THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15560, 8 April 1916, Page 12

THE COUNTRY.

i • ! NEWS AND NOTES; JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS. [Mr E. Hall, Brookside, has sold liis three-year-old' Clydesdale colt-, Plash Foot, by Black Douglas—Lady Scout, to ?mt o. i>. Oughton, Okaiawa, Taranaki, at a satisfactory figure. This colt has been very successful in the show ring. As a yearling ho -won first and special as the* best yearling colt or filly at tho Ellesmere Show. As a two-year-old he ■was second at the Ashburton Ilorse Parade, won first, special, and Challenge Shield EUcsmere, and first and special at Christchurch. at tho latter Ehotv beating his opponents and making practically an unbroken record. Owing to the shortages fi ships, tho Southland Freezing Works havo had to curtail their intakes, and at present only a limited supply of beef and mutton" is being dealt with (says yesterday's "Southland Times"). 'llio local companies are now experiencing the height of the season, and. despite tlio added storage accommodation that has been provided since last year, requirements cannot be met. Some relief will be afforded this week by visiting liners, but the space cleared will be quickly filled up. This condition of things is no doubt affecting prices of stock at tho present time, but there is no way out of the difficulty], and Southland is in no worse fix in this respect than are norj thorn provinces.

Mr 10. Hall, of Middle Rigg, Brookside. has sold, at a satisfactory figure, his rising tlireo-year-old Clydesdale colt Flashfoot, by Mr J. Boag's well-known imported horse Black Douglas, dam Lady Scout, to Mr J. S. Oughton, of Okaiawa, Taranaki. Flashfoot lias been very successful in the show riug. As a yearling ho gained first and special, in his class, and first as best yearling colt or filly at lOllesmere show, and as a two-year-old second at Ashburton Horse Parade, first and special and breeders' challenge shield at Ellesmere, and first and special at Christchurch. beating his former opponent at Ashburton bv two_ places and also the winners of Dunedin. Timaru, Amberley, and R.angiora. Mr Oughton is tho largest breeder of Clydesdales in Taranaki. and he intends to use Flashfoot as his stud horse. The colt will be in good hands and should heard of again next show season. Mr Hall left on Wednesday for Sydney with two colts, one his own and the other belonging to Mr Boag. sen. He had also booked a passaire for Flashfoot by the same boat, but Air Oughton effected tho r.urehas« of th.-> promising colt a few davs before Mr Hal] lelt.

"WAIAF. A successful progressive euchre party and dance, in ni<l oi' the School .Queen, was held in the Library Hull on Thursday night. There was a, good attendance, and a. really enjoyable evening was spent. Uuchro was kept up tiil IO.aO p.m., when refreshments, kindly provided by the Derrett family, were handed round. The hall was then cleared for dancing, which was kept up with spirit till about 3 a.m. The winners of the prizes were Mrs Dalzell and Mr S. ilyan, and Miss Milner and Mi' G. Burrows won tlio "booby" prizes. The proceeds for the evening amounted to £7 los. ft AX ('JIOT{ A. The rcnidenrs of Ivtingiora and its surroundings will have an opportunity of seeing at the Institute Hall on Saturday next "Yc Dnnmow Elitcli,' as oroouccd at Christ-church, recently with so much success. Local, couples wiio consider that they are eligible to win :i Hitch arc invited to enter the competition. KALAPOI. An iiiop-ection of the sanitary affairs of tho 'borough has been made, with a result that some untidy places have been attended to. -Where persons were keeping fowls ay it hin 40ft of any dwelling or street, and cows within 60ft, noticcs had been given. It lf > understood the requests of the inspector were at once complied with. Whilo the systematic removal of nightsoil "was satisfactory, tho arrangements for ttrainago could be improved in somo parts of tlio borough, and in some instances it was noticed that persons were draining to the concretc side-channels into "which it was observable there should bo regular flushings of water made to remove stagnant water. In the Oddfellows' Hall last evening, before a good audience, Dr. Thacker, M.P., and Mr John Payne, M.P. S delivered addresses on "R-ecruitinsr and | the Cost of Living." Mr H. C. j Kevell presided, and at the conclusion of their remarks tho speakers were j accorded votes of thanks.

HOEXBY. During last month several presentations have been made in the. district to young men who are leaving for thu front. The first took the form ot a social evening in the Druids' Hall, Ilornby, when Messrs !-• Malison and I<\ Bennett were tho recipients of presentations. Advantage was taken of tho Presbyterian Sunday school social to make a piesentation to Mr J-l. Bislam. and Mr I/. Tisch received his privately, both gifts being made by Mr Powbyc=. In the Islington Hall on Thuisdav a large number oi' resident? assembled to sr.y farewell to Messrs Garrett and (lord oil, to whom presentations were made by Mr J. Leslie. The evening spent in songs, games, and dancing. All the young fellows mentioned'received wristlet watch*.s. Tiv: bring;, the number of presentations u;> to twenty since the formation of tho Presentation Committee. SOUTI LB 1! ID-0 E. Southbridge residenls, <ni 3londay rext. wi'l be given an opportunity" of witnessing, "Yo Dunmor,- Flitch'" entertainment, -which was recon tl v performed in Christchurch with <-o much success. Tho .first part of the programme eons'sts of a ccinc'ly adapt<'<l by Mr William Denseni. wiiieh will be nlayed by the original caste. The replica of tho original Dnninov.' Chair, which is in Dunmow Priory, and dates back to the reign of King John, will be used for chairing tlw winning couple in this scene. _ Local couples making rt claim for a flitch, and who can swear that their marital life has been ,; ono sweet song,'' will be tried, and their ciaim either upheld or refused. The whole proceedings will be conducted strictiy in accord with the rites of the ancient custom, and in the event of local competitors failing to put in an appearance, the caste claims to be able and willing to provido any number of excellent variety turns." - J/EESTOX.

