COUNTRY NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5700, 20 October 1896, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS.

Southbrook: Fire Brigade. — The annnal meeting of the Southbrook Volunteer Fire Brigade was held on Friday evening. Mr E. Watson occupied the chair. The report was read and adopted. Mr T. Pickard was re-elected captain, Mr S. Pickard secretary, and Mr J. Buckley treasurer.

Glentunnel Spouts. — At a largelyattended meeting, held in the Glentunnel School on Saturday night, it was agreed to hold sports on Monday, Dec. 27, and a committee was appointed to draw out .a programme and make all necessary arrangements. A subscription list handed round the reom was well responded to.

Entertainment. — A limelight exhibition was given in the Maori Hall, Little River, on Friday evening, in aid of the Main School Prize Fund. There was a good attendance, and the display of interesting views taken during a trip to the West Coast and up the Wanganui Eiver by Mr H. E. Wilkinson ivas much appreciated.

The Weather and the Crops.— Our -Oxford correspondent writes: — The weather continues fine, but heavy winds from all points of the compass are the order of the day. Farmers are hurrying up to get in thoir spring crops, but the work is a good bit behind. I hear good reports about the lambing, the average on the whole being very satisfactory, and I know of two flocks which will go cent per cent.

Band of Hope. — The monthly meeting of the Aunat Band of Hope was held in the schoolroom on Friday evening. Mr C. Gamble occupied the chair. .Recitations were given by Misses L. Opie, F. Nuttall, K. Affleck, J. Thompson and A. Nuttall; songs by Miss Montgomery and Mr Sutton, and the dialogues, " The Girl Hero " and " A Young Wife's Debts/ by members of the Glentunnel Baud of Hope. Mr Opie gave an address, and Miss A. Eutledge presided at the organ.

Alleged Attempted Suicide. —At Timaru yesterday, a young woman, a domestic servant, was charged with having attempted suicide by swallowing arsenic on Oct. 6. Sergeant-Major M'Do'nald stated that she had been despondent and swallowed the poison ; that she was made very ill, and had since been in the hospital. He. did not think, however, from what he could gather, that she really meant to take her life, and he had brought no evidence, leaving it to the Court to decide what should bo done. Messrs. Jonas and Bowie, Justices of the Peace, who occupied tho Bench, dismissed the. case, with a caution to the accused.

Valedictory. — On Saturday evening Mr W. G. Campbell, late president of the South .Canterbury Traction Engine-owners' and Certificated Drivers' Society, was presented by representatives of the Society, at the Timaru Hotel, with a life member's ticket on the eve of his departure, for South Africa.' In leaking the presentation, as a recognition of. • his services to the Society, Mr Mahoiiey, the secretary, said it was considered that such a memento would be of more service than half a hundredweight of plate, as it would be a sort of passport to Mr Campbell in South Africa. Mr Campbell was the first to introduce the traction engine iuto South Canterbury^

South Rakaia.— The annual reunion and soiree of St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, South Rakaia, was held in the Town Hall on Wednesday evening. There was a large attendance. Addresses were given by the Rev J. Skinner on " Acts, Habits and Character," by the Rev J. Clarke on "Church Union," and by the Rev G. B. Inglis on "Duty." Musical items were given by Misses L. Grubb, Gardiner, Hardy, Thompson, Shepherd, Crawford and Compton, and by Messrs Sharp, Dixon and Shepherd. Miss Garforth gave a recitation. The accompanists were Misses Grubb, Gardiner, Thompson, Bruce and Hardy. During an interval refreshments were handed round. Mr P. J. Riddle presided.

Lawn Tennis.— The Libtle River Lawn Tennis Club opened its season on Saturday afternoon, when a lax % ge * number of members were present. Afternoon tea -was provided by the Ladies' Committee. The weather was favourable till about five o'clock, when a very strong cold wind from the south-west swept across the courts. — The Oxford Lawn Tennis Club opened its new courts in Pearson Park on Saturday. There was a large attendance. A heavy nor-wester was blowing, but the park is so well sheltered that no inconvenience was felt by the players. The Club now numbers about sixty members. — The final round for the Ladies' Singles of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Club was played on Saturday afternoon, when Miss Lean beat Miss E. Van Asch— 6-1, 6-0. On Thursday a match will be played at the ] Cranmer Square courts between the JRangiora and Canterbury Clubs, six men a side, play to commence at 1.30 p.m.