WAITAHUNA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 11 March 1908, Page 39

WAITAHUNA.

March 2.—The late rain has done a lot of good, and everything is looking fresli and ' green again. The harvest ie almost over ' now. Anothe* week or two of fine weather and the leading-in will bs finished. Waitahuna Brass Baxd Bazaar.—The bazaar in aid of the fund* of the Waitahuna Band was opened on February 26 by Mr Donald Reid, M.P., who was introduced by Mr Pringle, the president of the band. Mr Reid explained that the total indebtedness of the band was £520. Of this, £6» had been raised in various ways, leaving a present debt of £160, which it was hoped would be considerably reduced, if not wholly wiped out, by means of the bazaar. Mr Reid then declared the bazaar opened. During the afternoon the hoop-drill song was sung by the school children, and in the evening several songs weie rendered. Miss P. Higgins gave two or three step-dances. The bazaar vas brought to a close on the mzht of tk« 29th.

] when the art union was drawn. Three prizes -in the art union were obtained by Waitahuna people—namely, Mr R. Webb, 1; Mr Frank Whelan, 2; and Mr M. Carmody, 6. Mr Pringle (president) tharked the people for their attendance and support, <&nd said the . bazaar had been a great success, as £120 had I been taken altogether. Of course there had been some expense, and the band would still be about £50 in debt. He wished especially to thank those who had worked for the bazaar in making goods, the donors of prizes, the stallholders, and all those who had helped to make the bazaai a. success. The following are the names of the ladies who were im charge of the various stalls «nd tea rooms: —Temperance stall, Misses Fuldseth and Broderick; confection- ' cry, Misses Je&nnie M"Kenzie and Rose Patrick; fancy work, Misses M. Livingstone, Moen, and E. Sutherland; plain work, Miss i W«ll »nd Mesdames Ryan and Ga.rm.ody; Japanese tea rooms, Misses Cony, M'Kenzie, I Livingstone, Ryan, and Craig, 'l'he shooting gallery and side shows were supervised by Messrs Ellis, James Murray, and Ryan. j Farewell Social. —A number qf friends of j Mr M'Ara, and family met in the Presbyterian Church on 21st of February to say good-bye to Mr, Mrs, and Misa M'Ara, -who were leaving for Gisborne. The Rev. Mr Ponder acted as chairman, and opened the meeting with prayer. Miss G. Yorke then stepped forward and presented Mr Mi'Ara with a, silver-mounted pocket-book on behalf of his Sunday school class. Mr M'Caw, Mr Rose, and Mr Patrick spoke words of farewell from the Deacons' Court and from the congregation and Sunday school. Mr Garden, on behalf of the congregation, then presented Mr M*Ara with a handsome gold albert and locket, with the inscription "Presented to Robert M'Ara from the Waitahuna, Presbyterian Church congregation, February 21, 1908." The Chairman, on behalf of the Ladies' Guild, presented Mrs M'Ara with a silver cake basket, and Miss M'Ara with a gold bar brooch, on behalf of the Deacons' Court. Mr M'Ara replied thanking the chairman end congregation for the gifts and the many kind things said about himself, his wife, and daughter. A pleasant hour was passed in social chat. Refreshments in abundance were handed round. Presentation. —A few friends of Mr James Curran met in the anteroom of Carmiody's Hall on Saturday night to present him with ■a very handsome silver-mounted umbrella, suitably inscribed, on the occasion of hie ! leaving the district. Mr Curran, who has been cadet at the Waitahun* station for nearly two years, has been transferred to Middlemarch. Mr Patrick made the presentation.— [Game to hand too late for last week's issue.]