TAPANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 1764, 12 September 1885, Page 13

TAPANUI.

August 9. — Weather. — Wo have for the week experienced thorough winterly weather. There has been an abundance of rain, with interchanges of hail and snow and southerly winds of the most cutting keenness. As I informed you last week, it will be very destructive amongst the young lambs. All out-door and mill work is suspended in con&equenee. In many places farmers were about to sow when the rain camo on, they having deposited the grain in bags in the field. Of course the seed is much better out of the ground than in it, where a considerable portion would have the chance of going to rot. Tf the weather does not clear, another late harvest may be anticipated. Yesterday we had every kind of weather, and, to put it expressively, it was unfit for any breathing creature to be out in. This morning a most welcome change set in.

Scholastic. — Miss R. Gordon has at last been appointed second mistress in the Tapanui school. Applications have been called for the office or first mi.stre.ss, and an appointment will bo imnl(j in ;i few days. The head master is desirous of a now field, 100, he being one of three

teachers out of 40 applicants whose names were 1 forwarded to the New Plymouth School Committee to select from. This is rather a feather in his cap. Mr Warburtonj of Kelsoj has also resigned. . . ■ Revivalism.— Mr B. F. Rotherwell, Wesleyaii minister, of Gore, concluded a week's evangelistic service at the Wesleyan Church here on Friday last. The meetings were numerously attended. Therov. gentleman is reported to have been very severe in his abuse of the unorthodox, and maybe this will account for the admitted failure of his mission. Mr Rotherwell stated that he had neverlabouredsolong in a place with such barren results. He returns, I understand, on the 15th inst., when he will hold a service. Arrangements are now proceeding for the re-opening of the Wesleyan Church.

Ball. — The Tapanui Quadrille Club's closing ball for the season took place on Thursday evening last. The attendance was only moderate, on account of the unseasonableness of the weather. In other respects the ball was a success. Messrs Ruff aud Rundle, musicians ; Mr Hagen, M.C.; abundance of refreshments, and general enjoyment.

Borough Election. — The contest for the couucillorship of West Ward is proceeding very tamely. Neither of the candidates has taken the electors into his confidence. It is anticipated the present member will have a substantial majority.

Accident. — On the. 31st Mr E. Kempthorne, of Swift Creek, met with a nasty accident when ploughing, and also at the same time lost a valuable mare. When rescuing his hat, which had blown off, the horses got off the furrow. Mr Kempthorne went to their heads, with the intention of drawing them in closer, when one of them, which he was breaking in, reared and struck him on the forehead, inflicting a nasty wound and stunning him. The horses bolted a couple of chains, and though they went very close to him as he was lying, it was fortunate they did not run over him. Mr Kempthorne managed to get home somehow, and despatched the blacksmith (V.S.) to attend to the horses, which he saw were injured. It was found that a valuable beast had one of her feet severed. She had fallen, and the coulter had struck her with the result stated. She had to be phot. I am glad to be able to report that Mr Kempthorne has recovered, though he still carries marks of the accident.

Failure. — Mr T. C. Graham, butcher, of Kelso, has had to compound. The surplus cash (after all expenses in collecting are defrayed) to be divided amongst the unlucky creditors will be virtually nit. Some strong language condemnatory of the debtor's culpable neglect and haphazard style of business was indulged in by the justly irate creditors. Threats are made of criminal prosecution. It was decided not to put the debtor through the Court, as only entailing expense, without any satisfaction. The feeling of the creditors is that they would prefer tarring and feathering to whitewashing him. The debtor has only been about eight months in business, and states that he has lost at the rate of £5 per week.

Presbyterian. — The discussion continues with unabated vigour. As I said in my last, it is a terrible example to the " heathen." Your intelligent and facetious compo. made the word " weather."