Mr J. Lewis occupied the chair. Referring to the past season, the chairman said the management was gratified at the liberal support accorded to the orchestra at the two concerts given during the year.
On both occasions, the programmes submitted met with enthusiastic receptions from large audiences, demonstrating that this form of orchestration is rapidly gaining in public favour.
He congratulated members upon this continued success; also upon their efforts whilst assisting kindred societies.
He noted with satisfaction the increasing membership of the orchestra, and trusted that the members would endeavour on all occasions to maintain that degree of efficiency which had gained such a liberal response from the public and the tributes of the press in the past, and which he hoped would be accorded to the band this season.
Mr P. Erridge was elected a life member in recognition of 14 years' continuous membership. It was decided to hold two concerts during the present year.
• A meeting of residents of Green Island, composed of the Green Island Borough Council and delegates from the local lodges and miners, was held in the Council Chambers last night for the purpose of taking steps to obtain the services of a resident medical practitioner for the district.
The Mayor (Mr E. J. Reeve) presided. It was agreed - ''That the meeting resolve itself into a semi-public meeting to consider the best steps to take.''
Mr J. Lindsay stated the position very clearly on behalf of the miners. Mr A. Bremner emphasised the position of the Fairfield people in case of serious illness. Mr Orange, on behalf of the Foresters, expressed his views on the matter.
Other speakers supported the proposition. It was agreed to advertise for a doctor to take up the local practice, the doctor to be resident in the district.
It was also agreed that a committee of four from each body be appointed to attend to the matter, an executive of one from each body to carry out the details.
• It is intended (says our Wellington correspondent) to use the School Journal as the official reader in the schools of the Wellington district next year.
The board is at present using the Pacific Readers. The change will be welcomed by parents, who are put to considerable expense each year by having to purchase new Readers for their children. The Journal is supplied to the scholars free of charge.
The June number of the Journal will be a special ''King's Birthday and Empire Day'' number, and will contain suitable articles calculated to instil patriotic sentiments into the minds of ''the men and women of tomorrow''.
One article will give an outline of the life of King George and his tour of the Empire, and another will narrate how New Zealand became a part of the British Empire.
• Farmers in the Brydone district (the Mataura Ensign states) are complaining of the ravages of the weasel in their poultry yards.
In addition to killing the fowls the weasels remove the eggs from the nests unless a careful watch is kept, and as eggs are scarce at present all sorts of traps are laid for the marauders, but in most instances without avail.
- ODT, 26.5.1914.
