OTAKOU.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 39

OTAKOU.

April B.—The elements have been very kind to us of lat-e. "VVe have actually 'had a whole week of good weather, and farmers hive made the most of it. The crops are about in now with the exception of a few late oat paddocks. Given a few more days j of fine weather everything will be safe in ! stacks. j Social. — On Thursday, 4th inst., the resi- ! dents of Otakou entertained Mr and Mrs Bishop at a social in the Otakou Hall, on the eve of their departure for Balclutha. Mr A. 11. Bishop has been at Otakou ever since he was a boy, he and his parents I coming to this district about 30 years ago. i Mr Bishop, sen., since deceased, came here j at that time to take charge of our school. After some years' teaching- he resigned, and ' took to dairy-farming. It was Mr Bishop. I sen., who was greatly instrumental in getting ; the creamery established in this locality. j After the creamery got well started young- ! Mr Bishop \va3 appointed manager. Mr j Bishop held other public offices here. He I has been clerk of the Otago Heads Road Board for a considerable lime, and in all his positions has proved himself a man of I integrity and zeal, his obliging and courteous ' manner making him many friends. He marI ried from this district, although not a daughter of the district, and Mrs Bishop has I equally won the hearts of everybody with I whom she came in contact. Mr Bishop leaves to take up a small sheep run near Balclutha. and as it is near the time when his engagements here will terminate, his friends took the opportunity of showing their goodwill towards him. So the social was ! arranged, and a large number gathered at ; the hall. Mt George Taiaroa had charge ; of -.flairs, and set the ball rolling by nnj rouncing a -lance; after that everybody enI joved themselves. At 11 o'clock the principal j event of the evening, the presentation, took ! place. The residents and friends had liberally subscribed to give both Mr and Mrs Bishop a. lasting token of their esteem. Mr Bishop was presented with a har.ch-ome marble clock, and Mrs Bishop, by her lady friends, with a beautiful silver tea kettle end spirit lamp suspended from a tripod. Mr Taiaroa. in I making the presentation, referred to Mr j Bishop's long stay in the district, and to I bis many sterling qualifies as well a» those of Mrs Bishop. Replying, Mr Bishop thanked the people, and said he would always think of Otakou as his home. The company then

.sang " For tlicy are jolly good fellows." Refreshments, liberally provided by the ladies. were handed round. We can only conclude by wishing Mr and Mrs Bishop all success and happiness in their new sphere of life. School.—The ordinary monthly meeting of the Otakou School Committee was held in the school on Saturday, 6th inst. Members present were : Messrs J. Bayne (in the chair), Bums, Harwood, Taiaroa, and "Waltsgott. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Fleming, relieving teacher, reported the average attendance for March 29; number of children on roll, 32. This is highly satisfactory. The new teacher, Mr J. S. Nelson, took charge on April 1. The teacher being a single man, it was necessary to call for applications for sewing mistress. Three applications were received, and Miss Lucy Ann Burns was recommended for the position. The clerk was also instructed to call tenders for firewood, purchase a lock for school porch door, find put up notices to keep picnickers out of the sehoolground.