ALFREDTON NOTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3358, 12 November 1889, Page 2

ALFREDTON NOTES.

(By an Alfredton Boy.) Now that the ladies have (as they usually do) led the way and sent you some Alfredton notes, which appeared in your paper a few weeks ago, I think it high time our side did a little for tho credit of Alfredton. I have been patiently waiting to sec if someone more able than 1, would do a little inksplasbing, but the rest seem to hang tire, so I'm going to make a maiden effort. People in this distvict think Alfredton is very much asleep, and altogether out of the running, but I 1 can assitre you it is not the case at all. We are "all there, when we are (wanted, and when I toll you that two of our forward ipeu have convened a m.eeling to chose the site for a town hall, I think you'll believe me. It is also proposed to hold a picnic luext Christmas Day, to wind up with

a ball in the now hall,if it's completed. 80 now Mr Editor, don't yon really think we are booming along. I hope tho ball comes off. The Aifredton girl" gave one there. I have noticed, too, that the Aifredton boys do seem a bit slow in making headway with the girls, If we don't look out I'm afraid strangers will be walking off with ouv Aifredton belles. So make haste boys and make your choice. On the Prince of Wales' Birthday we had a glorious cricket match, and of course our side boat. I hear that our enterprising mail contractor, Mr Charlie Higginn, is 'going to run a conveyance on mail days through the summer months, and all through the winter too if we only get the road metalled, That reminds me that the 15th o£ this month is polling day for the loan, and if every man in Aifredton does bis duty he will record bis vote iu favour of it.

The other day a bit of a rumpus was caused by the over-zealousness of some of our good people. It appears that in the good old days the kirk (McQuarrie's wool shed) owned a table and a chair, which were kept for tlio use of the gentleman who camo out to preach. The said chair and table somehow got borrowed by tlio Road BoarJ, and they have not found their way back yet, One good lady, well-known and respected in our city, after talking the matter over with a few friends, came to the conclusion that it was a shame for the poor minister to have nowhere to sit, and the best thing to do would be to all have •' a shilliug in" and the winner —; I mean get a new chair and table. A meeting was convened and largely attended; the resolution of the good dame was adopted, and tlu shillings began to tumble in, when suddenly a certain gentleman in an authoratative maimer stopped the collections, and said he would find the necessary articles. Collapse of good dame, and dissolution of the meeting. I might just remark that they are not there yet, but I hear they are coming. But hero comes an Aifredton girl, and as 1 don't want to be known, I must say au revoir, Mr Editor,

, Wesleyan Sunday School Aniii- ! versaryJ The annual services in connection ' with the Masterton Wesleyan Church SundnpSchool took place last Sunday. The Jtlev J. Dellow, of the Greytown Circuit, conducted the services. The Church was fitted up specially for the occasion, and tastefully decorated with floral emblems and evergreens. I The preachers platform was converted into a gallery on which the Sunday School children, dressed in their best wero arranged, the organ and choir occupying the back portion. Appro--1 priate sermons weropieached morning and evening by the Eev Mr Dellow, the audience on each occasion exceeding the sitting accommodation of the edifice. In the afternoon a special address was given by the same , minister to parents and guardians, f The liyrans suug on tliisoccasion were i selected from the school books and printed and circulated amongst the i congrenation. The singing by the i children ateach service was very good, ; and showed Chat groat pains had been taken with them by the conductor Mr R, M. Galloway. Duets wero sung , in the morning by Misses Perry and ; Rowse (teachers), and in the evening i by Maude Kibblewhite and Blanche i Perry, (scholars). The collections of . the day, which amounted to the 1 respectable amount of £5 3s Bd, were i in aid of the Sunday School. ' The public tea in connection with the above anniversary was held in the . schoolroom adjoining tho church last evening, A plentitul supply of pro- • visions customary to such an occasion ! were temptingly spread on tlw tables over which Mesdames Gordon and > Kibblewhite,Mrs and Miss Matthews, i Misses Perry and Rowse, Misses P. Perry and Rowse (2), presided with • grace and ability. Besides tho chil- ■ dren a goodly number of the parents i and their friends were present, and i judging by the smiling faces, pleasant ) conversation, and the demand for the ! supplies of the good things provided, a i very pleasant hour was spout. This . event over,un adjournment was made i to the church, where the audience was considerably augmented by friends unable to attend the first part of llie 1 evenings proceedings. The children were again arranged on the platform. ! The chair was occupied by the Uav W. Rowse. The opening proceedings over he called upon Mr Galloway to read the school reports, After apologising for not having the usual report ready for lack of 'time in which to prepare it, Mr Galloway gavo the following particular:— Total number ot scholars on the roll' 200, average attendance, 122; number of teachers, 14. The financial statement showed—receipts, .£32 Us tOd; expenditure, £3O lis Id; cash in hand from last year, £ll7s 9d. In addition to the above ,U 8s !)d had been raised by the school lor missionary purposes. The school library contained about 300 books. No addition had been made during the year, but the librarian had effected an of books with another school. About 1,800 monthly periodicals had been distributed amongst the scholars. The school was in a fairly satisfactory state. Mr Bamber seconded the adoption of the report, which was carried unanimously, Speeches by tho rev. chairman and two other friends on school work, &c,, which which were interspersed with the singing of the children, made up a very good programme. Wo must not omit to mention that the two duets sung on Sunday by Messrs Perry and Rowse, and Maude Kibblewhite and Blanche Perry, were again sung to the evident delight of the audience. ] Hoarty votes of thanks to those who ' had waited on the tables, the friends who had helped in various ways, anJ to Mrs Gordon, junr., for presiding at the organ, were carried by acclamation, The usual closing ceremony brought a very pleasant gathering to an end, We understand that Mr Galloway, who has so long been connected with the school is about to resign, as lie is going into tho country to reside. Wairarapa Caledonian Society,

