KIHIKIHI MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1821, 8 March 1884, Page 2

KIHI KIHI MUTUA L IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.

Thj: fir^t meeting of the Mutual Improvement Association was II2M in the Public Hill on Tuesday evening. The chair was taken by the piesident of the association, Mi Dyer, who made an inaugural address, in which he cleaily explained the advantages which acciue from associations instituted for the innpose-> of mutual improvenieut; how members and others who attended and listened to the debates, read up subjects which otherwise would perhaps not have been lead. He also enlarged on tlie incalculable benefits conferred upon those who took pait in such movements ; it enlarges their ideas, tends to sharpen then faculties, and gets them into an easy and fluent style of speaking, affords amusement of a rational kind, besides giving in-•-tutccion. The speaker concluded an enthusiastic speech by expressing the hope that the society which was inaugurated under such favomable auspices would piospsr. Mr Nicholson followed with a comic reading entitled "Goody Gum v. L'ip>tone," which cieated a great deal of nieiument. The president then invited ci lticisiiis on his speech and Mr Nicholsons reading, an invitation which was responded to by only two or thiee. As there was no subject set (low n for discussion that evening, the president, to fill up the imp, asked the nienibeia piesent to give their opinions on the stoppage of Eewi s pension or salary by Mr Bryce, offenng at the same time to take eithei the negative or affirmative. As no one responded, he opened the debate in the negnlne. Having made a beginning, Mi Neill loplied 111 the affii nmtive, others then took pa.it in the discussion but all in the negative, Mr Neill being the only one who tiied to justify Mr Bi yce'i action, and as lie took the niliiiuatne foi aigumjnt sake only, he could not bung forward .my sound reasons 111 suppoitof his contention, and was of cor.ise defeated. Indeed one of the gentlepioposed that a resolution condemning his unjust and aibitrary action should be forwaidedto Mr Bi yce, but in mercy to the Natue Minister the suggestion was not appioved of, such a shell tailing into the camp of the Minister would have the effect of dii\mg him to despaii, and probably cause him to commit suicide. Joking apait, the expression of opirion that evening was but a reflex of popular feeling on the matter. The subject for debate for the next meeting (Tuesday the 18th) will be : "The intellectual faculties of women ; are tlieyequaltotlio.se of men." Affirmative, Mi Uigg ; negative, Mr Teague. I would otter one suggestion to the speakeis, that i^, to speak a little loudei, so that people sitting in the body of the hall can hear them. Theic \\asa\ery good attendance ofmembeis and other-, who came to listen to the speeches. 1 smceiely hope the inteiest in the association will not flag, for not only do persons attending gain information, but they spend a very pleasant e\ening. I cannot say as yet whether any of the m°mbeio will entitle themselves to be called a Demosthenes 01 a Solon. One gentleman has been dubbed Demosthenes, but unfoi tunatcly he i^ not a member. What a pity.— (Own Correspondent.)