THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16479, 24 March 1919, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. * OXFORD A. AND P. SHOW. Given fine weather, the Oxford Show, to be held on -April 3rd, promises to be a succcss. In spito of many disabilities, the entries have come in satisfactorily. Owing to the continued drv weather the entries for roots ar low. Had ordinary conditions prevailod, the total entries won d probablj have been a record, for the t0^ a *. ° those now received is 1104, a n u that has been exceeded on only one occasion. The most notable 'J icr ® a 1 s ® in the number of cattle entered, and t e exliibition in this section promises to be the best that Oxford has seen. >.0 fewer than 76 animals have been entered, tho greatest increase being in Shorthorn classes. , The following are the entries under the various headings, with tnose or last Tear given in parentheses : Draught horses -16 (32), light horses OS (66) cobs and ponies 71 (50), fat sheep 5J (4o), etoro sheep 06 (46), purebred snoop 4_ (71), cattle 82 (63), pigs 0 (0), dogs 2w (17). poultrv 35 (51). grain and seeds 21 (27), roots S4 (145), house and dairy •237 (182). fruit 34 (38). flowers /O;U0), fancy 75 (33), art €2 (36). competitions 32 ( : 24]i; totals, 1104 (1050). JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS. That there is good money in harvesting cocksfoot has just been proved by tho exnerienco of two Wanganui 1 esidents. Tho cocksfoot crop was specially ■good along tho Main Trunk and tho two men in question decided to go harvesting. For scvon weeks they stuck at their work and 6aved 110 bags of seed. The estimated value of tlio saving is £450 in its present state, which will be considerably augmented when put through the soed-cleaning machines.

OXFORD. The weather of tho past fortnight has been excessively dry, and parching, and the consequences to tho farmers are serious. Besides" the grass paddocks becoming bare and burnt, rape ana turnips are ruined. Crops - that three weeks ago were of the most promising nature, inducing the purchase of sheep, have ceased to exist, and what turnips there are have become soft and pulpy. The outlook is not cheering. The nor'-wester of last week played «reat havoc, in tho orchards, stripping the trees of most of their fruit. A squally rain last Monday night for half an hour, registering 10 points, gave some respite. Tho nights have a tendency to frost. SOUTHBROOK. Private E. Doggett, the first ex-pupil of the Southbrook school to return from the front, was given a welcome by tho local school children on his arrival on Friday. The master, Mr Moreland, had the children lined up on the roadside, and, as Private Doggett left the tram, three hearty cheers were accorded him. , SOUTHBRIDGE. Mr H. J. Sutton presided over the monthly meeting of tho Southbridge District High School Committee. Miss Glanville, who had offered a medal for the idux in the secondary department, asked to bo informod of the name of the winner. It was stated that the winner had not yet been decided., It was docided to hold the annual picnic in tho Southbridge Domain next Thursday. The headmaster reported tho avorage attendances to be as follows: Primary 14G.6, secondary 35. The roll numbers wero tho highest for at least nine yoars. Tho secondary department room was altogether unsuited to the requirements, the mistress and her pupils having to work under great disabilities. Under the new allowance per pupil there was only sufficient accommodation for '26 pupils, whereas the average attendance was 35. Miss Annio Joyce had been appointed probationer. Several mombors spoke of the unsuitable naturo of tho secondary room and tho inadequacy of tlio accommodation, and it was decided to make application to the Board of Education for the erection of a new room, to be detached from the present school buildings, the Hon. C. A. C. Hardy to be asked to support the application. At a meeting of the Southbridge Patriotic Committee, held on Thursday evening, the resignation of Mr C. H. Piper, as chairman and member, was accepted, and Mr E. J. Cowan was elected chairman.

Mr G. F. Beer, who lias been a member of the rni'vay staff at Southbridge for somo considerable time, is resigning from the service, in order to take up farming pursuits. As 'secretary of the District High School Committee, Mr liccr has been a useful man in the district. ELLESMERE COUNTY. The continued fine weather has enabled farmers to make great headway with their harvest work, and within the next week or ten days the threshing of grain crops should bo practically finished. Is'pt for a long time have the mills had' so few interruptions this season. Pea and clover crops which had been cut were blown about in all directions by the . '.rong gale a week ago, and it was a common sight to see largo quantities piled up against gorse fences. A well-known threshing mill owner, of many years' standing, states that he has had no trouble whatever in manning his two plants this season. The tbams ho set out with at the beginning of the season have remained with him right ug to the present. They appeared to bo well satisfied with the conditions under which they were working, and with the rates of pay. For several weeks the mills were averaging between 8000

and QOOO bushels of grain a weak. Tho millowner referred to remarked that his experiences this season were in striking contrast) to those of last season, when ho had to pay close on £6 in registry office fees. KAIAPOI.

