THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17756, 7 May 1923, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS.

The Dairy Farmers' Conference at Palmerston North passed the todomng remits:—"That pressure should ne brought on the Government to hayjj it™ Moratorium Act extended.' ia ri favourable consideration should ne given to the offer of a Feilding company to slaughter and freeze pigs *or export and local demand."

AKAROA. The installation of the Mayor-elect. Mr Geo. Armstrong, will take place at the Council Chambers to-morrow evening. At the same time the newlyelected Councillors, Messrs Colm Stewart, T. Masefiekl. C. W. Leete, H. J. Barnham, A. Pilkington, Clive S. Paraham, W. C. Pool, A J- Faithfull, and W. W. Williams, will be sworn m. RANGIORA.

A meeting of the Ashley District Oddfe lows' Committee or Management was held on Thursday evening. D.Cr. U. Bro. W. Fletcher presided. A letter Was ."received tne Minister in Charge of the Friendly Soc.cties Department, stating that the long delay in the completion of the valuation of the lodges connected with the JNew Zealand Branch was mainly due to some of the lodges failing to f"™?!] the necessary data. 'l'nere "ere -<zo lodges to be valued as a whole in respect of the Central Finance Fund ami the work could not be finished until al the lodge data were avaifable. Permission was granted the Loyal Ohoka Lodge to hold their next meeting at the Public Hall on May 9th, on the occasion of the Oddfellows' rally It was resolved to ask Bro. W. R. Oaiiagan, G.M., to arrange a meet ' ing at an early date in order to confer the P.D.G.M's degree on two eligible members. Arrangements for the Grand Master's official visit to the district was then discussed. It ivas decided to hold a banquet on the occasion and the D.G.M., D.D.G.M. Bros. J. A. Ivory and P.D.G.M. B. J. Archer, O. W. Bell and C. R. Golding and the district secretary were appointed a committee to fix a date for the function to carry out the details. P.D.G.M. Bro. G. Smith being unable through illness to attend the meeting, the district secretary was asked to convey to him a motion of sympathy with best wishes for his speedy recovery. The weekly billiard tournament at the Grand Billiard Pariour was won by K. Vincent, who played off the final with O- Teague. •A meeting of the Rangiora District Fruit-growers' Association was held in the Loo urn Hall last week, the president, Mr J. McLeod, presiding over J. good attendance. The meeting endorsed the action of the secretary m his efforts to collect unpaid subscriptions. After the general routine business had been disposed of, Mr Murray, Australasian representative of the, Vacuum Oil Company, addressed the meeting on spraying and insect pests. At the closOj the chairman said the address was one of the most instructive he had ever listened to j it was so full of information that no fruitgrowers should have missed it. A motion oi thanks was passed to Mr Murray. In spite of the very wet day there was a crowded congregation at the Roman Catholic Church yesterday morning when a special service held to celebrate the opening of the recent additions to the church and schoolroom. Mass was sung by the Rev. Father Leeghan and Bishop Brodie preached and solemnly blessed the extension of the church. He commended the congregation on their faithfulness and generosity in carrying out the wishes of the late Dean Hyland and congratulated them on completing the work free of debt. After this, l(k candidates were confirmed, the Rev. Father Leane assisting in the confirmation, the Rev. Father Halsey and the Rev. Father Hanrahan, Cathedral administrator, assisting in the service. In the evening, despite the pouring rain, there was again a crowded congregation, the service being conducted by the Rev. Father Healey.

GREENPARK. A social evening and dance were heftl in the Greenparu. Memorial Hall on Thursday evening, to bid farewell to Mr J. F. Smith, and family, who are leaving tile district after a residence of five years. Mr W. Campbell made complimentary references to the qualities of Mr Smith as a neighbour and as a supporters of all local affairs. He specially mentioned Mrs Smith's services as a member of the Ladies' Committee. He then presented Mr Smith with a well-filled wallet from the residents of the district, and said that he hoped Mr Smith would be often seen in Greenpark. Mr Smith responded on behalf of himself and his family, thanking the residents fo r their expressions of good-will, and saying that he wished still to be considered as a resident of Greenpark when the benedicts' ball was being organised. " All present then sang "For They Are Jolly Good Fellows" with hearty good-will. During the evening Miss Grace McCnw crnvea Scotch song and dance, and Miss Mart-is Hill a toe dance. Miss Alma Hill was aecompaniste. At the bazaar Inst week Mrs P. •Pawson gave a cooked dinner, not Mrs Pearson, as previously stated. .

