RATANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 35

RATANUI.

April 9. — The weather has been very broken for the past month, with some very heavy winds. Fortunately there has been no frost. To-day has been dull, with short glimp=es of sunshine. Some dry weather is still needed to allow of harvest being finished. 10th. — Very heavy rain has set in, with no sign of clearing. Concert and Dance. — A very successful concent was held at the Itatamu School on Friday, 31st ult. There was a good turnout of settlers. Mr and Mrs Bannerman deserve, great praiso for the excellent manner in which they train the pupils to take part in any entertainment. There were very few outside performers. Mr Pollock kindly gave some selections on the graphaphone. Might I suggest that a glee club should be ioimed for the> winter? 1 have no doubt that it would be successful if the right i^eople took it up. The following were the performers: — Misses Bannerman, Scott, Cooper, and Millar, on tho piano; songs, Misses Carlton, Bannerman, White, Leal, and Warnock, Mesdames Taylor, Shaw, and Stewart, and Messrs Shaw anci Bannerman ; Mr M'Kcchnie gave a song during the dance. This is the first time Mrs Taylor has been heard here, and her rendering of '"The Gipsy's Warning" was veiy pleasing. The pwjpils, too, were deserving of gieat

credit for their singing of "Won't you buy my pretty flowers ' ? " Mrs Bannerman played the accompaniment. Master David White gave a lecitstion. Miss Hancock, from Owaka, also played for some of the singers. An abundant supply of good things was provided by the ladies, and greatly appreciated by both young and old. Mr White occupied the chair, and in a few words proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Cooper for so kindly lending his piano for the concerts, and Mr G. Leal proposed a similar vote to the chairman, thus bringing to a close a very pleasant evening. A sociable dance followed, at which both young and old tripped the light fantastic till "the wee, sma' oors ayout the twal'." Messrs White and Leal acted as M.C.'s, and Messis White Bros, supplied the music. The Potatoes. — That fell disease, potato blight, has reached this district, and it remains to be seen how much damage has been done. One thing is sure, the tops are gone off most potatoes. One can see in the future an opening for more inspectors. Railway. — At last another start has been made with tho railway, and gangs of men are felling and logging up. The route will be very level for some distance, and will need a great deal of making up, as it is through a birch forest for some distance. It remains to ba seen if the experience of the past will have taught those in authority any wisdom.