OAMARU NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) OAMARU. December 31.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 25

OAMARU NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) OAMARU. December 31.

'The members of the Oamoru Ministers'* Association^ on ■. Monday- afternoon , pre* aented to the' Yen. "Archdeacon Gould *t handsome eilver-mounted walking stick oil the occasion, of- Ms departure from Oanmrul' The presehtatidhT was made b$ the Rev!? R. J. Porter, who referred .to the long and! friendly relations maintained between lhaf Archdeacon and the -ministers of the town? and district.' He expressed regret; At thrf t loss ito be sustained < by -the association, af the aame timo }hearffl.y;:'congra.tulating th^ ' clergyman.';' on h& • appointment . , id Dunedin. - v -The=-Rfeys: F. ;Bjfckin« ,ham, ; "T.«N. Griffin/'^nd T. It-- Rosevearrf 'supported the* presentation in .-similar ex< preesibds. .Ar,chdeaopn/ Gould,, in etiitabla ' wbrds7*ac^nowle3g'e.4^tne^kinaly sentlinenta expressed" and j-the J pjrßsentation,'//!!^ Taatß "all "along" eifjbyed ' His * relation^ "with iher members .of "the . association,'* and- Would! -prize the .memory,, of their gathering^! Archdeacon Gould commences his' duties in Dunedirt on Sunday next. W The examination of applicants and th«f ballot for the Otekaike.-jesfatS . has beerf fixed .for the : -isrd of- February-' and follow* ing days, This date falls in the midst of tlie harvest, and will be found very incon< venient to farmers. " J > '. The very- hot and dry weather has don< the crops little good during the past fevri days. Wheat, oats, barley, and all roof 'crops are looking splendid, and with favourable .weather the result should be about the best experienced for some years, but a continuance of ,, the conditions of Saturday, Sunday, and Monday would bo very serious.