THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16848, 31 May 1920, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

Jottings for Farmers. Mr C. Branigan, Stock Inspector n: Ashburton, states that the stock, on the back country runs are in ur>t- * condition. Tho mild autumn lias p - Tided an abundance of iced, which ■ - not yet suffered by the frosts. *- mustering of sheep from the ingiiei slopes has. been completed. OXFORD. At the monthly meeting of the Oxford W.C.T.U. a resolution was expressing sympathy with Mre Lewis in her ilfness. Votes of thank.-* vonaccorded to Messrs Hyde, Judson, Thompson, and Crowe for their help oa Show Day. The president introduced Mrs Watkins, of Christchurch. who gave a most interesting and instructive address on home musing, followed by a practical demonstration of sponging and bandaging. Mrs \\a - kins received a vote of thanks, vn new member was initiated. The potato crops throughout txie district vary from very iair to good. Every opportunity has been taken on fine days to 'get as many lifted as pcs-sibic, and growers have been working at high pressure. Labour for tinsand other tilings is very scarce. I - Klow pries being offered for potatoes ! h?,s induced .growers to pit or o:. ev- | wise -store. The crops arc remarkably clean, blight or other diseases being almost entirely absent.

SOtJTHBEIBGE. A sum of about £280 was taken at the bazaar held at Southbridgc on Thursday, under the auspices or John's * Presbyterian Church. The affair was opened by Mr James Stoiij> of Christcliurcii, who was closely associated with fc>t. John .-i irom tne tinio the church was built until a year a S°> when he removed to Cliristchure.i. An. excellent display of goods was made. The stallholders were: —Sweets, Misses McPherson and D. Roi (in charge); pot plant';, Mesdames Scott and Y.-eb-stcr and Misses Abbott and Crav.iordj produce, 'Mesdames Benny, Campbell, and rarkin, and Misses Campbell, Alexander, and Goulden: variety, Mesdames Roi and Grcenall, and Misses Lewis and MeGill: refreshments, Mesdames Chapman, Lawrence, Thompson, Glanville, and Malcolmsou, and blisses Gomm-ell (2), Gilbert and Simpson; bran tub, Mrs Butler and Misses Benny and Campbell; competitions, Misses J. Hannah, Kibblewhite, Cowan, Goulden, and Messrs Ford and Pillcington; nail driving, etc., -Messrs i Benny (2), Gilbert, Genmiell,. Howatson, Ford, Hubbard, ar.d Parkin. Selections were given by the. 32! leaner© Pipe Band and Mr D. T. Matson conducted a sale of produce.

