DUNTROON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2401, 8 March 1900, Page 28

DUNTROON.

February 26. — The weather during the past week has been, with one exception, very favourable for harvest work. The exception was Wednesday, the 21st, when it blew a typical nor-easter, and promptly stopped all harvest operations for the' day. One mill owner (MiLivingston), having just shifted, had his elevators blown clean over on to the top of the mill, rendering a speedy visit to the smithy an imperative necessity. Threshing is now being pushed ahead rapidly, and the harvest of 1000 will soon be a thing of the pa^t on the Maerewhenua settlement. Stacks are going up in all directions, and so far as this past week is concerned, tho3e who thresh from the stook have been in clover. At the time of writing the wind is rather strong, and appearances give promise of ram. Patriotic Concert. — The event of last week here was undoubtedly the patriotic concert, held on Monday in Orr's Hall. The hall J2§s fesauiifuU^^cfiSfttg^ _with Jlowers A eve£-

greens, and bunting, a large Irish flag, green,, with Irish harp in the centre, being very notice- ' able. A large audience assembled, the verywall's and porch being lined with eager listeners. (I wonder the Duntroon people don't build a- public hall. It would be very useful, the present one being a very small, poky affair, not more than quarter big enough for present requirements; and afterwards library, reading, and club rooms might be added things 1 which are badly wanted in. Duntroon. But this by the way). A very good programme" was presented, and the whole affair was cai'i-iecl out in an excellent manner. The conceit was opened by a, strong choir, singing Rule Biitannia, the chorus of which was taken up by ths audience in a manner calculated to lift the roof, as indeed were the choruses of several of the songs, such as " Sons of the sea," "Soldiers of the Queen," etc. Miss M'Fie sans "Tho bonnie hills o' Scotland" and "Kate O Shane '; Miss Carson, "Jessie's dream"Mrs Kelly, "The war-stained veteran"- Mr 3 M'Leod, "'That awful stile"; Mrs Morris " The thistle, rose, and shamrock," with tableau; Mr and Mrs Kelly, the duets, " Verysuspicious " and "Come under my plaidie ";" Mr M'Fie, " Sons of the sea " and " Sons of tho Empire " ; Mr Hartley, " Soldiers of the Queen" and the "Death of Nelson"; Mr Parkes, a Gaelic song. Mr Johnson rendering the songs "The parson and' clerk" and "I'll' place it in the hands of -my so-licitor " in ail ir- " resisii&ly comic manner, had to respond to* • persistent encores for each, and. gave "I wouldn't let them now" and " Gehooly's din--ner." During the evening the Misses More • and Orr played a piano . duet, Messrs M'Leod and Grant gave a spirited duet on the pipes,,: Mr Hickory contributing -a hornpipe, and Mr Parkes, a swoxd dance. Mrs M'lnnes read " A Gowks-E rrand," Mr Badman reciting " Gallant Hearts," while the recitation of Kiplmg's " Ab--sent-mmded Beggar" induced the audience to throw 23s on the stage. The accompanimentswere played by Miss More and Mr Finch, and: they really were aecompaoiiineiits, not •as is usually the case a race between singer an>l pianist. Before the concert and. during the interval the Livingstone Brass Band', under the baton ofr .Mr Hartley, played several selections, and Mr M'Leod filled up- vacancies with the pipes-. Cheers for the Qneen and " Our Boys," with " votes of thanks, brought the concert to an. end. Mr E. C. Smith, who made a perfect chairman, briefly thanked the audience, and then tlie whole of those present sang th& National Anthem. After refreshments had been handed round by tlie ladies, the room was* quickly cleared, and dancing interspersed with songs, etc., agreeably filled in. the time till sunrise.

Prog.-ess. — This little town is progressing. It is not a iaige place — two pubs, three stores, a. baker, butcher, stationmaster and cadet, and a few i esidencos making up the sum total. Howevei\ a chemist's shop has been opened lately by Mr C. 13. Mortis, son of Col. C C. Morris, sail tlie ,,p ee seams to be a go-ahead j)lace. Of co-arse just now things are lively, a3 so many strangers are here for tlie harvest. The .settlement of the Maerewhenua, too, has given, the place a good impetus^.

