Orepuki

♦- From our own correspondent. The annual meeting of the Brass Band executive was held on Friday night, when a balance-sheet was submitted. The receipts from all sources totalled £58 2s 6d and the expenditure was £50 lis Bd. The band is to be congratulated on their healthy financial position. They are well equipped with first-class instruments, which are free of- debt- and they are also possessed of a handsome uniform, on which a debt of £64 9s ftd yet remains, but their assets total the substantial sum of £200. As a band they have made great progress under bandmaster N. McLean, who is indefatigable in his efforts to bring them forward. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the ladies of Orepuki for the whole-hearted manner they had worked for the welfare of the band. Messrs 11. and W. Dunlop, who as manager and chemist respectively at the shale works, have been for o\er four years prominently before the public here, have finished their engagements, and leave next week for the Old Country. A number of gentlemen tendered a social to the Mesrs Dunlop on Friday night in Wilson's Family Hotel to wish them end family God speed. Mr H. P. Young occupied the chair ; Mr Hack worth the vice-chair. The loyal toast having been tirunk with musical honours the guests of the evening were the subject of a toast, proposed by the chairman; and enthusiastically leceived. A presentation of rings, made from Orepuki gold and inscribed " Haerc ra " — farewell- I—was1 — was made to each as mementos of their residence here. A number of eulogistic speeches were made, interspersed with songs and recitations. Mr R. Dunlop, < in a very excellent speech, for himself and family thanked the citizens for their gift ; he would always cherish it as a reminder of the friendly relations that had existed between himself and the residents of Orepuki. He also expressed the hope that at some future date he would have the pleasure of again visiting this interesting and beautiful country. The supper was, as usual nil that could be desired and up to Host Wilson's well-known style. The company bje»ke up *Jtcr singing the timehoftOU-%_:' Auld Lang Syne.