THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16488, 3 April 1919, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. ' CHEVIOT. Mrs Skinner has receiv«l advice that her eon, Trooper Bruce Smith is returning to New Zealarid by the Kaikoura, due about April 1/tJi. SPRINGSTON. In the Methodist schoolroom a number of friends met to say good-byeto Mr and Mrs W. Blake more, and 31r and Mrs G. Blakemore, tliey having purchased land in Son tit Can r u . The chair was occupied by the Re\. JHarris, and a very pleasant evening was spent. Mr Harris presented Mi and Mrs W. Blakemore wlth A j Aficc H Kime, on behalf or Sf iCr. prfi Jlr 'c, BUtono» * A h t Thanksgiving services in connexion with, the Metliodwt Church, the preachers were Mr IX Jones and tho Rev. J. arr '?" • ! Mann, of "Weedons, sang, a solo in the evening. On the following Monda> a harvest festival and .sale ot work was | held, the results being very satiafaci to At the last meeting of the Springs Patriotic Committee, Air J. « • presided. It was decided to accord a number of men just gently returned a welcome home social on April 11 tn. The committee also dealt with matters affecting Peace Celebrations, and it was decided to arrange for a fitting celebration on the signing of peace. JtANGIORA. lie vital statistics for the. quarter ending March 31st, 1910, were, the figures for 1918 being given m paieatheses:—Births 28 (33), Heaths 9 (8), marriages 8 (3).

T .TTRSTOy Everv part of the EUesmere County was represented at a welcome social held in the Leeston Town Hall on Monday evening, in honour of the liev._ V\ . i Grigg, 0.F., formerly Methodist minister at Leo3ton, and a number of soldiers recently back from the front. The hall was filled in all parte. The Rev. V • Laycock presided. Addresses of welcome were given by the chairman, X/rVolckman (chairman of the Leeston Patriotic Committee 1 ), lie v. J. S. lleid, Messrs G. Sheat, D. Jones, J. Cunningham (chairman of the Ellesmeie County Council), and G. H. In the course of his reply, Chaplain Grigg said ho was glad to hear what the speakers had said in regard to the men who had borne the brunt of things—the men who carried the riflo and bayonet, or who stood behind tTio machine-gun oi* 18-pounder. He would always take off his hat to those men, for they deserved all the honour that could be botowed upon them. They had stood betwecn thf> enoxny and home for over four years. Ho had been with the men in some hot comers, but had never been afraid that the New Zealand hoys would let the enemy through; they had to be killed or maimed before that could happen. The padres had tried to do their best. Sometimes they felt it was very little they could do, but they could be with the boys in danger and in suffering, and thoy wished to bo comrades with the boys for over and ever. The returned men were going to strive hard to be good citizens. He appealed to his hearers to be considerate toward the men, and to give them a fair chance. Some of them had been through a great deal, and he trusted that the people would be patient toward them. Just as they had been a credit to their country "over there," so they would be now they were back if given a fail' chance. Sergeant Thwaites ako spoke on behalf of the returned men. and other items were given ,by Mrs F. Harnett, Misses Ramsey and Henderson, Sergeant Thwaites, and Mr F. Barnett, : Supper was served at the close.

SHEFFIELD. A meeting of the, committee of the local branch of tic Plunket Society was held on Monday afternoon. Final arrangements for holding a stall and providing morning tea at the A. and P. Show were made. It was resolved to meet on the first Thursday in each month. SHEFFIELD-WADDINGTON. The Sheffield Patriotic Committee has decided to set apart one of the peace days on which to'hold a monster celebration in the Sheffield Domain. Sub-committees have been appointed to carry out a procession, sports, and the ladies of the district will provide refreshments. In the evening a concert will be held, during which opportunity will he taken to welcome returning soldiers, and present the last of the souvenirs. Anzac Day will 'also be commemorated by a grand concert, at which short addresses will be delivered. . A public meeting is to be held to go into the question of a suitable war memorial. HALSWELL. A very enjoyable dance was held last week in aid of the Hall Fund. Being the first of its kind sine© the New Year, a large number assembled, several coming from outlying districts. « Mr' W. "Wilson was M.C., and Mr AY. Bettel pianist. Light refreshments were provided. The dance which was to have been held this evening has been postponed, owing to the death of Mr McCartney. BELFAST. The monthly meeting of the Belfast School Committee was held on Tuesday. Present: Messrs. Spencer . (chairman) Harris, Cleland, Lawn, Childs, Beagley, and th© Rev. T. Ournow (secretary). The headmaster's report showed, a roll number of 207, with an average attendance of 193.3. Correspondence was received from the Education Board with regard to certain improvements at the school grounds. A hearty vote_ of thanks was accorded to the teaching staff, and to all others who a-ssisted at the recent successful school picnic. ASHBURTON. William Laffey, who was charged before Mr J. B. Christian, J.F V at the Ashburton Court yesterday, with drunkenness, was fined 20s, in default 48 hours' imprisonment. The commercial pupils of the Ashburton Technical School presented Miss D. McClurg, who is leaving to take up a position in the Ashburton High School, with an ebony-backed mirror and brush, and a silver manicure set. A narrow escape from drowning occurred in the Ashburton river on Sunday last. 1 A boy, six years old, was playing with other children on the banks of the river when ho fell in. A girl named Ivy Bright, oleven years of age, who was in the vicinity, rescucd the boy. The milk supply problem has been temporarily solved by a local vendor making a stand with his cart between 7.30 and 8 p.m. at the water tower, about half a mile from the Post Office, and at the Technical School between 8.15 and 9 a.m., and sei-ving any cash customers who can make it convenient to send to either-of tlie.se places for their daily supply of milk. Yesterday morning about 20 gallons were fold at the 'water tower stopping place, and about 20 gallons opposite the Technical School. . The long spell of dry weather at present being experienced is telling its tale in almost every pari of the Ashburton County. In many instances, especially along the sea border,, all grass paddocks are looking parched, and in cases-where the grass was fairly plentiful it has literally died off. Toward the hills, however, the absence of moisture is not so noticeaiilc. ;ilthough there has been a remarkable falling off of feed in these places. Xotwith,-

standing the growing shortage of feed, stock is looking well. The turnip crops are badly in need of rain, and tho leaves are beginning to colour, and unless a change takes place soon winter feed will be very scarce. Ploughing is being pushed ahead, but the ground being dry and hard, some difficulty is being experienced. At the very "least two or three days' rain is required to put the land in anything like order for tilling.

TTABIATE. Sergeant-Major W. Edmonds has been presented with tlie 2o years' meritorious service medal. He was on Gallipoli, and saw service some years ago in India. The Peace Celebration programme* was decided upon at a public meeting on Tuesday night-. On tho Sunday there mil be a combined religious open-air servit■»; the Monday will open T\Tfch a grand procession, in -which various prize displays will ho seen, and tho whole will move to Victoria Part, where an impromptu sports' gathering will take place. On tho Tuesday there will be a great children's day in the Tsig Pari:, v. lion a).l the county wilt celebrate. I'or tile ?;hole about £200 will be available, and tho>. Fire Brigade is asked to disburse £2o on fireworks and manipulate same. All committees v.ill report to a general meeting on April 16th.