THE COUNTRY

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17428, 12 April 1922, Page 3

THE COUNTRY

Jottings for Farmers. Mr T. Buxton, organiser for the New visiting North Canterbury centres during tne past, fortnight, reports Having Zealand if'anners' Union, who has been enrolled 33 members in the Hawaruen district, and 20 in the Scargill district. Mr Buxton is at present worKing in tne Omihi and Waipara districts. At the Oxford show on Thursday, Mr Robert Peach's Shorthorn cow, DucUeas of Clydesdale 11., won the first prize, special, and championship in her class, also the New Zealand Milking Shorthorn Association's special prize ana the Canterbury Central Co-operative Dairy Company's special prize for the best "dairy cow of any kind in the show. Mr Peach was also successful , in winning tho Association's prize, specials and championship. with his two-year-old Shorthorn bull, "Diamond Echo." The Canterbury Lucerne Campaign Committee has received a donation or £3O from Mr H. Bruce, of Bruce, Adams, Ltd., to purchase a trophy to be awarded to the winner of tiie lucerne competitions now in progress throughout Canterbury. Mr Brute has been a keen supporter of the lucerne move- j ment since its inception here in 191 <• I He was chairman of the committee j until he left some months ago to take up his residence in Dunedin, and throughout has done his utmost to awaken interest in the cultivation of the "king j of fodders." The Campaign Committee, as a recognition of his work, has re- < solved to endow the competition with \ a trophv of the value mentioned, to be called the "Bruce Challenge Trophy.' ; The competitions are progressing very satisfactorily. There are fifty competitors, spread from as far north as Parnassus to Morven in the south. Practically all the areas were sown in the spring, the competitors, in a number of cases, planting larger areas than the five acros constituting the competition, besides which adjoining farmers are "trying a bit." The committee's obiccts are, therefore, promising a very satisfactory measure of fulfilment. KAIAPOI. There was a large attendance at the Methodist Church last evening when the choir, assisted by members of the Durham street choir, gave Stainer's "The Crucifixion." The soloists wero Messrs H. Blakelev (Christchurch) and Mr W. J. Salkeld. Mr J. H. Blackwell conducted. BANOIOEA. The ladies who undertook tho sale of poppies -at Rangiora yesterday disposed of their whole stock of a thousand, and intend to obtain a further supply for sale in the streets on Saturday evening. The committee having in hand the arrangements for the re-union of Old Boys who attended the late Mr Charles Morton's school prior to the year 1870, have fixed the function for May 2nd. The programme will include a luncheon at the Northern A. and P. Assocition's rooms, and afterwards a visit to the site of the. old school and other spots of interest. The fortnightly meeting of the Oddfollows' Lodge, held on Monday night, ■was well attsndsd. An invitation from the Returned Soldiers' Association to join in the.Ansae Duy procession and attend the united service in Victoria Park at 10.30 a.m., was accepted. It was decided to hold fortnightly socials during the ensuing six months to be open to the public. The Hall Committee was authorised to have the hall painted and the interior renovated, and to instal the electrjo light. A pleasant function took place in tho Drill Sail on Monday night, when Lieutenant S. G. Bristow, on behalf of the Rangiora Senior. Cadets, presented Sergeant-Major W.; R. Pike with an clock suitably inscribed. Lieutenant Bristow, iit-mak-> ing the presentation,- said he was extremely sorry that Sergeant-Major. Pike was leaving, as it had 'always 1 been a pleasure to work with ,him. Sergeant-Major Pike, replying, thanked Lieutenant Bristow and the dehors for the present, and for the good wishes, they had extended to him. He was hot leaving the district, and would continue to take a keen interest in the boys. At the close of the proceedings, three cheers were given for Sergeant-Major and Mrs Pike.