HORORATA. A meeting of the Hororata bachelors was held last week to make arrangements for their annual ball; Mr McArthu'r presided over an attendance of about thirty. The following committee to carry out the arrangements for the function was appointed:—Messrs Harris (4), Morgan, Stenho-use, Whiting, Tuer. McArthur, Long, Patterson (3), McFarlane, Rainsford, Clarke, and H. Thorne. Mr J. Creighton was appointed secretary. It was decided to hold the ball on May 25th. The Hororata Gymnasium Club had a very successful opening night. About thirty members attended, and some very useful work was done under the efficient i instruction of Mr W. Christie. This year an attractive course of training is ' being drawn up. and it is hoped that by the end of the season the club will be able to give a very interesting public display. RARAIA. The Rakaia Football Club held the first of a series of euchre tournaments in the library. The attendance of ladies was not so large as could be wished. The ladies' prize was won by Mrs A. Shannon and the gentleman's prize by Mr B. Timings. It is hoped to hold the tournaments weekly throughout the winter. At the weekly shoot of the Rakaia Miniature Rifle' Club, a competition ' was concluded for a trophy presented bv Mr J. Allen. The winner was W. Beale. with a handicap of 5. It was intended to hold a match Town v. County, but the very boisterous weather kept several of the country shots at home, nr.d the match lad to be posti poned. The standard of the shooting j showed a great improvement on the 1 previous week and for tne Club Hotty Button and the following tied wim scores of 34 off the rifle:—H. Cromie. L. Oakley. S. Naismith. R. McPhail and E Henderson. After several shoots-off H. Cromie won. The team to fire a triangular match with the Dorip and Seafield Clu*-s at Done on Wed- ' nesday evening will be picked from following:—L. Oakley, A. Oakley, G. Cromie, H. Cromie. W. J. Lee, R. Mc- | PliaiL, & Naismith, Jf, E,, JudkiM,,

A. S. Henderson, R. Boag, V. Boag, C. McKegney, A. A. Oliver and E. Henderson. This will be the first occasion on which the Rakaia and Seafield Clubs have met.

The monthly meeting of the P.W. M.U. in connexion with St. Andrew's Church was held on Thursday. -Mrs .Morrison presided over a good attendance. A statement was submitted showing the returns from the various stalls at the recent bazaar. Tin's has l>een already published. A letier was received from the Rev. A. S. Morrison, on behalf of the Church Committee, thanking the ladies for their successful •effort in- raising such a large sum for church purposes. The conve or of the Home Missions Committee of the General Assembly wrote appealing for a grant of £4 in order to better the stipends of Home Missioners. The opinion was expressed that perhaps it would be better to raise the required sum by a levy rated according to the membership of each 'branch. Eventually the matter was held over. Mrs Newman handed in the sum of £ls, this being the amount subscribed towards keeping a Bible woman in India. The sum required was £l2. An interesting _ letter was read detailing the daily life of a missionary in India.

The Committee of Managers of St. Andrew's Church have under consideration a scheme of improvement at the church, now that money is available from the very successful bazaar. It is proposed to enlarge tne front porch, to improve the class-rnoms, erect sliding doors, and paint the church.

MOUNT SOMERS. A shortage of turnips for winter, a bad thing for the stock, is predicted in the district. The Men's Club held a ''mock banquet" in thj Library on Friday evening. About sixty people sat down to a sumptuous spread provided by the cl lb. The Rev. Mr Paddison presided. • Tho loyal toast was followed by "The Men's Club," proposed by Mr Paddison, who mad© an interesting speech touched with bright humour. Mr J. Hood, sen., proposed the health of the president, and spoke appreciatively of the doings of the club. Mr Paddison suitably replied. The next toast was that of 'The Vice-presidents," proposed by Mr J. Bull, who eulogised the help ih club derived from the various vice-presi-dents. Mr Hoid', on b.half of the vicepresidents, responded. The toast of "The Ladies" was proposed by Mr F. Gifkins, in a, breezy style, and was responded to on behalf of the ladies by Mrs Gifkins. The last tocst of the evening was that of "The Secretary," proposed by Mr P. H. Jones, who spoke of the good work done by Mr J. Bull, who, he said, always wcrked quietly audi well. Mr Bull responded with an appropriate speech. The chairman took advantage of the occavsion to welcome Mr and Mrs Jones, and wish them a happy stay in Mt. Somers. Mr Jones returned thanks on behalf of *.lrs Jones and himself. The gathering the.i adjourned to the h:'ll, w. ere a few h.urs were spent in dancing. The Mayoral election at the Men's Club took place on Monday evening. Ten candidates stood for the position, and after listening to the views and planks of each candidate a vote was taken under the "preferential system," and resulted in Messrs J. Lloyd and P. H. Jones tieing. Another vote resulted in Mr Lloyd being returned. Some very humorous and witty speeches and 1 questions were submitted. Each nomineefor the Mayoralty promised to do wonderful things for the borough if elected, and drastic regulations were to be imposed with regard to speeding, etc., in the borough. The indu&tiiea and railways wore also to be revised. After a good evening's amusement the ee-sion closed with congratulations to the new-ly-elected Mayor.

ASHBT T RTON. At a well-attended meeting held at Ashburton on Friday night, Mr C. Sturrier presiding, it was decided to form a Collie Dog Club, and the follow-, ing officers were elected:—Patron, Mr R. McElhiney; president, Mr Hunter Morris; supervisor, Mr C. Sturrier; deputy-supervisor, Mr M. McMillan; secretary, Mr H. Evans; treasurer, Mr N. Butler. A committee of twelve, with power to add to their number, and thirty vice-presidents, were elected.