COUNTRY NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6136, 24 March 1898, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS.

. — *. The Shooting Season*. — A visitor to Lake Ellesmere recently counted no fewer than twenty broods of "flappers," none of which appeared over six weeks old. Frozen Mutton. — The s.s. Tokomaru, took away from Timaru the largest single, shipment of frozen mutton and lamb yet made from that port, naniely, over 33.000 carcases ■:. Valueless Cheques. — A young man uamed James Reid, a stock dealer at Waimate, was charged at. the Magistrate's Court, at Timaru, yesterday, with obtaining £4 17s and .£4 i9s, by means of valueless cheques, from the licensee of the Criterion Hotel, on March 18. He was remanded till Monday. Bail in the sum of .£IOO was allowed. Alleged Forgery. — A man named Fould, summoned to the Magistrate's Court at Timaru- yesterday for .£l2, the amount of a dishonoured promissory note, the discounter of tho bill being plaintiff, denied that the signature to the bill was ■ his; The case was adjourned to allow of ■ inquiry being iriade of the storekeeper (now bankrupt) in whose favour the bill purported to have been made, and for whom it was discounted by the plaintiff. Noeth Canterbury Chrysanthemum Club. — The committee of this club met at Mr Tombs' Temperance Hotel, Eangiora, on Tuesday evening, when Mr C. Carmichael presided. The Chairman stated that he had secured the services of a gentleman and two ladies to act as judges at the show. In deference to the wish of a number of subscribers, the date of the annual show was altered from April 21 to April 2G. It was resolved that the donors of special prizes should receive a complimentary ticket to admit once to the show ; also that plants for Mrs Macfarlane's prize might be shown in pots of any size. Hockey. — The annual meeting of the Ashburton Hockey Club was held in the Templar Hall on Tuesday evening, when Dr Leahy presided. The Secretary presented his report and balance-sheet, ■which were adopted. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year :— Patron, Mr C. Eeid ; president, Dr Leahy ; vice-presidents, Messrs Mannering Graves, Cox, Orr, Hanmer, Simmers, Snodgrass, Bollitt, Hardie, Ferriman, and Collins, and the Eevs Hamilton and Blackburn. A committee was elected, with Mr W. Mellor as captain, and Mr F. Clark as referee. Eight new members were elected, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings, me Drapers' Hockey Club will open its season at 3 p.m. to-day, in Hagley Park south.