule of charity, and afterwards alluded to the difficulties occurring to every minister in his own district — every " prophet in his own country" — appealing to the settlers for their best prayers and sympathies for Mr Connor in his ministry among them. In concluding, Mr Rishworth said he understood that it was proposed to close the soiree with dancing. He earnestly protested agaist dancing in general, in most pointed and vigorous terms, specially against " roand" dances, and urged the young people present to return homo without yielding to the temptation. I am sorry to say that, though the meeting applauded 'the sentiments, the " young folk" did not take Mr R's advice. Mr Rishworth was frequently interrupted with long and continuous applause. Hi 3 address was certainly five speech of the night. The Rev. Mr Stobo then addressed the meeting on the subject of temperance. He defended abstinence on three distinct grounds, showing that on one or other of these grounds every Christian man must feel himself bound to support abstinence fromstrong drinks :— l. The injurious character of alcohol as an article of food, being an unnecessary and noxious stimulant, the use of which, except for medical purposes, could not .be. defended. 2. The argument of Christian expediency, seeing the amount of sin, suffering, and degradation caused by the use of strong drinks. 3. The argument of patriotic duty— the obligation of every man to his nation. In concluding, Mr Stobo congratulated the settlers upon their, school-house, and expressed his hope .of seeing bothjprovince's shortly united, and their school systems assimilated. Mr Stobo's speech was much appreciated, the great stand-points he made being so lucidly and explicitly brought forward. It was a speech that every one present could carry away with them in their memories, and thus likely to be productive of far greater results than a long diffuse address without point or argument, j Votes of thanks were returned by Messrs Stewart Shanks, J. Turnbull, and John Watt. Several songs and recitations were given during the course of the evening, and were highly appreciated. It is due to the contractor, Mr Allan Gait, to say that the school-house, as regards the manner of execution of the workmanship and general terms of contract, has given the greatest satisfaction. The school-room affords seat-room for nearly 150 persons, and will prove a great boon as a place for holding public worship and public meetings. The committee purpose to take immediate steps to procure a schoolmaster.