GERALDINE LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2267, 15 October 1891, Page 2

GERALDINE LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY.

The above society’s session was brought to a close for the present year on Monday evening last by a social evening, when there was a large number of ladies and gentlemen present. The evening’s enter* tainment consisted of songs by Miss Fish, Mrs Smith, and Messrs Moore, Radcliffe, Wilkinson, and the Rev. A, B. Todd; pianoforte solos by Misses Todd,and Orbell, and Mrs Herdman; pianoforte duet ■by the Misses Fish ; and a recitation by Mr Thomas. During the evening refreshments, supplied by the ladies,were handed round, and a pleasant evening was spent. The Rev. Mr Todd, president of the society, spoke of the work of the past session. They had three debates : one on “ Women’s Franchise,” the second on “ Should capital punishment be abolished ? ” On this occasion they had a very good attendance, and they also had two very good leaders in the debate. The third debate was to have been on “ Land and income tax versus property tax,” but as Parliament had finished with the subject before the society’s night for debate the subject was substituted by one on “Should trial by jury be abolished?” Another department of the society’s work was the preparation of papers. During the session they had three papers : one on “ Bible in schools ” by the , Rev. W. C. Wood, and one by Mr Orbell on the subject of “ Self-culture.” Impromtu speaking was an interesting feature of the society’s work. They had branched out in a new line by having an evening set / apart for Shakespearian readings, and they met with such success that they intended having more of such meetings next session, and would take other authors besides Shakespeare. A pleasant and instructive evening was the one on which anonymous papers were read. He hoped the session next year would be a good one in every respect.