"The growing disregard for Sunday observance is something the churches should see to." This is what Archdeacon Bartlett, of Goulburn, New South Wales, said the other day.
Continuing, he said: "It is coming to this: If churchmen do not bestir themselves Sunday will soon be a thing of the past. And if the abolition of Sunday comes, God help the Empire. Sunday is not the day for the golf links, for whist, euchre parties, cricket, or football. No one here can say they need Sunday for sport. All have their weekly half-holiday.
"I would easily forgive the poor seamstress of the big cities of Europe, who works day and night for a beggarly pittance - I would forgive her for taking the Sunday off for a picnic. But here conditions are not like those in London, and there is no necessity for men to profane the Sabbath.
"I would like all to remember the test, 'Them that honour Me I will honour, and those who despise Me I will lightly esteem."'
• One of the shareholders in the Little Valley Sluicing Co. paid a visit to the claim this week, and in conversation with a representative of the Alexandra Herald on his return, he expressed himself as highly pleased with the prospects of the venture.
He was informed by the manager that the ground had prospected well, and he visited the race and saw the water-right, which he described as splendid. The race requires a bit of fluming over a bad part, and that is now being put in hand.
That accomplished the Little Valley race will, he says, be a most valuable property in that, quite apart from its mining value it commands a wide area of land that will, with water, be of great value for settlement. He declares that there is room there for hundreds of orchards for the growing of apples and pears particularly, but without water the land is practically valueless.
For this reason the gentleman is of opinion that the Little Valley Company has a very valuable property, and he looks forward to the day when a prosperous settlement will be seen in that district, and water utilised for both mining and fruit culture.
• The Girl Scouts have just closed their winter session of ambulance work under the excellent instruction of Miss Williams. The latter reports that the work of the three Scouts who submitted themselves for the test was highly creditable.
Miss Williams expresses regret that the fear of examination deterred other Scouts from doing the same, for she was confident that the good work done by them during the term would have ensured equally successful results. There are rumours that there will be two "Queen's" Scouts within the ranks of the Dunedin troop before very long. The greatest zeal is being shown by Scouts who are anxious to attain the coveted honour.
Good work has also been done in cooking and sewing, lessons having been given by ladies interested in the work. Preparations are well forward for the Girl Scouts' concert in the Burns Hall on September 11. It is hoped that there will be a full house on that occasion, as the proceeds are to go towards a new club room.
Several well-known amateurs will take part, and the second half of the programme will be a comedietta played by Miss V. Williams, Miss Woodhouse, and Mr Charles Allen.
The Scouts will give various items and one song.- ODT, 31.8.1912.
