WAIKOUAITI,

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 17 April 1901, Page 29

WAIKOUAITI,

April 15. — The weather last week was rather on the dull side, but was on the whole pretty fair. I see that some of the local farmers are busy thieahmg. It is soniewhpt comical that there are three mills locally owned, and they arc ak about Palmerston way, and the mill busy here is a Palmerston one. However, I suppose the local mills will soon be having a cut in here too, and then the threshing will get on a little faster. Holiday Dissfiipations. — We had ? fair share of these this Easter. On Monday last we had the Independent Wesleyan picnic — a regular fixture for that day , a concert in the hall, in aid of the repair fund of St. John's Vicarage , a sacred concert in the Independent Wesleyan Church ; and a concert at Flag Swamp, -*i aid of the Presbyterian Church funds there. On Tuesday the Anglicans held their Sunds'" school picnic, which also was a great success. Then on Saturday night the Brass Band turned out and discoursed some excellent music, giving the town nn unusually festive aspect. These, in addition to the camp which broke up on Monday, and a large number of Easter visitors, have made the place quite lively , but it has now resumed its wonted quiet aspect.

Harvest Festival. — The harvest thanksgiving seivices were celebrated in St- John's Church yesterday, the festival beginning with n celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the morning. The church was beautifully decorated with flowers, fruit, and vegetables — not obtrusively, but in such manner as to set off what is itself a beautiful little building. The blaze of white flowers, the palms, and the varied hues of fruit, etc., combined with the crimson and white' Easter vestments of the altir and the soft subdued light of the alt?r candles made a picture at once pleasing and devotional. The vicav celebrated, and ueed the special Collects and thanksgivings set out for that purpose. In the evening the special piayers were repeated, the proper Psalms, lessons, and hymns being used. A very ancient custom was revived at this service, s basket of fruit and grain being carried in the procession by a member o r the choir, and at the close of the processional hynln ("Cfcme ye thankful people, come") this was solemnly offered at the altar with a special thanksgiving. Ail eloouent sermon (based on the text — "Christ, the first frui+s") was preached to a crowded congregation by the vicar, and the service concluded with the recessional hvrun, "Our day of praise is done." I understand that the fruit, etc., will be presented to St. Mary's Orphanage, Woodhaugh

Orchsrd Robbery. — I am sorry to state that some fruit-stealing has been going on lately. One erf the residents here, missing his apple's, watched for the thief, and found him, not, as expected, in some of the township boys, but in a well-dressed stranger, who has been t"king his Easter holiday in Waikouaiti. I regret tc state that the delinquent was let off on promising not to offend again, b far too lenient way of settling such a serious matter, to my mind.

In Memoriam. — The band of early settlers is gradually growing less, the last of the number to leave us by death being Mi Robert Shand, who died on Sunday last, after a very painful illness. He was a native of Caithness, Scot land, leaving his native town in 1853 to seek his fortune in Victoria. In 1862 he came over to Dunedin, entering the service of Messrs Anderson and Co., millers, etc., and about three years later was appointed manager of a new flourmill just erected m W?ikouaiti. In 1889, I think, he purchased the property, and since that time until his death, assisted by his sons, he has carried on the business of miller, giocer, grain merchant, etc., making a large and increasing business of that originally entrusted to his care. He was not a public man in some senses of the word, yet his well-known figure ■will be missed \a all the settlers oi. the dia-

tnct, as well is by the two sons and four daughters whom he has left behind. R.I P.