THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15777, 19 December 1916, Page 5

THE COUNTRY.

NOTES AND NEWS. / NORTH CANTERBURY FREEZING- "WORKS. Yesterday a commencement was made at the North Canterbury Farmers' Freezing Works near the Kaiapoi railway premises. A fine lot of Teviotdale wethers sent in by Mr G. D. Greenwood, who is chairman of directors of the company, were the first sheep to be put through. The machinery, the motive power for which is Lake Coleridge current, worked smoothly. The chairman and some of the directors were present to witness the beginning of operations. In addition to local supplies of stock, it is anticipated that before long a small steamer will be chartered to convey sheep from the Peninsula to the works. JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS. Several crops of oats in the North. Otago district will be read}' for the reaper and binder this week, should the weather now being experienced continue (says the "North Otago Times ). The crops should yield much above the average in the majority of instances. About Papakaio, and about Georgetown'and Maercwhcnua the late : sown oats have not done so well, and rain would be most acceptable in those districts. • " In a letter to a friend in Ashburton regarding tlio manufacture of margarine, Mr J. C. N. Grigg states that New Zealand best beef fat is largely used in the manufacture of the firstgrade article, with a percentage of butter added. The mixture will keep well, and is made up in Holland. Every precaution is taken to sec that nono of it reaches Germany, and Britishers are employed in the Dutch factories for j this purpose. The Dutch can only obtain the fat from London, and if they attempt to send their output to other countries the supplies aro immediately stopped. The Army is supplied from 1 these factories, and the quality )s superior to margarine made from nuts. Air Grigcr also states in the same letter that as" much as 2s per gallon is being paid for milk in England, and that no farmer can afford to make butter if ho can rail his milk to a town. This will be the case during, and for sorno time after, the war. The same applies to cheese. The whole of the Armv and Navy and tens of thousands of others are quite satisfied with the best animal fat margarine, which is retailed at Is per lb., against butter at Is lod wholesale, and 2s 3d to 2s Gd retail. There is an enormous quantity of margarine made from nuts and milk, and no auimal fat, and this is being retailed at 7d per lb. LOBURN. The pupils of the Loburn school held their annual picnic on Friday at tho Wailruku beach, journeying# there by V;- Feather's traction train. Although there was n strong nor'-wester blowing, t.i:e day was warm, and the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves bathing •intl playin<r on the sand. A cricket match was played by the men and boysr sides being j>ickod by Mr Warner and Mr G. Croft, the former's team winning by 17 runs to 30._ Harvest operations have started in the district. Several paddocks of Algerian oats have been cut, and give promise of a heavy yield. Mr T. Pulley has a particularly nice crop in stook, and Mr T. Hopkins has just stacked a crop of four acres, estimated (to cut four tons of chaff to the acre. The autumn-sown wheat looks well, and should thresh about the same as last year. The spring-grown crops, both oats and wheat, are in need of rain, and if it does not come soon, they will be in some cases a failure. The rape is also feeling the dry weather; in fact, farmers are feeding it off sonip r than usual owing to th« dry condition of . grass pastures. With regard to the

