PAHIATUA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3418, 25 January 1890, Page 2

PAHIATUA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) A speoial meeting of the School Committee was held on Wednesday, 22nd inst, Present—Messrs Price, Nn-ylor, Grebbel and ■ Moore. Mr Grebbel, who was voted to the chair, stated that the meeting was called in consequence of Miss Eoebuck, assistant teacher, sending in her resignation. There, was one applicant for the position, Miss Annie Fowler, of Pabiatua, musio teacher. As the testimonials sent in were very favorable and the lady was well known by'the m'emberg, Mr Price moved, and Mr Moore secunded, that tho application be forwarded to tho School Board with their recomuiendatiou. Carried,

A letter was'road from Woodvillo Jubilee Demonstration Committee onolosing circulars of programme, requesting the Committee tociroulate the same to the parents of children attending Pahiatua schools, That being all the business the meeting adjourned, The day, for a wonder, broke out vovy fine foi the sports. A grand prooession was organised to start from Wakeinan'B and march through the town to the ground. The procession was headed by Mr Biraio in Highland costume, then came the standard bearers, immediately followed by the Pahiatua brass band, next, the girls attending the school to the number of about 200, and the school boya about ISO, and after, the Pahiatua Foresters in regalia. The procession concluded with a large number of settlers. On proceeding to the ground 1 found that there could not have been less than 800 adults gathered together. The Bports were got through without a hitch, not a drunk to be seen the whole of tho day, no disturbance of any shape to interrupt the pleasure of the proceedings. The whole programme, and the way it was carried out, reflects great credit on the management. The first event of the day was a Maiden flat race for those who haye never won an advertised race, 220 yds, Ist prize £2 10s, 2nd J6l, entrance 2s Gd, Ellis 1, Ongan 2, A protest was entered against Ellis in this race on the ground that he had won an advertised race. Boy's race, under 12 years,. Ist prize £l,2nd 10s, Won by Master Morris of Newman. Pahiatua Handicap, Ellis 1, Peters 2, Gamman 3.

Eunning v high jump, 8 entries, Ist prize £l, 2nd 10s. Jeremiah and Hughes divided first and second.' Boy's Wrestling, Cumberland stylo, under 12,8 entries, Morris, of Newman 1, Birnie 2,

Girl's skipping, under 14-years, Miss Colinson 1. Handicap Walking. Match, one mile, Hobin 1, Libeau 2. Five entries. Putting the stone, £1 and 10s, O'Connor 88ft 7in, 1, Jeremianß3ft, Bin, 2. Boy's Wrestling, under 15, prizes 15s and 7s 6d. Bnylis 1, Avery 2. Horse jumping! Several competed in this event, and were about the poorest lot of jumpers I ever saw. For a long tirne no horse could be got to get over 4ft 4in. One alter another dropped out till only two were left, namely, Adams', who, after a desperate struggle, managed to scramblo over 4ft (Jin, Totokara, 4ft 4in, 2nd, ftenny, 4ft, 3rd,' Ist prise JEB, 2nd i3l and "pair- of spurs, Br3 pair of apara, One Mile.Handicap, first prize 45 seconder 10s, third 10s,. Seven entries. . Keats "1; Tuck 2, Sullivan B,' In this raceSullivanlead all the j way roun'oVtill entering the straight

foi-home,; when ho was. very "cleverly, caught: and,passed in the order named.-.'

, Standing.High Jump, first prize £l, second 10s. Hughes /and Cummings divided the first and second money at 4ft Wrestling Match, Cumberland Btyle,..fir6t £2, Becond £l. Phillips 1, Boyiie 2. Saok Race, 50 yards,. first £>> second 10s. Won by Master Naylor. Quoit match, Hayes 1, Farley 2. faulting with the pole, first £l, 10s, Jeremiah and Hughes divided first and second at Bft 10Jin.

Handicap Hurdle' Race, 44.0 yds,

8 flights hurdles, first £2los, second £l, third 10s. Williams 1, Ryan 2,Tobinß.

Tug-of-War, prize £1 Is, caused a considerable amount of amusement. The children seonied to bo well looked after by Mr Birnie, who seemed thoroughly in his element, getting up/small races for the .youngsters. AH the members of the committee ably assisted in helping the children to enjoy theinselvos. There was one speiler only on the ground, who travelled ahurdygurdy, I had a look at him once or twice, but I don't think he made a fortune.

oould not dispense with those charac ters altogether from the ground. The Falnatua band, I should mention, gave their services free, and, by their enlivening strains, made the gathering one of the most enjoyable that has been held'here.

