STRATH-TAIERI.

Otago Witness, Issue 1761, 22 August 1885, Page 13

STRATH-TAIERI.

(KBOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) August 17. Concert and Ball. — A concert and ball, in aid of thp School funds, was held in the local schoolhouße on the evening of Friday, the 7th inst. The weather for some time beforehand was very unsettled, in fact there was a snow-storm the Monday preceding, yet the entertainment— the weather having taken a good turn after the snow— was a very successful one. This last concert is distinguished from its predecessors by the besprinkling of the comic element it contained the people generally, preferring the comic to the serious.express themselves aswell satisfied with the amusement provided them. Mr D. Orawfordl Chairman of the School Committee, took the chair at 8 o'clock, and opened the concert ;b y a few pertinent and concise remarks. Those who took part were: The Misses Brown, Messrs Ferguson, H Archer, Jack, Scott, Robinson, Warburton^and Tdgiigas. At the conclusion of the concert the Strfth-Taieri Christy Minstrels then niadeßtheir debut in the farce of " The Barber's Boy." Mr Wiitson. assisted by Messrs Scott, Robinson Archer, and?M'Hardie, supplied the music for the ball.' SmTION.-It is my pleasant duty to record the fact that the Permanent employes on Gladbrook farm and station presented Mr C.Boldt, cook.™ Gladbrook farm, with a watch and chata, , as a mai k of their appreciation of his kindness and the esteem they hold him in. Tho universal opinion is that to no more praiseworthy a man could a presentation , bemade • the only objection being that, as Mr Boldt is m™ at the service of the district in getting up any " spree," the presentation should have been supported by the total population of the district However " Honour to whom honour is due," and there is

yet time for the inhabitants of the Strath to show their feelings towards Mr Boldt. ... Ploughing.— My report of the ploughing match makes a mistake, in saying that Mr J. Brown, first prizetaker in the double-furrows, ploughed with a fieid and Gray. His plough was a Fowler. Weather.— For the last few weeks the weather has been wild and stormy. The Hock and Pillar has on its wintry cloak, with pretty long lappets too. The roads are consequently in a bad state. Sudden Death. — A very sudden death took place in a rabbiter's camp on Cottesbrook run. A man named Smith, a member of Whitely's party, was taken ill during a snow-storm, and died suddenly. An inquest was to be held at Macraes on Monday, but no news as to the verdict found is to hand yet. , Hoad.— lt is currently reported that the Taieri County Council are at last going to make the road through the centre of the plain passable This should enable the people in that part of the district to send their children regularly to school, and by,so doing lift the school out of its present low condition, both by increasing the average attendance, and also by increasing the percentage of passes at the examination, which latter will never be high while the attendance is such as I now believe it to be.