SOUTH OTAGO NOTES.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 14, 18 June 1920, Page 8

SOUTH OTAGO NOTES.

BALCLUTHA, June 14. There has been very little of importance passing locally. The Dunedin Winter Show and races drew large crowds to the city, and things were very quiet. However, now that we are back to normal we can look forward to the usual busy timo with meetings, etc. The weather during the past week has been all that could be desired. There have faeen heavy fogs at night, with a touch of frost and the days following have been lovely and warm, with several hours of sunshine. The young men of the town have formed a Men's Literary, Debating, and Social Club, and the" opening on Tuesday last was very successful and augurs well for the future of the Society. There was an attendance of over twenty young men, and after the rules and regulations had been discussed impromptu speeches were indulged in. The time passed all too quickly and the .various speakers acquitted themselves well, some very liumorous remarks being made on some of the subjects drawn. Rev. S. J. Verren is president. The.evening terminated with a cup of tea and light refreshments and it is intended to have the same every night at the conclusion of the business. Altogether the Club will be of great benefit to the young men of the town, both socially and from an educative standpoint, as the syllabus adopted contains several debates on subject-s of present day interest. I un-dersta-nd tha't a movement is on foot to form a ladies' society also. Should this eventuate some hiteresting inter-club debates will, no doubt, follow. There are also similar societies at Parepa, Te Houka, Benhar, and Lovell's Eiat. The local Poultry Club has been reformed and it is intended to hold a show on Friday, July 16. The Club has had great success in its canvass for special prizes and members and a large number have been secured. There are a lot of fanciers in our district and the Showy should be a great success. The Kaitangata Club hold their show on July 7, Mr C. H. Cunningham, of Invercargill, being the judge. Mr John Taylor, of Milton, will judge at the Balclutha show. The subscriptions for the Balclutha soldiers' memorial are still coming in slowly. There is still a wide margin between the amount collected and the amount required (£500). Mr J. D. Landels offered £50 if three others could be got to donate a like amount. So far I have not heard of any others coming forward. One lady has donated £10, with the proviso that ten others do likewise, and this, too, has not elicited any response. If the response does not become more generous than at present I am afraid | that the suggestion made at a public meetirig to the effect that the money be handed back to the dohors will have to be carried out. It is to be sincerely hoped that this will not be necessary, as it will be a standing disgrace to the town if a memorial is not erected to perpetuate the memory of those of our boys who made the supreme sacrifice. When one thinks that all the small hamlets around our town can and have erected memorials, it seems out of place that we ourselves cannot do snnilar h^&our to the fallen. There is a diviaed opinion as to whether the memorial should be purely monumental or utilitarism and some in favona oi a Aaths schems are not contributing to the object on the grounds that a monument would be a waste of money. Mr W. E. Allen, who has been manager of the Bank of New Zealad here for some years has removed to Carterton to assume the managership there. His successor here is Mr Campbell, late of Queenstown. The football matches on Saturday resulted : — First grade. — Toko 6, Crescent 15; Clutha 11, Owaka 9. Second grade: loko 6, Clutha 15; Owaka 5, Crescent 15. Schools competition. — Milton 25, Kaitangata 0.