WHATAWHATA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1960, 29 January 1885, Page 2

WHATAWHATA.

The concert in aid of the shool children's annual fete came off on Tuesday night, and was a, decided success. I so thoroughly enjoyed all the songs and recitations th.it I find it difficult to particulari/e. Mrs Morrison sang " The Arab's farewell to his steed " in a style I have seldom heard excelled. Miss Salmon again treated us to several song*, and was most deservedly encored in " Tit for Tat," but Miss Kate Salmon, (who made her debut on this occasion) deserves express mention. This young lady received the rapturous plaudits of the audience. Miss Thompson had inadvertently left her music behindhand could only give us one song. Miss Nellie Hydo gave a comic original recitation in good style for one ho young. Mih? Richards contributed a violin solo. Mi«h Iwerson sang a pretty song in good style, but we missed the lively songs of Mr Shepherd who was absent. Messrs McMinn, Watchon, Salmon and Skeates, contributed some good songs and recitations. Our mhu»l accompanist being unwell, Mr K. Salmon presided at the installment. A good huiii was collected and I hope the juveniles will get a good blow out of cake, tea, &c, and enjoy themselves on Thursday as much as the children of larger growth did at the concert. We are having fine harvest weather, iuid the farmers are jubilant. Two of our settlers have purchased a reaper and binder which they are woiking on hire. Tins in a step in the right direction. In my next I shall be able to give you tho results of its working, also the yield of the various crops. Mr (i. Day, a young farmer, and newly started, met with .1 loss yesterday. Three tine bied calves, valued at ten pounds, wero drowned in a creek. He supposes they went in to drink and crowded each other. The horizon is nightly illuminated by fires. The Hamilton swamp is again burning. The claying of this most useful piece of road is progressing rapidly and will soon bo complete. Tho much talked of fifteen chain .swamp is in good condition, and with a little more claying will bear a good load. Last year Mr Coatea 1 tngine (which I believe weighs upwards of four ton»), came across this swamp, so it cannot be so bad. When the draining is done, I believe we shall have a good toad, which is as great a consideration for Hamilton as it is for the country, as it takes the stream of traffic which used to flow to Ngaiuwahia. I hear that Mr McF.iil.me of Paterangi, has been burned out. This gentleman is well known in Whatawhata and receives oui most sincere condolence. — (Correspondent.)