ON THE LAND

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 195, 22 September 1914, Page 5

ON THE LAND

COUNTRY NEWS.

(From Our Special Correspondents.) OHOKA. A plain and fancy dress ball was held in the Public Hall at Ohoka on Friday night. It was a pronounced success, there, being present about sixty couples. Prizes were awarded as follow: —Best fancy dress —ladies: Miss Lister ("Union S.S. Co."), 1; Miss Scliaffer ("Ruination"), 2. Gentlemen: Mr H. Gordon ("Napoleon"), 1; Mr A. Lowry ("Good Night"), 2. These were the best of many good costumes. During the evening an excellent exhibition of Highland dancing was given by Miss D. Soilness. The proceeds (over £l4) were in aid of the new hall.

The Ohoka District School Committee held a quiet function yesterday afternoon, when the new flag was unfurled. The children were in attendance, and an invitation was extended to the students, from the neighbouring Maori College to be present. The chairman, Mr F. Pearee, spoke about the great significance of the occasion, and Master Joe Mortland recited an appropriate piece entitled '' Our Flag.'' The Maori girls sang the New Zealand National Anthem, and'the secretary (the Rev, Mr Martin) gave an address on "The Flag." Three lusty cheers were given, and the National Anthem concluded the proceedings. This is the first flag the school has had.

DUNSANDEL.

CRICKET. Playing at Dunsandel on Saturday, a team from Christchurch defeated the local team by 16 runs. The scores were: Dunsandel, '99. (T. Jamieson 19, E. Frew 14, F. Cullen 18, J. Burgess 17, J. Anderson 11); Christchurch, 115 (Robson 27 not out, Gurney 17, W. Patrick 16, O'Malley 10, W. O'Malley 10). In the second innings, Dunsandel scored 113 runs (H. Wright 45, F. Cullen 16, C. Wright 12, J. Anderson 11). For the home team, Frew took seven wickets for 45 runs, and Jamieson two for 64 runs. Wilshire, Martin, Patrick, and Gurney bowled best for the visitors.

AMURI. A. & P. ASSOCIATION. The first meeting of the newlyformed Committee of Management of the Amuri Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held in the Coronation Library Hall on Saturday afternoon. The chair was occupied by Mr Duncan Rutherford, president of the association. There were also present: Messrs D. McKie, V. Oldman, A. J. Sunckell, H. T. Beaven, W. E. Judkins, K. Pettigrew, C. F. Foster, J. Little, and T. M. Marr. The minutes .of the last general meeting were read and confirmed. Several letters from newly appointed office-bearers were read, and also a large number from donors of speciat-prizes. " Correspondence was received frßtn Mr Eftwiii Hall, secretary of the New Zealand Council of Agriculture, and from the Kaikoura A. & P. Association, fixing the date for their next annual show ior Friday, March 19. A discussion ensued as-" to the most suitable date for the Amuri J Show, some small difficulty being found in? finding a Tuesday to> avoid other showsi, Easter, and ram and ewe fairs. Eventually Tuesday, March 23, was decided; upon provisionally. The secretary announced that the schedule was in the hands of the printers, and would be ready shortly. Messrs K. Pettigrew and C. Netting were appointed a sub-committee to revise the official list of judges. The matter of" a sheep-driving competition w,as left in the hands of Mr J. Little to arrange'.'' It has "been felt that in past the association has missed rr * valuable special prizes through lack or eaitvassing, and a special, committee, consisting of Messrs K. Pettigrew, W. E. Judkins, S. Baker, and F. Foster, was appointed to endeavour to obtain a fuller prize list. It was very much desired to obtain an exhibit from the Department of Agriculture, v but the trouble is to find space in which to house it. It was decided to leave , the matter over for this year. It was agreed that arrangements should be made to have an agent of an auctioneering firm present at the show in order to facilitate the sale of such stock as exhibitors might wish to dispose of. Messrs. W. E. Judkins and H. Rogers were appointed auditors, and Messrs Duncan Rutherford and V. Oldman were authorised to sign cheques. The resignations of two members were received. The matter of the. expenses of the association's delegate to the Wellington conference was left over. It was agreed to meet on the last Saturday in each month at 2.30 p.m. On the motion of Mr H. T. Beaven it was decided to ask the Defence Department to send to the district a typical artillery horse, in order that breeders might see the kind of horse required. There was on view for the first time a splendid photograph of the late D. D. Macfarlane, kindly presented to the association by Mrs Macfarlane: The deceased gentleman was a past president of the society, and took a keen interest in its welfare. The donor was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.

ROTHERHAM. Much consternation, changing quickly to" amusement, has been caused in Kotherham by the circumstantial account appearing in a Christchurch morning paper, of the utter destruction by fire of the new Rotherham Hall. The good fairies of old, credited with erecting palaces in a single night, must have condescended to do a job in reconstruction in these days, for, happily, the hall still stands serene, with not even the paint scorched. BANKS PENINSULA. The Akaroa €o-operative Butter Factory made a start last week, turning out on Thursday last 3001b of butter, the first pound of which was handed to your correspondent, and was of good quality. If the company continues to produce butter like the first output there will be no shortage in the demand for it. The first day's supply was taken locally.

The Borough Council have taken in hand the drainage of the Recreation Grounds with field pipes. After heavy rain this ground has always had a lot of water lying on it, and the draining will be a very great advantage. A second asphalt tennis court, has been completed in the Akaroa Domain, and will be a great help to players during the summer.

The dry weather is causing the farmers some anxiety. Although there is a good spring growth, there is need of

a day's rain to keep the ground moist. Rain has been recorded as only falling on one day during the month.

ELLESMERE. The Ellesmere A. and P. Association has accepted the tender of A. Boyd, of Leeston, for the erection of 72 new sheep-pens. These will be of similar pattern and material to those erected in 1910, but will be 2ft wider.