THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15461, 14 December 1915, Page 5

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES.

JOTTINGS*FOR FAB3fESS.

A visitor from the country at the back of Wanganui states that the summer so far has been remarkable for extremely broken weather (says the Feeding "Star"). It rained nearly every day in November, and whilst it was good for the gra.--s, which was kneehigh in manv places, the continual -wet weather had* delavod the shearing considerably. One fanner who has about 2000 sheep usually got through the job in fine weather in a week, but this year it had taken him six weeks.

Says yesterday's ''North Otago Times'": —A 'welcome change took place in the weather at about 7 o'clock last night, when a soit rain began to fall steadily, and at an early hour this morning the downpour was still continuiii£. Although much too late to. do any real to the early-sown crops, the rain, if it comes in sufficient quantities, will prove of incalculable benefit to the later-sown crops. From all quarters -within a radius of forty or fifty miles of Oamnni. the sime tale of ruined crops and dying stock is heard. .Many farmers are puzzled as to how they are going to carry their remaining stock through the winter, and it is certain that if conditions do not soon materially improve, the losses will be very severe, indeed. One settler who has spent a life-time. i n the district, stntes thnt he has never known such n prolonged and disastrous swll of drought as has been exncrie"r> of } during the last eighteen months. If. j« to be sincerely hoped thai the long-looked-fo- ; change is at last at hand. ! WAfATJ. A meeting of the Waian Railwav league was held on Saturday Present: Messrs Pettigrew. Foster. Gale, Brown McKio, Beavan, Sunckell, and Rmaldi. The president and 31 r Netting reported having interviewed the Minister of Public Works at Christchurch on November 11th, and that the Minister had promised to have the railway to Rothcrkam ooen for goods traffic in tim c for the lamb and grain season, and that a loading-bank and sheep-trucking yards would aK-o Ik? contpletcd by that time. It was decided that all members of the League who are engaged in the defence of the Empire should bo clcetod honorary members. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr G. W. Forbes. M.P., and thoso members who interviewed the Minister of Public "Works at Christchurch.

SOUTHBROOK

The Superintendent of the Southbrook Fire Brigade wishes to acknowledge receipt of £0 5s from Piasketfs Instate, m recognition of services rendered at the recent fire. LEESTOX. A successful euchre pai-tv and dance promoted by the Lees ton Volunteer Fire Brigade, was held in the Town Hall on Friday evening. The prizes were -won as follows:—Ladies Miss L Donald 1, Miss Halliday 2, Miss Whitaker consolation; gentlemen- Private McCluro'l, Mr F. H. Perkin 2, Mr B. Brown consolation. After supper a presentation of a dressing'case, bearing a suitable inscription, was made to Private McClure. who was on his final leave from camp. GLEXTTJXXEL. After intensely hot days on Saturday and Sunday, there was n sudden change in the weather on Sunday afternoon, when a violent sdu'-west /wind started to" blow, and the sky soon clouded over. Rain did not commence to fall until during tho night, but there was then a nice fall, which continued for some hours. Tho rain will do an immense amount of good to the growing crops. » ' COAXGATE. A concert arranged by the residents of Bush Gully, in aid of tho ~So. 3 (Coalgate) candidate in tho Coal crate Baby Carnival was given in tho produce shed on Friday evening. Items wero contributed by Mesdames Richardson, J. and G. Simpson, Misses James and M. Mitchell, Master Chapman, and Messrs Rennio and J. Charles. The accompaniments wore played by Miss Watson and Mr Rennie. Jhrring - the evening" a cushion -was sold by auction, and the sale of ice creams and buttonholes helped to increase the takings. The concert was followed by a dance.

KIMBERLEV. The monthly meeting of the Kimberley School Committee was hold on 'Saturday evening. Present: Messrs Syme (chairman). Holmes, H. McClelland, and C. Aldington. It was decided to close the school on the 23rd inst. for six weeks for tlio harvest holidays. A letter of thanks was received from the KimbeTlcy Queen Committee, for the free use of the school for meetings. A public jneeting was held "in the school on Saturday evening, to , consider matters in connexion with the forthcoming Canterbury Queen Carnival, and the district miota for tho Patriotic Fund. Mr J. W. Fryer acted a* chairman, and there was a large attendance. The Malvern County Council was represented by Mr H. A. Knight, who addressed the meeting at some length. After discussion it was decided noj. to take part in the Queen Competition. A motion was carriedunanimously in favour of raising the Kimberlev portion of the County's quota by means of additional rating. Tho following resolution .was carried unanimously: — "Seeing that tho Canterbury Patriotic Committee has invested - a considerable portion of its funds r with the Christchurch City Council at 3} per cent., the residents of Kimberlcy heartily congratulate tho Darfield Patriotic Committee on invrsting tbe balance of its funds ia Malvern County Council debentures at per cent."

ASHBURTOX. The members of the Ashburton Cromiet Club assembled in the Club rooms on Saturdav. to bid farewell to tho Rev J R * Burgin, Mrs Burgin. and Master Eric Burgin. I>r. Petty, on behalf of the Club, presented Mrs Burgin with a brooch, and Master Burgin with a silver serviette ring. There were very large congregations a 4, each of the services in St. Stephen's Church on Sunday,* when tho Rev. J. R. Burgin, who is leaving to take up hU appointment as chaplain to the 3rd and ith Battalions of the >ew Zealand Rifle Brigade, preached his farewell sermons.