THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15657, 1 August 1916, Page 4

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES, AMT7RI A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Tiae monthly meeting of the committee of tho Amuri A. and P. Association "was hold in the Library Waiau, on Saturday afternoon. Present—Messrs H. T. Beaven (president), A. J. SunCkcll, C. Netting, K. Pettigrew, V. Oldmnn, and T. M. llarr.

Correspondence was received from Mr J. C. P. Brown, resigning from the executive owing to his having enlisted. The eccretary was instructed to write to Private brown informing him that alrmembcrs of the Association enlisting were honoraiy members until their return.

On the motion of Mr Sunckell, seconded by Mr Pcttigrew, it was resolved to write to the secretary of the Belgian Agricultural .Restoration fommitteo asking for information as to what that body is doing, and suggesting that reporters bo asked to report meetings more fully. Mr H. Rogers was elected auditor. On the motion of Mr Netting, seconded by Mr Pottigrew, it was resolved that the balance-sheet should bo printed and circulated. ■ Tho annual meoting was fixed for August 26th. The President mado a, most interesting report on tho business transacted at tho New Zealand Council of Agriculture in Wellington, and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for the trouble bo had taken in attending the Conference, and for his interesting report. JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS. A meeting of shearers and shed hands was held in tho Trades Hall on Sunday, -when thero were a6out fifty prosent. Mr Fred Ellis being voted to tho chair. After discussion, tho following remit to the Shearers' Conference (to l) c held in "Wellington this week) was passed:—"That no shearers mako any agreement for any rate of shearing until the Executive mcete the employers." Various remits were considered. Messrs Boon, Kennedy, and Cook, the Canterbury delegates to tho Conference, -were present. A Manawatu farmer, who has a herd of 40 cows, in a letter to a l'riend in Ash-burton (says the "Guardian") mentioned that tho dairy season was now commencing in that locality, and that it .was a most difficult matter to got men to fill the vacancies on tho daiiy farms. licccntly his man had left him to go into camp, but beforo doing so started that his fiancee, who was an assistant In a draper's shop in Wellington, was most anxious to tako up rural life, and to keep his berth warm whilo ho was away serving his country. Tho farmer was naturally sceptical about employing the young lady, but at the earnest request of the employee he decided to give tho girl a trial, and promised, at -tho same time, that she would, if suitable, receive tho same wages as' her soldier lover. The young lady duly arrived, and her first duty' was to acquire a knowledge of tho intricate working of tlio milking machines, which sho did in a comparatively short time. Tho now assistant had now been in his employ for over a month, and hod given every satisfaction. One evening, in coming home rather late from a sale, ho found to his surprise that she had started tho machines and had milked 18 cows. Tho farmer added that if all the girls are as as this young lady from the town, dairy farmers in tho North Island need have no qualms about solving tho labour problem. HAWARISEST. Jn the account of tho Horsley Downs school social, which appeared in last Thursday's issue, the following -were omitted: Donor<j to the gift auction, Mrs A. E. Brooks and Master Lance; i pianoforte solo and recitation, Miss Mary Baker. A gift from Mrs H. Dalzol[ was erroneously reported as from Miss McKenzie. WAIPARA. Last Friday a very successful social in aid of th e Bolgian llelief Fund was held in Waipara. Buttonholes given by Mise Francis and Mr Birch brought 23s 6d, and half a sack of wheat given by a wellwieher brought 7s (kl. Various gentlemen gave donations, bringing tho funds un to £23 10s. Mr and Mrs Whyte, Mesdames Colo and Ferguson, supplied tho music, the supper being supplied by the Waipara ladies. \ SPRINGSTON. At tho unveiling of tho memorial windows, which formed part of tho Springston Methodist Jubilee celebrations, the Rev. A. C. Lawry (president of tho Mothodist Conference), in the course of his address, said it was fitting that tho jubilee of the. church should bo marked by tho unveiling of windows to the memory of tho fine men and women of the past who had done such splendid pioneering work, and to the gallant young men of the present who were fighting to maintain those principles for which the British Empire stood. The quality of Springston Methodism had spread from ono end of the Dominion to the other, and the pioneers had set a fine example to tho present generation. Those gallant young men who had been distinguishing themselves on the field of battle had shown that they were worthy descendants of their forefathers. It was right that those who were unable to go to the front should ask themselves whether they were really worth fighting for. Thousands of young men had given up ease-and luxury to assist in the defence of their home and Empire, and it behoved those who were obliged to remain at home _ to prove worthy of tho great saicsrifices that ■were being made. It was a very great encouragement to' find that the young men of to-day were so willing to go forward and to fight and die for the maintenanco of those principles for ■which their forefathers iiad so bravely fought in tlio past. The future of this country, he was sure, was safe in the hands of such worthy sons. HORORATA. There is a very active branch of the Red Cross at Hororata, in connexion with which tho Misses Clucas. of Holden, arranged for an entertainment in the excellent local hall. Mr Raphael's concert party was invited up to give the entertainment, and Mr Hoben to epeak. The result was an excellent entertainment to a crowded house. Those "who contributed were: — Mrs Cother. Miss Dorothy Davia. Miss Isabel Allen, Messrs Sydney Brett Joll, Bullock, Rowe, and Raphael." Mr Godfrey Hall presided, and Mr Hoben spoko on the war anniversaries. Occasion was taken to give a send-off to a local soldier. Tho visitors -were entertained at Holden, and thanks ■were tendered to Mr Jones, of Packer and Jones, and to the Buick Sales Companv for motoring the party out. The entertainment was the 71st war benefit with -which Mr Raphael has been connected. KIR WEE. A meeting of the local Patriotic Committee was held in tho Courtenay A. and P. Association's rooms, on Saturday evening, Mr I. Lorgelly presiding over a good attendance. A lotter was received from Mr . Douglas, of the Christchurch Tramway Concert Troupe, agreeing to give a concert at Kirwee on August 26th. It wa6 decided that the committee meet on tho Thursday previous to make all necessary arrange- I ments. Mr T. D. Jarman offcrod a I

