WALLACETOWN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 26 August 1908, Page 39

WALL ACETOWN.

August 20. — The winter months have come and gone, but for Southland there | has been no winter weather. So mild, indeed, is the weather that gardens are beginning to be clothed with their spring i verdure, daffodils are blooming-, and shrubs | and trees beginning to bud. Sickness and Death. — We have been visited with a good deal of sickness and ! death. We are reminded that we are assoj ciatedl with the emblems of mortality more i vividly than other villages, because we j have two graveyards to which the su-r-I rounding' districts send their dead. Within the last three weeks, from our neighbouring- districts of Waianiwa and Spa-r Bush, two lads in their "teens," who gave promise of successful futures, were laid to rest in the presence of a large number of sorrowing friends and neighbours. In our village Mr Adam Grieve was suddenly called away. Mr Grieve left a large family I of little children, and, I understand, not well provided for. Church Social. — Last week a very successful church social was held in the Presbyterian Church, The Rev. Mr Buitows presided, and expressed gratification at seeing suoh a ehurehfu] of people. The speeches were arbove the usual church social speeches. The Rev. Mr Hales, Baptist minister in Invercargill, who has a taking way with him, was listened to with deep attention. The Rev. Mr Mackie, the new-appointed minister to Winton spoke at some length, yet all would gladly have heard more of his deep common sense, practical lessons, illustrated by laughable stories. The Rev. Mr Camming, who always says something worth listening- to, was elightly put out by a young lady fainting owing to the crowded state •of the church. During an interval tea and cake werr> passed round. The choir, tinder he conouctorship of Mi* J. Blue, - rendered several itema during the evening in a manner that reflected the highest credit on the leader and his subordinates. In a corner of tne church was a unique display of drapery, scrap-books, dolls, etc., etc., which had been prepared by the ladies of the congregation and the Sunday | school scholars to be sent to the mission I field. Mr Officer, session clerk,> read the | annual report, and in referring to the Sun- ' day schools of the parish said they were ! maintaining a native teacher in the Canton "Village Mission field. Mr Grieve, treasurer, read the balance sheet, and showed ! that the congregation was in a healthy state financially. j Bible Class.— Mr D. M'Kenzie has | started' a Bible class on similar lines to the ; one he held at Waimatuki. It is held on | every alternate Sunday night, and, judgi ing from the two classes already held, pro- ' mises to be a great success. It is to be hoped the novelty of a blackboard in church I will not become stale, but that the inter- | est will be kept up by all who attend 1 making it a. point to assist by preparing papers, asking questions, or entering into I the talk on the lessons. I Recreation. — A number of our young men being anxious to assist the hall trustees, I who are in lack of funds, meet in the hall once a week, pay a shilling each, engage a musician, invite the young 1 women, and have a little dance. I sup1 pose the anxiety for the dance is as great ;as that for the hall funds. However, it , seems to be the only recreation available.