HOEO2ATA. The hall was well-filled on Saturday night when a dance, arranged by the chairman of the tennis committee in aid of funds for the local courts was held. The fund will benefit to the extent of £8 Bs. Music was supplied by Mrs Oritchley and extras by Mr Morgan Phillips. SAXAIA. The monthly meeting of the South' Rakaia School Committee was held on Monday evening. There were present:Rev. A. S. Morrison (chairman), Rev.. E. N. Blakiston, Messrs A. F. Kennett, A. A. Oliver, C. Shannon and A. Shannon. The headmaster's report showed a roll number of 143 and* an average attendance of 131. A letter waa received from the secretary of the New Zealand Educational Institute with reference to the cutting down of expenditure on education by the Government. The letter.was reserved for the householders' meeting. The annual balance-sheet showed a credit, in the incidental fund of £4l 14s (3d, and a credit of £sl 12s 7d in the Grounds Improvement Fund. The sum of £23 18s 5d was due from the Board for subsidiea. There should then be a total of £ll7 6s 6d in hand. It was decided to have the sohool piano attend-

Ed to, but to leave over the matter of the roll of honour and a shelter-shed. Tho following team has been selected to represent the Mead in a fancy costume hockey match ngainst the Ttakaia Lakes' Club: Messrs A. Watts, H. Wearer, A. Burns, J. Shannon, I. Stubhs, T. "Watt.-*. J. Weaver, F. Breading; and C. Burns. BOOTH MAIVEBN DISTRICT. The monthly meeting of the South Malvern School Committee xvne held on Monday, Mr W. Matthews presiding. The chairman reported that fee headmaster ol the Medbury School, Mr Seal, had been transferred to South Malvern. Tho master's report showed tho average attendance to be 33. The chairman stated that the (school had again been very successful with its co lections of vegetables and flowers at tuo various horticultural shews in the surrounding districts, and wherever thoy had entered first prises had been eecured. He hoped that the good wcrk would bo continued next season. A number of needful repairs and improvements had been carried out during the year, and a motion Mas parsed that the chairman deserved great credit for the able manner in which he had carried out his various dut-es. Miss <j. P. Mill?, assistant mistress at the Glentunn: , l .Srhcol, has been appointed to Piweora East, and her approaching departure is viewed with regret by children -and parents alike. The ladies of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Olinreh conducted a luncheon at t\\9 Coal'*ate f.nle on Fridav List in aid of tfie church funds. As a result of this and a similar luncheon held a. month ago, the church will benefit by the sum of £'2B. For the first time, probab'y, in thehistory of the district, no trains will bo run on the Whitecliffs branch on Good Friday. It is understood that this is the outcome of the poor passenger traffic on tho fame'dny last year. Sines the decision has become known, dissatisfaction lina been freely expressed. For thoso whose homes are at a distance it is a distinct hardship, as it robs them of one day out of tho four days' holiday. The Glentunnel Domain Board has installed a. lnrge petrol lamp on the outside of the Public Hall, in such a- position that it lights up two sides of the hall. This will be a- great convenience to patrons throughout the winter. The an nuil meeting of householders of the three local schools takes pl:vce this evening, and after eevernl years in which there has not been enough interest shown to cause a ballot to be taken, the district is again taking an intelligent interest in its schools, and a. contest at all centres is certain.

AEAEOA. Visitors during the Easter holidays wi-1 l>e well catered for in tho matter of amusement and recreation. The programme includes <v football, match on Saturday, a variety concert in aid of the War Memorial Fund in the evening, the War Memorial Carnival on Monday, bowling and croquet matches, n tennis tournament under the auspices of the Peninsula Tennis Association, extending over. two. days, a children's concert, and dances, etc. The last two are also in aid of the Memorial Fund!. In addition, there will be i the customary launch excursions to places of interest. WAIMATE. At a mating of the committee of the : Waimnte Hunt Club there were present: "Messrs R. Richards (Master), T. Twomey (deputy-Master), A. Medlicott, J. Rattrav, E. Fraser, J. Goldstono, P. Frost, J. R. Cochrane, B. Fi-ost, E. C d'Auvergne. Messrs A. McPherson, J. Atwiil, W. H, Bell E. J. Costello. G. A. Balfour, and T. Brownlie were elect--ed members. Hunts '-.for the half-year wero agreed upon. The matter of'the. date for the opening meeting of the club was ■ left' in the hands of the : Master, Deputy-Master, secretary, and j treasurer. While carting shingleat Est Valley, ! a- Waiinate County Council employee had the tihumb ,of his left hand badly, crushed 'by the body of the dray falling on tlbe shafts as he waaendeavoura load'trom the dray,' *> ; A little girl/ while eating what is known 1 afi an "Easter egg," suddenly was tinnble "to swallow, and felt something sharp sticking in her throat. She was taken to the doctor, who discovered that the trouble was a short piece of very fine wire, which, (had somehow of other found its way into the chocolate. "«gg-"