KELSO. NGAPARA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2055, 13 July 1893, Page 22

KELSO.

NGAPARA.

J U"' 10.— It is with feelings of the deepest* regret that I have to chronicle the death of Mr Robert Bell, late teacher of the North Glenkenich School, who departed this life on Thursday last, from congestion of the lungs and inflammation of the heart. Mr Bell has been teacher of the school nam .pd for upwards of seven years up to the time of his death. Although it has been well known for some time back that he was not in the best of health, none of his many friends dreamed of so sad a result until he was obliged to dismiss the school and apply for two months' leave of absence, when he departed- for Dunedin. Dr Coughtrey and Dr Brown, who were in attendance, pronounced his case to be a hopeless one from the start, and he expired at half-past 3 on lhursday afternoon. Mr Bell was an exemplary young man of sterling character, with sound and religious principles, and was a credit to his profession, a large number of our young men and women owing their excellent education to his energetic teaching. He also took a prominent Part in all social affairs, and led the psalmody for the Presbyterian congregation for many years. Great sympathy is felt for his young widow (a daughter of Mr James Smithrof Greenvale), who has only been six months married. Mr Bell was a native of Waihola, where his parents reside.

. JutY B.— The weather in this district at present is simply wretched. Farm work is completely at a standstill, and by all appearance it will be so for some time yet. There is scarcely a farmer in the district who has any wheat sown, so that when the weather does take up the eight-hour system will require to be put on one side, for a time at least.

Dances, Ac— Amusements of all sorts are tha chief feature of attraction here, dancing being the most in vogue. The next big event in this line is ,to be the Masons' ball, and the demand for partners of the fair sex is already considerable. The young ladies in this locality are as a rule bespoken for any coming ball weeks beforehand, and a slow hand has very little chance of getting a partner on the night of the event.