OWAKA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2647, 7 December 1904, Page 35

OWAKA.

December 2.— After the long spell of unseasonable weather we have experienced, we cum. appreciate the beautiful days and dry roads to the full. Tie farmer is busy making up for lost time, I and the housewife is busy spring-cleaning ' and preparing for Christmas visitors. Now 1 that the line is extended I expect we shall ■ not have quite so many tourists in Owaka as formerly. Certain it is that the accommodation -houses have lost a, good deal of custom since the line was extended,, for the Ra-tanui 1 and\Tahakopa settlers of course travel straight on' without stopping. < Sale of Work.— The ladies of the Presbyterian Church held their annual sale of work on Wednesday evening of last week. The I night proved propitious, and considering that j nearly everybody had, been atthe Clutha show i the( day before, and 'were consequently somewhat tired, the attendance was fair. The hall was nicely decorated with flowering native sihruibs, "of which there are a. beautiful variety I this year in our bush, and down either side I of the hall were arrange! the stalls, bearing I evidence at the ladies' handiwork, in both usei ful and ornamental aorticle-3. In the centre was '• a table laden with confectionery, more of the good-wife's skill. The Rev. J. Chisholm, in his opening remarks, spoke of the usefulness of woman's -work In- the world, and .especially in church matters. During the evening the choir rendered an anthem very nicely, but the soloists did not turn up, so that the musical part of the programme was disappointing. | Guessing, wool-winding competitions, games, : etc., helped to fill tip the evening and add to ! the funds. After the sale was over it was ! found that a large number of articles were 1 left over, but no doubt these will find a ready i sale at satisfactory prices.' I have not yet heard of the amounts r&alised at the sale. Shows. — A good number patronised the excursion train for the Clutha; show, people coming from all the remote corners of the district to attend. Doubtless more would have travelled had the day looked promising. Those who went,, however, seemed to enjoy the outing, although there were several cold showers during the day. Then, at the) end of the week, we had special trains t for the. Dunedin show, and a gocd many travelled to- town, did their shopping, and returned the same day. School. — Our school was examined yesterday . by Inspectors Fitzgerald and Richardson, but, of course, the result is not yet known. Creamery. — Our creamery is now in full working order, "with perhaps a larger supply of milk than-ever before, but the tests are in moab cases very low; this is no doubt owing to so much wet and. moisture. ' Bunny.— Being "unable to poison during the ,wet weather, bunny has; got ahead of us, and 'many are now busy laying poison and trapping to get rid of the 'little pest.