WAIKOUAITI

Otago Witness, Issue 2571, 24 June 1903, Page 31

WAIKOUAITI

June 22 —In TVedncsday's Times Professor Hutton notices the absence of the stilt plover? from the lower Canterbury Plains from June till the end oi August. It is the aame here, for whereas at other times there are hundreds to be seen on the Hawksbury Lagoon, there is not one, about now. and it would bs interesting to know where they go to at this period of the ye?r. It may be mentioned th^-fc there are still plenty of wild ducks and swans continually on the lagoon. Acclde.lt. — A serious accident occurred on Monday to a little boy named James Beal. The child iv going hoin-e fiom school stopped to play on a feuce below Malloch's stove. The fence was not secure, and in climbing it he fell and fractured his thigh by some means. Aid was rendei-ed at once, and the little fellow was conveyed home, Dr Hislop being soon in attendance tc set the leg, and on Vndny morning the doctor had the child taken in to the Dunedin Hospital. This is the third time the child has been in the hospital, and, as he is onJv a little over sis years old, his life has be-en imfortunate so far.

Practical Sjinparhy. — Beal's accident called forth many sympathetic remarks, a.nd as the cisc was a needy one, Mr W. Murdoch gathered the sum of £10 4j from subscribers ;n; n a. sho.i time, for which amount ho had. tli.p pleasure of presenting v, cheque to the child's mother this morning.

Pi- e c<-nlat on. — A number of friends mot in the Golden Fleece Hotel on the 17th to b d good)ije to Mr Rcs-s, of the Bank of X Z., who has retired from service, a-nd is leaving the district. The Mayor (Mr R. Templeton) preFided, and in opening said the meeting had been huriiedly called to show Mr Ross that his conduct as manager of the branch here had been much appreciated by those who had dealings with the bank, for they had all found him to be most courteous aii-d obliging at a!! timr«. During the four a-r.d a-ha-lf years he had been in charge he had won the esteem and legaid of those who bad coiae into contact with him, and the pleasant duty now remained of pre^euting hi»n (Mi* Ross) \rith a cheque for a sum of montjy subscribed by some of his well-wishers. Aftsr the Mayor hnd made the presentation several others of the company spoke eulogising Mr Ross's services, and his hralth was druuk with musical honours. In repy, Mr Ros3 said hs had come to that time of life tv hen hs thought it was 1113 duty to retire to make way for a yourger man. He had always enjqved the dajs he had spent in Waikouaiti, and would carry away warm reco!eclions of the place. In thanking them for their kindness he asked them to give a good reception to his successor (Mr Fielder), whom he introduced to the meeting. Mr Fielder then spoke a few wolds relative to bank matters, which weie well received. The prorpedinxs were enlivened with songs at intervals by Mt«srs G. K. Browne, J. O'Connell, F. loomey Davis, and Mallorb. (who also gave a recitation 1 !, and, aftei supper, ail joined heartily in singing "Auld la;ig syne "

Per«oiwl.— At t'us gathenng orea-slon was taken of the presort e cf Mr P. Toomey (the geui.il proprietor of the Golden Fierce Ho'el), v/ho had j\is>t returned from the Old Country, to congraiula'e him on his renewed % gour after the serious operation for appcndic.tis he had undergone 111 Dublin, and all expressed pleonue that he had cc rived safei y bick. w/i'i Mrs Tconicy, to ioeuido cha'^ge of the hclel.

Harvest Hotp? — Tho Hillhe-ad farmers held Uuir hstrvesi homo on Tueaday, 9th inst., at Mr W. Maxwell's homestead. The roam w:,s> mce'y d°corited aoid the floor in np!end:d order fcxr dauoi'ig About GD persons were pr=en,t, Messrs Hallum, Taylor aiwl Jonevi it' )p!yiii<r the music, and Mr Jno. Hailum act1113 n» 11. C. Soi'cs and recitaliois by fri"iidi hcipeil to give vpnety to t^e gathering, and at Ilia c'o39 Mr Gee-go Fry pre-pesod ;i h<.sj"t3" vote of thanks, to Mr a.nd Mrs Maxue-.l for their kmdne-s and ho-oitahty, which was cair.cd by acelaiiint.on.