THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18013, 4 March 1924, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

CHEVIOT. A meeting of the- Cheviot Domain Board was held on Saturday ai'terncon. when Mr S. C. Smith presided over « full attendance of members. A deputation from the local Athletic ClnbwaitoU on the meeting with a request that Board re-form the old cycle track an assist the various Sports Clubs to erec* a pavilion «nd dressing shed. >M the revival of interest in cycling, was pointe<l out that a pcrmanfliw track would be verv much appreciated and enable the C.A.C. to hold regular meetings throughout the season. i»» Board replied sympathetically, and a swb-committco was appointed to meet, representatives of the Sports Club ana to make an inspection of the proposed track and report to the next meeting.

HANMER SPRINGS. The following are the meteorological returns for February taken at the State Forest Service* Station, those for tiic same month last year being given in parentheses.—Temperature in shade, mean maximum temperature, /S.-Uuot, Fah. (00.53); mean minimum temperature, 49.52 (44.75): approximate mean temperature for the month, (57.15); mean daily range of temperature, 23.44 (24.75); extreme n'aximum temperature, on Sth and 10th, SidCg (S3); extreme minimum temperature, on 2nd and 2Sth, 41 (26); extreme range of temperature for month, 40 (o7). posed thermometers: Mean terrestrial radiation, 42.37 (40.39); minimum terrestrial radiation (lowest temperature.), on 3rd, 33 (26). Wind: Average daily velocity for month, 111 miles (o-.j;, maximum velocity for month, on -«'b 470 miles (3G0); mean amount of cloua for month (0 clear sky, 1° overcast), 4 0 (2.14); total rainfall for month, L46in (3.73 in); number of days on which rain fell, 7 (10); ™» ml ™ X in any 24 hours, on 17th, 0./2 in (.SOm). bright sunshine, 2WJ hours (-IJ< hours); maximum, 12 hours, on -<£ (11* hours); days without recorded sun shine, 3 (nil); frosts, nil (1). General remarks: An 'exceptionally line mon >• A sharp shock of earthquake was ieit at 12 noon on February 28th. On her departure Mrs C. Moore was presented with a substantial sum oi money contained in a handsome purse. Mrs Moore had taken an interest in school affairs, having been on « School Committee, as well as acting aa secretary for several yeaia.

AMBERLET, Tlio popularly of tlie revival of cycle racing In this district ™s d »tiatecl on Saturday afternoon, when the.No.th Canterbury Caledonian Society s da trict road race was run. 'lhero were fully two hundred spectators lined a on the North road at the u lK b.ng M and quite a largo number of motor, cars were parked on tho sides of Maikham street and the North .road It is tho intention of the Society to run a ser.es of races during the next few months, therefore tho enthusiasts will be well catered for. . A Harvest Thanksgiving service was conducted at the Holy Innocents (Anglican) Church on Sunday evening. by the Kev. G. L. HaroW. Special hymns were sung The. o&ertones taken were for the Maori Girls' GolAteunis match was played on Saturday afternoon on th© local courts against the Cheviot team, who defeated the local team by a fair margin ol G A concert in aid of the "Wailii TaJraroa Domain, at ihe Amberley Beach, was held in the Oddfellows' Hall on Saturday evening, the items being given by tho Excelsior Sunshine Players. It is expected that the funds of the Domain will benefit by a -fewpounds.

♦ OXFORD. During the month of February, rain fell on seven days, the total rainfall being 1.15 in. On no occasion was there a fall of half an inch. The total number of days with rain since January Ist is 12, and tho total rainfall 3.47 in. This is tho lowest rainfall for the two months, for at least the 14 years that records have been kept. Not infrequently there is a heavy rainfall in these two months, the record for tire four previous years being 8.76, 8.63, 6.61, 10.5. The low precipitation, together with the great heat and the light winds, has put the district in a somewhat unenviable position. Tho pastures are bare, and a very small amount of hay has been secured; there is a diminished supply of straw, and the turnip crops promise to be light. The winter prospects are therefore not cheering. Turnips and rape were holdiDg out in a remarkable degree, but the hot weather of the past fortnight, and the strong nor'-westers have had a most harmful effect. Indeed, the excessive heat of the beginning of the week, followed by a nor'-west gale, threatened to utterly destroy some crops. In places, both rape and turnips were almost blown out of the ground. The light rain of Thursday, and the lower temperature, have freshened things somewhat. As an indication of the dry conditions, Mr A. \V. Stubbs reaped a paddock of linseed last Tuesday, stacked it on Wednesday, and threshed it on Thursday. Satisfaction is felt at the way the Railway Department has met the request of the Oxford A- and P. Association for a special train on Show Day, April 3rd. By arrangement, exhibitors may have their exhibits carried by the special train, the stock waggons being put on at Christchureh or Kaiapoi. Hitherto exhibitors from these localities liave had to forward their goods to Rangiora by an early train, and on the return journey have them carried forward by a later goods train which arrived in Christchureh towards midnight. The special train is due in Christchureh at 8 p.m., so exhibitors will appreciate the change.

