THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16407, 30 December 1918, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES.

LAD-BROOKS. Tho crops are still on the improve, but a few showers of rain would bo very welcome. Knst has mado its appearanco in some of the turnip crops, and blight has attacked the potato, although its ravages as yet are not severe. Local farmers are not taking: kindly to the wheat- prices for 15)19-1920, which, with, tho heavy cost of sacks, wiil have a tendency to still further reduce the acreage. The dairying industry ia receiving most attention at present. .Several ladies from tho Y.TT.C.A.. Christchurch. are at present camping in the school "rounds, and are having a very enjoyable tiific. The new creamory erected by the Tai Tapu Dairy Company, opened on f-'atar-ciay. but tho building is not yet out of t!u; contractor's hands. SPRINGFIELD. The pupils of the Springfield school worn examined on October Kith by Mr C. P. Hardie, who at the same time examined the pupils of Standard VI. J'hfi following pupils gained proficiency ccrti'icatos : —Sheila McLeod, Annie v jiughan, May Hoglund, Lottie Dorward, Gordon Bryson, Harold Joiner. KANGIORA. Alter a s"cll of fine weather, welcome rain sot in about '2 p.tu. ycstf.dav. and continued for the rest of the day. llbot and <;ther crops will benefit bv the I moisture. ! SHEFFIELD. ■ At a meeting or the Patriotic Committee. a motion of sympathy was ps»3s--I(\t' 10 , relatives of tho late Private I. Guy. Correspondence was read irom Mr J. IJumm, Springfield Patriotic Committee aud Red Cross iScciety. Miss Jenkins was appointed to represent the local Bad Cross at the annual meeting Tho treasurer reported having remitted £110 to the Navy League. Ft was resolved to send notices to all those contributors to "Our Pay" fund who had not yet paid in their donations. Messrs Jenkins and Townshend were appointed trustees of the memorial section. It was decided to hold a public meeting next month to receive suggestions ;i,j to a suitable memorial to those fallen in the war, and to determine what form tho actual peace celebrations should take in the district. Mr and Mrs Townshend isstied invitations to the members of tho committee to spend an evening at their homo this week. TIXWALD. "With a view to adding to the enjoyment of the large number of picnic parties and others who visit the Tiuwaid Domain, tho Pomain Board recently purchased and placed on the lake a second roomy pleasure' boat. The Board has also done a largo amount of other good work, and has succeeded in making this Domain ono of tho most charming beauty spots in tho whole of the Ashburton district, and a pleasure resort which deserves to bcj. very widely known. It is situated about half a milo from the Timvald railway station, and every convenience has been provided for sports' gatherings, picnic parties, and other pleasure seekers. Large numbers of well-grown oniamontsil nnd other trees not. only give beauty to tho epot, but afford ample shelter from wind and sun when such shelter is noetled. There is a good quarter-mile running ami bicycle track, an up-to-date swimming bath and dress-ing-rooms, a tea and luncheon room

wliich v.'ill accommodate 100 at a sitting, with coppcr, and an abundance of firewood and water, and the oniv fee visitors siro asked to pay is a merely' nominal charge 1o adults for the uso of. the boats.- as a slight remuneration for tho services of Mr Carter, the caretaker, while in charge of tho boats, and while being on hand to guard against accidents. The lake on which the boats hare been placed is tho most oxtensivo arid finest sheet of ornamental water in i the Ashburton district. It is kept porfee.tly free of all vegetable growth, and '>v keeping a few yards from the edge of tho lake, and rowing round, visitors can enjoy a length of fully a mile. Tho lako is also well stocked with perch and other fish. The members of the Board held a special meeting at tho Domain a few days ago to decide on some further improvements. There Mere aleo several visitors present who were surprised and delighted to find such a charming rural beauty spot- so close to Ashburton. and within such a short distance of the town of Afihburton. In another part of tho same Domain, and still more conveniently situated for the majority of tho residents of Tinwald, thero are good tcrrnis courts and other attractions for a pleasant, outing.

WAIMATE. Tliere has been a slight recrudcecenco of tho epidemic, four cases being admitted to the hospital this week. Tho infection is believed to be duo to tho visit of travellers. Major Norton Francis, C.M.G., expects to bo relieved of his duties as Director of Base Records by the end of March. Tho winners of sections at tho local tennis, tournament, held on Thursdayand Friday, -were:—Ladies' Singles, Miss Violet- Meyers; Ladies' Doubles, Misses H. Opio and W. Black; Men's Singles, Cecil Jones; Men's Doubles, Manchester and Cocil .Tones.