WAIMTUKU.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 29

WAIMTUKU.

April 10.— In our quiet rural district but little worth recording in the public press transpires. We go on the even tenor of our way, having, of course, our own little interruptions to break the monotony of a country life. But interruptions of public interest are not so frequent. Harvest is now over, the year's yield being well secured " under thack. and rape," and that m excellent condition. Threshing will soon commence, then long caravans of oata to the' railway station, where the most lively scene of all occurs— viz., the struggle for trucks, possession being determined by a kind of " survival of the fittest." Church.— Our minister, Rev. R. M'Cully, la morally courageous, .not afraid to" preach against growing populai evils. On Sabbath, 2Btn ult., he preached an interesting sermon on the evils of gambling. He showed by a logical process of reasoning that "something for nothing is purely and simply robbery; and -when referring to horse-racing the rev. gentleman rose on the wings of eloquence. Then on Sabbath, 9th inst., he preached to the children from the text, "' We all fade like a leaf." The little folk had been instructed to each bring a leaf and put it on the table. To watch those rosy faces as trembling hands placed leaves round the desk, to observe the kind of leai each child brought, was an interesting objeel lesson. Just because they were children, having a natural eye to the young and beautiful, all, or nearly all, brought green leaves; verj few indeed, having icgard to the text which thej lad been told to find, brought faded leaves, Those few were, I venture to say, prompted bj others of maturer years. Where is tho child who would ever think of looking for a faded; withered leaf to take to church? From the leaf in his hand the preacher deduced lesson after lesson that would, I imagine, be as, ii not more, interesting to adults as to -th* crowd of attentive little ones. On Sabbath; 23rd inst., there is to be a harvest thanksgiving service, when the hall is to be appropriate!} decorated. School. — Again our school committee has mado application to the , Education Board foi another room to the school ; and again disappointment — the board hKS, aft« the usual formalilios have been gone thiough, re;u3ed the application— refused, I venture to think, nol became the roll number is not large enouerh.

3 but because the average attendance is not I high enough to -warrant tho expenditure, for 'while the-jroll number would crush the room, the average never would.