The Leeston Patriotic Committee met on Wednesday evening. Dr. Volckman presiding over a good attendance. The secretary stated that it was impossible to give anything like a definite statement of accounts in connexion with the recent concert, as only a portion of the money had come in. Ue estimated, however, that after sundry expenses wore met there would be a clear £700 l'or tho Patriotic-. Fund. Tho Committee considered the financial result of the appeal very satisfactory, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded all who had assisted to make the concert a success. Somo discussion took place with regard to the question of entertaining departing and returning soldiers.* The secretary stated that it was the duty of tho Patriotic Committee to see that no young man was allowed to go away -without a proper send-off. It was stated that the. Fire Brigade and a number of citizens had been interesting themselves in the

matter, .and tho Committee decided to rriako enauirics as to whether there was already a committee in existence before taking any definito steps. ELLESMERE. The weather in tho Ellesmere district during tlio past week has. for tlio most part, been very mild, with an entire absence of rain, which is still much needed—in small instalments for preference—to bring on the feed. On Thursday a stiff nor'-wester blew all day, effectively drying np any moisture that happened to be on tho surface of tho soil, while yesterday was a warm day, with a cooling south-west breeze tempering the heat of the sun. In certain parts of the district, particularly round about Brookside, Lakeside, and Sedgemere, farmers now have an ample supply of grass for their stock, and i their only hope is that winter, with its j frosts, will not set in too early, ior i tlio grass is fresh and tender and would j soon be cut- down by the frosts. Round j about Little Ilakaia, Southbridge. Ivillincliy, and Irwell, the growth is rather slow, owing to there being insufficient moisture in the ground. In these parts a shower about once a week would please farmers very much. One effect of tho recent spell of ''mushroom" weather has been to bring on rust in the grass and crops sown for green feed, particularly the oats. It is very bad in places* and, of course, diminishes the value of the niioeted grass and green crops for feed purposes. Ploughing and farm work generally is well forward. Much of tho land will not require such a lot of tilling this year, but ploughing grass "land is very hard work, owing to the land being so dry and hard. It is yet too early to say how much cropping will bo done. The price prospects are not by any means as encouraging as at this time last year. The fact that mugh of the grass sown last spring, along with tho cereals, failed to como away, will bo responsible for a good deal more sowing than would otlierwiso bo the case. On the whole, j stock are looking very well, but .it should be remembered that tho district | is holding a. very great deal less stock than at this time last year, or in normal times. HORORATA. A social evening was held in the Hororata Hall on ednesday to bid farewell to the llev. T. 10. and M rs Blakiston. Mr Blakiston has been Vicar of Hororata for the last seven years, and is now taking charge of tlio Rtfkaia. district. During tho evoniug Mr W. Ilall presented Mrs Blakiston with a silver hot-water jug and inkstand, from the members of the Girls' I* riendlv Society, and a book Iroin tho Sun-day-school scholars, and Mr Blakiston with an easy chair from the residents, who also welcomed the new vicar, the Rev. Mr Knight, of Fendalton, who has charge of the parish for the timeboing. AKAROA. On Wednesday afternoon, Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., presided at a sitting of tho Juvenile Court. Two boys, charged with interfering with tho electric light wires, were severely admonished and discharged. _ Another boy, for riding a bicvele at night without a light, was fined Is, without costs. Op Thursday afternoon the scholars of the. Anglican Sunday School hold their annual treat in the Domain. A pleasant autumn day. charming surroundings. a plentiful supply of the things that appeal to the youthful heart, backed up by the attention and interest of teachers, resulted in an outing that gave unalloyed satisfaction to all concerned. HINDS. . Tiie triennial' visitation by members of the Asliburion Presbyterv took place in the Presbyterian Church on Thursday evening. There wes a good attendance of members. Rev. Geo. Miller. of Ashburton. gave a stirring address on the duties of Christians. Mr Buchanan spok<» of the value ol' Sunday schools, and Mr W. Moore-nf family worship. Messrs Robertson and Moore, of Hi"ds. also spok". After a supper, provided by the ladies, the Rev. Geo. Millar met the managers, and afterwards the missionary (Mr J. Bishop). TEMUKA.

Mr A. A. Whitehead, who has been in charge of the Native School. Tcmuka. during the past fifteen months, hits been selected by the Education Department to take charge of the To Araroa School, one of the largest Native schools in the Dominion. He will be succeeded at Tetuuka. bv Misses ■Bremncr, of Karitane, Dunedin.