ST. BATHANS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2303, 21 April 1898, Page 26

ST. BATHANS.

April IS. — The events- of the past month are worthy of a note. The Jubilee of the province, being well advertised by the press.' and the attractive programme got up by the citizens of SDunedin were the means of inducing many to leave their rural homes in the interior of Otago to visit the seaboard, where great festal preparations were being made for the enjoyment of town and country pleasure seekers. Never in the u.emory of our oldest settlers were so niany known to leave their homes on any previous occasion. St. Bathans and its immediate vicinity taxed Gobb and Co. beyond iheir carrying abilities. Men and ■women seeking passages to Kokonga were politely declined by Mr Sutherland, the icsult being that all manner of vehicles and other mode 3of transit ■weie brought into requisition to carry the g«\la throng to the seat of attraction. Those who left their home bent on pleasure have by this time nearly all returned, and- a subject for cougratulation'is that no accidents of any description have •beeu chronicled, whilst evsryone speaks highly of the enjoyment they experienced. Dunedin has. reason to be pleased at- the response ma'ie by the province in accepting the general invitation to take part in the Jubilee of IS9B, and there is no reason to fear that the demonstration contemplated for 1911 can scarcely be so great a success as its predecessor of IS9B. Of FENCES. — In season the orebarJs have suffered from the hands of young depredators. When the term "young" i 3 used in thib connection a ehaiitable view is taken of the offence ; but when kitchen gardens are being plundered and clothes-lines stripped, then we expect and look for active vigilance from the police to nip tins pptty thieving in the bud. Marriage Beu.s.— The young people are still following the example set them by their seniors. Within the last month four of our young men have entered the list of Benedicts, •whilst two others at the lower end of the district are looking forward to being " hitched up" by the 2Jev. Mr Gellie this, week. The lev. gentleman is having a busy time of it, for tbe multitudinous duties he has to go through do not allow Mm jnuch idle time.

Ecclesiastical. — On Sunday the rev. gentleman delivered his first sermon after the meeting of. the synod in "Dunedin. It was an eloquent addres?,' and was .delivered to a large and appreciative congregation. 'At the cls>Ee of the addsess he' intimated his intention of having a social or conversazione early next month at St. Bathans, when a resume of the early settlement will be indulged in, with an up-to-date history of the church. .

Stjuckhn Down in His Old Age. — Mr John 'Rosa, a Highlander from Roso-shiie, who has been Jiving in the neighbourhood for 30 years, was found lying on the floor of his hut speechlass and paralysed down the left side. Constable Kennedy was informed ef the fact, and had the sufferer removed to Naseby as expeditioasly as possible.

A Weather Note.— The weather here is still very dry, with no appearance of a break. Two more nights like last night w'H cause the curlers to look after their " staves " and the young ladies to polish their skates ; but as for farmers and miners, it is getting beyond my comprehension to say ■what they will be able to do. One thing can safely be said, they will be unable to v»oil: at their calling. The prospect for both industries looks very gloomy.