DIPTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2387, 30 November 1899, Page 33

DIPTON.

November 27. — We have experienced a, month of very broken weather. As the Yankee said, it has been "an allfired assortment of samples." At the beginning of the month it was wintry indeed, several inches of snow falling on the 3rd and 4th inst., since when we have had a couple of hurricanes of wind, and this week thunder and rain sufficient for a whole year.

Political. — The member for Wallace, Mr Gilfedder, addressed the electors here in the Public Hall on the 3rd, and although it was snowing heavily at the time, he had a very good audience, and was listened to with' marked attention. His address was on the lines of that delivered at the different centres. The meeting was quiet and orderly throughout, and a vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously. — On the 4th the Opposition membar, Mr Carmichael, took the platform under rather unfavourable circumstances. The weather being extremely boisterous, the train in which he came was delayed fully an hour, which made the meeting late, and tried the temper of the audience, which occasionally became, like the weather, a little boisterous, but still kept within the bounds of decorum. Mr Carmichael's address was pretty straightforward and honest, and he was asked many questions at the end, some of which were of an irrelevant character. The usual vote of thanks and confidence was proposed, ac also an amendment of thanks only, but things got mixed somewhat in putting the motion before the amendment, and it was hard to tell which was carried. I should say from the vone of the two meetings that Mr Gilfedder was the favourite of those present, but the ballot box will decide that question.

Sunday School. — The junior classes of the Sunday school were to have had a picnic at Leura, the residence of Mr R. D. MacLachlan, in the early part of the month. The weather, however, interfered, so it was adjourned till the 25th inst. On the 18th the senior divisions of the school joined the Riverside Sunday school, and were driven in traps and buggies to Hillend bu3h, and had a downright good day's sport.

Parsonless. — The Anglican congregation had rather a disappointment here on the 19th inst. when they turned out in^ force to hear the Rev. Mr Kayll, who has been lately appointed to this district. But through stress of. weathei a*nd other circumstances over which the rev. gentleman had no control he was , unable to attend, so the meeting had to disperse without a service.

Cricket. — Our cricket club ]iave been very unfortunate so far this season ii.their matches. The" weather or some unforeseen circumstance ha 3 generally thwarted them. On the 25th inst. the Forest Hill club came up in a drag and buggies, and played our boys. The visitors went in first, and were alf disposed of for 36 runs. Our boys had knocked lip 37 for the loss of three wickets, when, presto! down came the rain in torrents, and play had to be abandoned. The visitors were entertained by mine host of the Railway Hotel.