COUNTRY NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5500, 27 February 1896, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS.

Mutual Improvement. — The Springfield Debating Society met in the local hall on Saturday evening, Mr A. Williams in the chaiiv A paper on " Outcast London." was read by Mr H. Barker, jun.,and Mr E. Gillanders contributed <she on " Ambition." Both were well received, and a lively discussion ensued. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded-Messrs Barker and Gillanders. Ashburton High School. — .The members of the Ashburton High School Board met on Tuesday. It was announced that the Education Board had appointed Messrs A. Orr and D. Williamson as its representatives on the Board, and that the. county's representatives wpre Messrs M. Stitt and D. Cameron. The head-master's report showed that the attendance was larger than it was last year. North Canterbury Caledonian So^ ciett. — The entries for the North Canterbury Caledonian Society's sports, which will be • held on March 5, closed on Saturday last, and show a large increase on those of previous years. The handicaps will be advertised on Saturday next. The committee is sparing no trouble to make these popular sports a success, and a special train and low fares have been arranged for. Cultivator Trial. — A very successful trial of Messrs P. and D. Duncan's spring tine cultivator was held in Mr Gilbert's .paddock near Leeston on Tuesday, in the presence of about forty farmers. The work done was most satisfactory. Mr Bell, the firm's representative, was present, and explained the various uses to which the machine could be pnt, Tlic machine used was sold on the ground. Traction Engines on Bridges.— At Timaru yesterday, the Stipendiary Magistrate gave judgment in a case, Geraldine County Council v. W. and J. Walker, in which the defendants were prosecuted for a breach of a county by-law, in taking a traction engine weighing nine tons over the Orari traffic bridge, the by-law forbidding traction engines weighing over six tons being taken over this bridge. The defence was that the by-law is ultra, vires, because while the statute gives power to make a .by-law to regulate the weight of engines to be allowed to cross bridges named, the by-law enacts that the weights of engines are to be taken, not at their actual weight at the time of crossing, but at ' their maximum weight when fully loaded with coal and water. His Worship iipheld the by-law. It was admitted that traction engines were divisible into three classes — small, medium and large — and the by-law in question was intended to allow small engines to cross the bridge, but not the medium or the large. As there were circumstances in the case which almost compelled defendants to cross the bridge (a heavy flood in the river) a small fine would meet the case. A fine of 10s was imposed on each defendant, Avith costs and solicitor's fee, £2 2s,