Presentation to Mr J. G. Fildes. We take from the Marlborough Weekly News the following report of a presentation to the now manager of. the Grey town Bank:—On Saturday afternoon, at the Criterion Hotel, there was a considerable gathering of prominent"citizens, met together for the purpose of testifying thiir regard for Mr J, 6. Fildes, manager of the local branch of the Bank of New Zealand, on the occasion of his removal from Blenheim. The ohair was occupied by Mr Henry Dodson, M.H.R., who had the guest on his right hand. . The Chairman, addressing Mr Fildes, said his (Mr Fildes') many friends desired, on the evo' of his departure from Blenheim; to testify their sense of his admirable qualities and devotion to duty, and the personal amiability of himself and Mrs Fildes. He was pleased to be able to assure their guest that tho movement to do this was general and spontaneous, and that no difficulty had been experienced in getting sympathisers or in collecting tho fund. He could now only speak in a general way, and on general topics, but he might say that ono and all recognised Mr Fildes' earnestness and integrity in the discharge of his duty. His duties, were, indeed, not wholly pleasant, as all were aware. He had, with them, passed through many trying periods They had had times of prosperity and a time of gloom in tho. entiro colony, aggravated in Blenheim by a , disastrous fire, which had shattered ( the hopes and scattered the savings \ of many citizens, They had all \ suffered severely; and at that trying and calamitous time ha (Mr Fildes) discharged his duty kindly and judiciously. (Applause), He could only hope that Mr Fildes would have a long life and prosperity, Thoy all hoped his leaving Blenheim would be the signal for a still more prosperous career, (Applause).. Speaking per-, sonallj, as he might now venture to 1 do, hewould say that he had interviewed Mr Fildes many times and he never saw impatience or curtness manifested by that gentleman. Coming from him, a " No," or a refusal (which of csurso he had to i make at times) never left,after it any unpleasantness or rancour. An address had been prepared, the text 1 of which he would now road. Herei after it would be engrossed, and forwarded to Mr Fildes. Mr Dodson then read the following address :- " To John Gifford JFildos, Esq., Manager of the Blenheim branch of the Bank of New Zealand.

" Dear Sir: We, the undersigned, aB representing a large number of the residents of Blenheim and its vicinity, desire to express to you our extreme regret at your departure from this district,

"Hayingresided amongst us for nearly ten years, at the head of one of our most important financial institutions, otherwise having taken a kindly interest in the gcnetal welfare of those who have been yourneighbours during that period we could not fail to become acquainted with your reliable integrity, uprightness coupled with an obliging disposition, and your many sterling qualities as a business man and fellow citizen,

" We cannot therefore let you leave us without assuring you of our high osteem, and expressing our ardent wishes for the future welfare of yourself and Mrs Fildes and we beg of your aeooptanoe of tho accompanying purse of sovereigns as a token of our kind feeling, We remain, dear sir, H. Dobson, M.H.R., George Henderson, J.P., Alfred Rogers', Hartley MoIntire, John Holmes.Thomas Carter." "Blenheim, Nov.!), 1889,"

Tho Chairman then handed a handsome purse containing 142 sovereigns to Mr Fildes amid loud and prolonged applause, and, champagne having been served, tho health of Mr Fildes and family was drunk, After a short intermission, Mr Fildes rose to respond, He was greeted with prolonged applause, on the subsidence of whioh ho said : " There is an old proverb lo the effect that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, but in my case the heart is so full that I cannot find many words in which to express acknowledgements. As you sir, have remarked, we have passed through a period of depression, but I think there oan be no doubt things are now reviving. • During all times I have striven to do do my duty to the Bank, and to study the interests of its customers as far as I oould consistently with that duty (applause). It was often very diffloult to do this. Indeed, I think no one but a banker can properly ■know what and how great those difficulties are. I am pleased to know, however, that, judging from what 1 see and hear to-day, I have so many friends; and I hope 1 leave no onemies behind me (applause). lam now called upon to sever my connection with Marlborough, and I do so with very muoli regret, I can only now,iu again thaukiug you all, for this substantial token of good feeling,say farewell with the joint thanks of my wife' (whom you have been good enough to include in your kind remarks), and myself for your generous expression of regard j'loud and prolonged applause), ■ Mr Geo. Henderson proposed the health of the Chairman, and a hearty vote of thanks to him for the able manner in which he had discharged his duty that day, as well-as for tho admirable manner in whidh he had expressed their feelings, They all

•feltdeeply the.loss of their friend,;: whom for his part ho recognised ■ (after a long acquaintance), as one!~ of the most sterling and upright men he had over met in his hfo (loudapplause). The toast was drunk with heart* inosß.

