THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16207, 9 May 1918, Page 4

THE COUNTRY.

news and notes

CULVERDEN

A meeting of the committeo of the Amuri Collie Club was held at, Culverden on Saturday last, Mr J. J. Gallagher presiding. The secretary produced a statement in connexion with the recent trials, which indicated tho successful nature of the meeting, and showed the club to bo in a strong financial position. It was decided to grant the secretary a bonus of £3 3s. OMIHI. The annual meeting of the Oniihi branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union wa.s held on Friday, Mr D. J. Doak presiding. The balance-sheet showed a credit of £•> Os 3d. Tlie election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: —President, Mr H. Brown: vice-president,Mr W. Baxter; senretiry, Mr W. W. Foster; treasurer, Mr J. \Yyllie; auditor, Mr D. McLaehlan: delegate to Provincial Executive, Mr D. J. Doak. A Send-off Committee was formed, to arrange farewells t;> departiug soldiers during the year. Mr Courtier will give a demonstration on pruning fruit trees at Mr Wyllie's place on" May 30th. A vote of "sympathy to relatives and friends of' all who had lost their lives on the different, battle-fronts was carried.

RANGIORA. The Rangiora School Committee met yesterday, A. Arelulal! presiding. .Mr Cobden-Cox was welcomed as *a member of the committee. It wa.s decided to forward letters of sympathy to the relatives of Captain W. Lace, Privates W. Vague, L. Burt, and Gunner A. Ramsay, old boys of the school who had made the supreme sacrifice. The headmaster repoitcd that there were 313 on the roll, and an average attendance of l:S:l. }lr .1. Cuughley, Assistant Director of Education, wrote stating that the matter of financial assistance for medies'l and dental services was under consideration.

Combined intercessory services were held in St. John's Anglican Church, yesterday, the various ministers of the town taking part. The services were continued in the evening, addresses being given l,y tho Itev. W. 11. Howes, the |{er. J. Guy, and the Rev. I'. P. Fendali, and there was a large congregation at all the services.

KAIAPOJ

On Tuesday evening ;i gift social was L! held in un: jvaiapoi .iietnocii.st feimiiay senool in aid ol tJie cnuren bazaar iund. " Musical items were y;iven by Misses l'.. Thome, A. ,S. lio.-km," D. Wi igut, s M. Jiavnian, and recitations by -ui.-.'-i f L. Kendo. Supper, provided 'uy tno j Girls' JJibio Class, was nauded round. ! SOUTHH RIDGE. 3 The Rev. G. Lindsay, who has decided to retiie iroui tno active unties I ol the ministry, was, on Monday ovenl iug, together with Airs Lindsay, enter- ; tamed at a well-attended fareweij social - by the congregation of bt. John's Presbyterian Church, Soutnbridge. «nd other friends. Mr Lindsay has H long i record of service, having spent 22 years : as minister of St. Paul's, Invcrangiil, • before going to Southbridgc five years ' ago. 'i'hc Rev. J. Swanson Reid, of Ennsandel, who has been appointed • Moderator during tlio vacancy, pre- | sided, anad several other ministers were ! 011 the platform. A good musical pro- , gramme was presented. Songs w>^re sung by Mrs W. Lochhead, Airs F. Barnett, blisses Henderson, Withers, and A. Hannah, .and Messrs A. A. S:ott. and Brown; Mr and Mrs Barnett. sang Rev, Mr Walker recited, and . M.ss F. Henderson played a pianoforte r solo. The chairman and the Revs. W. Lavcock (Methodist), H. O. Hawkins (Anglican), and K. W. Walker (Pie.sby- : terian), _ spoke in high terms' of MiLindsay's inestimable services; Messrs G Benny, juu., G. F. Simpson, ami A. J. MePherson spoke particulnrly of MiLindsay's work amongst the young people; and Mr J. Storrv, member <>7 the session, presented to Afr and Mrs Lmasay a well-filled pui-se as a token of the appreciation and regard of the people. Mr Lindsay Miitabjy responded. Last Friday evening M,- and Mrs Lindsa\ were entertained in the Sedgemere portion of the parish, and presented with „ leather bag, suitably inscribed Mr I. McGill presided, and Mr A. Alcl,aughJin made the presentation, and Air G. Russell also spoke. Musical j items wore given by Airs W. Lochhead, Misses Thompson, Abbott, and Anderson. and Messrs A. A. Scott and C. I Thompson. Kilt WEE. At tne annual meeting of parishioners of St. George's parish, Kirwee, tho t icar (Rev. P. Revell) presided ov r er a fair attendance. A lengthy report of the year's work was given, eulogising the work of the various officials. The Sunday school, under Air P. Portbury, it was staled, was in a flourishing con- 1 dition, |i!it lielp on the teaching stall' 1 was needed. The report referred to the members of the parish who were away a"> the war, and stated that some were in hospital, some had returned, whilst i one (Private L. Watson, West Melton) ! had made the supreme sacrifice. A voto of sympathy was passed to Mr and Mrs loungman, whose son. Private R \ Youngman, had been killed. The closing of the Burnham Industrial School was deplored, as a large number of Ixiys had been sent out from there to become good citizens. It was stated that 306 boys had onlifitod from an'! 60 had been killed. The election of officers resulted as followsßishoo's warden, 3fr H. Savill; people's warden, | MrH. Roper; vestry, Messrs E. Holmes, i E Harris, E. H. Wilde. W. T. Street, T. Crysell. P. Portlrurv, W C Bedford ! C. Page, J. H. Bedford, and G. Turner! I Mr W. T. Street was elected a member of the Central Committee. The I balance-sheet showed a debit balanco I of £4 Is 4d. The report was adopted. It was decided, in view of tho number of Tvcfc Sundays, which ha<l grcativ lessened the usual offerings, that members, if away on a wet Sunday, be requested to give a double, offering on the next Sunday. The question of a change in tho church franchise was fully explained by the vicar, and it was decided that, a change was advisable. It was decided to recommend that all confirmed members of the church, over the ago of 21, have the fronchise. The members present promised 25 per cent, additional on then- yearly offering. A hearty voto of thanks uas accorded to the vicar for his valuable services during the rear. LINCOLX. The anuuai meeting and gift afternoon held by the Lincoln K«d Cross and Lady Liverpool branch, was presided CVer by Mr ' It. E. Alexander. The annual report stated that the Avork of the branch had been carried on witnout interruption during the whole This year the number of larger articles, which were more costly and difficult to make, had hecn increased, and the total value of the -work was quite up to that of the previous year. The number of articles sent to the Central Depot appears very much less than last year, but such comforts as jam, milk, tobacco, etc., had not been included in the lists. Although the value of articles forwarded was about j the same as that of last y<sar, there 1 had been a most regrettable falling off j in the number of socks sent in. A branch of the Lady Liverpool Fund for providing comforts for men in the trenches had been started in Decern- | ber, 1916, and the -work of this branch | had also been continued during the I year. The total Red Cross income I (luring the year had been £423, and the expenditure £436. being for pur- ' chase of materials and donations. The financial position would not be very

