ENTERTAINMENT AT WAITOHI.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1009, 26 September 1882, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENT AT WAITOHI.

The anniversary tea and entertainment held in connection with the Wesleyan Church at Waitohi last Friday evening was a great success. Thera was a very large attendance of people from all parts of the district, including several from Temnka, Arowhenua, and Pleasant Point as well as the principal residents of the intervening districts. The entertainment was held in the schoolroom, which was well filled. The tea provided by the ladies of the district was excellent in quality and abundant in supply, the tables being presided over by the following ladies : Mesdames Marcroft and Wright, Miss Young and Miss E Young. After the good things had been done full justice to, the Rev Mr Gordon, at the request of the Rev Mr Fee, offered up prayers, after which Mrs McKibbou of Pleasant Point played an overture on the piano, and Messrs Bucler ami Bishop, of Pleasant Point sang ‘ The Minute Gun at Sea.’ Both items were well rendered and highly applauded. The Rev Mr McLennan, of Pleasant Point then addressed the meeting. Ho was glad to see so unny present, as he believed that social reunions of that kind, were calculated to create a very good feeling amongst them. He could bear testimoney to the useful work Methodism was doing for the cause of the Church of God all over the world. The Salvation Army was rising up now. It was originated by the Rev Mr Booth seven years ago, and the way it came to be calico the Salvation Army was this. At that time there was a great deal of talk about volunteers, and when the Secretary was making out bis annual report lie said ‘ we are a Volunteer Army.’ The Rev Mr Booth struck the word volunteer out of the report, and put salvation in its stead, and that was the way it came to be called the Salvation Army. The rev gentleman then gave some details concerning the Salvation Army, and said it was their intention to come to New Zealand. He concluded by wishing the cause of the Methodist Oharch success. Mr E. Brown sang ‘ The Old Oak Tree,’ accompanied by his daughter, Miss Brown, on the piano, and was applauded. Mrs Rout next sang ‘ Christmas,’ and was most rapturously called on for an encore, to which she responded by singing ‘ Somebody’s Tapping at the Garden Gate.’ The Rev D, Gordon next addressed the meeting. He indulged in many pleasantries, which kept the audience in roars of laughter.concerning his journey that afternoon from Temuka to Waitohi, and wound up by reminding them in most eloquent words that everything h* had seen on the way illustrated the goodness of God. All went to prove the existence of God, and he would remind them that His place of activity was the church. He was glad to see so man} 7 present that evening, and ho most heartily sympathised with them in rheir good works. Mr and Miss Brown ne:;t sang a duet ‘Ship Ahoy.” and in response to an encore, a most amusing duet on the ‘A.B.C.’ botli of which were capitally rendered. Mrs McKibbon next sang ‘ My Robin is sby,’ and had to respond to an encore. The Rev Mr Foe then addressed the meeting. He was glad to see so many present, as it denoted that Waitohi was

going i .he.nl when so many of them had come to enjoy themsolvss that evening. He had no doubt AVaitohi would go ahead in proportion as Teinuka would. Great effoits were being made now to advance Tetnuka in the v. ay of starting: Butter, Cheese and Linseed Factories, (laughter) and he had no doubt the paper mil[ would yet go ahead. There was a stir in the place already. A few days ago he read in the Tejioka Leader that two new lawyers and a draper’s shop had started in it. (Great laughter.) If the Timaru Harbor should fail and the Milford was a success Temuka would go ahead. After tellmg some very amusing stories with regnal to the difficulty of public speaking, the rev speaker said that during the past year the debt of tli* Church had been cleared off, but it was only clear of debt for one week. The next week they Jiad plunged into debt again. They‘had, however, made many improvements, and their Church was now a credit to the district. Miss Brown next sang in a very pleasing manner, and was called on for an encore, but did not respond. Mrs Rout next sang ‘ Killarney,’ and in response to a most enthusiastic encore, sang, in Dutch-English, a most amusing little ditty about a ‘ dwag’ that had a ‘stump where his tail ought to bo.’ This tickled the risibilities of the audience, and though efforts were made to introduce the next item they would not listen to it until Mrs Rout had responded to a second encore. An excellent recitation was next given by the Rev Mr Fee. which was loudly applauded. Miss Brown sang next, in a very nice voice, and was encored. The Rev Mr Fee then moved votes of thanks to the ladies who had provided the tea, to those who had assisted in the entertainment, to the Revs. Gordon and McLennan, to the Chairman of the School Committee.for the use of the school, and to the Good Tempi ir Lodge for having given up their right to the schoolroom on that evening, all of which were carried by , acclamation. The entertainment then wound up by all singing the national anthem.