NIAGARA. WAREPA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2610, 23 March 1904, Page 30

NIAGARA.

WAREPA.

March 10.— On the 25tli ult., this district was visited by two gentlemen from Dii'Tdin, tiTvelling in the interest of a wcll-knovvn Australian insurance company. In the back blocks it is scarcely practicable to make a house-to-house visitation, so our visitors adveitissd a "free entertainment," and by this ingenious expedient, caught the whole district in theii net, and did some good business for their company. We >n our side filled the schoolroom, and enjoyed ourselves all the more, as we had nothing to pay. We had songs, jokes, pieres on tha pianoforte, and on thy. graphaphone, together with a speech on the benefits of life insurance.

Weather. — Last Thursday, 3rd inst., the remarkably fine weather we have been expciiencing broke up, and fox 24 hours there was continuous heavy rain. It must have bssn general all over the basin of the Waikawa, as that river has never been knowxi to be so high.

tiefore. The road between here and Waikawa ■was under water in several places, and damaged in more; but in spite of injured culverts and flooded Toads, Hugh M'lntosh got through punctually with, the mail, and John Templeton with the Waimahaka express.

Ecclesiastical.— On the Sunday before last our Presbyterian minister, Mr Lopdell, began a sWies of revival services, for which he had secured the co-operation of Mr Dickie, a wellknown and much-respected resident of the iMataura district. For eight nights in succession, save the one on which the road was flooded by the heavy rains referred to above, the school was filled with- an earnest and appreciative congregation, who were deeply anoyed, as they could not help but be, by •the eloquent addresses andi the touching exihortations of the preacher, Mr Dickie. I understand that Mr Lopdell is well satisfied with the success that he and his brother evangelist have met with, both here and in other parts of the wide distriot under his charge.

March 21. —Just when we were congratulating ourselves on the good weather we were having for harvesting a change took place. On, Monday, Msrcb. S, it reined steadily nearly ail day, bub cleared off towards night. So far all was -well, and the ram thai fell then was sufficient to in?ke everything look fresh again; "but unfortunately there was more to follow. Thursday was a day to be remembered. For almost 2* hours the rain came down unceasingly, and the creeks that were dried up became mountain- -torrents. There was water everywhere. The next fe"w days were close and muggy, but last week we were favoured with * some good north-west and 1 south-west winds; which have already effaced all traces of the deluge. Towards the end of the week the weather has been broken again. Harvest. —Most of ihe farmers had their crop cut and in the stbok* but few had much stacked when the change ir the weather took place. Owing to the cose, muggy weather which followed the rain, the grain began to sprout, and many farmers turned the stooks to says it from going any further. The high winds were favourable last week, and not so much damage has been done as was at first thought, especially in regard to the oat crop; but the wheat crop has suffered most, and will not be worth 3r-uck. There have been, several frosty mornings, but as soon as the frost disappeared leading-in waa started, and most of the crop is , row safe ia the stack. The turnips and grass have been much benefited by the rain, and are looking well. Stock did not suffer at all. All the ground is mostly high ridges, there is not much danger of it being flooded. Church Matters. —Since writing last, the pulpit has been occupied by the Rev. J. Niven (Dunedin), Mr Collie (Waiwera), and the Rev. S. Currie. Thursday, March 24, has been fixed for the induction- of the Rev. J. P. Orr. The induction service will take place in Warepa Ohurch in the afternoon at 3 p.m. The Rev. Mr Chi3holm, of Owaka, is to preach. In the evening there will be a congregational social to welcome Mr Orr. There will be several speakers, and the choir is to supply the music. It is to be toped that th-ere will be a geed attendance both in the afternoon and evening. Death. —lt is only a few weeks ago that I *rots of the .death of Mrs Wm. Ross, of Warepa ; now, sad. to say, I have to write of the death, of her husband. Jus-t a little over a week a-go !M.r Ross was in Balclutha, and seemingly in good health. However, he caught a chill. Pleurisy and inflammation of the lungs- set in, and on Tuesday last he passed away, despite imedicai skill and the kind attentions of his relatives. It is an extremely sad case, as Ke leayes nine children to mourn their loss. The eldest is not much more than 16, and the youngest an infant of a few weeks. The funeral took place on Thursday, the Rev. Mi Currie conducting the service at the grave. The sympathy of the whole district goes out to the 'orphans and those who have been left in charge of them. Almost every wftek it comes home to us that "in the midst of life we are in cTeath."