THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15767, 7 December 1916, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NOTES AND NEWS. PENINSULA A. AND V. ASSOCIATION. A meeting ot the committer of the Banks Peninsula. A. and P. Association was held at Little Eiver. Present: — Messrs J. F. Buchanan .(president), F. G. Birdling, J. O. Coop, G. Barclay, 0. H, Lino, A. V. Hutchinson, H. Chapman, AY. Cossar, AY. Radford. J. Thompson, and H. Lewthwaite (secretary). The financial statement showed a balance in hand of £'607 lis 6d. Messrs A. V. Hutchinson and P. Richards were appointed a sub-com-mittee to draft a programme for a patriotic show of produce and flowers, Ao be held in the Town Hall in the autumn. Recommendations -were received for the improvement of the next show. Votes of thanks wore accorded to all class stewards and others who had rendered such willing help on show day. JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS. Many station-holders in the Masterton district are this year personally agisting in shearing operations, owing to the shortage of labour. Some are doing the pressing, others are fleecepicking, while not a few are assisting in the mustering. Speaking to an "Age'' reporter, one large stationholder said, "I have done more work during the last month than I have done for twenty years past. And I feel all the better for it. If every station-holder were to turn to, their lives would be prolonged, and a great many men would be spared for active service.'' SOUTHBROOK. The closing session of the Southbrook Band of Hope was held on Friday in the Methodist Schoolroom. The Rev. J. Guy showed some lantern slides, after which a short programme of musical and other items was given. The meetings will be resumed again in March, 1917. The monthly meeting of the Southbrook School Committee was held on Tuesday. Present:—Messrs C. B. Thwaitcs (chairman). A. Mcintosh, S. Kirk, AY. Frazor, J. Alaynard, AY. Hamilton, and 11. Robinson. The headmaster';-, report stated the number -on the roll to be 150. and the average attendance 132. Al r Brunton also reported that all the pupils in the sixth standard had boon successful in the recent examination. It was agreed to hold the annual picnic at the Waikukti beach on December Kith, the committee to make arrangements to convey the children to Hie beach. In aid of the picnic. Air R. Little had agreed to give, a picture entertainment, in the Coronation Hall on Alonday, December 11th. Air Doggett's tender tor the grass in the school grounds was accepted. The caretaker was granted an increase of £5. The school will close on December 22nd for the summer holidays for six weeks. KAIAPOF. A social was held in the AY.C.T.U. rooms lust night to welcome home Private,; .S. .J. Richards and L. Enckson, of the Alain Body. Captain E. E. Papprill presided, and on behalf of the townspeople extended a hearty welcome home to the soldiers. Tho DeputvAiayor (Cr. S. Rinaldi), the Rev. P. A\\ Fairclough, and BauU-Sergcant Hoskings, also paid tributes to the guests. During the evening supper was served, and songs contributed by Alisscs Thome, Alcßobic, AVatts. Hoskings, Messrs A. Baker, andG. Hirst. TAI TAPU. The • EHesmero Lsmds Drainage Board met. at Tai Tapu on Tuesday.' In the unavoidable absence of the chairman,- Air H. E. Pcrymau was voted to the chair. Others present 'wore':— Messrs K. Hubbard, J. Osborne, J. l '. Miller, .).. Sharp, and .las. Alacartncy. The report stated that early in the month a clearance had been made in the shingle inside the culvert at Lake Ellesmcre, and a fair .stream was now going -through. The height, of the water (lft oin), however, had not been sufficient to set -up a scour. Messrs Alacartncy and Alillor, who visited tho outlet on tho 4th inst." confirmed the report. ' The committee appointed to deal with the matter, "reported that the dredge had been . moved to Motnkarara, and when tho pontoons had been overhauled, would be ready to start work at the top of the old river course. Permission was granted to Mr M. Barnett to place a bridge over Burke's drain, to be erected to the satisfaction of the Board's overseer. It was agreed' to grant a war bonus to the employees of one shilling a day, to take, effect till the conclusion of the war. In view of the petition presented by the deputation to last meeting, it was agreed to clean the drain on, the east side of'the Tramway road once a year. • Alessrs R. Aiacartney and R. A. Forbes waited on the Board, and requested that the culvert crossing the road at Tai Tapu township be lowered.. -. It was resolved to repjy that the work did "Ot come within the functions of the Board SPRINGSTON The monthly moating of the Springston School Committee was held on Alonday, Air H. Nealo presiding. It was decided to hold the annual school picnic on the 22nd inst., at Coo's Ford. The master's; report showed a roll number of 74, and an average attendance of 1)2.9. The master (.Mr Jackson), who has been in charge of the school for eight years, has been transferred to Amberloy. Regret was expressed that Air .lackson had decided to sever his connexion with tho school. The chairman reported that he had not received anr correspondence from the Education Beard regarding the transference of the master. Momber s expressed astonishment at the Board's silence. SOUTHBRIDGE. The monthly meeting of the' Southbridge District High School Com- ' mittee,. held on Alonday evening, was attended by tbo .Rev. H. G. Hawkins (chairman), and AJessis IX. B. B. AYuds, E. G. Hubbard. E. A. Inwood, and !