THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17320, 5 December 1921, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

Jottings for Farmers* "1 do not think we should quibble at Is 9d per hour. It is a very good reduction l'rom 2s Gd, :! remarked a speaker at a meeting of tlio Farmers Union in Masterton, when harvest rates were under discussion. One shilling and niueponeo was agreed upon, except for stackers, for whom no rate was fixed. "'Two shillings per hour would he a fair rate if we could get the men to earn it," was 3 statement by another speaker that met with general approval. OXFORD. There was a moderate attendance. at the annual meeting ct the Oxford W.C.T.TJ. The president briefly reviewed the year's work, and thanked the members for their loyalty and co-oper-ation. The balance-sheet was adopted, a vote of thanks being passed to the auditor, Mr L. Watson. Reports from the various superintendents showed there were 65 subscribers to tho ""White Ribbon," which, with eight free copies, made a circulation of 73 in the Ostorrt district. Over 200 visits had been paid to the sick and sorrowing, and "there wero 57 cradle roll members at _present. A meeting was being arranged for January, when it was hoped to jnaugurate a branch of the Plunket Society. Mrs R. H. Gainsford spoke of the devoted way in which-Mrs G. Ryde had served tho union as president for seven years, and said they all regretted that she would not accept re-ap-pointment. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mrs- Ryde, and to all the outgoing officers. The election resulted as follows: President, Mrs Hawke; secretary, Mrs Comyns; as-sistant-secretary, Mrs C. W. Tritt; treasurer, Miss Caverhill; superintendents, evangelistic, Miss Gainsford; cradle roll, Mrs R. H. Gainsford and Mrs Roy; "White Ribbon," Mrs T. Gainsford; flower mission, Mrs Cooper; home meetings, Mesdames J. Clark, 1). Jones, and G. Ryde. It was decided that the January meeting should bo an evangelistic one, and should be addressed "by Miss Gainsford. WAEKAEI What might have been a very serious fire ocurred at tho county clerk's residence at Waikari at about 6.40 on Saturday morning. Mr W. T. Lindsay, county clerk, noticed smoke drifting into the yard, and, on investigation, discovered a room on the north-ea*t of the building in flames. A large water tank was quite handy, and. with the plucky assistance of his wife, he managed to keep the fire from spreading until Messrs Kepplsr and Ashley arrived, and, with their assistanceit was extinguished'. The room was completely gutted, and damage to the extent of about £SO was done. Had ii not been for the close proximity of the water tank the whole premises must hare been destroyed. The building is an old one, having been built about forty-six years ago, but it had recently been added to, and could not now be replaced under £2OOO. Both the building and the furniture wera insured in the Standard Insurance Office, SOUTH MALVERN DISTRICT. At th 0 Coalgate sale on Friday Mr Jennings made reference to' the death of Captain P. Woodcock. A motion of sympathy with his widow was passed and Mr Jennings agreed to convey it tb Mrs Woodcock. The First Aid Class is continuing under r/itlier trying weather conditions That tho weather on the whole has been good of late, it has so happened that the night of the fortnightly meeting has reduced tho attendance. In spite of this drawback the class has made good progress under the instruction .of Mrs S. A. Watkins, and the first examination will be heldjOn Wednesday. • LASide. ' ; A most successful concert; was given iti the Lakeside Memorial Hall 0n..Thursday night by tho Bristol Concert "Party in aid of the hall piano fund. There was / a large audience and tho programme was thoroughly The performers wero Mr and Mrs R. eF Homo Misses Madge Wilton and Doris Taylor, and Messrs D. MoGill, Frank McDonald, R. 'A. Turner, A. L. Sutton and Harold Lane. Mr Home placed the accompaniments. At the conclusion tho party was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, and Messrs R. Graham, Nottingham and Dickie were thanked for motoring the party out from town. After supper a dance was held. The financial re3ult was very satisfactory. SOCTTHBEIDOB.. A committeo meeting of the Southbridge Football Club waa held to decide nbout the ■•isposal of funds raised during the season by means of socials and concerts Mr P. Delargey (president.) was in the chair. It was decided to hand £3O to M. Taiaroa (who had his leg broken in a match), £4 10s each to L. Adams and H. Hannah (who met vitli injuries), £2 2s to the Southbridge school Sports Fund, and £5 to tho Ellesmore Domain Board toward the cost of providing seats in the