NORTH CANTERBURY.

WAIAU. On Monday, a party consisting of sixteen guns journeyed northwards J to the Conway rh"er to hold a hare | drive in aid of the Waiau School s Swimming Baths. The drive co ™" , menced at the homestead or J>lr L.ane, j and worked the properties ot : . Messrs Lane, Nankivell, and Ryder, | and hack to the homestead. Hares were far from plentiful, and the bag, total- J ling 44, was very disappointing. Uefretihtnents were provided by Mrs Lane and were much appreciated, as the day was extremely cola. Before dispersing the Rev. J. Newlands. on behalf or the partv, returned thanks to Mrs Lane and to the owners of the properties over which the drive had taken place. The comparative pmallness ot the bags secured at all the ' drives this winter tends to show t"®' hares are not nearly no plentiful in the district as in previous years. AMBERLEY. A committee meeting of the Amberley Breeders' Association was held on Monday, when there were present: Mr E. O. Harrison (in the chair), Messrs L. Croft, W. McFarlane, S. Boyce, R. Hunter, J. C. Croft, S. Wornall, J. Fleming, W. Allison, I. F. Croft, W. A. Paterson, F. P. Coleman, N. Cook, and P. Paterson. The president referred to the loss the Association had sustained on the death of Mr K. J. Parsons, who was the first secretary and afterwards president, A | resolution of deep sympathy to the family was carried. A motion of sympathy was also extended to Mr G. N. ' McLean (a past president) on the death jof his mother, an old and respected resident of Amberley. A grant was made to the Northern A. and P. Association towards the deficit of last bay exhibit at the Winter Show. Special prizes were allotted to the various sections. Messrs A. Parkinson and B. Jones were elected members, and Mr L. Fleming was nominated for membership. The annual football match between the Druids and Oddfellows was held on Saturday and created much interest. After a keen struggle the latter won by 11 points to 3. The rainfall for July totals 3"7 points. Rain fell on fifteen day's,' the heaviest fall being recorded on the loth, when 88 points fell. The land is v fy wet owing to the regularity of the rainfall, and a spell of fine weather is looked for. Lambs have made appearance, and the green feed pastures, usually kept for the ewes ana lambs, is too sodden to allow their pasturing. Consequently the grass pastures will have to carry the stock until the land firms again. WAIKUKU. At an enjoyable card party in the Waikuku Hall about £4 was raised towards tho funds of the Woodend English Church. The prises were won by Mrs A. Ashworth and Mrs G. McQuillan, and Mr P. McMillan and Mr McClowan. The consolation prises went j to Mrs McMillan and Mr Heney. Supper was provided by the ladies of the district. An evening was given by the Waiknku Girls' Club at the residence of Mr and Mrs Maddison in honour of Miss Griffith, whose marriage took place on Tuesday. Items were given by the Rev. Mr and Mrs Nelson, and competitions were won by Miss Griffith and the Rev. Mr Nelson, Miss Fletcher obtaining the consolation prise. Before supper was dispensed, Mr Nelsoiv presented Miss Griffith with a Doulton bowl from the club. LOBURN. The Loburn Cricket Club held a smoke concert in the Coronation Hall. Mr T. Hanna, secretary of the North Canterbury Cricket Association, presented the championship cup to the senior team. The chairman, Mr J. N. McLeod. on behalf of those present, presented Mr J. H. Parker, captain of the club, who is leaving the district, with a case of pipes and a tobacco pouch. At the monthly meeting of the Rangiora and Loburn Fruitgrowers' Association, Mr J. McLeod presided. A full report of the recent 1 conference held in Wellington was received. Mr Paynter was present and promised at the next meeting to give a short address on spraying. Word has been received that approximately five per cent, of the apples exported had been frozen though excellent prices had been obtained for the sound fruit. A pruning demonstration was held in Mr Webb's orchard, practioally the whole of the fruitrgowers being present, as well as the senior pupils of the Lohum School. Mrs Webb dispensed afternoon tea. A large number attended the social on Tuesday in the Coronation Hall. The evening was spent in competitions and dancing,, music being supplied by Misses Una Croft, Iris Pulley, Nancy Henry, and Mr Norman Smart. At the recent afternoon in connexion with the Plunket Society the amount made should read £l/ instead of £ls, as erroneously published. WEST MELTON. The Social Committee of the West Melton Hall organised a very successful dance to kid farewell to Miss Tbelnia Whyte, who has gone to Christchurch to live. Mr Perry, on behalf of the Committee, presented Miss Whyte with a cheque, and spoke of the excellent work she had done for the club during its existence. Music for the dance was supplied by Johnston's Jara Band (Kaiapoi), with extras by Misa Margaret Fahey. Mr L. Chambers was M.C. HALKETT. After several months of perseverance the Halkett district is soon going to hare the benefits of electricity. In the Springs-Ellesmere portion of the district a gang of men is now wiring the houses, and the construction of the line will be taken in hand shortly. Up to the present there has been some trouble as to where the proposed line should be erected in the Malvern part of the district, but it has now been decided to reticulate the whole of the Malvern area from that end, with the exception of two houses, these two being supplied by the Springs-Ellesmere Power Board. . The winner of the live-sheep guessing competition in connexion with the recent ploughing match was Mr M. Wilson, who guessed the correct weight, 2161b. LITTLE RIVER. Miss Josie Keenan, Okuti Valley, is spending a holiday in Christchureh. Miss Zita Hurley is the guest of Mrs D. R. Hay, the Vicarage, little River. Mrs P. Beaton, Tnatapere, Southland, is visiting Little River. The usual monthly meeting of the St. Andrew's Ladies' Sewing Guild was held in the Coronation Library on Tuesday, when there were eleven members present. Mrs D. B. Hay was in the chair. The Guild's secretary, Mrs Barclay, read a letter from the secretary of the new church building committee, regarding the sum of £2OO invested by the guild for the new church. sec-