OWAKA..

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 39

OWAKA..

December 27.— The weather is beautifulljr ! fine for the .holidays; andL «JI the- available accommodation is taken up. with visitors to" our pretty and picturesque district. Just* now Owaka. is looking its best, with the manuka and other wild, flowers in full' bloom. As yet the rata is making but little show, and. it i» doubtful if there will be, much) of the bright red blossom this year. Scholastic. — Our school broke up on Friday! last for six weeks' holiday. The week before » school concert was held to obtain funds , for prizes. The concert was well attended; j and the- children in their several parts, as) j well as the adults, acquitted themselves well, i On Friday afternoon a good number of "tha 1 parents in the school and wit-« neseed the distribution' of the prizes, every] . child receiving^ a prize,, Speeches were givea by the he&o? teacher and chairman, and th« little folk departed with handsome books and! smiling faces, and I wish them, as well «a the teachers, a happy and pleasant holiday. Christmas Tree.— The annual Christmas tree waa held in the Baptist Church on' 1 , . Wednesday evening of last week", and. was aa • attractive &s ever. Ther-first part of the programme was filled in with musical itenast" and: recitations— solos,, a duet, and a quartetf • baing among the i,tems. The- present minister* j (Mr H.- Hughesy 8.A.) made-, a most efficient* | chairman, and; «,lso contributed largely to - the evening's enjoyment by playing several .' selections- (accompanied by the organ) on tha f clarionet. _Mit Hughes 'also sang a solo and "^gave a recitation. A. nice tea, provided and -*- served by. the ladies, was .much*, enjoyed, and was, a new feature, in the programme. The' trees were loaded with attractive toys ancl other pretty things very pleasing to the eye, and before the evening was over moat of tha' audience had received a prize of some sort.j Misa- Ettie- Dutton played the organ accep{i ably during the evening. The meeting cloeecH I at a. nice eaily hour, thus- letting the chilj dren. get home in. good time. I" believe the i proceeds amounted to about JB7. | Musical.— The Owaka Orchestral Society,' j under "the leadership cf Mr Cheyne, gave j their first concert last Friday evening. j Seeing- that we have had so many ontertain*ments lately, the audience was satisfactory, a-nd ,the,. items, intermixed with solos, were much appreciated by the music-loving publio of Owaka.

Christmas Services. — On Sunday last aparade of the Volunteers was held in the Presbyterian Church, and a sermon appropriate to the occasion was preached by the" chaplain (Rev. J. Chisholm). In the Baptist Church Mr Hughes preached an able sermon from Luke 2, 10: "Behold, I bringr you good tidings of great joy. For unto you ia born this day a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Christmas hymns were also lieaftilv sung. On Christmas morning the Rev. Win. Wingfield held his usual service in tha Anglican Church, v ' S-norts. — The annual Caledonian sports were! held hers to-day, and, a& usual, crowds assembled from fai and near — some to take part in the sports and some to indulge in ! a social chat. Good prizes were given for races, jumping, chopping, sawing, etc. Mil T. Latta. acted as president and. Mr A. Richardson as> secretary. A special -train' ran to and fro from Balclutha, and carried!' a good number of passengers. Wedding. — On^Boxing- Day a* good number of guests wended- their way to the residence of Mr P. Miller at the "Heads." Theday was an ideal one in every respect, and the trip across- the mouth of the- rivers eitheu in oil launch or flatties was greatly enjoyedV On the beach opposite Pounawea traps were waiting for those who did not feel inclined for the mile walk to Mr Miller's residence, where the wedding of his "third daughter was to be celebrated. The. ceremony was con« ducted by the Rev. J. Chisholm. The brid*. was attired in white, with veil and oranga blossoms and bouquet of white- flowers. Misj Annie Miller, also in white, acted as bridesmaid. •Mr A. White, the" bridegroom, wasj attended- by "his brother, Mr White. Thet reception was held in a marquee adjoining^ the house, where an abundance of good things' was laid. The usual speeches were made and toasts proposed, after .ririch the guestaf dispersed for ft stroll along the beach till 1 _ tea- time. A party was' given in the evening, and the young- folk enjoyed themselves to their hearts' content. The presents wera useful and. pretty. I wish the young- couple much happiness and prosperity