Country News.

Southern Cross, Volume 5, Issue 41, 15 January 1898, Page 12

Country News.

(From Our Qwn Correspondents.)

WOODLANDS.

The Woodlands Caledonian Society has come to the front again after four years spell, and held sports in a paddock kindly given by Mr W. E. Taib. There was a large and attractive programme, £4O being given in prizes, and consequently the entries were very good—lo and 12 entries for all the foot races, and Mr Ohas. Wj’eth (handicapper) is to be congratulated for bringing his men so well together. The finishes were all so close that one had to he in a line with the tape to tell which was first. The half mile especially was a splendid race, but there was no time taken for any of the events except the sawing and chopping. I think the society might get a timekeeper next year. There were seven entries for the sawing and 11 entries for the chopping, and it was a nice sight to see eleven men all bard at work on top of the logs. The society may well be proud of the success of the gathering. I hear they will have a credit of £l3, which, added to the old balance of £7 11s, will form a very nice nest egg for next year.

The annual school excursion to Colac Bay took place on the 30th December, and was a great success ss far as the railway was concerned, but I don’t think much of the train they sent to convey women and children such a distance —20 to 30 trucks and one solitiiy carriage. There was great grumbling at the way we were treated, and many declared they would no' gj again. So I am afraid the department wont pay a dividend out of the next trip as far as Woodlands is concerned. Our new stationmaster took over the station on the 10th inst., and I have no doubt he will find a great change here in climate from the North Island. Our late stationmaster (Mr Kerr) is now in Reefton, There is another change here in the railway staff, Mr M. J. Forde bavins? been transferred to Wyndhatn. He left here for Wyndham on the llfrh inst. He will be greatly missed. Besides being an obliging and efficient officer, he was a great favourite at our local conceits. Mr W. Robertson takes his place hire. The Foresters’ Court is still progressing. The installation of officers took jla ;e on the 30th December, when ifa.i following were elected: C.R., Bro. A. H. Hiddleston ; S.C.R., Bro. M. Leith ; treasurer, Bro. B. Gardm ; secretary, Bro. S. S. Lai I. law; S.W., Bro. P. Edwards ; J.W., Bro. P. Cairns ; 5.8., Bro. Geo. Dewe; A.S., Bro. A. Lawson ; auditor, Bro. Jno. Reardon. Bros. R. Berry and F. C. Smith were appointed delegates to the District Meeting, to be held in Invercargill in March. The preserving works, under the able management of Mr D. Hannan, had a very successful season last year, and the proprietor (Mr W. E. Tait) deserves every success. The amount' of money he circulates every year most be very great, and as the products of the works are all exported it is English money that he circulates. The buildings have all been repaired and painted, the machinery overhauled and new cattle yards erected, so that everything is in first-class order for the coming season, which 1 hear opens next month. By the way, I think i . would pay some of your auctioneers to hold monthly sales here. I haV3 no doubt they could get the use of the above yards for such a purpose for a very small consideration.