The annual meeting of tbo Wairarapa Caledonian Society was held at the Club Hotel, Mastorton, on Saturday,' In the unavoidable absence of tbo President, Mr W. Perry, the chair was taken by Mr T. Brown, vice-president. The secretary, Mr W. Sellir, read the following report, which was adopted Your directors are pleased to report a (airly satisfactory ysar, and con'gratulate tho sooiety upon being able to pay so much prize money at its last gathering, in addition to which it reoeived a number of speoial prizes from the business people of Masterton, which helped to make the sports attractive and successful, ft is to bo hoped that, with a yot of making

larger fields andstronger competition, the Programme Committee will during tlio coming year make fewer events and larger prizes : and also, if possible, amalgamate with kindnd societies in providing a suitable stand, which would 111 a very short time clear the cost, besides giviug additional comfort to the on-lookers. The balance sheet showed receipts by subscriptions, £44 2s; gate money at sports, £6117s Gd; entrance fees, £2O 10s Gd; sale of privileges to £ls lis Gd; special prize, £llos. The expenditure was—By prizes, £B9 7s Gd; other expenditure, £57 10s, The balance to profit on the year's transactions amounted to £l7 10s. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year President Thomas Brown, Vice-President—■ Mr Alexander Stewart ;j Secretary and Treasurer, Mr W. Smlar (reelected) ; Directors—Messrs A, W. Cave, R, Cameron, E, J. Fitton, A, Elkins, J, Muir, W, Lowes, W. i Miller, G. Heron, R. McKay, O.H; Osborne, D, McPliee, M. McKenzie, J. Boss, F. Gray, J. Drummond, W. j Perry, T. Mackay, John Cameron, C. E, Bremner, A. McLeod, junr,, W. / B. Buick, D. Guild, J, Harvey, junr. Judges—Messrs J. Ross, F, Gray, 0. E. Bremner, W. Perry, W. B. Buick, J. Hessey, R. Cameron, W. Miller, J. Livingstone, D. McPliee, T. Mackay, W. Perry, J. Drummond. Starters—Messrs C. E. Bremner, 15. J. Fitton, and J. Muir. - Handicap-pers-Messrs J. Ross, A. Elkins, J. Muir, and F. O'Connor. Programme Committee—Messrs W. Lowes, G. Heron, T, Mackay, T. Brown, W. Perry, F. Gray, J, Muir, C, E. Bremner, J, Drummond. Ground Committee—Messrs R. J. Fitton, 0. Heron, W. MoKenzie, and J, Ross,

It was resolved that it be an instruction to the programme committee to decrease the number of tbo events, and inorease. the value of the prir.es given, in accordance with the suggestion contained in tho Directors' report. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the retiring President, Mr W. Perry, and the Directors for their services during the past year. Mr T. Mackay gave notice of motion that in future the Secretary be paid a salary of £lO per annum. In doing so he took occasion to draw attention to the great obligation the ■ Society was under to their honorary Secretary, Mr W. Sellar, who had for years undertaken that arduous - position without fee. n. Two new members were proposed, * and tho meeting adjourned for a fortnight.