FORT ALBERT

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 141, 14 April 1892, Page 6

FORT ALBERT

[from our own correspondent-] The Mutual Improvement Society met for the usual weekly meeting ©n Saturday, April 2nd. This being tbe night for the election of officers for the quarter, there was a good attendance. The Secretary’s and Treasurer’s Beports were read and showed that during the past term the average attendance was 20 members and 2S visitors, a falling off from the previous quarter. The attendance would have been much higher but for La Grippe, which has been verj- prevalent in this district. During the past quarter there have been contributed twenty-four readings, eleven songs, four quartettes, two trios, eight items of Instrumenal music, four addresses and thirteen Impromptu speeches; not a bad programme for a Country district where the people are so scattered. The absence of original Essays was dejjlored but we hope to see that altered this quarter. The thanks of the Society are due to those friends who come from time to time and assist the programme with a song or an item of music. The Treasurer’s Beport was then read and it showed the Society to be in a good position financially but the amount of subscription in arrear, namely, £1 14s shows that the members want waking np a bit- The election of officers was then proceeded with when the following were elected. President, Mr B. Walker; Vice-Presidents, Messrs Beid and Hartnell ; Secretary, Miss Gubb ; Assistant Secretary, Mrs S. Gubb; Treasurer, Miss Steventon. Committee, Mrs B. M. Gubb and Mr C* Walker ; Auditors, Messrs D. Pridor and P. Beecroft. The following programme was then gone through:—song, ‘Baindrops,’ Miss M. Dudding ; reading, ‘ A Whisper to Husbands,’ Miss Steventon; this item caused a very animated discussion. Song, ‘ Sweet For-Get-Me-Not,’ Mrs C. Hefford ; reading, ‘No Grumbling,’ Mr B. Walker; duett, Messrs C. Walker and D. Beecroft.

Last Saturday, April 2nd, was quite an exciting day at the Bikau mill; the Captain of the W. C. Wentworth challenged Messrs Mander and Gibbons to a boat race, and these gentlemen were not slow to accept. A friendly race came off when Mr Mander’s boat won quite easily, Mr Gibbon’s second, the ship’s boat nowhere. The Captain thinks it a fiuke, so there is going to be another trial on Saturday, April 9th, when each boat’s owner is to put in ten shillings. The Captain of the Chitoor sailed the winner on /Saturday very well and is quite confident he can win again.