PURAKANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 1456, 11 October 1879, Page 20

PURAKANUI.

(from oub own oobrespondent.)

The weather in this district has been extremely wet and disagreeable during the past week, and if it continues much longer, the settlers will have to provision their castles for a siege of rain. The roads are in a deplorable condition, thanks to our vigilant Road Board, whose motto is " Look after Blueskin."

I rather think Sol has been teasing that shy young damsal Venus and making her cry a good deal this while back. I expect some of the up-country districts will be in a flooded condition, and you will require the Golden Age in South Dunedin. All out-door work has been entirely suspended here, as the weather will not permit of it.

As a matter of course the most of the children attending our school are laid tip with colds, Ac, and no wonder considering that it is almost impossible to reach the ■chool dry-footed, the mud in some places being two feet deep, while those that do come are obliged to come through the bußh. I think our teacher Trill be proud of the new school, as the Committee, in conjunction with the Board, are not going to spare any pains, or money either, to make.it thoroughly presentable. A double fence surrounds the half-acre, while between the fences' quick thorns and ornamental trees are planted. The school is built to contain 75 children, and will be well ventilated and apparatused.

I see the Railway Department are pushahead with the "switch" at Mika-wakah Station, no doubt to the satisfaction of Messrs Robins and Co., whose saw-mill is now down at the " Tunnel Mouth."

The Rev. Mr Johnstone, our indefatigable pastor, paid us a visit on September 21st, being the first one for some time past. The rev. gentlemen is worthy of all praise and commendation for the able and zealous manner he attends to the spiritual wants of the district. In spite of his failing health he comes here once a fortnight from Port Chalmers, unless the settlers actually forbid him to come on account of the weather. All honour to him, say I ; although I do not agree with all his ideas. But tMB^ as your late editor would have told you,* l am not excessively orthodox. I hear a good deal of grumbling amongst our "water drinkers." It appears that a visit was promised by the G-.W.C. water drinker to the Lodge here, and every prepation waa made to give the visitor a hearty welcome. The teacher was instructed to meet him at the station, and you should have seen that teacher's face as the train shot past the station ; the Jclouds from which the rain descended hi torrents were sunshine in comparison. I think they ought to send their bill for refreshments into the Grand Lodge.

On dit the shareholders of the Temperance Hall are going to have a concert, &c, shortly in the Hall, at Pnrakanni, and as these are always made a success, they expect a large number of visitors. This Company is worthy of all support for the able and business-like manner in which it surmounted all difficulties, and now that, comparatively speaking, they are free of debt, we may expect to see a substantial building at no distant date on the ground they have leased from the Education Board upon such favourable terms.