WALKOIKOI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2309, 2 June 1898, Page 25

WALKOIKOI.

May 30.— We have now had a full w«ek of ' winter weather— lain and snow showers al*ernate'ly every day ; consequently the ground is becoming thoroughly permeated with water and the roads are in a sloppy condition. The Farm.— A. few patches of grain are still in the stook, but it mtist now be utterly ruined. A ' good deal of threshing remains to be done, and carting-away is in full swing when weather permit*. Generally speaking grass is more plentiful than at this time las>t year, coneectuc-ntly the turnips (tie iv a measure being tared. It is prcj dieted by some that sheep will rule high dvi icg j the spang 1 . Personally I can offfr- no opinion, i The ploughing of lea and stubble is in a few instances well advanced. For the former ground ! the digger plough is now largely used. j Social. — The many friends of Miss Neil, who has bean schoolmistress at Merino Downs for over four yeaife, tendered her a social prior to her -'■avmg for a similar appointment at Ngpara, near Oamaru. The fiist part of the evening's enlerts,iiam«nl consisted of songs, leciiations, readings, &»a laKtauneatftl selections by Miss White iQlen-

kenich), Miss Maggie M'Lgy, Messrs A. Noble, Jas. Scdt, Mfuliu, M. M'Lay, and four school children. .During the eveniAg the chairman (Mr A. J. Nichol), ion behalf of the Christian Endeavour and other societies, presented Miss .Neil with a very handaomeoak wutingdesk with appropriate inscription on silver mauatinsj ; also with a-gold rintr, a~birfcliday book, and a Bible. To Mr Niehol's 'kind remarks in mak ng the presentation Miss Neil feelingly replied. A couple of houris were afterwards spsnt at parlour games, etc , and abundance of refreshments of excellent quality were handed around at iutervals during the eyening. Strange to say, Miss Neil had the offer of three appointments simultaneously, and I understand her preference (Ngpara) is a considerable promotion. Deparxohes. — Several have taken place during the last fuw months. The latest was Mr and Mrs Gladstone E,o~binsou and.family, who after a ten years' residence amongst us left last week for England. This week, I understand, our popular storekeeper and his wife are leaving for Dunedia. BothTVlessrs Robinson and Murdoch were pillars of the local chui eh and patrons of tho cricket club, ft-ud they will be.iniised.