CLARKS FLAT SCHOOL SOIREE

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 419, 23 December 1874, Page 3

CLARKS FLAT SCHOOL SOIREE

This event, which had been looked forward to for some little time with much interest by the inhabitants of the above district |(it being the first soiree held there), came off with great eclat on Friday last. All that willing hearts and willing hauds could do, was done in connection with the affair ; the result being an entertainment unsurpassed in this particular line of social gatherings. Considerable time and trouble had been expended in the way of decorations, the most conspicuous being two very tastefully designed floral arches over the pathway leading from the main road to the Schoolhouse. The soireg ws-s held in a large marquee, kindly lent for the oceasiou by Mr. Storry, of the Commercial Hotel, Lawrence. Me9sr9. Herbert and Co., of the same town, liberally placed at the disposal of the School Cominjttee, the loan of any timber or crockery required. The insid» <>f the marquee was fajstefjill^dcTOritted with designs in ferns, roses, &c, and bouquets ad libitum threw out 'thejr refreshing perfume on all sides. If tables do groan, we wonder such noises were not audible on Friday night, as the supply of edibles was boyoud liberality, Jthanks to the erer-to'be^admired, especially 'm the colonies, baking accomplishments which had been" put in operation by the ladies in, and also out or the district. We must not ftrrget to mention a liberal supply of oatmeal cakes, which deligttod the palates of all the genuine " Sandys " present, and carried their thoughts away to the "land of bfowfFheath and ehaggy wood," notwithstanding the John Bulls-present declared they were going heavily into liorse feed. The only drawback to the evening's enjoyment was the prevalence of a stormy wind for some time, which to a certain extent distracted the attention of the audience, who could hardly keep from believing, owing to the noise made by flapping canvas, that they were not " all aboard," the absence of a feeling of squeamishness being the only thing which kept the belief from completion. The ladies who presided at the tables, and who most skilfully managed the duties connected therewith, and other duties of equal importance, were : Mesdames Chalmers, Tyson, Brydie, Silk, Detert, Walker, Rowe, Fraser, Stevenson, Kelly and Trabshaw. After the tables wefe removed and seats arranged the speaking paa& of the evening's proceedings was gone .pri^wifca. The Rev. Mr. Cameron was in the chair the other sp akers being the Rev. Mr. Skinner, Mr. Jamison, Mr. Clark, Mr.^ M'Lelland, Mr: James Robertson, and MiCStenhouse. Disappointments were experienced by tl& absence of the Rev. Messrs. Menzies and Beck, who sent apologies pleading pressing engagements for their being non est. At intervals during the delivery of speeches, favourite psalms were sung, Mr. Stenhouse, Rector of the Lawrence Grammar School, leading the singing with his usual good taste and ability. After a few introductory remarks by the Chairman, who expressed his satisfaction at being present at such a gathering under such a^ novel canopy, and his anticipation that all present would receive pleasure and.profit from the speakers to follow,

Mr. Fraser, Secretary of the School Committee, was called upon to speak. He said he was pleased to see so many present. The School was never in better trim than at present, under the management of their respected teacher. He was glad to be able to say that by means . of a course of lectures, successfully carried out during the winter, they had been able to meet all liabilities, which, owing to improvements made on the School reserve, were not inconsiderable. Should a balance be to their credit from that night's meeting, they would be gratified ; if not, any disappointment .would be amply compensated for by the recollection of the pleasant social evening they had spent together. - Mr. Clark, "Waitahuna, was the next speaker. He made a few remarks on education, the gist of which was pressing on all having the charge of the rising generation, "the great duty of sending children to school, and when that was done, keeping in mind the other important duty of insisting upon regular attendance. - The Rev. Mr. Skinner was then called upon. He. gave an admirable address on the power of examj^Fe, illustrating his subject by suitable anecdotes. Precept points out the way, but example gives us the power. Everybody has a great influence for good or evil. He referred to the great work of . ragged schools inaugurated by John Founds, the Portsmouth cobbler, who shrewdly influenced the city Arabs to pay attention to him by holding a roast potato in such a position as to effect the olfactory nerves of the young urchins. The late much esteemed and beloved T)r. Gruthrie, on learning what great things Pounds had done, felt thoroughly ashamed that he himself had moved little or not at all in the same way, and hence originated good intentions which ultimately terminated in the founding of those Sagged ichools withj which the name of Dr. G-uthrie -«rill ever . be honorably associated. Christinas was coming on, which iroxn the entirely

different season surroundings to the old country, it was so difficult to realize, and he would advise those who had a few pounds to spare, instead of spending them on frivolities, to buy say a " new gown " for the wife. This would b«H,n example worthy of imitation. Mr. M'Lelland, Blue Spur, spoke next. He remarked that everybody was going in for writing and speaking about education. He compared the favorable state of matters now with regard to education to what it was many years ago. He looked forward, to a great people springing up in this Britain of the South. He didn't like some of the scientific teaching of the present day, especially certain ideas propounded as to the origin of man. Arguing from the utterances of certain individuals, he might expect what was a horse in this country in course of time would become a pig ; not limiting the period, the pig would degenerate into a rat, the rat to a beetle, and the latter to one of those contemptible but powerful disturbers of our imperial repose, which at times cause the digits of the human animal to be applied to either side of the vertebral column. Such rant believed in would cut away all Christianity. •

Mr. Jamison was the next speaker. He referred to the scattered population of our Colony, and the difficulties that lay in the way of providing the means of grace for all. He thought that wherever it could be done, people should not forget the assembling of themselves together for public worship ; even should the services of a clergyman not always be procurable. He would strongly advise meetings of this kind to be set agoing at Clarks Flat. Mr. James Roberston was the next speaker. Although quite unprepared to speak, he gave a long address, which contained valuable advice. Difficulties occur to all through life. We ought to be thoroughly in earnest, and work zealously. He deprecated a very general weakness that prevails in human nature, viz., that of forming good resolves, but never carrying them into execution. Mr. Stenhouse was the last speaker. He had great pleasure in being there that evening. The "spread" was excellent — especially the oaten cakes. Their assembling in a marquee took his thoughts back to the tent preaching in the old country at communion seasons, and the way in which the psalm had been given out that evening, by single verse at a time, helped to complete the picture. He thought the Clarks Flat School Committee a good working one. He made some interesting suggestions in connection with the subject of Sabbath Schools. Theseshouldbestrongly upheld by parents, because in our day schools religious instruction was entirely left out. He admired the system that prevailed when he was in the Home country of making the the learning of Psalms and Catechism part of the schoolboy's daily task ; and although these were not committed to memory -without at times somo troublesome effort, yet he believed many, as they grew up, found that they had received lasting benefits from such studies. Let the supporters of every Church put forth their utmost efforts to assist the school teacher, not on2y by sending children under their charge to school, but by making it matter of conscience to see that the appointed lessons be prepared at home. He thought it an established, fact that benefit was to be derived from soirees, such as the one they were that night enjoying. Mr. Heriot, the teacher, proposed a vote of thanks to the ladies, as also one to the Chairman. Mr Brydie moved a vote of thanks to the speakers, all of which were unanimously and heartily carried. With a benediction pronounced by the Rev. Mr. Skinner, this very successful social gathering at Clarks Flat School was brought to an end. On Saturday, about 40 children attended by invitation. After a reign of feast and frolic, wound up by pi'aise, prayer, and the listening to short address by the adults present, they returned home, highly pleased with their day's play.