CALCIUM NOTES.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 26, 10 September 1920, Page 4

CALCIUM NOTES.

Memorial \ Service.— The church was packed on Sunday morning, when the Rev. A. McNeur of Winton conducted an im- ! pressive service in memory of the late Rev. W. Brown. . Debate. — Interest is centering on the forthcoming inter-club debate at Otahuti on Monday 13th inst. Mr Cruickshank, S.M., is to lead a t-own party (negative) against Leader McDonald and party, -representing Otahuti Lecturing and Debating Society, subject : "That Compulsory Military Training should be abolished. ' The local wag describes the prospective wordy warfare as Longshanks versus Cruicicshanks. Quadrilles. — The local assembly concludes with an extended evening on the 14th inst. The past season has been a successful one and the eommittee have received encouraging support from patrons from a wide area. Library. — The librarians report a boonx. The collection of books, thanks to the careful seleot-ion of Mr Duke, is a particularly fine one, compiising some 1500 volumes. Owmg to the prolxibitive cost of books, readers are availing themselves of this cheap source of reading material in increasing numbers. Soldier Settlers. — The Diggers who have settled in this part, are making good. Though most of them have been only a short tinie in possession, their properties are showing marked improvement, With the spark of a chance, their success is assured, that is, if honest toil and careful husbandry are to nieet with their just reward. W'orld's Geography : Qnestlon. — But where and what is Otahuti? Answer. — It is a country district situated between Waianiwa and Calcium, on a creek called "Duck" or Swamp-turkey. It was marked by a finger-post inscribed "Eight miles from Fairfax pub," but a severe prohibitionist is supposed to have vented his ill-will towards the "trade" by pulling down this beacon to droughty tra. Vellers. Otahuti (frivolously 'dubbed Tooti-Hooti) has a hall, a school, and a post-ofixce. The telephone bure.au is about two miles from these public utilities. It. boasts a football team whose exploits are on record. It claims as oue of its prominent citi/ens Mr Wm. Ford of Farmer's Union farne, and is represented on the Southland Wrar Funds Association by Mr • Mr Alex. McKenzie, Mains O' Blair. A scrutiny of a good Maori dictionary, ixxforms us that the word "Otahuti" means "women stealers." It appears that the tribe which originally inhabited this grassy region was notorious for the raids it made on neighbouring districts in search of desirable wahines to adorn and care for its whares. This tradition is so firmly implanted in the minds of the youth of the district. that the practice still finds fav-

our with a large part of the male population. Rumoured. — That the Editor likes his little joke, even at the expense of his country correspondent. That Waianiwa will have to produce its band at the presentation of the football shield. That the latest rise in postal rates, was directly due to the mass of correspondence going "Diggerwards" from Otahuti and Calcium. That the first question asked in this locality is "Have you seen "The Digger?" That Whiskers is resigning his post in the Waianiwa team in favour of Tiny, who it is understood, is already undergomg a course of physical jerks to fit Bim for his ai'duous duties. That the delay in appointing a permanent preacher to the local charge is due to the inability of the Deaeons' Court to find a suitable half-hack.