Country News

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 4, 22 April 1893, Page 2

Country News

WOODLANDS. The township is not remarkable for any unusual activity at present. We dodge along in our own peculiar style, and the outside world troubles us but very little. When a train arrives we have a temporary break in the dullness ; when it departs the momentary. excitement subsides, and we wait longingly for the next one. These waits have been rather protracted the last day or two, and it is particularly annoying when ope- has determined to visit town by the express and return by the 4.20, to see the steam of both trains on their respective journeys, each passing the other at an outside station. Bye-the-bye, talking of dullness, and want of vigour in our midst, would’nt it be a grand spec to get a woollen factory going here ? What a splendid opportunity for capitalists to profitably invest their cash, and thereby incalculably benefit the rising and hungry generation. I am convinced that for such an enterprise we have everything needful in the locality. Let some abler pen than mine take the matter in hand, and urge it forward past the stage it has hitherto reached. Between eleven and twelve on Saturday nights, following pay day at the meat works and sawmills, we are treated as a general rule, to some delightful (?) experiences. A goodly number of the hands apparently lay themselves out for a thoroughly noisy time. On the arrival of the late train the fun commences, and we are invariably treated to a very, fail* sample of Bedlam, Night is made hideous with caterwaulings, the whole effect, no doubt, being the result of too frequent imbibings of “ threepenny beers ” in your city. You provide the cause and reap the gain ; we experience the evils and the want of cash. In the music-teaching line, we are visited every Saturday by Mr R. A. Edwards. He has already every available hour filled (with one exception). He is an exponent of violin, flute, and piano. The rapidity with which pupils seek his tutorship must bo accepted as evidence of his fame. I notice that the School Committee elections take place next week. There is much room for improvement in the way of greater iritrest in educational matters in our district. The small number of electors present at the meetings in the past is a positive disgrace to the householders, who have children attending the school. Now that the nights are growing long and the winter is cx’eeping down upon us, wo begin to look around for something with which to fill in the evening hours. To meet this want the Draught Club intend beginning ■shortly to work up for prospective interclub matches. A meeting to consider matters in connection with the opening of the season has been convened.