UNKNOWN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 28

UNKNOWN.

April 17.— The severity of the prevailing weather has done mtieh to diminish the supply Oi rabbits trained from this district, and for the, past two weeks the numbers happed have been decidedly low compared with the average catches for a similar period of the previous months. The number received at the Woodlands -works on the 3rd ult. was 17,000— the record number. Tremendous slaughter musb be going on -somewhere, and the amount of money distributed amongst trappers is certainly very large.

Scant Courtesy. — At a convivial meeting held. ' in Otcrnmika recently to mark the defu action of Baptist worshipping in that locality a Baptisfc cleigyman is reported to have remarked, itiferentially, that the Presbyterians refused the Baptist persuasion the use of the church in which to hold Sabbatical expositions of their faith, this necessitating the erection of a. mission hall by the Baptist denomination. Tho Presbyterian community naturally resent such an unwarranted insinuation, and are fully conscious that a refusal on their part to further Christian work or stifle Christian exercises o£ piety would be nothing short of intolerant bigotry, which they indignantly abhor. It is becoming the daily fashion amongst clerics of "fancy" religions to sneer at other denominations, and if such bo the teaching of theological precepts by those who hold in their hands the guiding reins of their churches in this new and promising land, it is deserving of the severest condemnation, and it is a dishonourable tenet to instil in the mine's of the rising generai tion — the- young iniquity, who must be placed i beyond the palo of doubtful fidelity and moral i taint. | Obituary. — All who knew her will j-egret tha sudden demise, under painful circumstances, of Miss Norsi O'Gorrnan, recently appointee! • teacher oi the Roslyn Bush School. Deceaseii was well known in Dipton and Invercargill, the convent in the latter place being the school in which she received her higher education and a sound and excellent training for the piofession in which she was about to launch when overtaken by the malady that was the incipient cause of her untimely departure to tha bourne whence there is no return.

Political.— Mr M'Nab, M.K.R. for Mataura, is on the ovo of meeting iiis constituents at the various centres of the electorate, and in all probability Rimu will bo tho sceno of fixsfc operations.

Church Matters. — Tho congregation of ths Woodlands church may at no distant date loso tho services of the venerable pastor, the Rev. Mr Sissett, who has been in charge of tha Woodlsuid3 pastorate. for the past few years. Sevoral month*, ago Mr Bissett received a call to another and larger charge, but did not accept it. — At the Rakahouka Church oil Sunday last tho Rev. Father M'Grath bade farewell to his parishioners prior to his departure for Gore, where ho replaces tho Rev. Father ODea, formerly of the Rakahouka curacy. Tho church was crowded, and the rev. gentleman's right hand was almost shaken off by wellwishers, not only those whe wore in his spiritual charge, but numerous other friends and acquaintances. Game. — Tho paucity of game in the Seaward! Bush has been a subject of much comment, and it is now proposed to petition the Government to protect All birds for two years in thafc bush, otherwise the already diminishing game will become completely extinct.