SHAG VALLEY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 31

SHAG VALLEY.

M*y 11.— The weather continues fine, consequently ploughing is being pushed on apace. There has been very little frost as yet, so the grass is still quite green for thi< season of the year. School ( ommittee Election.— At the annual meeting of housoholdars at the Inch Valley School the old committee— viz., Messrs Magnus lebister, A. Craip, Win, Craig, G. Burhanan, and W Urquhaft— were re-elected. Mr I*bi«ter was appointed chairman, and Mr W. Graig hon. sec. I understand that the electi .n of Mr Urquhart is not considered legal, as his nomination was seconded by a person not a householder. Picnic— Some 40 p-ople took advantage of the excursion rates offered by the Railway department to hold a picnic at Puketeraki on Saturday last. The p»rty left Palmeraton by the 10 30 a.m. train, and reached Puketeraki by 11 30. Thereaft«r, the "billy" was boiled and lunch pai taken of, the good things being brought by the young ladies of the party After' all were satisfied, some went for a ramble in the bush, otbew for a stroll on the beach of the Taiman Sea. At 330 tea was aeain paused round the picnickers, who by this time had returned to the camping place with Eharpened appetites, and I think it needless to say that tha cukes, Ac, were done full justice to. Still there was enough and to spare, for some had to be taken home. After tea some games were irt> dulged in till train time (4.30 p.m), when all wended their way to tli« little station. After all were assembled, Mr J. K. Robertson, one of our oldest settlers, proposed three hearty cheers to the promoters of the picnic— Messrs Aloxander Lind»av and Robert Diack, of the Herbert and Snag Valley Dairy Factories respec-

tlveifr—for thsr fc&l&Ka« in luvltinjr themto tha picnic, which he was certain everyone had enjoyed to their hoaita 1 content. After three ringing cheers hart been lustily given, Mr Lindsay replied on behalf of himself and Mr Diack, and among other things said that during the factory season it was almost impossible for milkmaidi or factory employees to get away for the show aud New Year holidays, and therefore they could not take advantage of the cheap rates. Everybody being pleated with their day s fun, their aim had beea attained. The only thing to mar the enjoyment of the day was the serjous illness of Mr Graham bcotfc, of Herbert, who w.s seized with some trouble almost on his arrival at Puk«terakl, % but I am happy to state that under Dr Neale's care he is progressing favourably. Mr John Duncin, jun. (owner of the factories named),- aloug with Mrs Duncan, were amongst the invited, and did all tuny could to help on the p cnio. The party arrived home at 5.30 p.m., and voted the picnw the most sociable that they had been invited to.