satisfactory were it riot for the fact ttiac tne j;u' liad startocl with a stiOsiantinl cicdit balance. JYlont/ii.y .viij-sc-nptions were about the same as last year, and special efforts etc.) wore also about the same as in 11*16-17, but special donations iiad practically {liha»i;uiirod. lUoncy was more necessary than ever, owing to the increased cost of materials, and tho numerous appeals from the Central U-epot for money for special purposes, which the committee ieel that tlio district should subscribe to. It had beoa hoped that the men of the district would provide funds, but up to the present they had not done so. The contributions and work of tlie Lady Livorpool Fund did not call for any special comment. The difficulties were' exactly similar to those ol the lie-.! Cross. The report was adopted. Last year's committee were re-elected, with the exception of Miss Henley and Miss ■ M. Cooke, whose pli'M-* were filled by Mrs Patterson and Mrs E. Cooke. Mrs I'oylo and Mr Flesher addressed those present, on "Pi£d Cross'' work, and Captain Johnston, who has returned from Rgypt, gave an interesting account of the Milendid work done for.our boys by the f/uly Liverpool Society. ' Musical il ems were eon' rib" l °d .by Misses Full"r, C'-oflnuin. ;\'ul Ar->fl-.iv' "sh (2"i .'"id Captain Johnston reeitei •'Anzac Bill."' ASHUURTOX. Yesterday ranniiiir the sixteen-menths-ohl son of Mr J-.imes Sim, Seafield road, Ashburton, iv.is found in n. water-race near his home. "When rescued he was tmeonscious,: and died before medical aid could be procured. Ail innuest will be hold.

O-i Monday afte'-noon the members of Air H. A. Lloyd's staff, Ashburton, presented Mr W. Thorn is, grain clerk, who has severed his r-onnesion with the firm to enter the emuloy of Messrs Patterson and Co., Wellington, with a set of military hair brushes. 7»lr M. Bruce made the presentation, and referred to the efficient manner in which Mr Thomas hnd carried out his duties.

The Ashburton Countyllosnif-.il Heard levy on the contributing bodies for the \v\-iV e'iding March olst, 191-9, will In £3596 1 os. This amount is'subject to the approval of the Minister of Public Health.