Our Correspondents.

Otago Witness, Issue 1506, 25 September 1880, Page 13

Our Correspondents.

WEST TAIERI,

(jfßOtl ODB OWN OOEBESPOKPENT.) Woopsips, September 21st.

The weather is still keeping very dry, and the ground is getting hard and parched up, A good night's rain is muoh wanted to freshen np the grass and lay the dust. The winter-iown orops look well in this district so fir as I have seen, and the Taieri is beginning to show the verdant appearance which makes it so attractive in the summer season.

Farmers are taking advantage of the dry weather to plant potatoes, in the hope that prices will rule a little higher next season. We have had them delivered here lately at £2 per ton, the quality excellent, which cannot leave a very large margin for profit The Good Templars celebrated their anniversary on Wednesday night by a soiree and concert, which proved very successful, the room being crowded. Great trouble had been taken in the way of floral decorations and devices, which gave a pleasant and refreshing appearance to the room, and showed the impress of fair fingers in many of the details. Mr Fraser. schoolmaster, was chairman, and opened the meeting in a few well-chosen remarks. Mr Broadway, of Princes street, catered for the inner man in his usual superior manner ; and the readings and songs were much above mediocrity. Mr D. A. Murray, of Outram School, with his usual courtesy, came out and sang 1 some favourite melodies, which were received with high favour, as ware also the violin solos of iV)r Andrew Anderson. Hi 3 rendering of " Auld Ribin Gray " and " The Last Rose of Summer " were enthusiastically encored. Altogether, a very pleaaant and entertaining evening was spent.

Delaney is matched to run John Shaw, of Lower Waipori, 80 yards, for LlO a side. They had a spin for L 5 a side last Saturday, when they ran a dead heat. The stakes were doubled, and the event comes off on Saturday, October 9 th. He is also matched to run three miles against a coloured gentleman near Otakia, but the amount of the stakes and date I have not discovered. The Otakia man goes in for strong training, "miae host" of the White House Hotel giving him his morning exercise alongside a good-going horse.