COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 765, 29 October 1886, Page 20

COUNTRY NEWS.

KAIKOURA.

(from our own correspondent.) Kaikouka, October 21. Since I last wrote 1 have heard that another earthquake was felt on Monday, 27th of September, at about 3 o’clock in the morning. Kaikoura people are now beginning to get quite accustomed to being shaken about by “ mother earth.” The Bank of New Zealand has been doing a very good business here during the year—if report be true. It is said that during the last four or five years the ‘ 4 turnings over” have nearly doubled. This speaks well for Kaikoura, and is one good standpoint from which to estimate the progress of the district. Mr S. Maxton, who has for some time been carrying on business as storekeeper here, has recently taken into partnership a Mr Darby, whose skill and experience will materially assist the prosperity of an already prosperous firm. One of the first improvements made by the new firm has been the erection of a large room above their premises. It is intended to be used as a dressmaking department. On September 30th a sale was held at the Pier Hotel to dispose of certain goods which had been seized for rent. A very amusing scene took place while the auction was going on, Mr Baxter, the original owner of the goods, was present, and every now and again he called out, “Mr Auctioneer, I protest. That article belongs to Mrs Baxter.” Finally the auctioneer said, ** Look here, Mr Baxter, I protest against your continually interrupting me.” A few more words passed when the injured one subsided, and then all went “merry as a marriage bell.” At a meeting* of the Licensing Committee held a day or two after the sale there was a very warm discussion re the transference of the license of the Pier Hotel to Mr Milbourne. Mr Baxter, the former lessee, through his solicitor, Mr Halliday, protested against the transference on the ground that it was illegal. A few days afterwards there was another meeting, and though the license was transferred, I believe the to a certain extent, upheld Mr Halliday’s arguments. It is reported that Mr Baxter will proceed against Mr Goodall, the owner of the hotel, for damages in having wrongfully seized the goods in distraint for rent. A movement is on foot here to start a cricket club, and one gentleman has been endeavoring to get together a team to meet a Blenheim eleven. He has as yet not been very successful. The Kaikoura youth seem very backward in getting up such games as cricket and football, but for what reason I cannot divine. It is to be hoped that someone will make a determined effort to do something this year. Though our young folks are so slow in getting up a cricket club, they are wonderfully enthusiastic about lawn tennis. One or two are reported as having a sly little game to themselves even on Sunday, just when *' e no one is looking, you know !” A Tennis Club has been started and a suitable ground is about to be selected. "We are in hopes that the movement will he highly successful. To-day I noticed a good many shearers In town, most likely preparing to start for Mr Wood’s station, Swyncombe, -where shearing will shortly commence. The advent of shearing will be welcomed by many, and business will for a time xevive here.

A rather nasty accident occurred the other night in Kaikoura. Some persons were walking along the road when a few larrikins who were riding along at full speed ran up against them. One person wa3 badly hurt in the head, while the other was severely shaken. The Kaikoura Star, from which I take my information, says that proceedings will be taken against the offenders. It is to be hoped that they will meet with the punishment they deserve. It is strange that an accident has not happened before ; for times out of number T have seen young men riding at full gallop past ladies and children. If the horses were to shy, in all probability the pedestrian would be knocked down and run over, if not killed. I see by the New Zealand Times that the Christchurch Normal School has been ield up as a model to the Wellington

public. A person here, who knows something about the school, informs me that it is anything but what it should be. Only quite lately an inquiry was demanded into its working ; but what the result was has not yet transpired. I note that fifteen C certificates are put down as being gained by the Christchurch Normal. I am informed they really should be credited to Canterbury College ; for it appears that all the “ C students ” get no teaching at the Normal, but have to attend the College lectures. Moreover, it seems that very few ever succeeded in getting a full D certificate till after two or three attempts. It is hardly fair to contrast the Wellington Normal with that in Christchurch. Two Kaikoura residents have lately applied for a patent for a spring sash lifter and lowerer. When in Wellington they showed the models to several wellknown architects, who all gave the inventors credit for having produced an almost perfect piece of mechanism. It is said that the contrivance will entirely do away with the old rope-and-weight sash lifters.

A Mutual Improvement Association has been in existence in Kaikoura for two years, and lias been getting on very successfully. The members are very enthusiastic, and have produced some really excellent essays. It is a pity the Society does not receive more support than it at present enjoys. The 1886 session has about ended now, but hopes are entertained that, when the 1887 one commences, a number of new members will be enrolled. Kaikoura now boasts of a Choral Society. This has lately been organised, and promises to be a success. There are several good musicians amongst its members, and ’it has a really excellent and thoroughly competent conductor in the person of Mr William Makepeace. Bi-weekly practices are now being held in the Presbyterian Church by the choir and various members of the congregation for the purpose of preparing anthems for the Anniversary Service on November sth. The service, with all its attendant festivities, will, I believe, be a rather sumptuous affair. At a meeting of the Kaikoura Rifle Club, held on October Ist, the yearly balance-sheet, showing a credit of L 9 12s 9d, was presented. The Club appears to have been doing very well ; but somehow its members seem hardly enthusiastic enough, though there are a few who seem to be the life and soul of the Club, and who never miss an opportunity to practice.

The Kaikoura Star has been complaining of the state of the post office here, and indeed there is good reason for complaint. The place is like Paddy’s gun—wants a new lock, stock, and barrel. There is no proper receptacle for new - papers or book-parcels, which have to be handed inside to the Postmaster. This office is one of the best paying in the Colony, yet it is neglected. I suppose because it is a little out of the way. The Kaikoura Town School Committee have lately had the master’s house papered and a new fence put round the school. It is quite an improvement, being constructed of Van Diemen’s Land pailings placed diagonally. The attendance at the school is reported to be increasing. The Good Templars held a soiree and concert here last week. It was very well attended, and passed off in a highly satisfactory manner. The other day a fish something like a Californian salmon was captured by one of our fishermen. Several persons here were shown the fish, and thought it was a salmon ; but, on being sent to Professor Hutton in Christchurch, it was found to be a common brown trout.

I hear that the flock is now being mustered, and that 18,000, out of 25,000 which have been examined, have been found free from scab. It is said that the remaining 7000 are nearly sure to be clean.

The Kaikoura Racing Club have decided to hold the Boxing Day races on a new ground this year, as they are by no means satisfied with the old one. .

At a meeting of the Licensing Committee held here recently Mr Hardecke, of the Club Hotel, made application for a license, which was refused. Since then Mr Adams has signified his willingness to carry on the place, I believe a 3 manager for Mr Hardecke. Mr Adams will make application for a license at the next meeting of the Committee. I believe I was wrong in stating that the s.s. Wakatu sustained serious damage on her way up in the gale of September Bfch. It was currently reported that such was the case, and on the day of her arrival I received the same information from two or three different persons.