Ngapara Notes.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXI, Issue 6672, 25 August 1896, Page 4

Ngapara Notes.

(PROM OCR OWK CORRE3POSDEST.) I think I gave a hint in some of my notes, a week or two ago, that a new church for Duntroon was under way. Of coarse that was only a surmise on my part, bat I find that it has actually commenced in earnest. Every district has its own ways and means of raising the wind for sach purpose, and in this eise the fadfr* of that township have commenced A rather unique method. A bed quilt is Id its first stages of preparation, and any person who cares to table Is can have their names immortalised In one of the many small squares that are part of the quilt. The Prohibition meeting at Ngapara was, I believe, very poorly attended, and could not have been very exciting, as I bear of one gentleman who paid a visit to i 6 and fell asleep, whether from the dryness of the meeting or previous dryness of his own constitution is not known. The concert and dance at Ngapara, as advertised by nobody knows who, was, to say the least of it, a failure. It was mismanaged some way, consequently people did not roll up aa they ought to have done. The presentation to Mrs Whyte also took place that night, and most people thought that that was to be by invitation, as at first agreed to by the ladies, consequently the communiey got mixed. However, where one or two are gathered together there is sometimes more happiness than if the hall were packed, and I assure your readers that this was the case here. The principal Item of the evening was the presentation to Mrs Robert Whyte, jun., which duly took place amang the sma* 'oors, the same consisting of a handsome china tea service and other useful household They were presented by Miss Mabel Nicol in the name of the ladies of ]Ngapara. In doing so she addressed the recipient as follows : '* Mrs Whyte,—l beg to present yoo, in the name of the ladies of Jfgapara, with thh handsome set of china tea service. In giving you this, they do not give it on its intrinsic merits, but rather to show yoa how they have appreciated your good services in times of sickness or sorrow, and where you could render assistance you have always done so iu a noble unselfish manner. When you look on those articles in your new home I hope you will remember those friends who, in gratitude to you, now present you with this token of their respect and esteem." Mr Robert Whyte replied for Mrs Whyte, and thereafter Mr N- Meldrum save an address ta young people generally. Splendid music was discoursed by Messrs Sutherland (violin), Crawford (violin), Meldrum (bass), and Miss M. Nicol (piano). Miss Nicol during the evening gave a violin solo, accompanied by her yoanger sister on the piano, the first lady on the Ngapara boards that I have seen handling the bow in public. I hope well have the pleasure again. During the evening Mr Meldrum sang " Caller herrin*" and "The Laird o* Cockpen". also giving a jtg dance. Mr R. Whyte sang • A Rothesay Bay" and another song. Mr Richardson, saddler, gave a step dance. The Scotch Reel was creditably performed by four couples. Dancing was kept up till about 2 a.m. and I assure you that although there were only about 20 couples present the night was a very enjoyable one. The ladies supplied the eatables and did not forget to hand them round to all and sundry. I see the surveyors have commenced on Toki Rahi estate. I think they might try and arrange to have a new road made round the Bluff on the LivingatoneDuntroon road. After passing Bremner's camp the road, instead of keeping round the hill and on the level, is taken over the top of the ridge It takes a heavy pull to get to the top, thereafter rising and filling over similar ridges along the top till it descends at the other end on to the flat again. It's a wonder that the engineer of those by-gone days, when this road was made, did not try to have it kept as level as possible- It has always a tendency at this-piart of the road to make one think of • Ye Banks and braes.*