MOSSBURN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2651, 4 January 1905, Page 36

MOSSBURN.

December 21. — The weather here for some considerable time has been very unseasonable, high, dry winds alternating with hail showers and rain. "Vegetation is backward, and the crops are rather backward, too, except in some favoured localities, one of which is the large area, under crop on the estate of Mr Alex. I)awson. This is without exoeptior as promising » looking crop aa one can see between here •nd Invercargill. ~^P*stbral. — Shearing is nearing completion, and here, as elsewhere, the scarcity -of shearers as being felt. Prejudice against our neigli■fcours across ifoe Tasnutn Sea is said to exist -strongly in some quarfers. Why it should be . so I do not understand. The alleged reason is that a spirit of discontent and undeserved grumbling prevails among them. Shorter iiours, higher wages, ahefc in the majority of cases excellent food should have a better reeult. Socials. — We have had a period of these ' /desirable gatherings here lately. The first on , any list is one given to Mrs Barron, on her severing her connection with the district. This jtook the form of a musicale, and tea. The "pro- ' joeedings were brought to ar close by. Mrs Bar*on Being presented with ' a gold and greenstone "brooch," while Mamie, her little daughter,got a .lovely wbrkbdx. ~AII bade Mrs Barron •'Good-bye,' wishing at' the 'same time' thar |ier future lines "should "fall in pleasant places. •—The next was one which requires a longer ■notice, as a larger number of people took" jpart in it. When it tfecame known that we were to have the services of a curate, one and jill determined to give him a cora'ial welcome. As ocial being agreed upbn, our young people Xorriiecl themselves into a committee of manmgement, and' agreed to' give a. display of their - fcistrionic powers, the well-known piece, "Ola Maid," being decided- upon. The* following ladies and .gentlemen were then assigned" their Respective parts: — Miss Browning, Aunt Tabithe ;■ 'Miss P. Beex,~ Miss Hannan Steele ; Miss -Kitty. Beer, the waiting maid; Miss Daljlaa, Jennie; Mr J. Browning, ttte .Deacon; Ifr Herbert Beer, .the Doctor'; while Mr Jame% IM'Cauley acted as stage manager. Mi F. J. IDyer occupied the chair,, and in "appropriate ,*rords introduced the next various items, which consisted oi duets, solos, recitations, tableaux, «tc. A duet by Miss Hood and awiss Beer deserves special- mention.^ This part of ■the programme was brought to a close by -"speeches from -Mr Wood and our curate, Mr Bankin, to whom\all preBent the right "hand of fellowship. A dance followed, and all went merry as « wedding bell until the train .whistled in thej «atly. morning;— Our next social -irtis another presentation, when Misa P. Beer was preeeaited by -the members and adherents^ of the Presbyterian Church with- a ca_ble chain, gold v ' Jbang]~e", of'sTvery'l-ha-ndsome design,_as y- token,, jof their esteem- .and "regard,, and. also to" show - * .their* appreciation. 'of her services _as ' their, - organist. This'-ypuag ladyt-who'is yery 1 popular ip. our district," -was afterwards, presented - _jby the members and adherent s_pftae Anglican-, Church with' a -very htnclsoine , greenstone arid gold brooch, to show their appreciation', of her services as theirrorganist. The services' of;* both these- denominations are held, here at-interv'als ; ~«(f-frqm.two-to ihree, or- more'.weeksr 'BuiJtfiss ; Beer "is always found ready tcassist'-at'one .gnd all— school • functions, concerts, ,socialß,< etc. — ■and always with a good grace, and the best humour in the world. — The Presbyterians are busy- endeavouring to gather the .-necessary funds with which to erect a church. Funds are forthcoming in a very libewil manner, and p church here, will soon be^ an accomplished test, when I hop© we won't mante good, "The saying odd, Hear the church,' ' And far from God." _ School Holidays. — Our schools are closed for «he holidays, ■when our -teachers are, lik- St. John, trying' to read the syllabus in brooks imd glens, 'midat marsh and fens, in hills and flells, and bosky fells, etc Tourists. — The tourist season has now begun, »nd premises to be a good 'one, although a definite decision cannot be hazardedat so early a date. However, a. fair conjecture ' ( niay be arrived at from the -fact that two specials - and tie mail coach passed through here to-day on the route to-Te'Anau, and Manapouri. Given good weather, which I am sure the tourists deserve, they should enjoy the trip.