COUNTRY NEWS.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12482, 8 March 1909, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

MURCHISON,

From Our Own Correspondent.)

■ The unusually- • long .spell of dry weather now being experienced here is proving a. great. boon to the settlers, as it is enabling them to burn up'the stumps^ etc., .on"-, their sections, a lire now doing more .than weeks of labour at any other time to clear the ground. The smoke of many large bush^ fires has been ;• hanging about - Murchison for the , last three weeks, felled ■- bush being burned- by settlers in 'Matiri, Mangles,:: Owen, and Mafuia valleys. Every year" the demand for grass seed here is in 7 creasing, and this year will show a still greater demand.

The hew": county elections are beginning to excite some interest. Although the ridings are not yet .gazetted, it is anticipated that the committee's recommendation of 'seven ridings will: be adopted, and that the elections will be held towards the end of April. The committee: have recommended Mr V. T. Macnamara to be appointed to make up the new county rolls.

The Murchison Defence Rifle Club have^ust : been through- their, annual class-firing course. Now^ that the Club have secured a 1000-yard range close to Murchison, and have erected a comfortable marker's .trench and -up-to-date : targets, some good Bhooting 'may be looked for from the members'.. A gold medal has been, /presented by Mr H. Weber, of Greymouth, for competition on the opening of the range. The Club has decided to hold a sports- meeting and ball' on March 19th. ■ : . . V Two quiet but pretty weddings took place. in ;Murchison last week/ Mr; Joseph tfoodyer . and Miss Annie James .being" united iif the holy, bonds of matrimony on. Wednesday, 24th February, while on the same day the marriage of Mr E. Win, of Maruia, and Miss Henrietta Bunting, of Murchison, took place, the Rev. F. Quintrell being the officiating minister at both ceremonies. The weddings took place at the residences of the brides parents. Both couples are well known arid respected throughout the district, and the . congratulations and good wishes, of all follow them to their new homes. •. - .