COUNTRY NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5732, 27 November 1896, Page 1

COUNTRY NEWS.

♦ Kaiapoi Borough Council. — Nominations for a Councillor to fill the vacancy caused by the election of Councillor Doixbleday to the Mayoral chair will close on Dec. 5. Girls' Shaksperian Club. — The members of this club entertained their friends in the large room of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, Kaiapoi. The chair was occupied by the president, Mrs Armitage, who gave a short opening address. During the evening umsical and other items were given by the members, and refreshments were provided. Mr Herbert proposed the usual vote of thanks to the ladies, and Mr R. J. Alexander made a brief speech. Land Sale. — Mr J. E. March conducted at the Lands Office, Tiniaru, yesterday, a sale of Crown lots in Arundel, South Eangitata, Geraldiue and Waimate. There was a very small attendance and very little competition. In the two first-named townships only one lot (at South Rangitata) was sold out of forty-two offered. In Geraldine, where the upset prices were at the rate of .£3O per acre, all the twenty-five lots offered were sold to five persons, the total upset being exceeded by J>lo 10s. In Waimate thirty-one lots were offered, and twenty-eight sold to eight buyers, the total upsets being exceeded by £22. Peel Forest. — • Our correspondent writes: — The picnic season ha 3 begun, but as the weather has been so very unsettled not many have visited the bush yet. I hope that any parties camping this summer will be very careful with fires. A number of persons light fires at the foot of dead trees or stumps, which burn for days, and are a great source of danger. The shearers' hut at Mount Peel, which was burned down last year, is being replaced by a large iron one, with forty bunks. These are placed on an entirely new plan, and have tables, so that the men can read or write with comfort. Bush matters are fairly brisk, and the bush is very rapidly being cleared. Eain is badly wanted everywhere. Greendale. — The anniversary services of the Primitive Methodist Sunday School were held on Sunday last in the local hall. All three services were conducted by the Eev D. J. Murray, of Lyttelton, and were largely attended. During the afternoon the prizes were distributed to the school children. On Monday evening there was a large attendance at the usual tea-meeting. After the tea Mr Murray delivered his popular lecture, entitled "Mind your P.'s and Q.'s." During the evening sacred selections were sung by the choir and several of the Sunday School children. During an interval in the lecture the Chairman, theEev T. H. Lyon, presented Mr M. Lee, a late teacher of the school, with a handsome family Bible on the occasion of his marriage. Quick Work. — A few weeks ago Mr D. D. Macfarlane's woolshed at Lyndon was burned down, and it was feared that he would be unafele to get it rebuilt in time for shearing. Mr Macfarlane came into town on Thursday, Not. 5, and arranged with Mr E. W. England, jun., to prepare plans and specifications for a new building. Within three days the plans had been completed and a tender accepted. On the following Monday morning six truck leads of timber left for Culverden, and Messrs D. Scott and Son, who undertook the work, sent fifteen men by the same train. So much expedition was used that the building was finished yesterday, seven days under contract time. The structure cost over .£BOO, and is 100 ft x 60ft, the woolroom being 50ft x 48ft, the shearing floor GOft x Bft, the wool pens GOft x 60ft and the engine-room 20ft x 12ft. The roof and walls are of iron, with concrete foundations and sleeper walls. The shed is fitted with twelve Wolseley shearing machines, driven by a steam-engine. The machines were tried yesterday with excellent results, and Mr Macfarlane will commence shearing his flock on Monday.