THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15393, 25 September 1915, Page 6

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. A RAILWAY PROBLEM. j TRUCK LOADS FOR SMALL STATIONS. - Tho following letter has been rcm.-fy] by tho I'armors' Union secretary from tho General Alanager for Railways: "With reference to the resolution j massed by tho Dominion Conference of the New Zoaiand Farmers' Union drawing tho attention of ttie Department to the unnecessary delay i n delivery of goods of less than a truck load. I haTe the honour to inform yon that the present system of tho despatch of goods to country stations was adopted only after due consideration had been given" to the interests both of the settlers and tho Department. Under the system previously in force, waggons wero frequently hauled to the smaller stations with an unremunerative load, the result being that a larger number of waggons were required to deal with the traffic than would have been the case had every waggon been fully loaded. Tho traffic to and from every station was carefully analysed and schedules prepared givinnr a regular service from the distributing centres to every country station, the frequency of ihe service being based upon the volume of traffic, with a minimum service of two days, per week to the smallest stations. In addition to this regular service, provision is made in all cases that truck loads of goods are acccptcd 011 any day, and also that small lots of urgent goods nne, by special application, sent forward <in roadside waggons without waiting tho usual loading day. Having regard to the above and to the fact that the present system results in a greater number of waggons being available for use at any given moment, for grain, wool, and other produce waiting railage, it is considered that reversion to the old.system would be. a retrograde stop, and against the interests of both thf farming community and the Department." THE -METROPOLITAN SHOW. THIS YEAR'S SCHEDULE. The schedule of tho Canterbury A. and P. Association's Metropolitan Show, to be held on November iOth, 11th, and 1-th, has been issued, and contains the customary full information regarding the different classes and tho various special priws. Several new classes have been added, including., in Ayrshire cattle, a class for non-pedigroo cows and heifers, and in the military horses class, there are classes for horses suitable for artillery and for transport. Entries close with the secretary, 31r O. U. Pemberton, 011 Saturday, October 23rd. The list of special pmes is, a* usual, a lengthy one. In addition to those enumerated in the schedule. Messrs McDougal Brothers (per the Xc.v Zealand Loan and Mercantile' Agency Co., Ltd.), have offered a rose-bowl, valued at £10 10s. for tho best Shropshire ram. The bowl iy to bo won twice before becoming the property of the winner. At tho Association's Show Grounds, at Aldington, several improvements j are being effected, the most important and extensive being the strengthening of the grandstand. | ELLESMERE A. AND P. ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL HORSE PARADE. The Ellesmeio A. aud P. Association's annual horse parado was held at the Leeston Recreation Ground yesterday afternoon, in warm, sunny "weather. There was, as usual, a largo attendance of farmers and horse breeders. Out of an entry of seventeen horses, as against twenty-threo last year, fifteen wero paraded, including ten draughts, one thoroughbred, three trotters, and a pony. Almost without exception the animals were shown in excellent condition. Tt is worthy of note that of the ten Clydesdales paraded, no fewer than seven were imported horses. On tho whole tho draughts were a splendid lot, and it would appear that Kllesmero is striving to maintain its good reputa.tion as a draught horse breeding district. Following is a list of the horses paraded:—

Draughts.—D. McClnre's Aitkenbrae (imp.), by Revelanta; W. Gilbert's Dunure Coral (imp.), by Baron o' Burlilyvie—Pearl Maiden ; "\V. O. Reanie's Hallmark (imp.), by Sir Hugo—Darling XIX: W. 0. Rennie's Proud Bannerman (imp.), by Proud Chieftain— Darling XXII; J. B. Marshall's Royal Clyde, by Royal Prince—Mng;~Lill and West/;lira's Reformer, by Baron Fyrje— Lin; Dalgleish Bros.' Bonnie Dunkeld (imp.), l>y Baron Dollar —Lady Mar; W. G. Mclntorh's Crandale (imp), by Marcellns—Adalino ; IV. G. Mcintosh's Baron Carlton (impj by Baron's Pride—Ma# of I loss; D. Millar's Sir Herbert-, by Sir Talbot—Shepherdess. Thoroughbred.—D. Millar's Bonny Glen, by Stepmak—Crest. Trotting Horses. —Piper and Lochhcad's Vendi-tta. by Yanclevo—Oakloif; F. M. Amor's King Tracer, by General Tracer—Redoubt; \V. J. Doyle's Disappear. by AVillowood —Mambrino Girl. Ponv.— Gawn Cooper's Merry King, by Kin« Charm —Merrylegs.

lIAYVARDEX SALCYARDS CO. The annual meeting of the Ha warden Saleyards Company. Ltd.. was held in' the Company's hall at Ha warden on Thursday. Mr J. Jones presiding. The report, which was as follows, was adopted :—The directors have much pleasure in submittiug their sixteenth, annual report and lw.lance-sheet, showing entries -numbering 49,819 she*p. 183 rattle. ,31 horses. 33 pigs, and numerous .sundries of implements, produce. furniture, etc. The balance-sheet shows a credit balance of £203 8s 4d With this your directors propose paying a dividend of 7} per cent, on all paidup capital, leaving a balance of £103 to be dealt with. A dividend of 7$ per cent, on all paid-up capital was agreed to. and tho balance of £153 was placed to current account.

The directors' action in remitting hall rent for patriotic purposes, to the J amount of upr/ards of —1-, was approved . Messrs J. Jones and P. Mason "wero elected directors, and Mr J. Feek, audi, tor. Mv W. Neeve was elected chairman of directors. LEESTON. A well-attended and very successful concert, in aid of the funds of the Leeeton Presbyterian Sunday School, was held in the s'-boolrooin on Thursday evening. Th© Kev. It. H. Blair pre. iided. An excellent programme was submitted, tho children taking a leading part. Tho items include*] choruses by the church choir, children's Bible class* and Sunday school 'children: songs by Messrs A. Bayl«. Calm, McLachlan, Gabriel McLachlan, B. Anderson and Campbell 'McLachlan: recitations by Misses Susan Boyd, Doris MeKenitie, Myra McKenzie, I'Jie Burgess, EIU McKenzie. Masters G. Boyd apd £. Houston, and a dialogue by tbo children. Mrs Blair played tbo accompaniment*, and the ladies provided a splendid fcupper. There was a good attendance at> the weekly meeting of the Leeston "Wesley i Guild, hold on Thursday evening, the (president, tho Rev, W.* Grigg, presid-

ing. A very interesting address 1 ? oil John Ruskin was given by Mr Sheppard Green, of Christchureh. who was heartily thanked at the close of the meeting. I.OWCLIFFE. ' At a concert held at Lowrliffe, in aid of the Bed Ci-oes and Plnnkofc Funds, over £140 was raised, including £129 oa for a flag presented by Mr J. Hawk. HINDS The annual parish play and concert were held in the Hall on Thursday evening. when then; was a good attendance. The llet*. (i B. Nanson oecurned the . chair. Misses' Jainc. Kogors, Messrs to.! (libbs. Itogcrs, Hunter. Mrs Irving, and Mrs Hunter acted as accompanists, rho second part was a play entitled "Poor Pilli'-oddv,"' in which the various characters were well represented by Mr H. Scales. Miss Bell. Mr Williams, Miss Scales, and Mrs Scales. The Nov. r. Spenser made a stirring appeal on behalf of the British and Foreign Biblo Society.