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Otago Witness, Issue 2861, 13 January 1909, Page 39

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January 8. — The holiday* passed off tjuietly. Tbe manner in which Christmas i is celebrated 1 seems to differ very little as years roll by. This applies only to the country, and as far as my observation goe-s the New Year was ushered in here with the explosion of a few packets of crackers by a few youths. All the elders wero seemingly in the land of Nod. A few short years ago it was very different. Then the elders took a hand in tho firing of roekete, burning of coloured lights, first-footing, etc. Whether the present custom which is growing is an improvement on the old, is open to argument. Amusements. — The only holiday amusements here were the hack races on Boxing Day and the Caledonian Games on New Year's Day. On each occasion the weather did not behave as it should liave done for the season of the year. Boxing Day was very hot until evening when a heavy downpour of rain thoroughly soaked most of the racegoers on their way home. New Year's. Day was fin 9 during the morning, but about noon heavy rain showers commenced to fall and kept on at intervals during the afternoon. The attendance was very good considering the stats of the weather, and the sport witm<eceed wa* very fair. Tho annual Caledonian Ball was held in the evening, when there were present 100 couplee. Crops.— The weather has been equally since the New Year came in. and a failamount of rain has fallen. We have had enough for the present and could do with warm, dry weather instead. The amount of rain that has fallen ha? pushed on the joung turnips, and a splendid braird is to be seen all over the district. The oat crop, likewise, is looking well, and a few weeks of warm, dry weather would bring the harvest in fairly early. The season for grass has been a record one, and such luxuriant pastures have never before been seen. The natural result is that sheep and cattle are in tip-top condition. Sports. — To-day the Tokonui games are being held. The weather is atrocious, and ! those who turned out to the sports mist have had a most unpleasant time. It speaks volumes for tho pluck of the Gorge people to havo brought them off. I Six in a Boat. -A parry of six young I fellows arrived here from Mataura the other I day. They came by water in a large fiatbottomed beat built for tho purpose, and enjoyed their trip imnf-nsely. They ha<l occasionally to get out aid pu*h their craft over the shallows and ?!. ingle bar* in the I upper part of the jounuy, but thin only I added zett to the expedition. They speak j of repeating the trip in the shooting season I .