THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15468, 22 December 1915, Page 2

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. PATRIOTIC SBEEPFARiTERS. GIFTS IX THE WAIRAJIAPA. ! __ I j Our Wairarapa correspondent writes: j —"At the "Wellington wool sales Mr W. I Houarrl IJooth, of Cnrrington, offered J three bales of stud Southdown wool. I and Mr A. P. Whatman, of Abbotsford. j Mastcrton, two bales of fine crossbred, i on behalf of tho Wounded Soldiers' ; I'iind. One bale of the Carrington I wool realised £~0, the bidders being A. I I". Roberts .€3O, F. Wall, Elliott" G. I Wheeler, and B. Batlev £5 each and W Nichol'.s £■->■'). Th e two other bales of Carrinfiton wool were ourchased by .Mr Whatman at £_.X) each. The Ab- } hotsford bales were purchased bv hir iW. Hill at £20 each* Mr .T. 0." Bidi iii. of I'Vathers'ion, offered ft bale of i Rnrancv wool on behalf of the Fame j fund. ;ind it realise! £25. Mr C. J. , I'-nncti. of Miii-tertoi), 'jjavc three b»U«; I oi Koninr-y wool to the same fund. £80 j being received lor them. Tho offering jof this wool was the outcome of a j made bv Mr A. P. Wiiatj man that each should frire i one bale of wool at least to 'the j Wounded Soldiers' Fund. Mr Wfcati man bus Kiven very generously to the ( "V\ ouiiclod Soldiers I'und, his contribu- ; tion.s already amounting to thousands i <>i" pounds. If every woo!<rrower in | Xe>v Zealand (aii'l there are scores far , wealthier in.ni .Mr Whatm;in> were to j contribute in proportion to their means, as Mr Whatman has done. cverv . wounded seidier in New Zealand would j |be handsomely provided for. As far | :!<; Wairp.rnnn is concerned, it is praci tic-ally the same lot of runholders who ! so freely every time. They are ■ pntnots to the b;i"kbone. It, is a matter for regret that there are other i Wf>aithy farmers in the district who j hare '.riven practically nothimr *<> the ; na trio tic funds, and v.ho, though they I have eligible sons, are noT represented |at thr> front. On the other hand, j many Wairarapa souatters worth many j thousand;; of pounds and ownirit; thouI sands of acres are at the front, ficrhting lin t-lu' alow: with tb r stat-on I hand, the narv v , the mechanic, the j labourer, the office clerk. and the j tradesman" ! OXFORD A. AND P. ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the general committee of tile Oxford A. and P. Association was held on Saturdry. Present: — Tilc'ssi.-, T. {_'. Home (pjesident) in tho chair, .1. O'Halloran. .V. A. i'*antiiam. W. lligginsoit, J. .McGrath. I'. H. Thoiiip.-on. F. Englebrecht, .J. Cross, 11. 1.. Aucall, T. J. Frame, W. Hyde, T. Cooper, T. .Jouos. AV. Weld,* G. ; Winter, I>. Hawkc. R. T\ Henderson, H. Dav.s, A. Meyers, J. Budge, G. .1. I.'jech, and Alex. Baxter. Apologies "lor absence were received from Messrs Uudd and 'Skuir. A discussion took place on tlie question of iabour for harvest. It- was pointed our that much damage had lie,en done by the frost ill November, wheat, oats, and barley suffering to a great, ex tout. In view of the lightt.ess of tho harvest, it was considered there would be 110 danger cf a shortage of labour. 'liie mutter of conducting the show on patriotic lines was considered. As tho response to the Patriotic Fund was satisfactory, it was decided to conduct the show on the. u?ual lines. Tho various sectional committees reported on the schedule, at.d their recommendations were accepted. Slight alterations and additions were nvadc in several sections, and more liberal attention was given to' pigs and poultry, i It was decided to eliminate military i events from the competitions, and to i substitute driving competition, musical ' i stalls, children's pony trot, and motor- i j ca'r <!nvine events. ( j .Messrs Home, Budge. Iludd, and Henderson were appointed a committee to alioeato the special prizes.

I JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS. j " I Several good lines of lambs were j yarded at Ambcrlov on Monday, amongst which was a lot of 154 from J Mr H. Burgin's farm, which realised 19» -Id. Tlio tops which wore takon | out (81) brought 235, the best pricc ! given for lambs at the sale. AMBER LEY. A mooting of the executive constituting the grouped counties of Kowai. Ashley, Waiparii. Cheviot, and Amuri, j was held at Amberley on Monday, j Present —Messrs W. ll'. TT a lo. 1). Ruthj orford, I'\ G. W. A. Nicholls, j E. R. Webb, W. Wilson, IT} Elisor, j and G. A. McLean. Mr G. A. McLean | occupied the oh air. Owing to the fact | of the Kowai County having a large j sum to place to the credit of their j Queen, it was thourrht that the counj ties should be placed on an even basis, i and the amount held by Kowai placed j to tbe credit of the leadinrr Queen imj mediately nrior to the Christchurch | Carnival. Mr G. D. Greenwood accepted the chairmanship of the executive. It wns decided to number the Queens as follows:—Ashley ] Kowai 2. AVai- > para 3. Amuri 4, Cheviot o. A suggesj tion was made that, a crowning cere- ! mony should be held at Amberley of j I the leading Queer, who will become i the Queen of tfte Hills. I RANGIORA. On Thursday, as a man named D. j Crichton, an employee of Mr C. HayJ man, was engaged ii> unloading a truck j of coai, he shipped and fell heavily, inj juring his knee. He will be ineapacii Uited for work for at least a month, j as an operation may be necessary. I The half-yearly summoned meeting !of the Loval Rangicra Ixnlgo of Oddj fellows was held on Monday evening, when there was a fair attendance. In connexion with the church r>arade held on Sunday, a hearty rote of thanks was accorded to the -Methodist Church officials, Bro. the Rev. J. R. Clark, the organist, Mr J. T. Withers, and to the Ilangiora Brass Band. The officers elected for tno ensuing tonn, and installed by Bro. J. M. Golding, wero:— X.G., Bro. E. X. Blackett; V.C.. Bro. C. R. Nottingham: E.S., Bro. G." Mardon; lerturo master. Bro. C. R. Golding; I'ioneer Juvenile Lodge. Bro. E. Troilooc; auditors' Bros. C. R- Golding and H. C. Wilson; guardian, Bro. L. Trollopo: warden, ■ Bro H. Gracey: supporters to N.G.. I Bros. J. Doggett and M. Barrel!: to Y.G.. Bros. A. Lillev and J. Blake: P.P.G.M., Bro. W . T. Wilson, having resigned the office of soeretar;- of the Pioneer Juvenile after over thirty years' service, was accordcd a j hearty vote of thanks. A cordial vote | of thanks was also passed to Bro. H. Gilchrist, immediate Past Master of the Lodre, for his services, and it was decided to place his name on the merir, board, recommend him for the nurpie degree, and present him with a framed certificate of inorit. Tiie half yearlv meeting of the Loval Pioneer Juvenile Lod-e of Oddfellows was well attended. The officers elected were:—G.M.. Bro. A. V. Smith: X.G., Bro. J. McKenzio; V.G.. Bro! E. Bell; miardlan, Bro. J. W. McCrae,; w:irdrtn. Bro. P. Middleton; supporters to N'.G., Bro*!. J. Ivorv and H. M.Kay.: to V.G., Bros." A. Barrel! and E. Payne. A member's was nrespnted to tio retiruig X.G.. Bro. A. Y. Smith. BROOM FIELD. Tiie residents of Brooinfield and surrounding districts recently forwarded a petition to the Postmaster-General re-

questing a daily rural service for mails or postal matter in ?lace of the system now in force. Mr Forbes. has received woitl from the Postmaster-Genera! that the >>etition is receiving favourable consideration. TvIMBERLEY. Mr .T. W. Fryer presided over a public meeting in the school on Monday evening, when it was decided to form a club to be registered under the War Funds Act. and known as the Kimberlev Social Patriotic Club. The objects of the Club are to raise money for tho assistance of wounded soldiers and their dependents, and the provision of comforts, etc., for the forces on active service. The following officers were elected :—Trustees, Messrs James Manson and W. Syme; secretary, Miss S. McCausland : treasurer, Miss Nellie Cogan; committee, Messrs Fryer, Jas. Cogan, G. Gartery, Tootell, and Hayes, and the .'Misses A. Gill, Fryer, and Mcßeath. Tt was decided to hold a fete in tho Kimberlev Domain at Easter time on a date to be iixe<J. |

HALSWELL. In keeping with the progress and genera] improvement of tho district, the tnistee-i of the Hnlswell Methodist Church recently undertook the rcnova- J tion of the building. an<l arc to ho qon- ! gratulnted on tho present splendid ap-1 nearance of tho property. The church has been entirely it novated, ami its improved condition reflects great credit on those who were responsible for the initiation of tho scheme and carrying out of the work. To celebrate the reopening. a special servico was held mi Sunday afternoon last, when the T• V- Venlie, superintendent , minister of the Addinoton circuit, was the preacher, \Mr J. Cannon assisting. A party of members of tho Addington '•h'lrr-h ehoir, consisting of Misses M. Voo.lif. ; R. Row den. I. Fehsenfeld. L. Burns, and Mr 10. Fell eon fold. rendered I assistance b.v contributing solos, choral ! numhers, and recitations, which were ! mil eh appreciated. There was a good ! ittondnnco of the congregation and i frwtds. and. under the improved con- I ditions everything autnirs well for tho fxrttire success of the church. RANG IT ATA. Final arrangements for tlio Rangitai.i Red Cross Carnival, concert and dar;o. to be held to-morrow, were made at a meeting of tho committee on Monday evening. The snorts and afternoon tea arrangements are well in hand. Performers from Tima.ru and Geraldine have been secured in addition to local talent for the concert. A strong committee, with Messrs D 0 Gain (chairman). W. M. Yates feecr<v tarv). and J. \V. Fergie (treasurer), are woikmg hard to mala tho gathering a success. OMIHI. A concert promoted bv the Young ladies of Omihi, in aid* of the Red Cross J-und. was Md in the Omihi goods shed on Friday. Mr W. H. Foster presided. Songs were given by Mesdames McLean. Sloper, Miss Rhodes, and Mr Falland, Mason acting as accompanist. Mrs Lewton contributed a pianoforte solo. Misses Rhodes and Mason a duet, and Mr Lewton a recitation. Sweets and flowers were sold during the evening. Doak. on behalf of the Padies. thanked all those who hr.d helped to make the concert a success, and took the opportunity of presenting Trooper R. Symonds, who is leaving with the 9th Reinforcements, with a Maltese cross suitably inscribed." After supper a dance was held. The fund will benefit by over £2*2.