COUNTRY NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5989, 30 September 1897, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS.

Woodend.— The opening of the Woodend Tennis Club's season took place on the Recreation Ground on Saturday, when a most enjoyable afternoon "waß Bpent,. the ladies providing tea. A Good Year's Business.— Mr W. B. Clarkson put through the freezing, factories for Home shipment from Sept. 14^ 1896, to Sept. 14, 1897, no fewer than' 316,832 sheep and lambs, besides having dealt very largely in store sheep. Ladies' Hockey Match. — The meinbeiv of the Hinemoa Hockey Club, Kaiapoi, are practising in view of the match with the Christchurch Ladies' Hockey Club, at Kaiapoi Park, next Wednesday afternoon. The match will be the first ladies' hockey club match played in the colony. Waikuku. — There was a largely attended meeting of the Waikuku Social Society on Saturday evening, when Mr W. Stackwood presided. The editor of the journal read the Fun Column and somepapers on "Slang" and "Grumblers." Short discussions followed. Mr Tipping gave a sketch of the life and works of George Stephenson, the engineer. The meeting then closed. Midland Saleyards Company. — The Midland Salejrards Co-operative Company, Limited, was 'registered yesterday, and at a meeting of the directors held yesterday afternoon the shares applied for vrere allotted. The architects, Messrs Strorite and Ballantyne, submitted plans for saleyards, which were adopted, and tenders will be called at once for their construction; on the property lately acquired by the company at Sockburn. Agricultural and Pastoral Association. — At a meeting of the committee of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association on Tuesday, Mr Duncan Cameron, of Methven, offered a money prize of £2 2s, and a new member was admitted. The Ground Committee was asked to add forty . feet of additional frontage to the implement yard, the catalogues .were ordered to be sold as formerly, and the exhibition weight of salt butter was reduced to 141 b. On the motion of the President (Mr T. Taylor) it was agreed to ask the County Council to exchange Reserve 2644 for the Association's reserve at Tinwald. The Secretary stated that twenty-five special prizes had been offered, and it was agreed to offer the Cooperative Association's prize of five guineas in produce prizes. Oddfellowship.— The quarterly meeting' of the. members of the Loyal Kaiapoi Lpdge was held in the Oddfellows' Chambers, Kaiapoi, on Tuesday evening. There was a good attendance, including the district officers, P.Gr.M. Smithson, D.P.G.M. Paddy, P..C.S. Foster and P.P.G.M. Gough. After the ordinary business of the Lodge had been transacted the different sentiments were given and responded to, and the P.C.S. gave a full account of the business done at the recent annual district meeting, for which he received a vote of thanks. The Lodjye then indulged iv harmony, during 1 which several members gave songs and recitations. P.P.GiM. Bro Clark proposed a vote of thanks to the district officers for their visit, and P.G.31. Bro Smithson responded. The receipts .for the evening were £(iO 8s and the expenditure was .£33 7s Bd. A clearance was granted, and the Lodge was then closed in due form. The Canterbury Agricultural College. — Mr G. S. Matthews, who gained a diploma at the Canterbury Agricultural College last year, has received the appointment of farm manager for Mr G. Jameson's property nt Springston, in place of Jlr H. A. Lloyd, who lms received the appointment of agent for the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association at Asliburton. Mr Matthew's received the whole of his training under Mr John Bayne, the present Director of the College, on whose advice the appointment was made. It is satisfactory to find that such men as Mr Jameson appreciate the practical and scientific value of the training of which the College diploma is a guarantee. Amongst other students who gained diplomas last year are the sons of the Hon W. Rolleston and Mr E. G. Wright, both of whom are now managing the estates of their fathers at Rangitata and Ashburton. Mr R. B. Hosking, n son of Dr Hosking, of Masterton, another student who gained his diploma last year, has gone Home, to study veterinary science. Sticking to the Land. — At the Magistrate's Court at Timaru yesterday a man named Duncan Mackenzie was summoned for refusing to give up possession of Lot 1. Paroora village settlement, his lease of which had been forfeited by the Canterbury Land Board twenty-one months ago for non-payment " of rent. 3ir "White appeared for the Commissioner of Lands, and Mr W. H. Williams, lands ranger, gave evidence. The witness stated that defendant not only refused to give up possession, but had influenced intending applicants. Defendant said he had never refused to give iip possession, because till now lie had never been asked to give up the land. He had uot paid his rent because of a dispute with the Department in j.895, when he lost .£3O by damage done to his crop through the Department's surveyor putting in a 9-inch pipe instead a 3ft culvert to carry off storm-water. His Worship said the Court had nothing to do with that matter ; any claim of that sort must be dealt with independently. Defendant said ho was willing to givo up the land, but he wanted compensation for his loss. An order was made for delivery in one week, with costs and solicitor's fee.