turnips, the general opinion is that it is too dry to { «ow till rain sets in. Patriotic sports are to be held in the Domain on Boxing l>ay. A committee has compiled a very attractive programme, which should be appreciated. LINCOLN. The Baptist Sunday School anniversary and presentation of prizes was held on Thursday evening, the Rev. Pratt being in the chair. The follow-ing-contributed to the programme:— Company song, "Jesus "Who Callest" ; recitation, Master George Chapman; recitation, Miss Winifred Thompson; solo, Miss McCaffrey; recitation,/ Miss May Hill; rccitatioii, Miss _ Ivy Cox; ■ duet, Misses Maggie and Cissie Mackintosh; recitation, Miss Doris Chapman; recitation, Master Arthur McCaffrey; solo, Miss Taylor; recitation, Miss Bernice Thompson: recitation, Miss Dorothy "Withell; duet. Misses Driver and McCaffroy: recitation. Miss Tt-hoda Pearson ; company song, "Hark, My Soul"; solo, Miss Driver; recitation, Miss Thclmn Chapman; solo, Master Arthur McCaffrey; recitation, Miss Violet Chapman; recitation, Miss Merlie Andrew: so!o. Mr J. Andrew. The prizes were presented by Mrs IAndrew, after which supper was dispensed. LEESTON. A successful and exceedingly enjoyable concert, in aid of the Red Cross and Lady Liverpool Funds, wa s given at the J'eeslon town hall on Saturday evening W Madame Ottlee's Concert Party, from Christchurch. comprising twenty-five performers. The items included choruses from Van Bree's cantata, "St. Cecelia's Day," songs by Misses Lorna Martin, Owen Thompson. Edna Perry, Child, Holland, Maud Stringor, Fletcher, Mahoney. Averiil Hope and 'Eileen Lascelles. and Messrs J. H. Cocks, Lance Oppenheim and Frank Morrison, and duets by Messrs Taylo r and Cocks, and _ Blakely and Johnson. Tlio accompaniments 'vrero plyaed by Mrs J. H. ■ Cocks and Madame Ottlec. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the party and those who lent cars to bring them out from Christchurch, on the motion of Dr. Volckman, chairman of the > Leeston Patriotic Committee. The visitors were entertained at supper. SOUTHBRIDGE. The monthly meeting of the 'Southbridge Town Board was attended by Mr C. H. Piper (chairman). Dr. "Withers, and Messrs E. G. Hubbard, J. S. Chapman, Is, J. Sutton, Jt. A. Maw, and A. Apple-ton. An application from Mr D. Gilmour for a supply of race water was granted. Mr G. Dyce wrote explaining his action in forcing an entrance into the pound, and removing therefrom a horse. It was decided that any person committing a similar offence in futuro should bo j prosecuted. It was decided that the overseer should not carry out anv work without first receiving instructions from the Works Committee or the. Hall Committee. A. good deal of discussion took place with regard to the blocking of water races to get water on to the properties of ratepayers, and the AV'orks Committee undertook to have gauges put in where necessary. A proposal that bluegum trees in the pound ground should be cut down was allowed to stand over. A K AltO A. On Saturday, the- Bristol Concert Party, of Christ-church, led by. Mr 11. A. Home, motored to A karoo, and gave an entertainment in the Oddfellows' Hall, under the auspice.* of the local Patriotic Association. There was an excellent house, and the programme submitted was very warmly received by mi appreciative audience. The performers were Mrs R. A. Home,, Misses D. Jameson, Doris and Lulu Hankinsou. and Messrs Montague Gilmore, A. L. Cropp, A. L. Sutton, W. Jones, and It. A. Home. The bulk of the proceeds, amounting to close on £30, will be divided between the Red Cross and the Lady Liverpool Funds. During an interval, Mr Geo. Armstrong, Mayo r of Akaroa, warmly thanked the members of the Bristol Party for their successful effort* 011 behalf of such wortliv objects. On Sunday even inc. nfipi- the church services were over, tiie party gav,e a sacred concert in the Oddfellows' Hall. There was a laree audience that thoroughly enjoyed the unexpected

musical treat, the contributions of Misi Hankinson, Miss Jameson, and Mr Gil more being especially appreciated. A silver coin collection resulted in a substantial sum being raised for patriotic purposes. Wo have experienced another wcel< of hot, dry weather, unpleasantl; varied by a boisterous nor'-wester 011 Friday. Towards evening the wine veered to the south-west, and the gathering clouds of inist along the mountain to[)s raised that the rain was coming at last, Vain hopes, however, for before dark the wind had dropped, and the night was delightfullj calm and fresh. At time of writing (.Monday morning), the sun was brighl and warm, the glass high, with nc prospect of a change. PiAKAIA. The children of the Overdalo Sclioo have collected money for their usual school prize fund, but this year have given the money for the benefit 0/ the children of Belgium. i Yesterday was kept as a close holiday by the business peoplo.in Rakaia, though the school was not closed. ■ Tlio annual Sunday school picnic in connexion with St. Andrew's Church is to be held in tlio local Domain on j Friday. The dissatisfaction existing in the Rakaia district over the non-calling up of recruits under clause 35 of the Military Service Act has now been consider* • ably allayed by the issue of a number of notices under the clause. The matter seems to have been delayed through the difficulty of obtaining accurate information. but the talk of favouritism has now been shown to have been groundless. The number of men af-fected.-is greater than was anticipated. i ASHBTTETOX. • Mr Dey's team of Christchurch cricketers visited Ashburton yesterday and played a match against an eleven of the Ashburton Club. Ashburton scored 199 in the first innings, and Mi Dey's team responded with 139, Davidson being top scorcr with 30 not out.