A ISTabty Practice. — Some talk has been caused by the actioii oi a few of the young- fellows hc---e in ridmg their bikes so fast and close to pedestrians. The boys have a bad habit of riding close up to you and then giving a yell to make you clcav "the i-oad for them. I hope this will be stopped before some accident occurs, hesausc the cyclists often forget to pass on them proper side; and anyone who observes the rule of the road in getting out of the way stands a £»ir chance of being knocked down.

Intercessory Service.— -An the Anglican' Church, heie "special lessons, Psalms, prayers, and hynis were used on Septuagesima Sunday, and the preacher (Rev. Fynes-Clinton), preachint," ofci tue story of Hezekiah and Senacherib, drey,- from it and the present war lessons of trust m righteousness and holiness, lather than, self.

Personal. — Many of your readers, especially those of the AV&itaki and Waikouaiti districts, will remember the Rev. H. C. Frere, tome time * vicar of both these parishes, and at one time locum tenens at SI. Matthew's, J>u±i(.din. In a iettc-r I received from him by the 'Frisco mail ha tells me that after wandering about a good deal he has finally been presented with the living of Tilshead, near Devizes, Wilts, England, by the Lord. Chancellor. His many friends here will be glad to know that he and his. family are all well, his eldest son being at yre.-.eat m the 6th Dragoon Guards (the Csra.-binioi-S) with General French. He also tells me that the, Rsvs. A. C. Yorke and Powell (late o£ St. ALitthew's. Dunedin) have been stayingwith him, and that the Rev. Quartus Bacon (iat-j of St. Paul's) lives within 16 miles of him, and that a brother of Canon. King- is a near neighbour. He contemplates re taming to New Zealand at no very disia.nt dat&.

March 5. — The weather since last writing has been on the whole favourable for harvesting operations, although we have had some fair sample-- oi the nor'-easter, and AVednssday was wet. Still, stacking and threshing have been pushed on vigorously, and a great deaL of gram is now either m the bag or in the stack. Four mills arc working within a couple of miles of me as I write, and several more are within easy reach, so things are humming. Most or the farmers on the low ground have patches of fronted wheat, and one farmer here lost quite two bushels to the acie o-i a late crop through the wind.

Ministerial Visit. — We were favoured by a, visit from the Hon. Mr Hall-Jones on Thursday, he arriving cross-country from Naseby in. the evening, and putting up at Mr Pi-ingle's Hotel. On Fiiday morning a deputation, consisting ol Messrs li. C. Smith (chairman), Morris, Orr, M'Gillivray, Griffin, Finch, W. Sutherland, and Adams, waited on him, being introduced by Major Steward, M.H.R. Amongst other things, the deputation brought under the notice of the hon. gentleman the great want of telephonic communication between Duntroon, Livingstone, and Maerewhenua. They also requested him to try to get the G-overnnient to resume the Oamaru Corporation and Hospital reserves, and to throw them open for nirning purpose, pointing out that those reserves were capable of supporting afc least 200 families foi five years. They also asked to have the Police reserve vested in a. Domain Board for a Recreation Reserve, as there was no public place whatever suitable for such purposes. The Mini<3tei at once agreed to the telephone proposal, and promised to see tho police authorities'witli regard to the Police Reserve. With regard to the other reserves, he stated his intention of driving through them at once, to see is they were suitable for mining purposes, stating his conviction that the Cabinet would doubtless try to meet the wishes of the interviewers, either by granting the reserves or some other eqtrivalent. Afterward the Ministei visited the school, where the scholars were busy celebrating- the relief of Ladysmith, and after addressing the pupils, obtained for them, a holiday in honour of the event. In. the evening the lada held a tin-canning and bonfire in honour of the same event, keeping things lively for a good while.

Game. — Ducks are plentiful lip here on the stubble, and so are hares and wild (not native) pigeons. By-the-bye, .several persons aie inquiring what is meant by " imported native game," and if it has any reference to hares or ducks. An explanatory paragraph in the Times or Witness would bo much appreciated. I must confess that I am as much in the dark as anyone. £Tlio phrase is evide&tly. syQj&^£lw>

conjunction between " imported " and " native " being apparently ar omission. — Ed.]