TAPANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 1777, 12 December 1885, Page 13

TAPANUI.

December 9. — The weather has been all that could be desired for the week. Crops are advancing nicely. School Holidays). — The Tapanui School will be closed for only three weeks. Considering that the teachers have been working in stuffy rooms which do not properly accommodate the number of pupils, I think the committee might have stretched a point and have given a mouth's holiday. Some of the committee, it appears, are against all holidays. They should remember that " all work, and no play, makes Jack a dull boy." Returned.— Mr and Mrs B. Washer returned to Tapanui, on a visit, last week. It will be remembered that Mr Washer found it necessary to leave Tapanui on account of failing health. He has been travelling in Victoria principally. I am glad to say Mr Washer appears to be thoroughly recuperated. • ...-., Deaths. — A very sad death was that of the only son of Mr James M'Harry, aged 13. Tho boy was present at the Tapanui show on Friday last Indeed it was there, it is believed, he contracted his death, by eating too much unripe fruit The boy died in convulsions. Much sympathy exists for the bereaved parents, particularly on account of the fact stated. After a long and painful illness, Mrs Charles M'Donald succumbed on the Ist inst., leaving a youngfamily to mourn her loss. Mrs M'Donald was held in high esteem by her neighbours Accident.— A little girl, daughter of Mr John Findlay, of Dunrobin, had part of one of her fingers cut off and the bone crushed in a chaffcutter. Dr Jones, who dressed the injured fingor fears it may be necessary to amputate it. Black Peter Relief. — Tapanui people are contributing their quota to the relief fund for the old man who, Mr Pyke says, is the father of our Otago goldmining. It seems to me that the conditional vote of the House is but a scant recognition of his services in the development of the country. Why not vote old Peter a pension'sl . S.l T. Mining.— The dredging party on the Pomahaka are waiting for a rise in the river, which is very shallow in places, to shift and operate on ■what they believe to be a more favourable spot. Other twe men are putting in a.wing-dam, and they are in hopes the river will not rise, but enable them to work the bed. Show Favoured by magnificent weather, the seventh annual show of the Tapanui Farmers' Club proved a success. The attendance was large and about £26 was taken for admission at the gates and to the dairy produce exhibits, which were arranged in a marquee. The unseasonable weather in spring, and consequent sparse pasture, kept stock in low condition, and therefore unfit for exhibition. As I stated in my last (unpublished in consequence of late arrival.—Ed.)—would bt» a more than probable result, the number of exhibits nearly all round showed a diminution on last year, but the qualities, on the other hand, were rather, imiaiproved generally speaking, and this, I take it, secures the primary object of all shows. I cannot enter into detail ; but let me say the show was on all hands pronounced a success. This result is in no small degress due to the exertions of the idefatigable secretary (Mr W. Quin), to whom the club has just presented a valuable gold watch to mark in a slight degree their appreciation of his services. Mr Quin has, I understand, done the work honourably since the inauguration of the club. Entertainment. — A concert and dramatic entertainment was held in the oyeniug, and was numerously patronised, realising about £14 gross. The entertainment was fairly successful. The following were the vocalists :— Mrs King, Misses Clouston and Detert, Messrs Scott, Connly, and Marsh. Mr Eskdale gave a comic reading; Messrs M'Donald and Cameron, bagpipe selections, the latter a Highland fling; and Mr Llloyd, a slop-dan jo. Mrs Hickson and Messrs Ruff and Kurdle played musical selections. The farce of " Cool as a Cucumber was put on with the following cast: — Mr Barkins, Mr Menzies; Frederick Barkihs, Mr D. Patterson ; Plumper, Mr Marsh ; Miss Honiton, Mrs Marsh ; Mary Wiggins, Mi?s Stuart. Mrs King's songs were much appreciated. Her singing of "Barney O'Hea" was first-class, and, though given in response to an encore of " Killarney," was a decided improvement on the latter-named. Mr Connly's pianoforte solo was well received too. Both Mrs King and. Mr Connly are. new to a Tapanui audience. All things considered, the farce was played in a creditable manner.