THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 16078, 7 December 1917, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NOTES AND NEWS.

JOTTINGS FOB FABMERS. The Poverty Bay Farmers' Union has decided to urge on the Government, tho substitution of payment on tho hooks for Imperial meat, iustead of t.0.t)., a3 at present. ! HANMER SPRINGS. I Tho wc-eiiiy social e.c-uuig was held I in tue sfaeeu Mary Hospital on Wednesday. Amongst L.ioso piescnt \>cie . me ti-ari and Liverpool, oir James Allen, colonel Ciiatiey, -™, s Webster, ana Lieut-, lieimore, A.D.C. j 'lfoe evening s programme, ot ' fcOllgS, JUUisU.y cGiii ]_><-* titlOllS, Ullli UvlUC- | nig, was much enjoyed. lhu * I Solomon's Parade" lor inmates of "tilts ! hospital- was very keenly contested, re- | sultui" in a win for private Hamilton, i given ijy -Vlrs rhornas, -Mr j _S urman Corporal Dobuon, and fijapper Steele; recitations by Miss Oldbury and Master Carter; a selection by tho Ragtime Band, and an exhibition of thought-reading by Privat-o Dale and Sapper Laird. Mr Jones played tho music for the dances. Tho ladies provided an excellent supper. _ During an interval, Captain Clifton presented the prizes won at the previous competitions. I There was a heavy downpour of ram j on Monday and part of Tuesday inorn- ! iiig, 1.40Ln falling during that time. : On Wednesday there were some very • loud peals of thunder amongst tho mountains surrounding tho plains, the storm continuing through the afternoon. Towards evening it passed on in an easterly direction. No rain fell, although the sky looked very threatening. ASHLEY. Tho annual school concert was held in the local schoolroom. The profits from these functions are usually devoted to the purchase of prizes, but this year the children are doing without their books, and tho money is to bo handed to the Navy League Fund. The total proceeds amounted to approximately £11, and after tho expenses are paid £7 7 s will bo forwarded to the I\avy League Fund. The programmo consisted of action songs, recitations, dialogues, and choruses, given by the scnool children, and musical monologues by Miss Buckley. Miss Bowbyes was accompanist. Tho children had been trained by Miss Buckley. Every item was greatly appreciated. Mr Collie, chairman of the School Committee, thanked all those who had helped to make the concert a success. A danco was afterwards held, tho music being supplied by Mr J. Whitham, while extras were played by iVlissus Powell and Bowbyes, .Messrs iteid and Wailis acted as .U.C.'s. RANGIORA. At. a meeting of tho Rangiora Soldiers' Entertainment Committee, held on Wednesday evening, it was decided to disband, and not hold any more farewell socials. The poor attendance of tho public at the functions lias loft a debit balance, which has been paid off by members of the committee. Tho committee wish to thank all thoso who have given donations, and those who have generously helped in tho work of tho socials. DARFIELD. The Pom Pom Pierrot Party paid a return visit to Darfield last week, and drew a well-filled houso. Tho proceeds were in aid of the Trench (Jomforts Fund, and realised £21 3s 6d. This is the party's last country concert for tho season, so that Darheld has. had the party for their first and last.country concerts this season. Four new performers were noticed in the party —Messrs Smith, Moss, Watson, and Brady. On Tuesday afternoon, a meeting of ladies was held in tho Memorial Hall, to discuss how to assist tho Men's Committee at tho New Year Patriotic Carnival. There was a good attendance, and Mrs Jas. Reid was voted to the chair. Separate committees were formed to assist with refreshments, soft drinks and sweets, the produce stall, and Rose Show. AKAROA. On Wednesday, a party of returned soldiers motored to Akaroa by the soldiers' car - . They were hospitably entertained at dinner and afternoon - tea. The latter function, held in the Council Chambers, took somewhat the form of a civic reception. Cordial speeches of welcome were made by the Mayor (Mr Geo. Armstrong), and Rev. J. \V. Hayward. The party returned to town in the cool of tne evening. The bright prospects, entertained by all of us two months ago, with respect to a record season, do not hold out much promise of fulfilment now. The hot, dry weather of .November has cak- , ed the surface soil, and seriously interfered with the growth of the 1 pasture. Dairymen, gardeners, and orchardists alike, would hail with delight a three days' steady 'l'he long fine spell has enabled vapid progress to be made with the shearing. There lias been scarcely a break to record. Many of the larger sheds have cut out, and already several shipments of wool have been despatched from the Peninsula. The effect of the scarcity of labour has, to some extent, been | minimised by a kind of co-operative scheme. Neighbouring iiockowners have shorn in the largest convenient shed, and