WAIKOUAITI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2511, 30 April 1902, Page 31

WAIKOUAITI.

April 28.— During the latter purt of last weolharvesting wa3 in full swing round here, a-nd to-day or to-morrow ought to see all the grai; stacked. Some of the farmers ars hopeful tha the gram will not turn out so much damagec" by t'ne late flood as was thought at o<ie tims. Social.— The Mechanics' Hall was filled on Friday nisfht last with a la.rge and enthusiast!'gathering of people from all round the district, who hiid assembled) to give a, send-off to Mi and Mrs Toomey, the popular host and hostes* of the Golden Fleece Hotel. Mr Toomey if also well known as a large farmer and stock dealer The local brass band, under Mr F. Buckley's leadership, played a selection of aii« outside the building, and at 9 p.m. the "Granc 1 . March" opened the proceedings inside the hal Duruig an interval in the dancing, the Mayo- , Mr T. Allooek, said thoy had met that night, in honour of two well-known residents who were about to leave them for a time. M' Tooniey had been in bad health, as they kne". , and he was going away in the hope of improving purh ft state of affairs. He had always found Mr Toomey to be a straightforward, honourable man, one who was always willing ti help anything going on m the placp. Accordingly, hie had made himself useful and populai in his public capacity, and they were not going to let him leave without showing their appreciation. Mr= Toomey waa always most agreeaN'e to all, and had sliowm kindness and hberility ou many occasions, fo; which they weift thankful. He had therefore much pleasure, in presenting Mr Toomey with a handsome Mosgiel travelling rug, hoping it would be useful to him on his journey, and keep his old friends in mind. To Mrs Toomey the Mayor presented a beautiful silver-mounted lady's companion, inscribed, "To Mrs Toomey, from friends, on her departure to the old country." Mr Maaka, on behalf of some Native friends, then presented Mr Toomey with a Maori spear and axe, which were nicely carved from models which were over 200 years old, and he regretted tha' . owing to the. time being so short, he had not. had time to further enrich them with shell". and greenstone. In reply, Mr Toomey sa.i'"' he did not know how to return thanks for th'kind presents made to himself and Mrs Toomey. He had had. very pleasant times during th » eight years he had lived m Waikouaiti, ar' there was scarcely a neighbour in the plae>' that he had not had dealings with. He fp' lonelier m leaving Waikouaiti than he dul when lea"ing his native land, but he had been ordered Home by the doctors, and he had to go. However, he hoped to bo with th»m again m about a year's time, m good health if possible, and he thanked them for their presents and kind exprespior.s of regard towards himPelf and his wife. The band thpn struck tin "ShoulrT old acquaintance be forgot " the words b°ing sunjr by all present, and this was followed by "For he's a lolly good fellow," which was enthusiastically taken up. Songs ware rendered durine tne evening by Mesara EV

Buckley, T. Morrison, V 7. Rusaell, T. Maata jm Maori), C. K. Browne, P. Toomey, and J. D'Connell, and recitations were given by Messrs Armstrong and B. S. Irwin. Miss Fodor and Mr Cheyne supplied the music, and 'Messrs Bell and S. Allcock acted as M.O.'s. Refreshments were handed round at intervals, the catering being well looked after by Mr W. iWilliams, and a. most enjoyable time was spent £>y the company. It was late before the proceedings terminated, and the guests of the Evening had many farewells to make before leaving. They sailed by the Warrimoo, via Melbourne, yesterday, expecting to reach London two days before the Coronation, and thence (journey to Ireland. (. School Report. — The annual report of the [Waikouaiti School Committee states thpt 32 hew pupils were admitted during the year, and B4 left, the number on the roll now being 1 169, jwith. an average attendance of 149, which is jiot bad, considering the exceptionally wet seafeon experienced. Under the new scheme of staffing, the school became entitled to a second pssistant, and, with the exception of the misJres9, all the present teachers have been appointed since the outgoing committee took office. The -whole of the interior of the master's residence has been renovated; the old tesidence bas also been re-rooffed with iron iand otherwise repaired. The sanitary condijtion" of the school has been carefully attended to, and a ewiniming class has been uiauguiatpd jfor the boys, under the supervision of the knaster and Mr Keir. The total receipts for | jthe year were £33 5s 2d and expenditure £48 Us Sd, leaving a credit balance of £4 17s 6d.