THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16324, 23 September 1918, Page 4

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. ASHBUKTON A. AND P. ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the committer of the Ashburton A. and I'. Association was held on Saturday afternoon, Mr -J. Cow. president, being in the chair. The Horse Committee reported that after fuli.v considering the matter they had decided circumstances did not warrant. tho holding of a horse parade this vear. A discussion ensued on the report, a number of members being strongly or opinion that it would be a mistake not to hold the parade as usual, and that it should be held nearer the town than the Show Grounds The report was adopted nj 1-; -votes "it' ivas decided to lease tho Show Grounds to the Technical Association for another year. The chairman announced that Jlr K \ Alexander, of Lincoln College, would .rive a lecture next Saturday, on "Grass Seeds and the Laying Down of Pastures " The chairman also stated that Mr B. J. Marquet, of Christchurch. had promised to give a lecture 111 October on "Wool, and the Getting Ip or Wool Clips.' Votos of synipatny were accorded Mr J. Cairns and Mr J. Glassey, whose sous were recently wounded at the front. It was also decided to send a letter of congratulation to Lieutenant G. G. Ricfi, on his having, ljccn awarded the Military Cross. Votes of condolence wero passed to Mrs J. S. Bland and Mrs C. W. Nicoll, on the deaths of their husbands, and to Mi* C. J. Harper and Mr Thomas Bullock, on the deaths of their wives. The chairman announced that he had interviewed Mr Joseph Studliolme, brother of Major Studholme, and that, the latter had given a sum of £100 towards wiping out - the overdraft, on condition that a prize of six guineas, to be known as the Major Studholme Prize, was allotted each year for the encouragement. of the education of the young. The chairman further stated that they had now a sum of over -£430 towards the £oOD required, to place the Society dear of debt. The following: sub-cninrniUecs irere appointed :—Shcop: Jlessrs >r. S. V ileon, ,r. U?;iss>cy. T. Doip, A. Br-rnmond, V. Anderson. Cattle and pigs: Messrs D. T. C. Mcllroy, J. Bland, j'un., VV. M-scs, L. R. Stoddart, F. Fratnpion. Draught Hors-ss: Messrs W. Butterick, W. J. I)ouk, \V. Anderson, AV. J. Taylor, "W. C'roy. Li?lil horses: Mcrsrs H. E. Jjlunden, It. .T. Mu'.lijot, ~\V. D. Dawson, H. A. Lloyd, J. Strinsfclloiv. Farm and dairy prolucc: !Mc£sr3 J. "W. But', crick, D. fi. Wright, ~\V. G. Gallagher, R. J. S. Wilson, J-r.o. Eio-.vn. Art !md industiial: Jl rsrs <T. ITrucc, J. Tucker, T. Bullock, Miss Stringf-el'mi', Mra Prrbble. Reception: i!o?srs I). Wood, J. Grigg, <T. Tucker, C. Reid, T. E. Upton. Competitions: Messrs J. M. Hampton, J. W. Butleriek, J. A. Fleming, Andrew Brown, Geo. Miller. Firnnco: Messrs J. Tucker, D. Wood, T. Bul'ock. Ground: Messrß_ C. Reid, T. t>oi-», J. McLachla.:i, W. Oaklcv, JllO. Cairns. Implements:, Messrs "VV. D. Dnw.'.on, W. Oakley, J. A. Fleming, G. Millf-r, T. Tiiylor. TII3 president and vicepresident are, ex-officio, members of all committees. JOTTINGS FOB FARMERS,

'The* increasing ravages of hawks in and around Mercer are causing farmers considerable anxiety. The hi I'd has entered on a new phase of destruction so far as its habits in the district |ro by pouncing down on lnmbs aiitl killitis? them, first denuding them of their eyes. They have even been bold enough to tackle grown cast sheen, and one settler has seen turkeys seeking safety with the hawk in pursuit. Traps have been set and several' caught, while others have been shot, but it. has failed to intimidate the birds so as to make any appreciable difference in their operations. KAIKOUItA. An inquest was held on Thursday, a 1 the Courthouse, before Mr Jame: Davidson, J.P. (Acting-Coroner), concerning trie death of Mrs Margaret Williams, aged 21, who died suddenly or Thursday last. A verdict of "Deatl from heart failure" was returned. CHEVIOT. The monthly meeting of tho Band o: Hope was held on Thursday, presidec over by Mr Telfer. An interesting ant instructive address was given by th< Rev. W. H. Howes, of It-angiora. Th< prog taurine was as follows: Pianoforte solo, Jean Borrell; pianoforte duet Mises Ford and Saunders; recitations Doris Truman, Emma Williams, am Sid. Webster; songs. Alma Webster Miss Davidson, Mrs Ford and Mr Skin nor; vocal duet, Mrs and Miss Ford Five pledges wero taken during th< Evening. _

