THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17429, 13 April 1922, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

Jottings for Farmers. For iha Malvern Show 1450 entries have been received, a record for the Society. Given fine weather, the fixture should prove a great success. Mr Thomas Buxton, Dominion lecturer and organiser Jfor the New Zealand Farmers' 'Union, has been north of Christchurch for the last few weeks. Ho visited the HawardenWaikari branch, where over thirty nevs> members were enrolled. It is estimated there are net now more than about ten producers in the district who are not members of the organisation. Mr Buxton addressed a publio meeting at Scargill, where a new branch was formed with about 25 members. A wellattended meeting was held at Omihi. At this centre roost of the farmers were already. members, but those who-were not-joined during Mr Buxton's visit. TAI~TAPIT; A most enjoyable dnnce was held in the Tai Tapu' Town Hall on Tuesday evening. Excellent music was played by Mr H. Perry, and the extras by Suckling and Mr Heinzmann. The duty of M.&. was carried out by Mr H. Silvester. SPENCESVIIiLE. The Spencerville Social Committee met on Tuesday night. 'Present: Mr W. P. Spencer (chairman), Mrs J. L. Parish, Messrs J. L. Parish, j. Sandford and C. Griffiths. It was decided to play the return card match with Ouruhia in the Spencerville S:;hool on May 12tih. The question of the erection of a' hall for the combined districts of Speacevville and Ouruhia was discussed, and it wub resolved that as many as pdssible attend the meeting of residents to be. held in the Ouruhia school on April 21st to form a committee to further the proposal. The attendance at the 'SpencerviUe school has greatly increased, the number on the roll now totalling 17. The attendance had fallen so low that tne Education. Board were seriously considering the advisability of closing the school, but with the marked improvement in i-he roll,, the continu<Jice of the school is absolutely assured. SPEINGFIELD. ! The weather during the past week has been very favourable for , threshing operations, and ithe work should soon be over. A meeting of the School Committee was held in the school to conclude the work .of the year. It was decided to haive all the hedges trimmed and minor repairs carried out. The roll number was reported to be .51,'.' with an average attendance of 44. It was decided to hold an entertainment on April 22nd in aid of the funds to purchase a museum cupb6ard for the school. The entertainment will consist of items by the school children followed by an illustrated lecture on New .Zealand scenery. A well attended meeting of the local branch of. the Plujnket Society was held on Thursday afternoon. Nuise Allan, after weighing the babies present, gave a lecturette, "The Encouragement of Nature's Plan for Feeding." During' the meeting Mrs Johnson -(president) -spoke ajbont the anticipated visit of Dr. Truby King and Miss Paterson to, Springfield. All present heartily wish- j ed that such a visit would be possible, and agreed that everything would he done to "make it a success. Afternoon tea was!provided bv the members, and was diseased bv Mrs Johnson (president), M:ss Johnson (secretary),. Miss Popple - and Mrs Dorwood. ' On evening 'a _• Harvest Thanksgiving Service was conducted by tbfejßey. *Mr Bates in JOhurch. Mrs Donoivari, Mra Innes and the Missefe-Bates led the singing, while •Mrs Stonley Smith presided at the organ. ThiV-evoning a cMeert is to be held in the Hall,..after which the dona-j tions received for the Harvest Thanksgiving, will l>e sold, and the. proceeds sent to thtl Foreign, Mission Fund.

..;,..... v .; OMIHI.. • ' :'| The weaither of late has been somewhat changeable. Much threshing has yet to be clone,, but given fine weather; the end of this month should see it complete*!. .On. the whole, the wheat crops hare jfeiven a fair average,yield; A good deal of sheep feed has been sown, and in looking remarkably well, but so far lidt troch wheat has been sown.; ! , . .'■ , .'.'..' Mr T. Buxi-on, organiser for the Farmers' XJnijop, has been visiting tilt district during 1 the weeft, imcV on Monday evening lie : addressed a well-attend-ed meeting of. farmers in the - school, on tW> aims atnd objerts of the union. He received >v< splendid hearing, and on, the motion..of Mr D. I. Doak was. accorded a hejiiy vote of thanks for his able address, ■ ■ The coimmittife of the soldiers' monument are arranfting a combined religious servico on Anzsic Day, wlien the schoolchildren and others will place wreaths on. the monument. As it is the .only one so far erticfced in the Waipara comity, the cominittee hope to see a very large gathe? ing. At the close of the serv;ice a collection will be taken up in aid of the Kiussiau Famine Fund. The Omihi Football Club held a social on Friday, which wad a decided success. During the evening songs were given by. Miss Ldunon and MeHsrs Leach and Roberts haw. Music was supplied by Mrs Laiuiond and Mr Hall, wbile extras were/''played by Mr Pi G'reig. ])4r Lamomd ailed as M.C. The annual meeting;'of subscribers to the Leeiiton Public Library was presided over by Mr A. W. Green. The balance-sheet showed a credit of £lO 17s lOd, with a sum of i& 7s due to the library for rent. Officers were elected as follows:—President,, Mia F. H. Bartori ; vice-presidents,. IRov.. Dr. Holloway. Drs. Volckman. and T. J. IckHewins, and Messrs It. M. Robertson and A. W. Green; hoyi. secretary and treasurer, Miss D. tftadisey; committed, Mrs Holioway, Missrts Volckman (2), and Ilobertson, and Mr J. H. McMillan. References were made \;o the excellent services : rendered by M iss R. Ramsey as secretary and treasurer, and she was vcted an honorarium of £5 sa. Miss Ramsey is about to be married, and good wishes for her future happiness were-expressed. Dr. Holioway and Mrs Barton and Miss Volckman were appointed a committee- to add books. If was decided to add *Tunch" and th© "Bulletin" to the list of magazines subscribed to. On Monday night a. successful concert was', given in the lieeston Town Hall by a party from Guristchurch, in support of the candidature of the Leesr ton - representative in the district Catholic Queen Carnival, which is to be brought to. a conclusion at Easter. The attendance was good, and the pro* gramme proved very enjoj'able. Items were given by Misses Eiloen Slattery, J. CbDiiis, Lister, Fowler, and Toons, six Convent School nupiti, and Messrs Darrocn, French, Jfiohouonj Bishop, Robinson, Delaney, Camjplwll, and S. Jamieson. The performers were thanked, on the motion of Mr P. ,1. Eccleton, general secretary of the Cai-nival Committee. A dance followed \ha concert.