TAPANUI. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1489, 29 May 1880, Page 13

TAPANUI. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

May 24th

The weather here hasbegun toassume a rather wintry aspect of late, and the roads are clothed in their usual coating of mud. The outlook for the winter, as fur as labour is concerned, is very disheartening here, the only work of any consequence being the Tapanui railway, and of course that cannot absorb all the unemployed (of whom there are at present a good many) m this district. The building trade has beon rathor brisk of late, owing to the difforent buildings along tho railway lino in course of erection, but whon they are nuisl<e<l there will nofc bo a very bright pvoapocfc foi carpeufceiß, The Tapanui Young Mou'd Christian Association held its ueuiil fortnightly uieotiug on

Thursday, the 20th inst. ; the attendance was very good. Mr Joseph Gray delivered a very able and carefully-prepared essay on " Intemperance," which gave rise to considerable discussion, owing to a remark which the es3ayidt ina'ie in regard to the alleged great increase in the number of femalo 'drinkers ; but the discussion terminated iv favour of the essayist, it bein? proved to the satisfaction of those engaged in the debate that the number of women drinkers was rapidly increasing. Mr Daniel Paterson also gave an interesting reading. A Pinafore Troupe, consisting of four gentlemeu and a lady, is at present performing in Tapanui. The performance is not of a very firstrate description, but owing to there being so few entertainments of thi3 description iv Tapanui, they are drawing very good houses. Professor Hughes is one of the performers ; he accompanies the siugera on the harmonium, aud also plays some popular airs on tho violin during the performance in a very ploasing manner.