The third annual picnic of tho North Canterbury Freezing Company's employees was held on Saturday, in the Kaiapoi Park. A lengthy programme of sports had be«?n arranged, but after a few events had been got off heavy rain set in, compelling an adjournment. Tho Drill Hall was sccured for the afternoon, and a dance was hold, the music being supplied by the Kaiapoi Band.

EAXGIORA. After several weeks of very dry weather, a pleasant change took place on Saturday. A thunderstorm came up from tli*e north-v.-est, and, after playing about the hills for a timo, changed round to the south-west. A good shower of rain then fell, which continued for about two hours. Although it was short, it will do a little gooa. For years Rangiora has been verj much handicapped in not having a hal befitting the town. _ The present nail which has boon built close on fifti years, was quite good enough for thi

j requirements* of the town in the years I ' gone bv, but it is years behind the i times now. It is <iuitc time for the mattor to be taken in hand, and a hall built such as would be a credit to the ! township. Various discussions have taken place at the Borongh Council j meetings, and at meetings of tlio Liter-j arv Institute Committee, who are trustees of the ball. The unanimous opinion is , that the time has come when a definito, proposal should be brought forward. | On Wednesday week the committee will meet to consider various matters in connexion with the Institute Library and Hali, and it might discuss the proposal to hand the hall over to the Council, with the understanding that j immediate steps -will be taken to seriouslv consider the erection of an up-to- ( ; date" hall and library. j ! On Saturday afternoon Miss G. Rogers ; j entertained about 40 of her music pupils 1 |at an afternoon in the Oddfellows' Bali, j

A good programme of solos, musical' items, recitations, otc., was given, a very pleasant afternoon being spent. _ A large crowd gathered at Queen Vic- j toria Park yesterday afternoon, when • the Rangiora Brass Band gave a very good musical programme, tho baudmaster, Mr G. Humphries, conducting. The rain which occurred on Saturday caused the postponement of local sports, including a cricket match between the Farmers' Co-op. and the D.1.C., and a bowling match. MARSHLAND. The Marshland Hall was crowded on Thursday evening, 011 the occasion of a welcome homo to Corporal P. X. Treleaven (M.M.), Corporal W. McFadden, and Gunner H. T. Wilson. Mr W. J. Walter presided. Songs were contributed by Misses May Soutlion, Vera Quaid, and Froda Rickerby. the Jtev. T. M. Curnow. and Messrs P. Basker,

L. Wilson, and H. Perryman. and a recitation by Miss Myrtle Schimanski. The three soldiers were presented with the Society's gold medals, which were pirnod on by Mesdames E. Moles, I\. Crozier, and F. Free. Brief addresses of welcome were delivered the Rev. T. M. Curnow and Messrs "\\ . J-, W alter, and J. Voss. Tlie soldiers suitably responded, and werfe loudly choered. The audience »then sang "For They are Jolly Good Fellows." Music for the dancing was supplied by Mr P. Tipler. Mr A. Rogal was M.C. Just prior to tho influenza epidemic, the scholars of tho two senior classes of tlio Marshland school competed for certificates offered bv the Navy League and the Victoria League for the first and second best essays on one of several suggested naval topics. Tho selections mc.de by the hondmaster have since been confirmed by the-League's supervisor, tho winners being: Standard \l.,Doris Bock 1, Boryl Wilkinson 2: Standard V., Annie Rogal 1, Doris Lange 2. Miss S. Voice, ■an ex-pupil of the Marshland school, who has spent three years in the secondary departmont at tho West Christchurch District Hign School, has been appointed to tlio P° s } _ tion of probationer at the local school. Miss E. A. Brophy is leaving the district at the end of this month, to join the staff of the~ Beckonham school.

