BANNOCKBURN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1952, 23 July 1891, Page 19

BANNOCKBURN.

July 20.— Sometimes during floods gardens are washed away, valuable fruit trees of course going with them. If a house stood in the garden, then at the washing up a miscellaneous collection of foreign substances are found with tbe gold, such as metal buttons, shots, nails and tacks, pins and needles, 4c.

Fbuit Gultpbe. -An abundance of various fruits are grown here during the summer time, and are retailed at very reasonable prices, owing to the distance from the seaboard. If tbe rabbit faotory starts operations near Cromwell, doubtless a lot of fruit Will be sent from hn - e to be canned. Babbit Trip —Mr W. Harding has invented a rabbit trap nnd has applied for a patent. Ido not know the particulars except that the spring Is underneath, and that it is half the weißht of tbe ordinary ; trap. Ido not know if strength has been sacrificed to obtain this desideratum. The ordinary rabbit traps are none too strong, for they begin to get •baby after they have caught 50 or 60 strong, fullgrown rabbits. Any one interested can see drawings and particulars at the Patent Office, as applications have to remain on file a couple of months before the patent is granted, so as to give an opportunity for j anyone to object to tbe granting of the patent! if they bave any jusb grounds for doing so. By tbe way, I may mention ino'dentally that M* Harding'* mother, now Mr? Patterson, is a cousin of Horace Greely, th« noted American. Local Institutio-s— The most important of these is perhaps Ih« satoool Certainly tha various ; oommitteei have always been unsparing of th^irsp ra time in discharging their duties ; last year 22 meetings were held. At tbe annual the residents turn out almost to a man, Generally each candidate, when nominated, addresses, those assembled, and expounds his vitws on education and answers questions Invariably the clerk to the committee is a scholar quite able to put Ms viewe cle «rl v on paper, so thnt the oomrai tee's correspondence is in high repute with tbe Education Board. Speaking allegorically, in order to make my meaning quite clear, if a pound of nails is required to repair the palliiading round the grounds a special meeting will be called to discuss the matter, and perhaps an amendment will be made that 21b be purchased, and so forth, all of which is diligently recorded in the minute book by the olerk, whioh Is treasured up bo that future generations may see that past committees faithfully discharged their duties. The committee has just experienced a complete change in tbe teaobing staff. After about four or five yearß as mistress, Miss Freeman resigned a few months back and went to tbe Wai *reka School, whioh position she shortly after resigned owing to Hl-hea'th. In due course the committee met to consider the several applications, and finally seleoted Miss Patterson, from Balolutha way, and I think it cannot be disputed that Ihe oommltt.ee marte a wise seleofclon Mr W. J. Strong was headmaster for some years, and recently left for the Macandrew Read Sohool Mr Molr has taken temporary charge pending the arrival of Mr Fleming, of Hyde, wbo will thort.ly be here. The teaoher's residence is not in keepingwlth the importance of the place, and as Mr Fleming is a married man the cimmlttee will have strong reasons for urging the Education Board to provide more suitable aooomrnodatinn . Amusements.— There Is a chess and draughts olub here, which meets on Monday cmd Friday nights, during tbe winter. These are alwayt well attended, and tne dsmcu\t problems are worked out and n pleasant evening is spent. Every month the Band of Hope holds temperance meetings, which - are always well attended by children as well as adults. Tbe singing of tbe children is a special feature- * £89 SVHQ4-V Sohqol U well attended, and U kept

going regularly. The funds for tickets, prizes, and incidental expenses are raised by an annual concert. As (his is a deserving object the people having broad views waive all difference d opinion and beliefs and turn out to a man ti> patronise the entertalumtnfc. Hall.— The residents have a fine large hall, built of pise work, with an iron roof, and nicely wainac >tted iHside The acooustics are very good , and the stage is higher than usual. Football.— A numb jr of residents turned out to witness tbe trophy football match Cromwell v. Alexandra on the Cromwell grounds on Saturday week last. As you have already given the details, I will merely remark that there were a large number of teachers on the ground. Among these were Mr A. G. Thomson from Pembr. ke ; Mr Molr and Miss Patterson, from Baunockburn ; Mr Barrett and Miss M Grogan, from Cromwell ; Miss Waddell, from Queensbury; Mr Morris, from Blacks; MrAldred, from Alexandra ; Mr Don. from Lowburn, and Miss Cousins, from Kawarau Gorge A lOOjds footrace between H Solomon, of Uromwell, and J. Elvers, of Afcx-mdra, aißo came oil The stakes were £5, and Hivers got 6yds start and won easily. Your intelligent readers will gather herefrom that the residents have a larger amount of education and intelligence than tbe usual run. Parliamentary proceedings are slwaya carefully read and intelligently discussed.— Casual Correspondent.