IIANGIOItA. A cricket match was played at, Rangiora on Saturday aiternoon between teams representing Christchurch and Kangiora Co-op. Associations. Ra- - i.giora made 6i> (Cockcroft 25, Fisher Ity and Christchurch 115 (liissett 32, 3 Jamieson 14, Dixon 16 not out Armi- ' tage 12 } Holland 15). For the winners, i Bissett and Dixon bowled best, and for = the losers Cockcroft and McKenzie. \ At the meeting of the Ilangiora i Borough Council on Friday evening | complaints were reoeived that school children were in the habit of rushing out in front of motor-cars and cyclists and holding up their arms, a practico which was likely to result m a serious accident sooner or later. It v.as decided to write to the teachers of the school concerned asking them to point out the danger to the children. The annual social of the Cam Dairy, Produce Company, Ltd., was held on Thursday evening in Mr E. Fantham's barn at the Cam. There was a big attendance and a very enjoyable evening was spent. Dancing was indulged in, the music being supplied by Miss E. Heney, Mesdames C. Robertson and E. Fantham, and Mr F. Mehrtens. Songs were also given by the Misses I. and M. Petrie, Leech, E. Fantham, G. Heney, and Mr F. Mehrtens. The anniversary services of the

!ti Rangiora Methodist Sunday school wer e r held yesterday. The Rev. 0. B. Jordan, of Woodend, conducted the morning service, and the Rev. J. Guy the evening service. A children's service was held in the afternoon, when an address was given by the Rev. C. B. Jordan, and the prizes for tablet work were i presented to the successful scholars, the presentations to the senior classes being made by Miss Peach, and to the juniors by Miss H. Whitley. There were good congregations at each service, and special hymns were sung by tho children, assisted by the choir. The anniversary will be further celebrated on Friday evening next, when the children will be entertained at tea. KAIAPOI. Sixty pounds- waa raised by a special effort in connexion, with the "Our Day" appeal at Kaiapoi on Saturday. A walking match between two veteran walkers, George Wearing and Billy Wilson, was held on Saturday afternoon at Kaiapoi, over a course of four miles, Wilson winning by about 150 yards. The stakes in the match (£2 7s 6d) were given to the "Our Day" appeal. BELFAST. On Saturday afternoon a large number of residents of Belfast and the surrounding districts " were attracted to Sheldon Park, where the local Copper Trail Committee had arranged a fete. The refreshment, sweets, fancy goods, and other stalls, under the supervision of the ladies, did good business, while the younger girls, by conducting guessEl ine competitions, soiling flowers, and hsLdor«K. did their share towards making

tho afternoon a success. A stepping { competition was won by Mr J. Johns' and Mr J. Musson, who each did 72 yard s , 8 inches. A football match, North v. South, resulted in a drawn game, 0 points each. For South G. Cado scored a try and A. Laurenson kicked a penalty* goal, and for North B. Pengelly scored, and C. Huston kicked a penalty goal. A hockey match, ladies v. men in skirts, also resulted in a draw, each side scoring 2 koals. For tho ladies Miss J. Rudkin shot both goals, and Messrs G. Bright and S. Farquhar shot 1 each for the men. Tho total proceeds of the day will be divided between the North ancl South districts. A NX AT. •In spito of the very inclement weather on Tuesday, there was a very fair attendance at a euchre party and dance held in aid of the School Library Fund. Sirs Heinisch and Mr H. Miller wero successful in the euchre tournament, while Miss Ada I'iner and Mr Rich won consolation prizes. » SHEFFIELD. At the iShelKeld sale on Friday Mr George Booth, of Christchurch, who had made a special trip for the purpose, addressed those present upon the needs of tho Red Cross. eloquent appeal brought forth nearly £70. About £80 more is required to make up the quota duo by the Sheffield riding. The annual spring flower show, m connexion with St-. Ambrose Church, was held in the Town Hall, Sheffield (kindly lent by Mr Johnstone) on Friday, and was a huge success, enabling the funds of the vestry to be augment-, ed !>v about £35. Much credit is due to the Ladies' Guild and to others who so willingly helped to make the function so successful. In tho evening a social was held, and tho vicar, tho Rev. W. P. Hughes, took th© opportunity to welcome, on behalf of tho Anglican Church, Lieut. C. A. Gray, M.C., who has obtained a month s furlough. Messrs Bradrhaw, Atkinson, and Gray supplied the music for the dance gratis. SOUTH MALVERN DISTRICT.

