WAIKOUAITI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2528, 27 August 1902, Page 32

WAIKOUAITI.

August 25.— The annual soiree in connection with the thirty-ninth anniversary of thp Waifconaiti Preaby'terian Church took place in the Mechanics' Hall on Tuesday night, 19th inst., &t which there was a crowded gathering. The CR°v. J. J. Cairucy, who presided, read letters ry' apology from the Revs. J. Christie, J. Clark, und A. M. Finlayaon, who wero unable to bo present. The speaker of the evening was the Slight Rev. the Moderator of the General iLsasnibly (Mr Gibb), who gave an interesting iiK-count of his late journeyings in America. fl?he musical selections were a feature of the Si'eeting, a strong choir contributing the sjithema "Sing ye Jehovah praises," "Now let the gates of ZlOl ring." "O for a closer walk -«vith God," und "Seek >'c the Lord." Miss IVconer sang "Heavenly rest" ; Miss Orkney, l"He was despised" , Miss Tod. "The Better I'liand"; Mrs Kellv, "Daddy"; Mrs Kerr. "O liest in -"he Lord", Mr Stewart, "Daybreak", "Mr Fleming, "O heavenly dream"; Mr Gib=on, ■•'Eet'ospect" ; and Mis Korr and the Mieses Valentine a tr:o, "L:ft thine iyes" (from "•Elijah"). Reireshments were handed louncl ■by the ladies during an interval, und after the usual votes of thanks had been pa<,«ed the Birging of tho doxology concluded a very pleasant and sufceesful anniversary. Ping-Pong —In response to a challenge, the Ks'aikouaiti Ping-pong Club journeyed to tPa-lmerston on Wednefcday evening to play the local club. The match came off in the \ o un--teer Hall, two tables bciug occupied. 1 lay commenced at 8 o'clock, and was kept up w!tn vigour till after 11. Tho players were — Palmerston: Mrs HUlop, Mrs Robertson, Miss Forsyth, Misa Sinclair, Messrs Robertson, D. Macleod, W. Macleod, M'Kcller. Ferguson, Barclay, Fleming, Dr Hiftlop. Waikouaiti Misses A. Templeton, Templeton, Martin, M'Dougall, Messrs P. Wilson, Jamioson, Templeton, Heckler, R. AVilson, Mal'orh, Fell, l)avis. In tho first round tho totals were Waikouaiti, 411; Palmerston, 455. In tie necond round Waikouaiti's total was 323 aJid Palmerston' s 318. Pulmerston won in the first round by 44 point 9 and Wjukouaiti m the second by 5, making a total win by Palnur-.tcn qf 89 points. All expressed themselves pleased with the evening's contest, and it v/a3 decided that a return match be played off in Waikouaiti In a fortnight's time. Tht re is also a prospect d: a picked team from Dunedin 1 oauug "P shortly to show off their skill in exhibiting the latest development in playing: the game. School Exam — Messrs Fitzgerald ar.d I<;chardson held the yearly exaniir.at.on of children attending the Waikouaiti School on Thursday and Fnd:>y las', and out of 155 scholars on the roll 139 were present. The examination was to have beon on the Ist of next month, but was hurried on because ot Kffflefc i»vw kviiuM broken puV in two. liuusta

in the township, and there was a, ifear of its 1 spreading. Precautionary measures were at ' once taken, and it is hoped the disease will spread no further. The school is now closed for a week's holiday. I hear the report of the examiners is very satisfactory, especially that part referring to the discipline of the scholar*. Arboriculture.— The work of beautifying tho tcvnship by tree-planting, etc., initiated by the District Improvement Society, is proceeding quietly. Another lot of marram gra?s has been piocured free from Dr King, which has been planted on the sandhills, and a laige quantity of willow-cuttings ha-7e been put in along the lagoon banks and other part 3of the domain The pine trees in the west avenue of tho cemetery hava been cut down and native shrubs substituted, and the trustees are also preparing a large circle in the centre of the cemetery to receive some fine tiees and shrubs