Southbridge Recreation Groupd, the total amount voted being £4-6 2s. The club started th e season with a debit balance of over £2O, and lnrge'ly through the efforts ■ of the secretary (Mr S. Woods) all liabilities -vere wiped off and after meeting ordinary working expenses the club will carry forward a credit balance of about £25 to next season. ASHLEY 3ANKOn Friday evening a most enjoyable social and dance was held in the schoolroom in aid of the local school picnic and prize funds. A goodly number of parents and friends were present, and as a result of the effort the funds will benefit to the extent of over £7. The following contributcd to the profframme : —Misses Boyee, G. Stringer, E. K'.ng, and V. E. Steel, and Mr Cameron. -Mr S. G. Smith officiated as M C. for the dance, the music beiric supplied by Miss Bowbyes and Mr Williams. Extras were played by Miss Guy and Mr Whithara. HINDS. There was a good attendance at St. Luke's Church on Friday evening, when the Rev. F. A. Crawshaw was inducted into tlio charge of the parish. Th.o service was conducted by the Rer, J. F. Wisemnu. vicar of Ashburton. After tho ceremony the new vicar officiated it the evening service. The lessons were read by tho Rev. Mr Barnett, vicar ol Tinwald. and the icnnon was preached 'by the Rev. J. T. '\Vlseman, on operation."' Afterwards there was a welcome in the "hall, to'lowed by supper provided by the ladies. Mr J. Cook, parishioners' churchwarden, formally welcomed the new vi r -ar and his wife, and family. Mr spoke. The vicar, itr responding, said ho felt that ho had a call from God to com© to Hinds. Although games were'necessary for physical well-being, j his main work would be winning souls ; for the Master. He would preach tho ' Gospel in plain language, and always j welcome loving criticism. ASHBURTON. ! A special train of eighteen fully occupied carriages left . Ashburton °a Saturday morning with the Hampstead school onildren, parents, and others who proceeded to Caroline Bay, Timaru, for the annual picnic. The Ashburton Motor Cycling Club held a sports meeting in the Imwald Domain- qh Saturday afternoon in aid > of the "Ashburton Borough srhool J grounds improvement funds. A splen- ; did programme was got through and i great interest was taken in each event, j Owing to the Methven races, a big | school «xcui iiou to Tiinaru and other [ counter-attractions, there wat. not a

hrge attendance, stili the Borough school funds will benefit- substantially. WAIMATE. A concert in aid of the funds of St. Joseph's ConYent was held in the Morten Hall, when thero was a packed at-" tendance. The following were tlio items-—Part 1.: Overture, Miss Delahunt; Bluebird Ballet, pupils of Mrs Bronn ; soloist, Misa W. Harris; song, Mr J Twomev; Irish Jig, Baby Shiela Leonard: song and dance, Mus Sranotte; ■sailor's hornpipe, Misses I. Fulton and V Leonard; song, Miss SUrimpton: song, Miss Craighead; tambourine dance and song, Miss Ferriter; Highland Fling, Misa Jloya Leonard; too dance, Miss Joan Meredith; skipping rope dance, Misses Brownhe: Hawaiian butterfly dance, Morven pupils. Part 2: Overture, Miss Delr.hunt; winter ballet, Misses Fulton, Flynn, and Meredith; song, Miss Sinno'tte: Irish Jig, Miss V. Leonard; Highland Fling, Morven pupils; song, Miss Shriirpton; pianoforte duet, Misses Gay Beeves and Hilda Collis; castanette dance, Misses Watson; ballet, Miss Marian Costello ; song, Miss Craighead, to.j dance, Misses iSilton; song, Mr J. Twomey; medley, by the pupils. Among the Waimate district exhibitors at tlio Otago A. and P. Society's Annual Show, the following were successful :—Sheep; English Leiceaters, ram over 30m05., I. Andrew 1; ram over 18mos. and under 30m05., I. Andrew 1 and reserve; ram under 18mos., I. Andrew 1; shorn ram over 18mos. and und-*r dOtnps., I. Andrew 1; shorn ram un*ler 18mos., I. Andrew 1; ewe over 18mos., I.' Andrew 1 and champion; eiv 0 under 18mos., I. Andrew; shorn ewe under lßmos., I. Andrew. Corriedales—Earn under 18mos., I. Andrew 1 and h.c.: two rams under "LSnius | I. Andrew 1; ram shorn, I. Andrew 1 and h.c.; ew© under 18mos., 1 Andrew 3; two ewes under 18mos., J. Andrew 3; shorn ewe under 18mos., Andrew 1 and 2. Pigs: Yorkshires — Bo.ir under H. Allnut 1; sow any age, H. Allnutt; sow under 12m05., H." Allnutt. Horses: Hackneys—Hunter, and weight, over 3ft. 6in. hurdles, E. B. Harrison 2. Roadster or hack, list., ridden, E. B. Harrison 1. horse, E. B Harrison's "Rock Ahoy ' 'ridden by Miss E. McLachlan). Cattle: Friesians —Yearling bull, H. Allnutt's "Ternna s Model"' 1; cow in milk, H. Allnutt's "Morven Fancy" 2; two-year heifer, H. Allnutt's "Morven Marvelit e Abbekirk."' The judge stated that "Terana's Model'' was cut on his own.