Tho Glen tunnel School Committee ' liold a special meeting on Thursday ni.'dit. Applications wore received for , tie position of headmaster and assist- , ant-mistress. For the former position " three applications vvero sent 111, the iBoard forwarding two of them to the committee. Mr A. L. W ills, at pre- ■ sent third assistant at Addmgton [J *eiiool, l-w-eived the unanimous vote of " the committee. 'IVo applications were ? received for the position of assistant- F mistress, and the Board forwarded tho 11 name of Miss G. P. Mills, at present * the 'junior assistant-mistress. Miss Mills will now take tho senior position ™ and fresh applications arc being called f= for the position thus rendered vac-ant. n Matters iti connexion with the flower p show in October were then discusser.!, si The following stewards were elected, £ each section to find its own assistance: «i Flowers, fruit, and vegetables, Mr n Wm. Gilmour; cookery, Mr It. H. c Luke; lied Cross work, Mr «T. H. Pear- t son', writing competitions, Miss G. P. Mills. Mr H. Ledgard agreed to 3 assist in the refreshment, room. It n was decided to give a third prize in t all classes where there were six or v more entries. GREENDALE. j The committee of the local Red Cross branch met in the Orange Hali J on Thursday evening, when the Pa- * triotic Committee also .attended to dis- > cuss tho method of raising the Green- , dale portion of the Malvern county s 1 quota towards tho "Our Day'' appeals, ihe Greentiale share is £150, and it was deciued that some of the ladies connected with the lied Cross should < T canvass tho district to raise this sum. ; Subsequently Mesdames J. W. War- ( . ren, M. P. Cooke, and Miss N. Ingljy 3 were appointed canvassers. r At the monthly meeting of the Band i of Hope there was a very good attendi anee, and an interesting programme s was provided by the young people. 3 Recitations were given by Gladys "\Vatf son, Edna Cullen. Lila Russell, Kitty - Parris, Sylvia Mills, and Wilfred Adams, and songs by Dorothy Smith .and Dora Warren, and. Mr F. H. Musgrove delivered an address. s AKAROA. ■) At a meeting of the directors of the - Takamatua Cheese Factory held on i .Monday, Mr W. SuncKeli presiding, a. .1 vote or condolence and deep sympathy i vas passed to the chairman of direc- . tors, Jir George Armstrong, in connexion , with the loss of a second son in the : f war, Gunner Lincoln Armstrong. The d manager, Mr J. Thompson, reported d that the factory had commenced operae tions on the 12th inst. So far about o <100 gallons of milk were being received e daily. i, SOUTHBREDGE. ® At a meeting of the Old Pupils' Association, presided over by Miss G. M. Glanville, a statement of accounts in connexion with the rccenfc Paddy'B e Market was presented. The total takings at th 6 maiket to

£151, and it was estimated that when the soldiers' Christmas parcels were paid for and the market expenses were met, there would be a balance of £60. It was decided to vote £35 to - the Lady Liverpool Fund, and to retain the balance to send away parcels at Christmas time to reach the men at the front by Easter. ® , The committee of the Southbridge Bowling Club decided, at a meeting held on Thursday evening, to open the season on October sth. A working bee was arranged for to give the green a light top-dressing. Mrs R. B. B. Willis and the Misses N and K. "Willis, who have been spending the winter in Auckland, returned to°Southbridge a few days ago. The Southbridge Tennis Club opened its season on Saturday afternoon. RAJLAIA. Saturday was a hot day at Rakaia, with a strong nor'-wester blowing. Towards evening rain set in, and .17iu fell before daylight. The nor'-wester was no doubt responsible for the flooded | condition of the Uakaia river. It was | very high early yesterday morning, and attracted a number of sightseers, but in the afternoon the flood gradually subsided. ASHBURTON.