eaiapoi. A salo of work and produce, arranged 'by. the Girls' Friendly Society in aid of St. Saviour's Orphanage, was lield in. St. Bartholomew's Church schoolroom on Saturday afternoon. In spite of the stormy weather there was a gqpd attendance. The proceeds amounted to over £30. The Kaiapoi branch of It.vS.A. held a 'successful reunion in the Drill Hall on Saturday evening. The presi"dent, Mr W. H. Stark, presided over a representative attendance of members of the A ssociation and local bodies. The proceedings took the form of a smoke concert, various toasts being honoured. Musical and elocutionary ■ items were given by Messrs H. Malcolm, It. Brown, G. Hirst, R. Hayman, and | W. Simpson. LEESTON. Kubscritrtions to the Kllesmcm County Wnr Memorial Fund now total about £2200. At a meeting of the Lcoston Bowling, Tennis, and Croquet Club, Mr It. M. 2tobert«'on was elected treasurer in place of Mr J. E. Carter, who ha 3 left the district. It was decided to top dress the bowling green immediately and to hold a dance on a date to be fixed. A resolution of sympathy was passed with the' widow and family of the late Mr J. F. Donald, and it was decided to place on rccord an appreciation of Mr Donald's services to tlie club. BROOKSIDE. The Rev. H. O. Hnnby presided over the. annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Luko's, Brookside, held on Thursday at the residence of Mr _G. Stephens. Mr A. E. Withcll, parishioners' warden, presented a statement showing a surplus of £60 5s- It was decided to have the church painted. Mr Witholl was clected warden, and Messrs Withcll and J. Hie;ht were nominated for re-election as Brookside members of the district vestry. The vicar commented upon tho satisfactoy condition of the church finances, and appealed to the parishioners not to let tho subscriptions fall into arrears simply because they had a surplus in hand. In his last parish the whole of the church expenses had been paid by members a year in advance, thus giving a stable finrfacial position to the vestry. The customary votes of'thanks were passed. HINDS. There was a large gathering iu tho Hinds Hall on Friday evening at a concert gives by the liinds Patriotic Committee to prominent workers. Mr JM. Hampton occupied the chair. Tho following programme was successfully carried out: —Songs, Miss Dell, Mrs D. Shaw, jun., Messrs S. W. Scott, C. Brannigan, J. Johns, J. Cant, Rev. J. F. Feron; recitations, Miss "Dell, Ivlr C. Branuigan ; step-dancing, Mr Johns; musical items. Hiss 0. McKenzie and Ati- ?ileDon:ild. The chairman, in a eulogistic speech, referred to the vast ntnouat- of work done by the secretary, Mr J. Cook, during the war period, and presented him with a. roll-top writingdesk. Mr H. Wills referred the valuable assistance rendered by Miss Hampton and Mr J. Milieu in supplying tho music for all the dances, and presented eacli with a pair of silvermounted ebony brushes. Ho presented Mr J Elms with a fountain pen in recognition of his services as doorkeeper. The recipients suitably responded. A vote of thanks to all those who had helped with the. concerts, especially Miss Rogers. Mrs D. Shaw, jun. (nee Rogers'), and Miss 0. McKenzie, was carried by acclamation. Three, cheers were given for the chairman, Mi" J. M. Hampton. After a dainty supper a dance wr>« held. Mr D. Faterson acted as M.C.

ASHBUETDN. At a meeting of Allenton residents, held on Fridav, it was decided to erect a stone memorial with an honours plate affixed in the school grounds, as a memorial to the men of the Allenton district who served in the war. A committee, consisting of Messrs R. Houston (convener), T. Rainey. F. Meakm, and Smith, was appointed to arrange for the memorial. It was decided that the ceremony of unveiling the memorial Be arranged to synchronise with tho opening of the main school. - . The esteem in which Mr John Cairns, late chairman of the Ashburton County Council, is held, was demonstrated on Fridav afternoon, when a very representative gathering met at his homestead at iVakanui and presented hini with an illuminated address. Mr Jfc. Frampton presided, and ~as supported bv Mr Alex. Drummond (County chairman), and Mr JR.. Galbraith (Mayor at Ashburton). Eulogistic speech as were maJe bv the chairman. es f rs T ?>" braith, AV. T. Lill, F. W. Watt, J R. Begg. and Alex. Xhrammond. The - named referred at some length to • Cairns's long miblic service pud i-a. that through illness, the f*? J"fn I the services of a man who copjd no Ibe spared. He felt. the district jras | under a great obligation to Mr Ca.

WAIMATE. The Borough Council passed the estimates, including an item of £40, honorarium for the mayor. It is the first time any mayor has received payment. The Comity Council has accepted, with regret. the resignation of the enMr Charles E. Breinner, who is ren'.orinp to Temuka, as engineer to the Gerrtldine County Conncil. after twenty years in his present position. A resolution *vns adopted appreciative of Mr Bremner's services, and granting him three months' leave on full pay. The Morven Anglicans raised £100 by a bazaar in aid of the Sunday school building fund. Mr J. Bite-honor. M.P.. in an opening address, described the native bazaars he had seen in the streets of the townships in ihe Pacific Islands.

The annual meeting of ihe "Waimate Acclimatisation Society was held on Friday nicht. The balance-sheet showed n credit of £'76. The following council was elected: —Messrs F. Gollock (chairman), Nash. "Wilson. Will. F. Jones. Mines, R. Smith, Higgins, Harrison, Mnmford, Dolphin, and Dellow: vice-presidents, Messrs Wilson and Smith : treasurer, Mr Nash: secretary, Mr Frank Walker. It was stated that the run of salmon wns late this season.