THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16163, 18 March 1918, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. JOTTINGS FOR FAUMKK& At the annual meeting of the Timaiu A. and P. Association on Saturday, a proposal to held an autumn instead or a spring show was negatived by 4J votes to 25. Mr "W •J- Bassett _ wa3 elected president for the ensuing year. Owing to his sxoing into camp. Mi" 11. S. S*. Kyle, the well-known veterinary surgeon, has decided to soil his j Clydesdale stallion Scotland Stamp. tne j winner of many prizes at allows, | and probably the best colonial-bred j horse in the Dominion. He is 'wjiii.'. j sent across to Sydney, and will be. offered for sale under the direetiou of Mr H. E. B. Watson, oflai Fapu. J win purposes attending the Royal j Show and sales. WEST MELTOX. The scholars of the West Mellon school, with their parents and triends, had an enjoyable outing on l*Yid*i\\ The party was conveyed to Christchurch iti traps and motor-ears. "Iwoj hours were spent in inspecting tlie | Museum, end a picnic was then held in , the grounds near the Tea 1 Kiosk. 1 j remainder of the day was spent in j rambling through the gardens, )in, 'j visiting Victoria Lake and the AceUnta- | tisation Society's grounds. The swingboats proved a source of great enjoyment. and altogether :i very liapt'y day was spent. Mr F. C. Chnrman. Presbyteritui home missionary, who has been m charge of tho Hornby-West Melton district for the past two years, has been transferred to Spreydon. He was presented bv Ins West Molton iriends wit -1 an oak Marris chair upholstered in velvet, as a token of their regard ami esteem. TUAIUWI. Immediately after the declaration of the Southern Maori election the ualiiwi Maoris decided that the event | must be celebrated in a filling man-1 ner, Mr Hapere Tm. the suceessUtl I candidate, being a native ol the dis-, trict. The function, which took the form of a banquet and social evening, wa? held on Friday. Mr T. Korako, | chairman ol the loeal llunnnga, i»re- j siding over a very large gathering. | Among the. guests were: lion. !>r. I'omare, Pr and Mrs Thacker. Mr and "Mrs H. '.'ni. of Auckland. Messrs R. Moore. J. Blaekwcil. W. Torepe. J. Tikas, and T. Watene. Various toasts, interspcr-ed with musical items by Misses H. Rehu, M. Taituha.. M. Run;. Messrs Barrett. Kantitinna. and | | Dr. Thaeker, were honoured. An amus-j ; ing feature of nearly all the addresses i was the rcforetiec • to Mr In; s oast ! achievements on the football and I cricket holds, severai speakers proiidj Jv boasting of sears still borne through ' being an opponent, while one referred ! with regret- to a bat 'en l to Mr 1 ru, ■ of which the handle alone was returned after the match. A similar soci cessful career in politics was wished by | all. while advice was freely (endereil. : Dr. Thacker. sreaking on behalf of the •'boys at the Trout." gave a very in--1 terestiaa and luimoroiis address. p:iv» i a Iribule t.f) all who had left this | country. Maori and ;vikeha alike, and j lyyinc; great stress on the work of il, - i nnr.-es. The Hon. Dr. I'omn-e rej Inted several very humoi'ou.s anecdotes ;of lu'.dding politicians. The function iin every wav was a gre;'t success, nnd i great- praise is d:;e ro t l- e sin,)!! bo<ly ' of workers who organised it.

MAUSH'.ANn. ! Thf members >>l' tin* Methodist ■; Church l.afiie? 1 'iijild are workinp: har-1 I for a «alo of work Id he held in about; two months' time. Thnrsday ai r.ii'l? afternoon v.-a*. liekl in aid of u;p J work «inil. .Mrs .1. Voss presided. - i!id i tliore was a at Tendance, visitors hein.i' nr.v-eiit from Cbn'stehrroh. Shi. - - ley. IJichntond. TJurwood. "\Voolsron. and New Brighton. The president refsd a paper on the life and work of llehrcca. and and recitations were contributed hv Abhoti and Sou thou arid ?.li.sses More and Cc.vgill. Tho YJcv. C. Strand dclirered a >.hort iddrcss. Afternoon tea was dispen.-ed, and. on the motion of Alts T.' Yvikson, seconded by Mrs .J. C. Ahbott. a heartv vote ol tlianlcs _ was accorded to the visitors for • their presence and <j[ifts. Her Kxcollency the Coimtes? of litve! - pool and the Mayoress of Christr chtirch hare arrnn"red to nay a visit to the Marshland Ladies' Patriotic Sewing Guild 10-morrow afternoon. At the February meeting of the Wain?niri County Council, it was resolved, after considerable discussj§n. to aathovise the eommencement of a footpath alor.f? Hie Marshland rorul, bcj ginning at Uriugs's road and goinp I northwards as far as MeSaveney's road j iu the meantime. The Marshland j School Committee has expressed its strong disapproval of this course being adopted, as tho length in question is a negligible quantity, so far as benefit to tho snhool-c hiidren is concerned, when compared with a j'ath from Reeves's road to the Styx bridse. At its meeting la.st >reok., the chairman of the committee was directed to write, strongly urging the Council to abandon its present intention, and to (ommence the work at Preston's road, jjoing north and south, thereby minimising the danger to scholars, in -whose interests tlie footpath was asked for in tho first place.