On Thursday afternoon tho Ashburton district branch of the AV.C.T.U. met to celebrate the 25th anniversary of women's franchise in New Zealand. Sirs W. T. Lill presided over a large attendance. Mrs Don, Dominion president, was present, and gave an address in which she congratulated the branch on the wisdom of appointing a district nurso. On behalf of the women of Ashburton, Mrs Don extended _ a warm welcome to Nurse Byers, St. Helen's district nurse. TEMUKA. The Ternuka returned soldiers held a plain and fancy dress ball in aid of the Christmas Parcels' in the Drill Hall, on Thursday evening. Over 100 couples attended, but there were very few in fancy dress. The music was supplied by the Temuka Patriotic Orchestra, Mrs Aspinall presiding at the piano. The prizes for the fancy dress were won bv Shirley Nicholas (Irish Colleen) and Mr O'Connor (Red Indian). Mrs Aspinall, on behalf of the Lady Liverpool Fund, thanked the returned soldiers for their efforts to raise funds for their comrades in the field. GERALDIXE. An important meeting of the Geraldine Railway League was held on Friday night. Dr. Hislop was in the chair, and there was a representative attendance. The Rev. C. J. Tocker maintained that the true object of a railway sliould be to develop the country through which it might pass, but the engineers who laid out the main line took it through the poorest country in Canterbury, while nearer the hills

wero largo areas capable ol growing j [Train Tho noed of the Empire to-day was efficiency, but facility bore a vital relationship to efficiency, and this district had reached a point of development from which they were not going further for lack of railway facilities. By the doviation suggested tho line would be 3i miles longer, but would serve a large area of rich land, and the small extra charge that through, passengers would have to pay would not be regarded. It had been sai'd that the present was not tho time to ask for railway work, and they could not expect tiio work to be done immediately, but it was tho timo to securo an assurance that it would be done. He contended that tho district had a just claim, and tho industrial efficiency or the district necessitated it. Mr F. R-. Flatman said the scheme was to divert the line from Raogitata through Mr Metcalf's property (and tho owner had consented to givo tho land at small cost), and by way of Belfield to Geraldine.; and thence back to Orari, so that no one would bo done harm. He said 900,000 sheop passod through the Geraldine yards annually, and the fats were driven to the works, each losing l£lb to 21b in consequence, while with a railway aty would bo entrained and produce * railway revenue. At present thoy were handicapped to the extent of 7s per ton on all goods coming to or going from Goraldino. For years his wool had boon carted, instead of railed, and manure had to be carted from Timaru. Ono man told him it cost Is a bug to cart his wheat to the railway station, and unless thoy got bettor facilities there was no encouragement to grow wheat. He said he had spoken with business men of Christchurch, Dunodin, and other places, and they all approved ofthoschomo. Mr W. Nosworthy, M.P., said he had been much impressed by what had boon said, and the arguments adduced. • This was not a selfish proposal, but, in his opinion, a sound one, making for greater efficiency, which was the order of the day tlu-oughout the "Empire, and to be efficient they must have facilities. The object - on that the main line would bo lengthened by 32 miles was absurd, in view of tho extra business that would be done. Canterbury grew 86 per cent, of the wheat production of the Dominion, and they, should grow enough for the requirements of the Dommion, but to do so they must hare facilities for getting lime and manure on tho land, and the grain away. Ho could not have supported a branch line, but for the reasons indicated he was in accord with them, and prepared to help them all he.could, and ho advised them to stick to it and fight on till they got it. Colonel Mackenzie then moved ■ —"That in the _ interests of Geraldine and district, it is of supreme importance that direct railway communication bo sccurod at the earliest possible moment, _ and that this meeting affirms its conviction that such communication can only bo satisfactorily obtained by a deviation of the main line." Mr B. R. Macdonald, Mayor of Geraldine, in seconding the motion, said tho Mayor of Christchurch had promised his support, and thoy would lipvo the support of the Canterbury Advancement League, and of the South Canterbury League. _ The Minister bad boon impressed with the extent of good land towardß the hills, and membert of Parliament to whom the proposal had been explained also supported it. . . . ' The motion was earned unanimously. Mr 6. T. Gale said there was a great extent of land now carrying sheep that would grow 40 to 50 bushels of wheat to tho' acre, and the people on the other side of the world wanted the wheat. A strong and representative committee was then sot tip.