COUNTRY NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5462, 14 January 1896, Page 1

COUNTRY NEWS.

Burwood.— J The Burwood Band of Hope held its fortnightly meeting on Friday evening. There was. a good attendance,' and Mr Judd presided. A good programme I was gone through, Miss Burns acting, as accompanist. A hearty vote of thanks io the visitors was carried with acclamation; Sunday Bathing at Kaiapol^K is reported that on Sunday a number of youths were, bathing near Lock's Point in the Waimakariri, and were heard at a considerable distance by persons boating on the river using bad language. It is hoped that steps will be taken to prevent a^ recurrence of the nuisance. : ° Kaiapoi Volunteer Fire Brigade.--',; The members of this Brigade are making, every effort as regards practice, in the different branches, in view of the coming • demonstration, which/will take place in February next. The Kaiapoi Borough 1 Council has erected a couple of platforms : for the men near the Brigade Station, and the public have been taking a lively interest in the practices, judging from the numberd that surround the men whilst at work, r ; ' ! The Crops.— ln the . Sheffield district the continued' absence of rain and the; strong north-west winds have made the .outlook for the crops very ipoor indeed/ The wheat has not suffered much from wind, but rain is.wanted to fill the heads, Oats, which promised exceedingly welli. have, with the exception of the very late crops, been badly beaten down, and on all; sides it appears that the crop will be cuir for hay. Turnips and grass are drying u$ fast, and. the heat has been extreme. . ; v The Shop and Shop Assistants Act.~On Friday evening last the Eangiora Borough Council certified to a petition as bearing a three-fifths majority of Eangior* shopkeepers in favour of closing the places, of business at 9 p.m. on Saturdays. Yesterday, however, a counter petition was in circulation, it being declared that names were obtained to the. previous one without sufficient explanation of its purport being given, many of those who signed not beirig aware that they would be liable to prosect*-. tion if they kept their premises open after nine o'clock. :■■ Inspection of Slaughter-houses.— ? The Levels County Council has appointed their overseer as inspector of slaughterhouses, a work which has hitherto devolved upon the police. Th,e. change , is turfayottrably commented upon by a correspondent to the local' paper, who urges ,- that' thete was no need for economy /in i the inattei*) and that under the police superyisipipi: numerous cases of keeping dirty slaughte^i yards and piggeries, slaughtering without;, licenses, negleCrting.to forward returns anii keep slkughter-house : books had ; b6e*n' be> fore the Court, and immense : satisfaction, had been given to farmers and ,the public generally, The police appointment had also assisted to suppress sheep and cattle stealing, which was getting somewhat rife; Presentation. — On' Saturday evening Mr. J. M'Coll, for many years an oversejer upon the Arowhenua Estate, was presented by the employes upon the ; estate anfl neighbouring farmers with an address v an<| a purse of sovereigns as a, memento of th&r" .at : the . seyeranceof his cgtinegti6j& with the "Ssiates Company.' Fortfie OcCa? sion the subscribers met in a social way at the Eoyal Hotel, where a choice collation had been prepared. Mr E. Edgar presided, and made the presentation. A letter from Mr A. M. Clark expressed his liigh appreciation of Mr M'Coll, who had been in his employ for some twenty years, and cordial wishes for his future prosperity. The health of Mr and Mrs M'Coll and family was honoured enthusiastically. • ,;. A Storm on the Mackenzie Lakes J— The Mackenzie Country lakes have lately, been very high, in consequence of nor-'west weather melting the snows ' rapidly, aiid last week the waters of Lake, Tekapo flooded Cowan's Island Station homestead two feet deep: The Pukaki rose about twelve feet, and to'withjn three feet of the joists of the bridge at the outlet. On several days the high lakes have. bejen ; threshed into heavy seas by the' nor.-west gales, and some little damage has been' done by the waves to road works, on the., margins. The road up the east side '.of Tekapo to Lily Bank, in two places, ha&, been partly cut away by the^ waves, ah'd the approaches to the bridge at the put-, let of Lake PukaMj' were considerably* damaged by heavy waves breaking upon, them. The oldest inhabitant -..does not,' remember seeing such heavy waves as have been seen this year. ■ ¥ •'. . ; v Caledonian Society.— A meeting o£ North Canterbury .Caledonian Society Tr^ held in the Oddfellows' Hall, Amberley,[oii> Saturday. There was a large attendance' of members. The Secretary and Treasurer reported that the running tracks had been greatly improved since the annual meeting. The programme of last year, with a few alterations, was adopted for the coming sports. A letter was read from a comr mittee of gentlemen in Wanganui, formed for the purpose of : improving tho Irish costume as worn at these gatherings in the Irish jig dancing competition. After discussion a member offered a private prize for the best (Irish costume. It was resolved to do away with the members' refreshment tent, and instead to give all judges and working stewards tickets to get lunch at the public refreshments booth. Three new members were proposed. A sum of <£2 2s was voted to the Domain Board to assist in getting flags for the new flagstaff, which is the gift of Mr T. H. Evans;