TEMPERANCE PICNIC AND CONCERT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3157, 19 March 1889, Page 2

TEMPERANCE PICNIC AND CONCERT.

Tlie Phoenix Lodge 1.0. G.T. had their annual outing yesterday, St, Patrick's Day, and had a most onjoyable day, especially for the young people, at Mr R. MoKenzie's farm, Masterton. The usual games incidental to such gatherings were indulged in by the young, people, whilst their 9lders, shelteredfrom the rays of the sun by the shade of the bush, looked on with evident delight at therustio pastimes of the juveniles, A substantial tea was provided to which full justice was done. There is one thing that calls for remark, which' is not to the credit of the small boys who attended yesterday's gathering, The girls took their seats and as becomes the sex waited until they were served, with more or less patience. : . The boys on the contrary as soon as the piled up plates of cakes and sandwiches were placed on the tables immediately possessed, themselves of the entire supply, and it was not until the gallant (?); boys' had had their fill that their gentler companions could hope for a'share, .A lesson in courtosy should be given the lads, and they should be taught to see that'it is their, duty. to attend to the wants of the {little girls before'.they study their own requirements,

. THE CONCERT, The Committee of the Temperance Societies last . season gave free monthly concerts during the winter months; and- these were all largely attended; but there was one drawback certain'. noisy, youths could not be kept withiD' bounds during>-the progress; •:cli% ■; wtwtkinnintg,'" it

was.'thought,. therefore, that a small : admission fee would have the effect of keeping the boisterous youths away. : A charge';, was made 'in consequence, of sixpence .for admission to the concert, and the'result was that ..the enthusiasts feelings of-those present was given expression to in a somewhat more circuihspejt and reasonable manner. The chair was taken by BroVT, Collier, who was supported on the platform by about twenty members of the lodge in regalia. In opening, the meeting, Mr Collier sflid that his position as chairman that night was an unexpected one, One more ablej and efficient would have been better. He fulfilled, in reference to temperance matters, Nelson's motto; "England expects every man will do his duty.". He would" endeavor to do his to the best of'his ability. He did not consider that taking .up too muoh'of their valuable time was his duty. He was glad to remark the progress the temperance cause had made of late years.. He remembered the time When it ,was thought. quite low.to'be an abstainer, and now it was the opposite. The anniversary of St.-Patrick was now kept up in a very different, fashion. ."What, nine o'clock on St..Patrick's morning and not drunk yet?" was a remark' he had heard in the old times. Looking at tlie "assemblage before him aud bearing in mind old oustoms, no one would take it to be St Patrick's Day. They had, however, resolved to celebrate it in' fashion by a concert, which he hoped they would all enjoy. The first name on the programme was Miss Pearson. This young lady's appearance was the signal for general applause. She-played a lively overture on. the pianoforte in a very brilliant manner, and was followed by Mr E. Temple with a Bong entitled "My, Own Native Home," Miss Williams playing the accompaniment.Mr T. Eowse. sang -'Nancy Lee,", accompanied by Miss Minnie Perry, and was deservedly encored. That little temperance hero, Miss. Powell, was called upon for a recitation. " Speak Gently" was.the subject she chose, aud the earnestness and skill she displayed in renderingithe piece was remarkable in one so young. At its conclusion the applause was continuous. The ohairman called upon " our aristocratic speaker, Bro Pryor Gilbert," who was received with cheers', aud on fronting the audience said, " If any of you eyer had palpitation of the heart you would feel for me now." [Cheers and laughter,] Hegave ahuniorousspeeoh but to the point, on temperance. After referring to old times when no one would look at him, he caused some laughter by referring to himself as one of the " big bugs" at the present whom people were glad to take by the hand, He said, ,if every one in the present congregation were in real down-right earnest over temperance reform, it would not be long before they had publicans on their platform and one of their number as chairman. (Cheers.) Miss Williams and Miss Galloway gave a pianoforte duet which delighted the audience and called forth applause. Mr Bogie followed with a nautical song which was sung in a masterly manner and received its due mead of prai9e from the s audience, Miss Williams.ably accompanied the song. Little Miss Powoll gavo a recitation entitled "The hour of death," surpassing, if possible, -her first effort which was equally well appreciated. The Chairman next called upon Mr Hornblow for a song, which was the signal for hand clapping and cheering. In response to this general invitation he saug" Baby Mine," to whioh Mrs Hornblow played the accompaniment. The song ..was redemanded and the last two verses repeated, to the evident delight of the audience, though the uninitiated failed to see where the joke oaine in, Mr E, Temple sang in charaoter " I'm not so young as I used to be," and his olever impersonation of Unole Joe was appreciated and vewarded with an encore, The National Anthem brought the programme to a olose. .