'.''lie monthly meeting of the Mar«h- J land School Committee was held last week. There, were present: Messrs D. Goode (chairman), ,TY. Blank, P. Basher. J. Boloski. AY. Lange, (J. Chisnall, and F. Free. The monthly report was considered verv satisfactory. The average attendance ha;! been 128. One of the Education Department's insi-ectors had naid the «ehool a surprise .visit on March Ist. Tho cl'.iirnian reported that twelve extra names would have to bo addel to the list on the school honours board, and he was authorised to make enquiries regarding a ooneart to raise funds for enlarging tile board and for tin* necessarv printing, etc. It was decided to close the school for a fortnight from March 22nd.

ELLESMERE. When returning; home from Southbridge on Thursday afternoon, Miss Montgon-cry and liev sister, .Mrs BucMey, met with an accident. Through part of the harness giving way the horse took fright and bolted. ->vnrturning the gig, "which was drac-gM for about fire chains before the horse broke free.. Fortunately, the •'••vo ladies were not seriously hurt. A second box opening in connexion with Dr. Barharoo's Homes Young Helpers' League, took place _ in the vicarage "rounds at Soutlibridge on Saturday afternoon in the presence or a good gathering of members and their elders. The ladies provided afternoon tea. Mr John Nixon, of Ivillmehr. has taken a co.'isiijnment of Shortnorn bulls to tho feydnev Royal Show. Tlie proportion of firsts in some ot the wheat crops in the Ellesmere district is this season exceptionally h.gh. A S'-dfemere farmer had 1000 bushels of firsts and no less than 400 bushes of <-fconds. . Miss 1. Lavcock, daughter of the Rev. W. 'Lavcock. of Lees ton. who has been in charge of the Duvauchoii? school for tho last fcw months. lias been appointed Frcnch misuess at mo Ho'«itika District High School. and leaves for tho West Coast this week. In trying to avoid a collision with a stray animal on tho Doyleston Drain road a few nights ago, Major T. H. Overton, of Lakeside, ran bis ear .nto the roadside drain. The car turned upside down and pinned the occupant bolow. It was with some difficulty

that Major Overton managed to hoe himself. He was not seriously hurt, and the damage to the car was" slight LOBITvN. The Presbyterian Harvest Festival ar Loburn was held yesterday afternoon, the Rev. W. H. Howes being the preacher. The Rangiora Presbyterian choir gave several anthems, which were much appreciated by the large congregation. RAXGIORA. ! Bishop Julius held a Confirmation service at St. John's Church yesterday. There were six candidates. The annual harvest thanksgiving services in connexion with the Rangiora Methodist Church were held yesterday. The church was well decorated, and there were large congregations. The preachers lor the day were Mr P: J. Thorne, of Sefton, and the Rev. J. Guy. Suitable iinthems were sung by the choir. A special appeal for iunds was made on behalf of the Trust, and tiie surplus above the ordinary collection will go to that lund. The Salvation Army held their harvest thanksgiving services yesterday. Commissioners .k. J. In wood and J. Marshall conducting services. There was a splendid display oi gifts of produce, which will be disposed of to-morrow 'evening. A musical evening will be held to-night. Tiie .Baptist Church celebrated its annual harvest festival yesterday, the preacher* being .Mr A. J. Norrish and Pastor Jones. There were large congregations. 1) i:\SAXDEL. Private., D. Bulloch, 11. .Moiling, and !'*. Climu.ni, who recently reL.irneil irotii uio trout, were accoiutd a public welcome social at Dunsandel on Friday evening, and wero each presented Willi a set of military hair-brushes. The Rev. J. S-.vaiisou .li-oid made tho pre.-entations, and Private Bulloch suitably replied. A musical programme was contriouted by Mesdarues Miles, .McDowell, and Dejargcy, Mioses Henderson (2), Owers, JJrennan, and Reid, and Messrs H. W. Johnson, A\ . Owers, and 1 ( \ Hemming^. Intimation has been received that Rifiomou James Swanson and NW J. V Sneat are returning from the irontLast Wednesday a fire broke out in •i paddock belonging to Mr (J. 6heat. The threshing mill had been working in the paddock only a short time before, and had just Parted threshing m an adjoining paddock, when the tore was dincovoro:!. The men quicklv liuilied to tiie scene of the lire, and prevented it from doing any damage beyond destroying about -0 bushels ol 'wheat and a stack of straw. A Roll of Honour, bearing the names of the Dunils who had gono to tho front was unveiled at the -Dunsandel .School bv Colonel Chaffcy. The Kev. .J. 8. Reid presided, and an address was given by tho Hon. C. A. C. Hardy, i M.L.C. As a mark or respect, to tho i fallen the Hag was flown at half-mast, ! and Busier Stewart Boag sounded I -'The Last Post.'' Tho National Anj them was sung, and afternoon tea was i disnenscd.