The residents of tlio district sire wondering when tho electric lighting system will be in operation. It is understood that tho vexatious delay is caused by inability to procure the neccssary poles from Australia. HORNBY-ISLIK GTON. A presentation was made to Mr J. F. Ross (who has recently left the district) by the congregation of St. David's Presbyterian Church. Hornby, at the close of the harvest thanksgiving servicos. Mr Sinclair, tho resident missionary in charge, presented Mr Ross with a handsome eight-day clock, and spoke very highly of the good work done for the church during his stj>y in the district by the recipient, who had held the position of church, scci otary for over six years, and also of clerk vof the Kirk Session for over twelve months. Mr D. Macintosh, elder of the church, also spoke of Mr Itoss's sterling worth during tho eight years lie had been asso- j ciated with the church, and wished him ' success in his new home. Mr Ross I

briefly returned thanks. Private Colin Ibbetson. second son of Mr aud Airs J. Ibbetson, of Islington, arrived home on Saturday morning. Private Ibbetson left New Zealand in the Canterbury Infantry battalion, with the 27th Reinforcements. On disembarking at an English port he injured liis spine, and, consequently, was detained there in camp. Ho was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, 23 years ago, and carao out with his parents to -the Dominion about eight years ago. Ho received a short period of his education at the Hornby public school, and, prior to enlisting, was employed by the New Zealand Railway Department at tho Islington works. AKAROA. .The youthfitff members of Mrs Alfred Rhodes's knitting class closed down their war labours on Friday afternoon. For over two years some twenty of them spent two hours at the end of oach week in making woollen articles for the men ub tlio front. Their output included 250 pairs socks, o pairs bed socks, 12 kneecaps, 5 pairs operation caps, 12 face cloths, and 92 girdles. Before parting the girls warmly thanked Mrs Rhodes for tho keen, motheriy interest she had taken in them. Mrs Rhodes _ returned the compliment- by expressing .cordial approval of the girls' unllagging zeal and interest in their work.

The committee of the Akaroa Boating Chi I) met on Friday night, Mr Maxwell Kearney (club captain) presiding over a good attendance. It was resolved to take out a fresh insurance policy of £1000 to cover tho boathouse and plant. An offer from the Christchurch Druids' Concert Party to give an entertainment on April sth in aid of the funds of the club was accepted with cordial thanks. Two new membors wero elected, making ■ a total of fifteen for the season. It was decided to havo the photograph of Mr Geo. Whclch, the club's old sculling champion, framed and hung in the boathouso.

An alarm of fire was given at 10.30 on Saturday morning. Sparks from tho butter factory chimney had lodged in the old two-storey house adjoining, which also belongs to the butter company, and, fanned, by the strong southerly wind, had soon burst into flames. The Brigade was on the spot with commendable promptitude, and in a short time had put an end to tho outbreak. ASHBURTON. The butter-fat test in connexion with tho Ashburton Autumn Show, held on Thursday, resulted as follows: —T. McDowell, 281b milk, test 4.1 fat lM7'2lb; T. McDowell, 201b milk, test 4.5 ib, fat .900; D. McKenzie, 171b milk, test 5.2, lbs fat .684. At the Police Court on Saturday, before Mr F. W. Watt, J.P.,. Leslie Charles Thackwell was charged with stealing a bicycle, valued at £6, the property of It. Dutton, Tai Tapu. Accused was remanded.

TEMUKA. Three Temuka men arrived by the special troop train on Friday, namely, Privates J. King, H. Philp, and I<\ Lindsay. Private Gardiner was also expected, but did not arrive. The train was met by a large number of the public, and the Temuka Juvenilo Band was in attendance. The soldiers were driven to the Post Office, where tlio Mayor (Mr A. Frew) and Mr T. Gunnion welcomod them. Privates King and Philp returned thanks for . the hearty welcome accorded them. After tlio welcome the men were driven home in care lent by Messrs \V. Hally, C. H. Street, and T. Sheen. On Thursday evening Brigadier Carmichael, Salvation Army Divisiona secretary for Canterbury, paid his first visit to tho Temuka. Corps, ant was given a hearty welcome in th< Army Hall. Tho Mayor (Mr A. Frew presided. gov oral speeches of wel >d~ Brigadier C

com© were made. .Brigadier Car- [ michael, in returning thanks, spoke earnestly in favour of prohibition, and referred with approval to the tonr of Father Cronin throughout the Dominion. During the evenings songs and choruses were sung, and a selection was given by tho band. Votes of thanks were passed to the -Mayor and Rev. Griffin.