STIRLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2719, 25 April 1906, Page 36

STIRLING.

April 19. — At the bowling tournament held at Kaitangata our local club won both the first and second prizes in the rink matches, whilst a third played in the tie for consolation prize. One is not surprised that Esson's rink got first as it was made up of good and experienced players. The rink skipped by Jones, however, was made up of colts, except himself, and yet it took second place. They had to meet some strong rinks, but got through, to their credit. Bowling is a singular game ; still, such happenings are capable of explanation Social and Presentation. — Or Monday last Miss Hopcraft, late teacher in the Stirling School, and now of Anderson's Bay, was entertained at a social. The attendance was good. Mr J". C. Anderson was in the chair, owing to the ill-health of Mr G. M'Donald, chairman of the School Committee. Mr Anderson, in the name of the children, teacher, and committee, presented Miss Hopcraft with, a handsome brocch. Mr Jones replied on behalf of Miss Hopcraft. The Rev. Mr Ramsay also 'made a humorous speech. Mrs Jones, the Misses King, and Mr J. Weir enteitained the meeting with solos and duets, and Mrs Anderson contributed a recitation. Agricultural. — The farmers are having a trying time on -account of the bad weather. Some cf them have got stacked ; more of them, have their crop still in stook ; and a few have it still to cut; while there are bits of crop n.ot yet nearly ripe. Potatoes are in general a poor crop — the white sorts not so I bad as the Derwents, which are pretty well j a failure. It has been a season of great dim- 1 culiy to thp agriculturist: from first to last it has beer, exceptionally cold and wet.

A Bad Sietn. — I never saw so many empty houses in Stirling as there are at present.