THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 16043, 27 October 1917, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NOTES AND NEWS.

RANGIORI? SHOW.

The Northern A. and 11.l 1 . Association's Spring Show takes placc next Ihursday. The event is a patriotic one, the profits going to tho Red Cross, -Lady Liverpool, 1.M.C.A., and Navy .League Funds. In addition to tho exhibition of stock, etc., there will be ail tho usual features of such outdoor gatherings, and what promises to be tho greatest money-raiser of the lot, namely, a sale of surprise packets. Canvassers hare been at work for weeks past, and have succeedcd in getting together a collection of farm produce and articles with values ranging uj> to —50 as prizes. Every ticket- entitles the buyer to something, and more than likely the townsman -will come homo with a leg of mutton or a turkey under his arm, and tho farmer return to his homestead with a separator in his vehicle, or leading a dairy cow. The juveniles have not been forgotten, as in addition to stalls whereat articles dear to their hearts may be purchased, a Christmas tree will be provided. Given fine weather, the financial result should eclipse last year's return. AJMI3ERLEY SHOW. Tlie winners of the points prizes in, connexion with the A niter ley Breeders' i Show were-Draughts, J. 3>. Wyllie; I light horses, H. M. Burgin and F. H. Courage, equal; ponies, C. E. Skevington; home produce, Miss "Wornall. The awards for home-made bread, as reported yesterday, inadvertently stated that Miss- Osborn was the first prize-winner, whereas Mrs V. J. Rhodes was first, and Mrs J. Fleming second.

JOTTINGS FOB FARMEBS. The "Wairarapa Age'' 'says: It is understood that the prices to be offered by the freezing companies for fat stock at the opening of the season this year will be somewhat lower than last year. The Wairarapa companies have not yet begun to operate.

rgf Prospects for a good crop of cocksfoot on Banks Peninsula this year arc cy bright, though the shortage of skilled labour available is likely to be severely felt this year (says yesterday's "Akaroa he Mi il"). The paddocks, which have .. bo2u shut tip now for a month or six weeks are coming away /well, and everything points {o a good return of voed. It is considered, however } that - if too much wet weather is experienced j the paddocks will be. fairly dirty. The J area under cocksfoot in this district this year is Jess than usual, as owners were not prepared to take the risk of not having their crops harvested. "RANG 1011 A. Thursday, November Ist, will bo observed a,s a special bank holiday afc R-angiora and. Oxford. MARSHLAND. ~ - The anniversary services in connexion with the Mairebau Presbyterian Sunday School took place in tho hall last Sunday. Tho congregations were very largo. The afternoon service was conducted by the minister in charge of tho district, the Rev. X>. D. Rodger, and in the evening the service was conducted by Mr J. S. Tate. Tho singing by tlio children was excellent. The music -was* supplied by Miss R.. MeFadden (piano), Mr A. Cuthworth (violin), and Mr I Laker (fluto.). At the afternoon service Miss Murray sang a solo, and in the evening Miss Law also sang. The success of tho anniversary services was due to the leachers, Mr Tree (superintendent), Mrs MeFadden, Miss Lav.-, w Miss MeFadden, and 3Jiss Borgfcldt. . HALSWELL. V A general meeting of the Halswell Patriotic and Red.Cross branch will be

li'clcl on Tuesday, at 8 p.m., to elect officers for the'ensuing year, and transact other business. KLLESMERE. , Although the fortnight's dry weather and the recent strong nor'-west. winds were welcomed by many farmers, first: because- they were a-blo to conipleto their sowing work, and secondly becauso the nor'-westers, together with the run of frosts experienced ten days ago, administered a check to some of the earliorsowu crops, which were too far advanced for tin's time of the year ancl promised to develop exceptional length of straw, farmers .who attended .tho market at Leeston yesterday generally seemed pleased with the Tain which foil throughout the day. 'Some of tho land in Ellesmcre can stand a considerable amount of rain without injury to crops, *>ut in other cases, where the' land is very heavy and where it lias had a eood soaking during tho -winter, only light showers arc needed from time to time to ensure good crops. In the case of this heavy land, the nor'-westers had the effect of making tho surface very hard and of causing tho ground to crack. Yesterday's rain will improve tho. condition of this class of land, provided there is not too much moisture. It will certainly improve the already plentiful feed supply, and will do tho roads a great deal of good, for in most cases they had becomc very loose and rough. While the early-sown crops have, as stated above, grown too fast in many instances, tho outlook is not such as to justify the pessimistic forebodings which havo been expressed in some quarters lately. Of course, everything depends upon tho conditions that prevail during the next two months. If the season happens to bo verv wet. the straw will grow very long, for the land is in good heart after its lengthy spell, and the crops will then be liable to damage by wiud and rain towards the end of nextmonth and in December. "What is troubling many people is that there will probably bo a great deal of bulk to handle at harvest time in certain parts of the district.. There is no need at present to feel unduly aaixious as to what damage, if any, will be done by ■wind and rain a month or so hence.

The district is certainly looking remarkably well at present; in fact, it has not looked better for many years. The grass i s making rapid growth, and is providing so much feed that tho stock hare more than they need without being turned on to the fast-growing cereal crops. The abundanco of grass and tho shortage of stock hare resulted in very little feeding off being done in the caso of cereals np to the present. Some farmers made use of the mower to check the growth of their early crops, but the majority seem prepared to take the risk. Stock of all kinds are in tip-top condition. The lambs aro growing unusually last, and there is every indication that dairymen are in for a good season, especially if the Government takes over the output. ASHBURTON. A case of scarlet fever was reported to tho Ashburton Hospital Board on Thursday, the first for some months. Tho 02 Military .lie-examination Board will sit at Ashburt-on on November 23rd and 24th. TEMUKA. At the annual nieetiug of the Teinuka Caledonian Society, Mr 31. H. McLcod presided. ■ Motions of sympathy with the relatives of Private C. Johnston, killed in action, and Mr E. Cut-ten, the lato auditor, were carried in fcilonce. The report and - balance-sheet, showing I

a sound financial position, were adopted. Officers were elected as follows: —President. Mr A. Bam; patron, Mr R. Macaulay; directors, Messrs G T\ard, G. Hancox, M. H. McLeod, D. Grant, . Moore, C. H. Street, F. H. Criluwur, G. Thomson W. McCallum, U . Hijrjn 11 bottom, C. J. Bilton, J. Bums, R. Macaulay, A. R. Guild, and I>r. Scannall. It was resolved to liold the Boxing-day sports as usual, all proiits to go to i>atriotic funds. TTio sum of £2 '2s was voted to "the Temuka Technical Classes. Mr E. Booth was appointed representative on the Technical Board. Messrs A. Bain and M. H. McLood delegates to the Athletic Union, and Messrs G. Thomson and IV. H. Kilgour delegates to the Sports Union.