OTEPOPO.

Otago Witness, Issue 910, 8 May 1869, Page 5

OTEPOPO.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) April 26th. Two or three years ago, a thrashing machine could scarcely be got in this district ; but at present there are over a dozen at work. Mr Chalmers's new mill is giving very great satisfaction. Those farmers who have employed it, state that they have not, in this district, seen such well-dressed grain. It thrashes from 1300 to 1400 bushels per day of ten hours. Mr Clapcott, Manager of the Bank of Otago in Oamaru, gave an entertainment in the School-room here on the evening of Friday last. It consisted of readings from Longfellow, Campbell, Tetnyson, Professor Aytouu, and Douglas Jerrold. Tennyson's "Enoch Arden" was read with such feeling and pathos as to excite all the tender emotions of the mind, and Aytoun's "Edinburgh after Flodden " was read with very great taste and ability ; but the crowning success was two of Mrs Caudle's Curtain Lectures. The former was on Mr Caudle becoming a freemason, and refusing to disclose the secret to his wife ; the latter was on Mr Caudle's determination to purchase a latch-lock for the street door. Mr Clapcott can imitate to perfection the sort of character a person would imagine Mrs Caudle to be ; he enjoys a well- merited reputation for his readings. The chair was occupied by Mr Simmers, who introduced Mr Clapcott, and at the close proposed a vote of thanks to him. A numerously attended public meeting was held this afternoon in the Royal Hotel. Dr Webster was appointed chairman. The object of the meeting was to consider the advisability of presenting a petition to ihe Provincial Council for the extension of the Kakanui Harbour works. A petition was framed, and a deputation appointed to proceed to Dunedin and present it.