WAIPIATA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3314, 19 September 1917, Page 23

WAIPIATA.

September 15.—The weather of the past week has been very dry, and rain is much needed to bring on the grass, which is everywhere making its appearance* There was every appearance of rain to-day but unfortunately none fell. Two or three displays of the Aurora Australia have been observed here lately. Red Cross. —The "Waipiata Branch of the Red Cross Society celebrated its first anniversary during last week. Mrs (Dr) Martin, who is president of the branch, entertained the workers and subscribers to an evening at her residence, Coney Creek. Notwithstanding the wildness of the night there was a fair attendance. Progressive euchre, singing, etc, were indulged in, and a pleasant evening was spent. The- workers

have transferred their workroom from the cottage kindly lent by Mr James Howell to the Athenceum Building-, where the meetings will be held in fixture. The intorest in the work is being well maintained, and parcels of clothing are being sent to the Red Cross Society in Dunedin regularly every month The school children still continue to do good work in the way of knitting, which is handed into the local Red Cross Society. Balloti—The recent ballot has made a clean sweep of this district, all the remaining young men, with one exception,- having now been called up. In one or two instances young men who had already enlisted, and wore preparing to leave with the September draft, had the mortification of seeing their names figurine in the lists. —School.—The ordinary monthly meeting of the Waipiata School Committee was held on September 15 at the schoolhouse. when the usual routine business was gone through. The Farm.—The farmers are all busy getting in their crops, and, given a good spring, everything promises to be well forward,. Lambs are now making their appearance all over the district, but very few seta of twins have been reported so far. The chaitouttor is out again to cut the remainder of last season's crop. Bunny.—The trappers still continue trapping, but expect to have to discontinue any time now. In many cases the blocks are fairly well cleared out, and it will only be a question of perseverance on the part of the land-owners and bunny will bo a thing of the past.