COUNTRY NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 2886, 20 May 1872, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

The Thursday half-holiday movement' has broken down in Oamaru. Mr Matthew Hay had his shoulder dislocated on Tuesday by being thrown from his horse in one of the streets in Lawrence. A petition, praying for the establishment of a direct mail service between Lawrence and Waipori, will shortly be presented to the Chief Postmaster. The Oamaru Grammar School is in a flourishing condition. The last report of the Rector showed that the number of pupils on the roll was upwards of 290, and the average daily attendance during the last quarter 250. _ Fierce opposition in the butchering business, and consequent reduction in the price of meat are the order of the day at Waipori —a new butcher having established himself there. The public rejoice at and benefit by the cutting of the meat purveyors. A daughter of Scotia was united to a gentleman hailing from the Flowery Land by the Registrar at Lawrence last Tuesday. The bridegroom is Mr Chew Lain, one of the proprietors of the Chinese Empire Hotel, Tuapeka, and the bride was a barmaid in that establishment. Lawrence had a narrow escape from a conflagration last week. A spark from a chimney ignited the scrim alongside the fireplace in Messrs Bastings and Arbuckle’s store; and the fire when discovered was on the point of communicating to the woodwork. It was promptly extinguished. The Times says : Had it remained undiscovered for a few minutes longer, it would have obtained a firm hold, and the block of bull.lings at the corner of Peel street and the Beaumont road would have been destroyed. Nothing but a miracle could have saved them, as a very high wind was blowing in their direction at the time.