all have helped one another to make the best of the conditions brought about by the war. RAKAIA. At the llakaia Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., an inebriate, who had been remanded for medical treatment, >vas convicted of drunkenness and a prohibition order issued against him. G. F. Hooper, for boarding a train whilst: in motion, was ordered to pay costs. The Raknia School Committee met in the Oddfellows Hall. Present: Rev. E. N. Blakiston (chairman), Messrs E'. Brittenden, L. Saunders, W. Dunstan, C. Evison, and C. Shannon. The master's report showed a roll number of 131 and an average attendance of 117. The report on the recent concert showed that the sum of £15 jßs had been raised clear of expenses. It was decided that, as the necessary money had now teen raised for tlit» proposed water* supply, to write to the Board asking that the work be put in hand without delay, in view of tne approaching diy /nouths. It was agreed to distribute poizes on the same basis as in previous years. The 32nd Company, Raiiaia Codecs, held a shooting match at tho RaUai-i butts on Wednesday. A cup, presented by the Hon. C. A. C. Hardy, ami open to ail Cadets, was competed for. The winner was Cadet A. Watts, with a scire ol 43. Cadet N. Richard? won . the medal awarded .is second prize,* with, a score of 40. The Rakaia Citizens' Cup match was open only to Cadets who had put in ten whole day parade?. Fifty-five points were allowed for the ' ten days." and o points for each extra day. The winner turned up in Cadet 1 Jacsson, w;ith a score of 102 points— 1 55 points for 10 days, 10 points for 2 ' extra days, and 37 points off the ufie. i Cadet McPhail was the winner of the s medal given for second prize. lli; j 1 scoitd 100 points—ss points for 10 j j days, 10 points for 2 extra days, and 85 points off the rifle. The Godley ! ( Cup has this year been won by Cadet | 1 N. Richards. All cups and medals I won are to be presented in March. ; ASHBURTON. j 1 A mysterious fire occurred at Ash-! c burton on Tuesday morning, when a * two-ioomed cottage owned by Mr ,VV_. *

Brvnnt and situated in Cass stnvt. which'was used as a store-room, vas totfi'ly destroyed by file. When tne fire was discovered at 3.30 the building was practically demolished, and the briirad<; was i.ot summoned. Owiiig to the suspicious circumstances surrounding tins arid a recent fire at Allenton. Detective " O'Connor, of Christehureh, visited Ashburton on Wednesday to make investigations. A valuable calf which was housed in the building was roasted to death. The annual meeting of the Ashburton branch of the W.C.T.U. was held on XuesJav, ilis G. Miller presiding. A vote of sympathy was passed with Mm J. Lane in hr-r present loss. Threo now nie;:,b>'rs were enrolled. The annual r<;port stated that the membership was 132. an increase of 89 for the year, thi- increase chiefly due to the very successful mission held ill As!-burton in June last by Mrs LeeCowie. The treasurer reported a credit balance of £18 4s lUd. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Soveral members present contributed to a prize fund in connexion with scientiiie temperance instruction, to bo competed for during 1918. The election of officers resulted as follows:--President, Mrs \Y. T. Lill; corresponding secretary, Mrs C. Holland; iecording secretary. Miss Trevtirsa ; treasurer, Mrs R. McDonald ; assistanttreasurer. Mrs W. J. Brown; vice-pre-sidents, Mesdamcs Miller. Frost-, Gai braith, Brown, Robinson, and Corbett. The Ashburton Amateur Operatir Society gave its initial performance ol "The Gondoliers" to a good audience in the Theatre Royal, Ashburton, on Wednesday evening. The performance on the whole was very creditable, and rr/lected credit on the producer and stage manager, Mr H. J. Chapman. The solos, duets, choruses, and tie dancc •> were given with great spirit, and 'ho audieneo was not slow to show its appreciation. The individual parts were taken as follows: Fiamctta, Miss Ruby Glover; Francisco, W. J. Dal ley, Guilia", Miss Winnie Black; Antonio, Chas. Brown; Georgio, D. F. Keir; Vittoriri, Miss Evie McClure; Maro, C. B. Gass; Giuseppe, I>. C. Cowan; Gianette, Miss Ruby Aifdorson; Tc.-ssa, Miss May Smith; Duke of Plaza Toro, H. J. Chapman; Duchess of Plaza Toro, Mrs 11. J. Chapman; Cnsilda, Miss E. Fletcher;. Luiz, E. W. G. Coker; Don Alhambra, A. Anderson; Inez, Miss Rapley. The music was under the direction of Mr H. A. Humphreys, who had associated with him: Miss Galbraith (piano), Miss G. McEwen, Miss E. Claridge (violin), Mr Lawrence, Christehureh (viola), Mr G. Buna (oboe), Mr E. Robilliard (flute), Mr R. Watt (clarinet), Mr S. B. Dennis (cornet), Mr E. Scales (trombone), Mr L. G. McDonald (euphonium). Mr H. A. Gates (double bass), and Mr A. Todd (tympani). The performance was repeated last night, and will be givott again to-night. The proceeds are lor patriotic purposes.