THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17940, 7 December 1923, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS.

A shipment of vsiufitce stock arrive: at Auckland from Englr.ud by the Com monwealth and Do mini on Lino s.<?- irl, - r Port Victor this week. i ' l '- had oil board !■* pedigree Jersey —eight bulls and nix heifers—as wed r;s two (jlvdoidale staihons, and foi.i sows and tv,-o boars. The cattle arv from the Jersev Islands and are ,° |t Mr A. G. Martin, of Canterbury. Abut one are yearlings. Their sires jr_ elude Blonde's Golden Oxford, server; Golden Maid's Double. La 0 Cid. and Xenia Sultan, which was recent!" sold to an "American b;i>er 6000 "guineas. Although the nrstpaof the voyage was stormy, the unima.s arrived here in p.oou condition.

Shaking on the wheat que»ti * the meeting of delegates, of tu< * * ets' Union at Rangiora cm } V O night, jir Smith, of Cust, . r ic g was caused last year by fixing the p much too late in the season. The it should be fixed as early f l - 3 P°~ s ' 1 He suggested that the should he urged to keep a hall-} supply on hand.

AMBERLEY. At a meeting of the general tee of the North Canterbury .Caledonian >S iciety, Mr A. Cameron presided, 1 encms for the luncheon and pulMi booth were received, and that, ot Mr • .Henderson was accepted. Mr J- '■ Oiok's tender for the fruit, soft drink®, and ice cream stall was also acoep <? • The Ground Committeo reported the trimming-up of the trees to " space for the parking of cars had bee. attended to. The secretary was instructed to make enquiries with ie - ence to the time the special tia.in is leave Christclvureh, and to report a; • meeting to lie held to-morrow. _ / Hamilton. Airs Lambie, Miss_- N augh , Messrs J.'-McDonald, Angus Munro. jN • Cock, A. Burke, J. Boyce, (*. McLean, and S. Warwick were- elected as a Lau Committee. A very successful garden fete iield in 'the Anglican Church grounds, and it is expected that the church '''l'* will benefit to the extent of. over toU--The' Ambsrlev senior cricket team to. plav Woodend at"\Voodend to-morrow is as fellows:—G. Fulton, O. Jolniston, W. Boyce, H. Forsyth, E. Bonnmgton, J. Mayo, V. Rhodes. F. Adams, C. Adamsj ,J. Bain, P. MacFarlane. Emergency. C. Hadley. The following will represent the iiiviberlev Tennis Club against W aikari tomorrow: Miss Feathery, Mrs Robinson, Miss Parsons, Miss Wonmll, Miss 'Marsh,- and Mrs Coleman', -.'Messrs inson,. Rhodes, W ylde-Bnnviie, C. . Browne, Gray, and Coleman. The-fol-lo'.v-ing. team will journey to the AmberJey Hons;; Girk' College to play a match there: Mrs W\ 1 de-Browne, Miss Smith. •Miss Chamberlain, -Miss South, , Mrs Ktrattnn, and Miss Jackson, Messrs Prebble, Burnie, Fairweather, Burke, and J. Boyce.

CULVERDEN. , . If was 'stated in issue that •Mr G. Rutherford,. chairman of the Amuri County Council, had been elected a member of the executive of the Canterbury Progress League. Mr ford is not chairman of the Amuri County Council; Mr M'. Bet hell iiolcia that office." " RANGIORA. .. At-the quarterly summoned, nieeting of. the Druids', Lodge Bro, presided. Xlie- flection ,of « officers resulted as follows:—P.A., Bro. W. Baxter; A.'D., Bro. P. Mcßrearty; V.A., Bro. 1 F. Cole; secretary, Bro. C. 11. Tluvaites ; treas., Bro. I<\ Miles ; A.D. Bards. Bro. C. Harris and Bro. E. Bamfieju; 1.G., Bro. W.' J. H00d;.0.G., tiro. W. young. Bio. C. It. TKwaites was ■ elected." . representative .to the Grand Lodge session,, .with. Bro. W. : ■Young as substitute. Bro C. Tyler, retirimr auditor, was re-elected to the .office

HORQKATA. ; At a 'iiieeting of the Trtniis Clylj Messrs Phillips, Nettlet'oiij .ironside and: Pratt, Mrs Nettleton and Miss Wright were present. It was decided to'play a match Hororata B v. Kirwee to-morrow, 'and failing, this, an interclub matcli. The secretary reported that 20 entries had been received' for l'he Snowden Cup. The following han-dicapping-committee was set up in cohiiexi'o'n with : tlife" Cup. ' 1 coinpetition.':-,--'M'essrs' Ji! Oliver, Phillips, Mrs Pfi'ijlips, Mrs ; Wright and Miss Wright 1 Tangements are well in 'hand for the progressive euchre party' and d'aiice, which is being organised by ' the committee' in aid of the Children's Christmas Party. ' .. The' function, is .being lield in the school 'on Monday next.

