Local News.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 47, 15 April 1899, Page 3

Local News.

Librvry Committee. — A meeting was hold on Monday evening in the Library Hall; picsent — Mcssis Hamilton (chan), W. L. Scott, Mann, Dean (sec.) and Rev. McK. Gibson. An application was made to the committee to lease the hall as a private speculation, but it was decided to leave the question for the incoming committee. The sum of £13 was received from the Government as of the subsidy to public libraries, , re ommendation accompanying it that the amount be spent in new books. After a long discussion as to whether it would not be better to devote part of the money to the proposed encyclopaedia, it \\ as decided to fall in with the recommendation. The annual meeting was fixed for Monday, April 17th. Accounts amounting to £14: were passed and the meeting ended. The Rev. J. Dukes, who left "Waimate for Hawera on Tuesday, has, during his three year's residence in our midst, spoken more than once with no uncertain sound on the evils of our time. His utterances on the gambling e\il and the liquor traffic have been forceful and telling. On Monday evening, the rev. gentleman rather startled his hearers by his plain spoken comment on the extremes of richness and poverty he had met in Waimate. He had, he said, never been stationed in a circuit where he had seen so much poverty as in Waimate ; a few seemed to get very rich while very many wore in extreme poverty, a condition of things which called for remedy, and which he had before denounced. As Mr Dukes has seen a great of New Zealand life, this is an utterance worth thinking about with a view to action. There was a fair attendance at the farewell social tendered by the members of the Wesleyan Church to the Rev. J. Dukes and wife and daughter, on Monday evening. Mr G. Manchester occupied the chair, and the Revs. Barclay, Dukes and Morrison and Messrs G. H. Graham and J. Manchester gave short appropriate speeches, Mr Graham representing the Temperance Reform Union. Solos were given by Mrs W. Dailey, Miss Jeffries, Sir H. Marriott and Mr J. Manchester, junr. Refreshments were handed round during the evening. A vote of thanks to the ladies who provided concluded a successful gathering. A very pleasant meeting was held by the Juvenile Foresters on Friday evening. Bro. Duncan, C.K., presided, assisted by Bro. H. Wilson, C.R. (Waimate Court). Two candidates were initiated into the Order, and five persons proposed for membership. After a good deal of business had been dealt with, Bro. W. Pratt, on behalf of the members, presented the late president and P.C.R., Bro. W. A. Osborne, with a handsome silver-mounted purse suitably inscribed, and spoke of the high esteem in which he was held by the members of the Court, and added that no small amount of credit was due to him in making the Court what it is now, the premier juvenile lodge in New Zealand. Bro. Osborne thanked the members very heartily for their kind present, which would always remind him of the many ha,ppy hours he had spent among them. Bro. Pratt then presented Bro. Findlay with a P.C.R. certificate, and spoke highly of the way he had carried out his duties. Bro. Findlay thanked the members for their handsome gift. It would always remind him of the grand old times he had spent among them, and always intended to as long as he was able. After light refreshments had been partaken of, three hearty cheers were given for Bros. Osborne

and Findlay, which brought to a close a well-enjoyed meeting. — Timaru Herald. The populations of the various colonies are :— New South Wales, 1.346,240 : Victoria, 1,175,490 ; New Zealand, omitting the 40.000 Maoris, has a population of 743,463; Queensland, 498,533; South Australia, 367,800; Tasmania, 177,340; Western Australia, 168,129. Western Australia has the highest rate of increase, 3.83 ; but this represents growth by immigration rather than by birth. The rate of increase in Tasmania was 3.27; in Victoria, .06. The total population of Australia on Dec. 31st last was 4,476.995. Wanted ladies with babies to buy their go-cart or pram from Aithur Jones and Co. New stock just opened up direct from the manufacturers. Special meetings in connection with the Harvest Festival of the local corps of the Salvation Army were hpld on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday last, and were conducted bv Adit. Foote. Considering the wet weather the meetings on Saturday and Sunday were well attended. On Monday evening a " Fruit and Jelly Supper " was held, but owing to counter attractions the attendance was only moderate ; the after-meeting was, however, a full one. On Tuesday evening the platform was arrang D d to repie^ent a harvest field and members oi the Army illustrated the various operations of the harvest season — reaping, stooking, etc. The novelty attracted a large audience. Mr J. B. Fo\ kindly lent his organ, and gave his services as organist. The annual concert and dance in aid o* the funds of the Hannaton school came off Thursday night. The weather fortunately cleared before the commencement, and there was a good attendance. Th 3 items comprised songs by Messrs M'Gill, Ferguson, Asquith, De Caro, Miss Kent and Mrs Maindonald. After the conceit the room was cleared, and dancing was commenced to the dulcet strains of Meyer's string band. Mr W. Miller had charge of the commissariat department. We ware shown yastsrday two Paase's "Goid nonsuch" aiples, weighing lib lOozs eaah. They measured 15J inches m circumference, and 5 inches in diameter. Mr C. Walker, Te Moana, Geraldine, is the grower. The T.E.U. committee meeting was largely attended on Thursday evening. Correspondence re " Bishop Nevill's mistake," and Sheldon's " In his steps" was received. Messrs Brown and Bannerman gave extensive reports of the Otago Convention, and received a vote of thanks. It was resolved to try to arrange a meeting of workers in Timaru and in Oamaru on May 24th to confer as to working the electorate for the No License poll. Rumour has it that there is an abundance of ducks in the district this year. Three Waimate sports took a horse and dray the other day, and went through the Gorge to the Upper Waihao, accompanied by lunch, three guns and ammunition. They got a thorough wetting, and after rambling about for some considerable time, saw a three-legged hare. A volley was given, and the game secured. Following day they went out and met with no better success, but to wind up the affair they wind a black and white duck, evidently not a wild one. Perhaps Mrs M'Donald might know it. Oh, for the good old days when you had only to " swish " the gun to get a bagful. Waterproof Coats. — Gentlemen wanting a guaranteed Waterproof at a reasonable price are invited to inspect our new stock just opened. All fresh proofings. No old picked coats in stock. — Arthur Jones and Co. The following team will represent Waimate against Timaru City and Timaru Rifles on April 20th : — Capt. Coltman, Sergts. Jackson, Smith, Harwood, L.-Corpl. Goldstone, Pvts. Williams, Bennington, Wilson, R. Goldstone and Nelson. Emergencies : Lieut. Inkster and Pvt. A. Inkster. Any of the above unable to get away should let the shooting committee know at once.