TAPANUK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2058, 3 August 1893, Page 23

TAPANUK.

August 1. -The Loyal '.Tapanui Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., have to be complimented on the and £341 19s Id in the bank, the balance being in the treasurer's hands. The membership consists of: Ordinary membars, 112; members, 13 ; widow. 1 ;-or a total of 126. Asa benefit society no doubt it standa head and Sis above all others. ,The success of the lodge is due to the able manner in which the officers and members work together andto the exertions of the energetic, P. S., Bro CM Whelan, who is the right man in the right P Lecture.— The Rev. W. Scorgie delivered his monthly lecture for young .men on Sunday evening, taking for his subject " Public Opinion : Its Place and Power in a Democratic Community. Unfortunately, the weather' wai very unfavourable; consequently the attendance was small in comparison with what it would otherwise have Ambition Rewarded.— For some time past considerable excitement has been caused amongst the members of a friendly society in the district as well as the outside public, over a question which was likely to cause division in the ranks. The society seeing this, thought it best to have the Question settled at once. Accordingly a summoned meeting was called, and avery large number responded. On the question being put, the members very wisely acted on the saying A house divided against itself cannot stand," and the question waß thrown out by a majority of 12 to 1 • and thus was ' presumptuous ambition rewarded in tho way in which it deserved to be. Birchwood- Hounds. -The past week has been a gala one in the way of hunting, the district having had a visit from the Birchwood hounds. The meet on Wednesday was at Mr Cleghorn's homestead, where a large nurabpr eager for the fray assembled, with a big gathering of spectators on the most conspicuous places available for ensuring a good "sight. The hunt was a- good one, and several of the horses engaged showed that they were capable of jumping anything that came iv the way. On the other hand a few were to be Been with the rider .on one side of the fence and the horse on the other. .Unfortunately during the second run there was a heavy hailstorm, which completely robbed tho spectators of all pleasure. The meet on Thursday was at Mr J. R. Mackenzie's Glenkenich Station, where a splendid course was laid. Like the preceding day, the weather was, unfortunately, anything but conducive to pleasure, and in consequence the turnout was not quite bo large. Owing to the slippy nature of the ground, several horses came down at the jumps, some of which were pretty stiff. Friday was an off-day, which was devoted to a shooting competition, but on Saturday they again met at Mr Cleghorn's, and for once the weather was in their favour, although bitterly cold. The turnout of followers andspectators was a great deal larger than on either of the preceding days. Mr W. Quin has for some time had a young stag penned up, and the news having spread that it was to be let out, caused visitors to come from all parts. As a spectacle, however, this was a failure, as when let out it refused to run, which proved rather unfortunate for the spectators, although probably fortunate for a great many of the followers. The drag had to be resorted to, and the run took place over the same course as on Wednesday, and it again proved to be a thoroughly good one. the field keeping well together nearly the whole of the journey, and clearing the jumps in good style. The Late Gale.— The force of the late gale may be imagined by the terrible havoc it has made in the bush, uprooting trees everywhere./ In Mr Potts's bush, at Woodside, a regular monster has come to grief, measuring 7ft in diameter; while in the Crookston district some of the farm buildings have been left without a roof. {Will our correspondent please post his letter a day earlier.] ■