Playing at Hororata, Kirwee B de L fe.ated Hororata B by 7.7 The best tieor'er'g!. for'.Kinvee were: -"V. Davis 57, H.'Davis. 13/'. Ct:'. WilSoii 26, 22: total 1(53, and 'Hororata:, H. H. bowlers taking most wickets were Wilson, Smith and Hayes for Kirwee, and 11. Thorne, L. Mooar and S. Collings for Hororata.

DARFIELD. An entertainment was' given i'ii the Memorial >, rial! by the Uiristen'urch .uoohueam -Contort Party. '.-••teongs were contributed by 'Miss i4u«g a.iu. Messrs jL.es. &ietvarv and >\obDit! Clark, veiitriuxjuist item by Mi- ii;. Cox, a recitation by' Miss iuaynard, a -sailor's, hornpipe- Ly Joyce 1 ,- owier, a eiubswuigmg aiid juggling dismay by Miss liila Campbell ana iuessrs Massey and w right rt-spectivei}', -and" Scotch dan'c-. ing °by the JJuist sisters. The ttoor w'as : "then cleared and dancing indulged hi till midnight. During an interval Mr J- Harbey, president of the- Darfield Atluetic Sports Association, took the opportunity of thanking those who assisted in the cycle road race suet a success, and thanked Mr Jack' Suckling, of Christchurch, for motoring out a number of town riders, and lot' a trophy, which was won by D. Eednioiid. A suggestion that another cycle road race be held in January is receiving the attention of tlie local committee. The first phase of the electric light boon, for the district was seen when the Lake Coleridge power from the breaking-down station at Hororata was turned on by the Public Works Department on Saturday for the use of the Railway Department's "automatic signalling system, which is nearing completion. The system of signalling trains is tin; very latest, and by means ofthe electric current the rails sire electrified, and trains coming into, contact with the track circuit automatically work the signals, each train protecting itself both in the rear ( and front. When the system is complete and brought into use, the Midland line can safely boast of having the most up-to-date signal .system in the world. ■On Wednesday night- there was a light shower of raiii, but unfortunately it was not nearly sufficient to wet the dry and parched surface o>f,the ground. Two or three days' rain is wanted to have the desired effect on crops . and grass, and also to fill'the empty tanks tor domestic purposes. A few ago, between Darheld and Racecourse Hill, a fire broke out in close proximity to a large plantation belonging to the Selwyn Plantation Board, and had it not been for the plucky action of Mr Hiatt, - who extinguished it after a hard fight," seri-. ous damage may have been done to tlie; trees. ■ -The railway rgang Vfron* D-arfield, on hearing of the outbreak-, quickly appeared on'the spot and made the -smouldering pieces of-timber safe.'..

RAKAIA. In order to enable the school children to qualify for the Swimming. Association's swimming certificates, a test was held in. the baths at the R*.kaia Domain. Eight pupils qualified at the first test, and more ■ are expected, to fulfil the conditions later. For a long time back rain has been looked for by the Bakaia people. Farms, gardens, roads, and tanks were all feeling the effects of the continued hot, stifling nor'-west -weather. Wednesday proved a much cooler day and a wind. promising rain, sprung v.p from the south. All were pleased when about five'o'clock light rain, began, but this soon ceased, and the total amount was not enough to do much good. To travellers by the various trains running through the Rakaia Junction, the splendid display made by tlwt.ra.ilw.iy gardens is a "continual source of comment. At present the scene is particularly fine as thousands of rambler roses, of numerous shades, are out in full bloom and make a gorgeous scene of colour. In order to protect the standard roses, a break-wind has been erected on the nor'-west side and this has been instrumental in saving from destruction, the many blooms, even in the very boisterous weather experienced lately. It has been stated that the spell of drought we have been passing through has resulted in one of the shortest rose seasons on record. So far as these gardens are concerned, this does not appear to be the case, as the display began early and shows signs ol continuing for some time. The area where the standard roses grow was at one time an unsightly 'bank, but has been levelled and made a place of beauty. Although efforts to hold formal evening meetings to arrange cycle club affairs in Rakaia have fallen flat, there seems no lack of enthusiasm onVthe part of tho riders. A few enthusiasts got together and a race of 104 miles, being four times round the "Public Pound" block, was . scheduled _ for Wednesday 'evening. Thirteen, riders started, rind, a good race resulted. The ■finish reflected great credits on' the handicapper, Mr Geo. Pluck, as six riders came in in a bunch. The results were.: J. McCoy, handicap 2min, 1, time 38 min; L. Goulds, scr 2nd, time 31min Isqc; O. Penny, handicap 4min 3rd, time 35inin 2sec. The prize for fastest time, unplaced, was won by McSweeriev, time' 31rnin Gsec. A. collection taken up among, the spectators by Mr: "JY, Laraman realised £ 1. 165. / It was announced that the next race would be. held a fortnight from that evening. There is no doubt these events will receive plenty of support from the public, who are not much interested in cash v. amateur arguments, but who dearly love .a good race.