KOWAI RT'Sri. . ! I On Fridnv evening it .sofiul was hold :% in thi> schoolroom to welcnino lionio ! pr'.rnlo A. Atkin.-;on and Privato J. ' Vv'hcelci'. The room proved ioo smalt ' to u'.toihmo;!;>U' tin* crowd oi tho sol- ! dioi-i' l'riond>. A very enjoyable | nvoninti was <iiont v. iih inu.iK' *J'. ! dancing. BotJi mon \\crt» tho roeipi- \ cut< o? medals hy tho resi- ! deut.s as a mark oi' Jipprociation of their services lor lviny iuid country. 1 Thr< iron rcKuoinU'd. Private | Atkiti -.m lcl't wi.li il o ftii Rc-iniorc-c- ---! moms, :unl \vas t"»vico wounded, tho ! sc-'orid" tim" severely. Private Wheeler | \eft, with the MHh Ueinlon-emenU, aua j retitrm?.l in Docomber last suffering , from a severe wound in the knee. Mis? ! Moilv Atkinson played the accompami mcnis and Mr C. Smith conducted tho I danc^.

ASHfiUirrox. Advice lias been received iu Ashburton lliiiL Sergeant W. Tucker, who has been instructing iu England, lias gone to France. . _ , At tlio fortnightly meeting oi the Loval Ashburton i*odgo, 1.0.0.fc M.C\, Bro. J. S. Wilson, N.G., preside:!. It was agreed to send a letter of ftvmpathv to the relatives of the lato Bro' V>. Jenkins. Tho secretary (Bro. F. Pritchard) gave a report or the business transacted nt tho_ District Conference. At the Horse, Fair on Friday, tlireo noting well-bred horses, the property of Mr P. Small, Wheatstone, were offered to auction. One thro'e-yoar-old filly, v.*4iicli r '*aincd second prize at tho Show the day previously, realised £55; a gelding' five years, brought £? 7 10s, and a three-year-old gelding £33. Tho lucerne plots on tho Ashburton Show grounds came in for a lot of inspection at the Autumn Show on Thursday, and Mr A. Macpherson, Government Fields Supervisor, took the trouble to ltavo the names of the various varieties posted on the different i plots. Tho crops are the fourth grown this season, and afford a fitting demonstration of the valuo of this important fodder. Mr Macpherson states that he is well satisfied with the growtih of lucerne which was sown this year in tho plots along the railway lina between Ashburton r.nd Christchurcli.

GTIRA. | As the strike shows no signs of a settlement, the workers have formed o social counnittoe, ior the purpose of providing amusement to pass away the time. .is a result a ouchrc tournament and dance was held in the Workers' Hall on Friday evening, frogressivo eucni o was ployed for tno first two hours, the winners being Mr F. W. Fell and Mrs Stenhouse, while Miss M. Stenhouse and Mr A. O. Warwick carried off the booby prizes - . The hall having' been cleared, dancing was indulged in to the music of Mrs Robertson, Miss L'aliari, Stevenson, and Stenhouse playing extras. Mr W. Swift gave a whistling solo, which was wc-ll received. Altogether a most enjoyable evening was 6pent and brought to* a close in tho small hours of the morning, everyone being in favour of more such socials in the near future. .The weather during the last few we<ks has been all that could be desired. As a result, the roads are beginning to got very dusty, and the amount of rolling stock that is passing through, en route to Canterbury, causes very unpleasant dust storms, i'he water supply is beginning to get low. and a good shower of rain would be very welcome. It was generally thought that the new coach service would greatly help to reduce the fares, but Mr. James Beban has eold his coaches to the wellknown firm of Cassidy and Hall, and is about to take over the Terminus Hotel, the well-known tourist house on this side of the Alps! The road over the Gorge has been in rather a had state lately, and as a result a gang of workmen, under Mr A. Cunriiffe, is at work replacing the rotted timber, upon which parts or the road are built, and putting it in order before the winter sets in.