THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17062, 5 February 1921, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

Jottings for Farmers. A -conference between representatives of the New Zealand Sheepowners Association and of the New Zealand Workers' Union is to -open, in Wellington next Wednesday, tho object ot wUiici is to arrive, if possible, at Itomimo-n' ratks of pav for shearers, shed hands, machine exp'erts, and cratchers. HANMER SPRINGS. What proved'to be a most successful concert was held on Wednesday. nigjbt in the Hanmer Hall. The iunction had been promoted for the purpose ot rasing iTiids for the maintenance ot tne Church of England parish motor-car. As a result, about £3O was netted, ltte performers were nearly all «dv members of Queen Mary SospKaV stafl and patients at tho hospital. The former were prcttilv dressed m black voile and white with mab-caps, and the men also -wore distinctive dress. Ihe-Kev. Canon Smith, vicar/ gave a brief ad-, dress both at the commencement and at the conclusion of the proceedings. The following contributed to the programme:—The Hospital Orchestra (Misses Acheson and Johnstone, ana Messrs Wilson, Lander, Rainey, Brown, •and Navlon), Mrs Hanuier .Atkinson, Miss Avson.'Miss Acheson. Miss Johnstone, Miss L. Turner, Mr E. 0 Connor, Mr Boughen, Mr Jack'Rodgera. Mrl>. B.'O'Connor, and Mr C. J. Gallop The programme was concluded .with; .a sketch, entitled "Once, a Year," the parts being taken by Misses Johnstone and Turner, and Messrs Boughen and-Steed-Roberts. Miss Kitty bornmers played the accompaniments. Miss i-»-Taylor, tho promoter, worked, hard to make tho concert a success, and is to be -congratulated on the result. _ Since the instructional farm m connexion with Queen Mary Hospital has gone out of business, about four-acres of the area, has been converted into'a market garden, and tho remainder has ] been sown down to gr'as3 with"the .best mixtures of seeds procurable. It is thus hoped to mako the area a productive asse't to the hospital when the plans .of the supervising, department are developed. The outfit of implements, horses, and equipment has. nowibeen transferred, to the Mawiheraiti experimental farm,' on the West Coast. / Practically the whole of the market-gardening work, is done bv tho patients, under the supervision of tho'manageiyMr D. R. Willis, and is looked upon as a portion.of their' curative treatment.' It is understood that, so far, the results have been, beneficial. The men appear;to take an.interest in the work. .'••. The -weather now lias a more settled 'appearance, three fine;days in succession, having been experienced. As -a result of tho recent rains, hitherto parched areas have assumed a green tinge, and feed is coming away well: Spring-sown crops of oats on light-land, Which looked fit for feeding off.only, have improved! greatly, and; areas wilr now bo fit. for .Teaping. A spell, of-fine weather, would be welcome. ■ An employee on-St. James. Station, named Peter Sinclair, died at. the : Ada out-station on Wednesday from' pneumonia.. The station manager had'been busy with,' the shearing in' at tho-frbnty and had. not been made aware of Aha: man's condition. Major RUiind; of the hospital, rode out,;but was too late to bo of any assistance,' as the man died a couple of hours after -the doctor's arrivals. . . . . « On Wednesday afternoon a number of local friends presented Mrs Ghas. Garmichael with ar Church Praise and- a suede-covered tea-cosy, prior to her- departure. Mrs Garmichael has' been! a great church worker. % - LOBITRN. A meeting of -the district '■Fruitgrowers' Association was held on Wednesday evening in the. hall, Mr'T. V. Hughes presiding. It was decided to use every effort in the prevention of the.spread of fire blight. A resolution was unanimously carried* in favour of. charging for fruit eases. It was arranged to have a field day on February 26th. HOBNBY-ISIiINGTON. An enjoyable birtikday party -was held in the.Orange Hall,,Hornby, on Tuesday evening, being given.by Mr and Airs George Standeven, of''Hornby, to celebrate the coming-of-age of their eldest daughter, Maude Amelia. About 100 guests were present. The evening was spent in games and dancing. Mr C. Lennox acted as M.C., Messrs Fuller, Sutherland, and McGrath supplying the music. The Misses Topham and Stanton sang a duet,.and Mr E. Brassington contributed a song. After supper, a niojt pleasant evening was brought to a. close with tlho singing of "She's,a J*>lly Good Fellow", and! "Auld'Lang Syne." Miss Standeven was the recipient of a large number of'useful presents. LEESTONV ;"-''■ —~ A large and representative gathering of Ellesmere County residents assembled at' the Leeston. Town Hall on Thursday night to farewell Mr and Mrs R. F. Marshall, who are leaving Leeston. Dancing was indulged in to excellent music supplied by Mr J. R. Mcßrvde, and several vocal 'items were given. The Ellesmere Pipe Band, of which Mr Marshall was tihe founder and conductor, contributed several pieces in capital style. The function- was tendered by the Leeston Football Club and its supporters and the Pipe Band. Mr P. J. Eccleton.. who presided, presented Mr and Mrs Marshall, on behalf of the football club, with, a fine cabinet of stainless cutlery, and referred 1 to the keen interest Mr Marshall has taken in all forms of sport, but especially in football. The-chairman's remarks were endorsed by Messrs W. O. Ronnie and R. Patterson. Mr D.. H. Reid, the newleader of the band, presented the guests with a handsome marble clock. Mr Marshall made a suitable reply. Earlier in the week Mr and Mrs Marshall were entertained at a social by the parishioners of the Catholic Churchy when the Rev. Father Creed presented Mr-Mar-shall with a valuable gold watch, and Mrs Marshall .with a Nellie Stewart bangle. Complimentary references to the good qualities-of the, guests were made by the Rev. Father Leen (Lincoln), and Messrs W. J. McEvedy, MTwiss, and P, J. Eccleton.