>.' Rowe. Aliss G AI. .Glanville. mistress of the secondary department, offered to give a dux medal to tho highest, pupil in the secondary department each year, this year to. be awarded on the result of the public service examination, and in subsequent years as may* be considered best by the. teacher of the secondary department. Aliss Glanville also announced her intention of resigning her position early in the New Year. The offer wa,s accepted with thanks. The headmaster tAIr J. AY. A.' AYalker) acknowledged receipt of a letter from the committee, embodying a resolution passed at its previous meeting, to the effect that he should ask-Air Brock, the Board's inspector, to award the dux.medal in the primary • department on the results of the proficiency examination. He had to confess to having felt astounded at the committee's' preemptory action, which he eonld interpret' only as an ex. pressibn of want of confidence and an implied imputation against his expert and impartial judgment. He considered'that before taking such a drastic step the committee should have referred the matter to him, so that he could' answer any criticism that may have been levelled against the system of award hitherto existing. He could not.accede to the committee's request. The committee decided to ask the Board of Education for information as

t.-> 'ho usual custom in awarding dux medals. The report of Inspector Owen on his ree< nt examination indiea»«»d that very satisfactory work. had been accomplished during the year in all departments. The head teacher s ieport was considered, and it was rided to close the school for the Christmas vacation for sis weeks. SHEFFIELD. During November the district experienced many very heavy thunderstorms; in fact, it was so-wet that shearing was suspended Fer nearly a month. The rainfall was 3.71 inches. As a result of the rains, the crops have made a tremendous growth of straw, and given good weather from now on the yields should be good. The rape crops are not so forward this year, as owino; to the abundance of feed in the district the farmers hare sown later than usual. The farmers' chief difEcultv now is the labour question. Already women have been at work in some cases in the fields. Mr F. Bull, of AYaddington. has had to turn out his team, and is now employing femalo labour in the paddocks among the roots. In tho report of the annual meeting of the Malvern A. and P. Association regarding outstanding subscriptions, it was the motion, proposed by Arr AY. J. Jenkins, that the names of the unpaid members be taken individually, as to whether they should be struck off the list, that was carried, not the amendment, as was previously stated. ASHBURTON. A very warm day was experienced at Ashburton yesterday, the maximum reading pf tho thermometer being 88 degrees in tlie shade. Air J. T. Bell, the new stationmaster for Ashburton, arrived yesterday, and will take up his duties to-morrow. Sergeant P. Doherty. of Tinwald. who left with* the Alain Body, returned to Ashburton yesterday. " Prior to leaving France Sergeant Doherty had been acting-sergeant-major, and had been offered his commission, which he has come back to New Zealand to accept, and to report for duty. He arrived in Australia by a transport, aJid came on to New Zealand by the Manuka. Sergeant Doherty took part in all the fighting in Gallipoli and France with the Alain Body, and has come through without a scratch and without a day's sickness. He i- at present on sixteen days' leave. Applications for AYar Loan certificated are . still being received at the Ashburton Post Office. Up to November 30th certificates amounting to £14,433 had been issued. At the Ashburton Police Court yesterday, before Air R. Clark, J.P., and Air H. A. Lloyd J.P.. Joseph Black, alias Brown, was convicted and discharged for drunkenness. On a charge of using obscene, language he was sentenced to one mouth's imprisonment. The new fever ward to be erected at the Ashburton Hospital will have accommodation for 21 beds, and will contain a, kitchen, nurse's bedroom, bathroom, and fumigating room. It is proposed to erect the building of wood, with the interior walls of pulp plaster. The roof will be of slate. As showing the. effect of the very warm days experienced at Ashburton since Alonday. it may be mentioned that the normal quantity of high-pres-sure water used per day in Ashburton borouirli during the winter months is from 80,000 to 90,000 gallons, and in the summer months 1.50,000 gallons. Last Alonday and Tuesday 302,000 gallons, were used each day. while up to. 2 p.m yesterday the total reached 330,000 gallons. In consequence of thijs and tho continued drought, the Borough Council are enforcing the bylaws pertaining to the hours of watering gardens and the use i<f Jhe hose, which must be attended to. TEMUKA. The Timaru Savage Club gave a c/mciyt on Tuesday in the Dominion Theatre before a good house. The object of the entertainment was to raise funds for; Red Cross purposes, and to assist .the candidatnre' of the Geraldino County Queen, and the result was beyond expectations, the sum of £350 being added to the funds. Chief Savage Andrews and his concert party kept the' audience well entertained for over twohours, 'arid tlien Savage Crawford took charge of the platform, and, with tho assistance of his comrades, disposed of a "Union Jack for the sum of £335, Mr G. B. Cartwright, being the final purchaser at £75. The County Queen, Miss Doris Barker, was present, and Air Cartwright presented her with the flag, and she presented it to the TemuJsa. District High School.