COUNTRY NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6122, 8 March 1898, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS.

« Angling.— Mr A. H. Shuryanda party of friends took a large bag of trout at the mouth of the Kangitata on Saturday. Thirty-one fl3h were taken,, and 1 one of them weighed 13£lb. Belfast Art Union.— The Art Union in aid of the Btlfasfc Town Hall has had to be withdrawn, and holders of tickets can have their money returned by applying before April 1. Oxford Relief Fund. — All who hold I subscription lists or money on behalf of this fund are asked to forward them to I the honorary .Treasurer or honorary Secretary hot later" th;an March "15^ ..as the fund. I will, then be closed. • X """ •■'•: . -Eoman Cathgmc MissioN.^-rThe Very, Uey Father Barry, of . the Redemptorist Brothers; commenced a mission, at the Rangiora Catholic Church on Sunday, evening. There was a large attendance at the opening service, and again yesterday. The mission will be continued until next

Sunday morning. The Weather. — Our Ashburton correspondent writes : — The weather for the past few days has been cloudy and cool. Threshing is going on all over the district, but the amount of grain coming to town is quite insignificant.- The rain that has fallen so far is only of a freshening character, and it is still difficult to plough old grass lands. Sefton. — The annual treat in connection with the Sefton District School was held in the Recreation Reserve on Friday. During the afternoon various games were indulged in,: and a book was presented-to each child in the school. ;• In the. evening a " Bocial " was held in the Town Hall, when dancing was kept up until the early hours of the morning. Songs were sung by Mrs Struthers, Miss Vallance and Mr Smalley. Kaiapoi "Licensing Committee.— The quarterly meeting of this committee was held yesterday ; present, Mr Bishop, S.M. (chairman ), and Messrs Coup and Feldwick. An apology for absence was received from Mr Buss. The report from the police was read- and considered satisfactory. A conditional license for the Harewood Arms, East Oxford, was granted to Mr H. Hoare, to have effect on March 15, the date of the Oxford races. There was no other business. South Rakaia Domain Board. — The first meeting of the new Board was held on Thursday, when Mr Hardy was elected chairman and Mr Oxley secretary, with charge of the ground. It was resolved to call tenders for cropping about thirty acres of the, . Domain. The Board's attention was called to rubbish of all kinds being deposited in the big plantation, and it was resolved to prosecute the first offender caught. A close day was granted to the Rakaia Amateur Swimming Club. Kiewee Athletic Sports. — A meeting of the Kirwee Athletic Sports Committee was held in the Kirwee Hotel on Saturday evening, when Mr A. Y. Sims presided. It was decided to raise the first prize in the three-mile bicycle event to 40s, and to reduce the entrance money in events Nos. 3 and Gto 5 per cent. The Secretary reported that he had accepted the offer of the Burnham Band.. , With fine weather, a good day's sports may be confidently expected. The entries close to-morrow, and the handicaps will appear in the Lytlelton Times of Saturday. Waiau. — Our correspondent writes as follows : — Threshing machines ' have been busy during the last fortnight in the Rotherham and Waiau districts. The crops in most cases have yielded much better than was at first anticipated. Part of a paddock of oats, comprising two hundred acres on the Lyndon Estate, threshed last week nearly seventy bushels an acre, which constitutes a record for the district. The land on which the oats wore grown comprises part of the block now under offer to the Government by the Messrs Macfarlane. A very successful dance, given by young men in the district, took place in the Rink Hall on Saturday evening, and was well attended. The room was tastefully decorated. Mrs Ellis and Mr Green provided the music, and Messrs Stewart and Clare were M.C.'s. The married men intend shortly to return the compliment. Masonic Service at Timaru. — A service of sorrow in memory of Bro Robert Taylor, the first S.W. of St John's. Lodge, No. 1137, E.C., and one of the oldest residents of Canterbury, was held on Sunday evening at Timaru, in the presence of a large congregation. Mr Taylor came down from Wellington in 1849 to erect the first buildings in Lyttelton for the reception of the colonists who arrived in the first four ships, and was one of the earliest members of Lodge Unanimity, 604 E.C., Lyttelton, bhe oldest Lodge in Canterbury. The service was most impressive. Bro W. H. Sundry, D.D.G.M., of Christchurch, was in charge of the ceremonies, and W. Bro J. E. S. Jackson, P.M., and W. Bro A. C. Blake, P.M., read the lessons. The Masonic ceremony, consisting of the disposal of lowers, wreaths and everlastings upon ihe catafalque, with a ritual appropriate » the occasion, was conducted by the D.D.G.M. The eulogium was pronounced jy Bro the Eev J. M. Whitehead, and the jroceedings closed appropriately with the Benediction, followed by "The Dead March in Saul." The musical portion of ;he service was under the direction of Bro 3. A. England, assisted by a full choir and >rchestra. ;