Mr Dodson briefly acknowledged the compliment, and the proceedings terminated.

Opening of a Carved Maori ~\ House. T *

Tho reporter of tho Stand- ' ard with a party left Greytown on Tuesday far Kehimaue, (the Maori word for Qo'tbseinane), whioh ia not far from Maryborough, He writes: —Mr A. Bowers drove us down in fine stylo in his four horse brake and on arriving we were welcomed in real Maori Btyle by Mrs S. Mahupuku and Mrs Kawana to the carved house where about 100 natives, with a good sprinkling of' Europeans, wero assembled, We first wont round and examined the carvings, then paid our respects to Wi Mihapuku, s afterwards mixod up with, the nalivos and seeing all we could see, some »K time after we attended service conducted after the manner of Te Kooti and his followers. . About three o'clock, the food being ready, we were invited to partake. It was highly interesting and amusing to see the nativos • bringing in large quantities of food,«, singing hakas as each portion mbJL brought in. One side of the was was Bet apart for Europeans, so wo sat down to the feast and enjoyed it much. Sovoral young men were appointed to wait upon us, and they wore very attentive, I cannjt give an account of the building in detail. It is hardly finished, as tho flooring i 3 not down and the carved work is not varnished. The dimensions are-Length 87 . feet, width 82 feet, height 24 feet. It is covered with iron. It is intended to hold tho formal opening at some future date when the building is finished,' then I" expect a large gathering of natives will tako place; and I should not be surprised to hear of the redoubtable Te Kooti himself being present, The general feeling expressed at the meeting on Tuesday was for. unity with tho Europeans, and wish that theso meetings of natives and Europeans would tend to bind tho two races in stronger bonds of friendship, and-that all members of_ 1 both races should have free license ti>7o 1 any par.t of the Island, i Our party returned about sevon to " Greytown, and all expressed their 1 satisfaction with the day's outing, i The Bairnsfather Family.

Of this family of Scottish vooalists, who will appear at theTheatro Royal on Tuesday and Wednesday next, tho Wanganui Chronicle speaks as follows: This very clever and talented family made their first appearance before a Wanganui audieneo last night, Mr Bairnsfather iaquitp ' ; host iu himself, and keeps tho audience in one continual string of merriment throughout, his clever acting, quaint sayings, and spicy anecdotes causing continuous laughter, The first item on the programme was a cleverly executed piano nolo of Scotch airs by Miss Bairnsfather, who quite oaptivated her audience as she came tripping on to the stage dressed in the lalt and tartan, the-, sight of which sent tho bloodA; thrilling through the veins of sop of the Highlands. Later on Bhe fairly brought down the houßfl with " Better Bide a Wee," which was ; magnificently rendered. This young lady possesses a very melodious and dear voice and onunoiates ier' words so distinctly that it is quite a" treat to' listen to her singing. Master Johnnie Bairnsfather sang "[Bonnie Dundee" in a dashing mannor) arid caused endless merriment by his faultless rendition of "For I am a Ticklish Sort." As much as tho audionce roe oaptivated by the flinging of the younger folk, tboy ' wero still more taken with Mr and Mrs Baimsfatlier'a duet, "The Crooked Bawbee," as an encore to which they sang the well hnown and oft-time rendered "When You.Gang Awa, Jamie," for which they again had to bow to the audionce.. Indeed the applause was so vociferous that Mrs Bairnsfather had to respond again to every item she sang, Mr Bairnsfather was heard 1 to the best advantago in "Sao/ Will Wo Yet," the last vorse'olF which quite convulsed the house with laughter.. During the second.part of tho programme, Misa Maggie and Mastor John danced the Highland Fling in faultless style, and had to A respond to another enoore. Theff general opinion of last night's perferraance, was that it was in every way an excellent exhibition of both sentimental, and comic|Scottish songs, and we anticipate a crowded house on Monday, when an entire ohange of programme will bo given. Among the features of the programmo are the comic songs of Mr Bairnsfather, and we oan thoroughly recommend all to patronise the performance, whon they will onjoy a very amusing and instructive evoning's amusement,