WAIKOUAITI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2497, 22 January 1902, Page 36

WAIKOUAITI.

January 16. — The annual meeting of the mem-bc-rs of the Athens urn took place on Monday evening, when there was a larger attendance than usual. The report stated that 101 new books had been added to the library during the year; various small improvements had been effected to the buildings; a strip of ground 20ft wide had been acquired from the Borough Council to give better access and morp -room on the south side of the hall ; plans had been drawn up and tenders called for for the addition of a new porch and kitchen, but the work had been deferred owing to the death of the lessee of the endowment reserve, the rent of which land had ■been mortgaged to clear off an old debt on the hall. Arrangements had just been made to pay off the balance of the mortgage, raid the reserve was to be re-leased at once, by doing which it was 'hoped a higher rental wouk! be obtained than (formerly. The statement showed a credit balance from last year of £11 2s lOd , hall rents, a3l 10s; subscriptions, £18 6s; donation, £5 15s; concert by Choral Society, £8; Government subsidy, £8 15s;— iota', £33 9s 8d The expenditure included £18 lls 5d on books and periodicals ; repairs, £8 0s 9d ; land, £8 10s ; a credit balanc of £9 5s 4d being left after paying all liabilities. Mr T. Smith (c-hairman of the committee) moved the adoption of the report, which was carried. Mr Davis (one of the trustees) then took the chair, and the election of a new committee was proceeded with, the following being proposed- — Mcssis Hpckler, CTOcome, Jam:eson, Malloch, Stewart, Rev. C. A. Fraer, Messrs Russell, Hallett, and Smith. The first seven were elected, and Mr Kelly was appointed auditor. Votes of thanks were passed to the outgoing committee, especially to the late secietary, Mr Kerr, for his willing services. A meeting of committee followed, when Mr Hecklei was appointed chairman, Mr Ru c =ell treasurer, and Mr Ciocome, secretary.

Large Yield. — To-day I was shown a sj ecimen of Dai.i=h oats grown by Mr T. Q ark in a small paddock near the dairy factory. There were la stalks growing from one pile of oats, each stalk averaging 93 piles, and being about Bft high. This givos over 1700 piles (01 grains) from one pile 01 oat=. Mr Clark had a crop of beans growing o 1 the same ground | agt y earj auc j these were about the same height.

Auc'.ion Sale. — Th'-re was tome spirited bsd<"mg Tor the old police statioa ye=trrday, two wculd-be bcnrdicts running up the pi ice. TLe bouse ard old gaol were iiltiwsste'y knocked iiov.n at £c 9 for lemova! It :s a t \iU = fuctory B^>n to rote that houses to let aic- very scared heie row.

At last there is some prospect of a satisfactory arrangement being made with the tenants of the Hr. .\l:-.Lary Domain Board as to their leases, a menibei of the Lands Depai tinent having been ovci the sections and tliTi cor.-ultmg ■with the bo.irJ Oil Monday )a =t, with a view to makirg some lccommendatioii to sstu ] t the outgoing tenants. The =ooaer this is done the better, so that new leases may be put up for auction, with pos*c-sio;i on the Ist of May next.

Stock Sale — At the Wmkouar.i stock sale held le-day Messrs Stronach Bros, aiid Morris sold the 14-jeais' lea=e of the iibiun. endowment rreerve, of 53 acres, to Mr A. J. Ke.th, of Upper Kiccarton, at 22? per acre. Two quarter-acre sections down Beach street, suitable for building on, realised £5 5s and £0 each, respectn e!y.

Cemetery — At the annual n.^ct;n o - of the cemetery trustees, held this p\ e;nng, Mi James Steven was elected chairman fcr the ensuing jear A» hearty vote of thank= was accorded to Mr A. C! Re-id, the late eha'rman, who h*s now removed from the dibtrct, for the able manner i>i wli'ch he l^to presided ov&r and n-sisted the trustees since their appointment ir. 1884, he having occup.tJ the po=t of chairman annually s.nce thpt date. It it pleawiig 10 record that this place of burial shows .=ifns of b«.ing carefi'lly looked after no-\ idays, and tliat 'Uit affairs of t'.e trust are in a \ealtliv state.