WABEPA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2604, 10 February 1904, Page 31

WABEPA.

Ftb.ua.y 8. — Si.ice wntuig last re have had voiy changeable \\ cathei — neat, told, wuid, lain, snd hail. The hca\y lam which iell hist Thiusday week was most welcome to the farmers, as the gtound was as hard as a rork and unfit to be voiced JN'o doubt the lain was also welcornjcl by those who were getting short of water. There has been a goo.l deal of thunder and l'ghtmng this week. Strange to say, the hea-\y hailstorrfl of Friday did not extend as far as Warepa, and yet at Toi 1 o I have heaid thai, the hailstones were as large as maibles.

Farming — The glass harvest is almost finished. Most of those who had the grass stacked have had it thieshed, but a few who left it m the stook h.ive b^cn kept back by the change m the weather, however, given a lew dry days the mill will be able to resume its work. Turnips ai3 looking well, and since the last lams I notice that the grass has started to spring. The crops aie ripening fast, and m some places will be leady for cutting m a week or so. If all goes well the haivest this year will be about six weeks eaiher than that of last year, although the crops aie not so heavy.

Church Matters. — There was a good attendance of ratmbers from all parts ct the district at the congregational meeting held last Monday evening in Waiepa Church. The Rev. Mr Cumo (moderator) presided, and opened the meeting with Psalm 100 and piayer. It was decided to ask the Piesbytery to model ate m a call, the name of the Rev. Mr Orr to be insetted in the call. Judging from the show of hands at the meeting the call will be a unanimous one, and it is to be hoped that Mr Orr will be open to accept it. Mr Currte intimated that, if possible, there would be a meeting of the Presbytery on Fuday at Balclulha. The Rev. Mr M'DonalJ, who is at present tinder a call to Kaiapoi, occupied the pu.pit to-day. Mr M'Donald was acting as a supply, and is not a candidate for the Warepa vacancy.

Picnic. — The Sunday school pieinc was held at Corydon on Thursday, January 28. There was not such a large attendance of parents and children as there usually is, no doubt :he distance being rather much for some who would have had to walk. Those present spent an enjoyable day wandering about m the bush, gathering ferns, playing games, etc. There was a plentiful supply of toys and lollies for the children. About 4 o'clock all gathered tcgether, and tea and cakes were handed round. Soon after this the ram drops began to fall, and as theie seemed no sign of it clearing it was decided to pack up and journey homewards.

Concert.— Unfortunately the date which had been fixed for the concert in aid of funds to paint the hall, etc., happened to fall on the day ot the funeral of }irs> William Roas ; so that the attendance was not what it would otheiwise have been. Itema wore given by Mesdarnes Shectdan and Wood, Miss Hopcraft, Mi R. Aysou, and the Messrs Roberts, and were enjoyed by those present. Aftei the concert dancing was engaged in tor a few horns, and a plentiful supply of tea, cakes, ana sandwichesc handed round. The cause is a deseivmg one, as the hall m its present state is not an ornament to the district. I tiust that the H.nteitammeut Committee may meet with better success at tl.eir next concert, which will probably be held a few weeks hence School- Ins Warepa School was reopened on luesday. It is to be hoped that the children will not have such a broken year a* they had last year, P -id that the parents will endeavour to assist the teachers m their wcik by sending the cnndien regularly to school. Death.-I regret to write of the death of Mrs Win. Ross, of - Rosehall, ' Warepa. Mis RooS was well known m the district and guile a a-e o?JQ , ! had Pa * Sed awa ? at The early age of 42 years, leaving a husband and a younlami.y to mourn their loss. The sympathy of famiTv eldlSte I dlStl 'l Ct gg ° eS ° Ut t0 Mr K°ss PandhlP andh l tamily m their bereavement.