sheep for a guessing competition, and Mr Lorgelly offered to supply firewood. Donations were received from Messrs "VY\ T. Street and Cooper Bros, of sheep io bo sold at next Kirweo sale, and from Mr J. Gongh of £10 for the Navy Leaguo Fund. The proceeds of the concert are to bo given to the Bed Cross Pnnd. It was decided that the proceeds of the next monthly social be given to the Lady Liverpool Fund. It was agreed to givo Private W. Robinson, who has returned from tho front, a welcome home at tho next monthly social. ! A largely-attended "working beei' was held on tho Courtenav A. and P. Association's grounds, on Saturday, for the purpose of renovating the grounds. A Jot of valuable work was done, including tho fixing of new culvert* repairs to tho sheep-yards, vohiclo enclosnro remodelled, etc. A number of ladies interested m the work provided aftercSted tGa ' V 1 TeV much a PP rc * AKAROA. an?'at Ia \ m (^r Gco - Armstrong) and Mrs Armstrong, returned home last week after spending a month in the :NOl th Island. Three membors oi' then- family kayo settled down in the •yVaikatc, two of them on dairv farms, lhc Mayor speaks enthusiastically of th 0 prospects of tho dairying industr? m -ti 11, V lio is fjuitu Ra tisfied with the venture as far as his two sons arc concerned. He was pleased to find among the farmers there so many members of old Peninsula families, and all doing well, too. Mr Armstrong has derived considerable physical benefit from lii s tn>. A clear sky up till 3 p.m.* on Sunday, enabled those who thought about it to observo the partial eclipse of the «un to advantage. Through a piece ct smoked glass a very fine was obtained at tho maximum period of tho eclipse, when apparently half the sun's disc was obscured. Tho appreciable fall in tho temperature, and the diminished light, gave some of those who wero unawaro of what was taking place an opportunity to make some remarkable statements concerning meteorological .phenomena, in tho effort to explain certain manifest peculiarities in Nature's appearance. On Friday night there rcas held a meeting of the committee appointed to manage the forthcoming fete and sale of work in aid of the funds for tho relief of the dependants of our navnl heroes. Tho Mayor presided over a fair attendance. Tho function has been fixed for August 17th. Sundry reports were received, and further arrangements mado to ensuro the success of the affair. ASHBURTON. At a public meeting held in the Victoria Plall last nignt, and presided over by tho Mayor (Mr It.. Galbraith), the following resolution was carried unanimously, on the motion of ill- UW. Andraws, seconded by Mr 11. M. Jones: —"This meeting of representative Ashbnrton citizens urge the Government to take a referendum on thC question of six o'clock closing of ail hotel bars during the war, and for a period of at least six months afterwards."

After -warm nor'-wst weather all Sunday and up to 9 a.m. yesterday, there was a very sudden change, and .1 heavy southerly rain set in. It lasted for a" couplo of hours, -when the leather again showed signs of clearing, but a drizzling rain set in during the afternoon, 33J points of rain being registered at the Domain weather station -up till 1 p.m. Thero was a large congregation at the Baring square Methodist Church on Sunday evening, including members of the Masonic, Oddfellows' and Druids' Lodg|es, when a service was held in memory of Corporals H. C. Collins and James A. Harris and Private A. Chapxr.an, who were memlrorß of the church and Sunday school. The Rev. G. Frost occupied the pulpit, took for his toit. Titus ii., 14 j "AViio gave Himself for us." Appropriate hymns were sjmg, and th c choir contributed tho anthem "Crossing tho Bar." At tho conclusion of tho service. Miss Baker played tho "Dead March."

. At the services held on Sunday ovenmg at the Presbyterian, Baring square and Wills street (Methodist) and Baptist Churches, Ashburton, and Salvation Army, and a number of county churches, resolutions were unanimously carried asking tho Government to take a referendum upon the question of tho early closing of hotels. WAIMATE. Tho Naval Dependants' Fund was brought to a closo with a street collection on Saturday, when £60 was gathered, while £29 was bid for a lamb presented by Miss Wills. Tli 0 total cxceeds £1000. Ihcro was heavy rain again yesterday morning, putting the soil in as soggy a condition as it has been for years past. The question of wheatsowing is exercising the fanners, who are countermanding orders placed for seed for spring sowing. Tho area will bo seriously reduced. All aro agreed that tho import duty on flour and wheat should bo at least equal to that imposed by Australia. Forty persons mot last Thursday and resolved to form an Amateur Operatic Society for the production of "H.M.S. Pinafore," in aid of the patriotic funds. Mr T. A. Lucas was clected conductor, Mr 0. E. Torlesse treasurer, Mr W. Y. Purchase secretary, and Messrs Fred Buckley F. Meyer, and J. King as committed. "Waimate has sent about 460 men to the front to date. Included in the list of those who have made tho supreme sacrifice are three nurses • who went down with tho Marquette, two lieutenants, and two sergeants.