BLENHEIM.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue II, 14 July 1900, Page 86

BLENHEIM.

Dear Bee, July -• This is a desolate morning, pouring with rain, after a very wet night, and the sky like a grey pall, seems quite close overhead. The only consolation is that the extreme eold has abated, and the weather become exceedingly mild. The local weather prophets say that the new moon has come in wet, and that rainy weather will be our portion for this month; if so, we shall have an early spring, though at. present we seem in the autumn, as many deciduous trees are still holding their leaves. The Awatere Presbyterian Church, which stood on the terrace, behind the accommodation house, on the northern side of the river, has been moved

to new site in the township of Seddon, and when one considers the work of bringing it down from the terrace, and across the river without the slightest damage, it was really a wonderful feat, which reflects great credit on the contractor, Mr Fawcett. The Maoris from the Pah on the Wairau River, intend to give tw’O entertainments in Ewart's Hall this week, the proceeds of which are to be divided between the Indian Famine Fund, and the Peace Demonstration Fund. The former is a most worthy object, and I hope that good houses will reward them. Two of the little steamers which run between here and Wellington, have met with accidents in the Opawa River lately. First the Opawa broke her propeller by striking some submerged piles, and next the Janet Douglas, on Friday, when on her way back from Wellington, met with precisely the same accident. A small explosion of gas occurred at the gasw’orks a short time ago,

when the manager, Mr Muir, was severely burnt on his face and hands, from which he has suffered extreme pain. He is now progressing towards recovery, to the great relief of his friends. Dr. Redman has offered to give lectures on “Sick Nursing at Home,” in the Church of the Nativity Sunday School, for which a small charge will be made, which will go towards lightening the debt on the church. A preliminary meeting was held last Wednesday afternoon, when the names of fifty ladies were enrolled, and it is anticipated that ten more will join, and it was decided that six lectures, for which the small charge of five shillings was made, should begin next Wednesday, and take place weekly. There is a great dearth of amusement just at present, but with the Maori entertainments, and Miss Waddy’s Cinderella Dance this week, I shall have more to tell you of next week.

FRIDA.