RANGIORA. At the Rangiora High School tonight, at eight o'clock, Mr Alfred E. Stephen, F.C.S., of Sydney, will deliver a lecture on ''Chile and Its titrate Industry'' to High fcjehool boy 6, farmers, fruitgrowers, and others. Admission will be free. The lecture will be under the auspices of the High School Board and Northern A. and P. Association. The annual meeting of the Rangiora Ladies' Hockey Club was held on Saturday evening, Mr C. E. Bell presiding. The secretary presented the annual report and balance-sheet, which were adopted. A motion of sympathy with the family of the late Mr H. AArchdall, a keen supporter of the club, was passed. The following officers were elected: —Patron, Hon. D. Buddo, M.P.; President, Mr W. A. Rowse; Vice-Presidents, Dr. T. A. Will and Messrs W. E. Barton, W. J. Turnpenny, D. W. L. Mchrtens, M. Scott, and G'. A. Bruere; Club-Captain, Miss V. J. Winskill; Vice-Captain, Miss I. Jeffreys; Secretary and Treasurer, Miss C D. Bruere; Assistant Secretary, Miss C. Mehrtens; Coach, Mr C. E. Bell; Referees, Messrs W. J. Turnpenny and W. R. Barwick. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Messrs Breach and Rowland for their donation of a club notice board. It was decided to hold the first practice of the season on March 22nd. The monthly meeting of the Rangiora Branch of the W.C.T.U. was held in the Methodist Schoolroom last Friday. Mrs Thwaifes, president, was in the chair, and there was a good atendanceC Afternoon tea was dispensed after which Mrs T. E. Taylor, in an ; --terestin£ address, dealt with! eomo

of the leading phases of the work, and pointed out many ways in which the branch might extend its usefulness. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the speaker. It was agreed to hold a special meeting on Friday in connexion with "Campaign Week.'"' The meeting passed a resolution favouring the affiliation of the New Zealand W.C.T.U. with the New Zealand League of Nations Union. WAIKUKU. The 'Waikuku Mutual Improvement Society held its weekly meeting in the Methodist Church vestry, Miss Thelma Ellis being convener for the evening. Mr Don Morriss was elected convener for next Thursday, with Miss Hilda Bunting as vice-convener. Mr Bruce McMillan read a paper on "The Life of David." A discussion followed. Next week a paper on "The Life of Joseph" will be read by Miss Thelma Ellis. The Eov. C. A. Foston, who is down from the North Island attending Conference, was greeted by a large congregation on Sunday evening, when he preached in the Waikuku Methodist Church. His address was taken from the text, "She has done what eho could." KAIAPOI. The quarterly meeting of the- Kaiapoi District Licensing Committee was held. Present:—Messrs Wyvern "Wilson, S.M. (chairman), F. Horrell, A. Pearce, J. W. Foster, G. D. Etherington, and C. Leech. A transfer of the license of the Plough. Hotel, Rangiora, from the estate of the late John Quigg to Mary Margaret Quigg, was granted. HORNBY-ISLINGTON. The Harvest Thanksgiving Services in connexion with St, David's Presbyterian Church, Hornby, and the Presbyterian Church at West Melton, were conducted on Sunday by Mr J. Coburn. At the close of the Hornby evening service, Mr Coburn spoke in very appreciative terms of the work of Mr and Mrs Field, who were now removing to Makarewa Junction, Southland. A number of managers and other friends of Mr and Mrs Field connected with the Church had thought it fitting to givo some token of their esteem to their departing friends, and Mr Coburn on their behalf, presented a cake stand to Mr and Mrs FieW. Mrs Field, in the absence of Mr Field, received the gift.

GREENPARK. A farewell evening was given to Mr and Mrs F. Chapman on the occasion of their leaving for England for a six months' holiday to visit the Empire Exhibition. There were present the majority of the residents and the ©veiling was occupied with dancing. Mr J. Harris sang two songs. Mr W. M. Campbell, on behalf of fhe residents presented the guests with a case of razors and a travelling rug respectively. KIRWEE. At a special meeting of the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union a profitable and pleasant afternoon was spent. Parcels to Che value of £5 wero packed, to go to Cite Maori Mission Hospital at Nuhake. Afternoon tea was provided. LINCOLN. A smoke, concert was tendered in the Druids' Hall to Mr A. Birch. Numerous toasts were honoured and items given bv Messrs Bert Taylor, Wright, Howard, J. Beattie, Ashworth, J. Scarf, and R. Scan. During an interval the chairman, Mr J v . Beattie, referred to the .sterling qualities of the guest and asked him on bebalf of the assembly to accept a pocket wallet as a small token of their esteem. On Friday evening at a meeting of residents and friends from the surrounding districts Mr Birch was presented with a fountain pen, suitably engraved. Owing to the unusually long dry spell, feed is somewhat scarce, and a good downpour would be greatly appreciated. Most of the grain has been carted to the station, and as a consequence the roads present a rough appearance. The majority of wheat crops;did not come up to expectation, although several yields of between 50 and GO bushels per acre are reported.