MID-CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18674, 24 April 1926, Page 4

MID-CANTERBURY

ASHBURTON. PICKLING WHEAT. The introduction of a dry system of pickling seed wheat for the control of smut lias been made by the Agriculture Department, and Mr F. E. Ward, Instructor in Agriculture for Canterbury, waited on the local grain merchants yesterday morning with a view to having two of the machines which the Department has imported for the work placed in local grain stores, as it would be impracticable to send the machines around to the various farms in the county. The treatment is with copper carbonate, which is a first-class fungicide, while it has been through the experimental stages by the Department, which has been making tests during the last three years, and finds that the treatment is in no way injurious to germination. In order to popularise the treatment, which has been adopted in America and Australia, the Department will pickle a proportion, up to a quarter of the supplies of seed wheat, free of cost, to any farmer in the county. The machines are expected to arrive in Ashburton during the coming week. Wakanui Road Board. On account of there being 110 further nominations for the vacant seats on the Wakanui Road Board, other than Messrs Alfred Gregory and John William Watson, who retired by rotation but offered themselves for re-election, tl ey will be returned to their seats on the Board. St. George's Day. In honour of St. George's Day, which fell yesterday, flags were flown from the County and Borough C'ou. cil Chambers, Post Office, and various business premises. AH the local banks observed a holiday. Farm School. Preliminary arrangements for the Farm School to be held in Ashburton on May 18th, 19th, and 20th were made at a meeting of the committee held yesterday afternoon, when Mr F, E. Ward, Instructor n Agriculture for Canterbury, was present, and explained a tentative programme. An endeavour will be made to make the 20th a full field day. Meeting Lapses. A meeting of those interested in the formation of a harriers' club in Ashburton was called for Thursday evening, but as the convener and only one intending member put in an appearance it lapsed. Poppy Day. I'oppy Day was observed in Ashburton yesterday, when a number of ladies were engaged selling poppies. There was a good response on the part of the townspeople. The amount of £B3 was collected during the day, and with several donations still to come in, the ultimate result is expected to reach £IOO. Fancy Pair Ball, The offer of Mr J. Maybury, of Wellington, and formerly of Ashburton, to bring his orchestra to Ashburton to play for a ball, to be held in the Theatre Royal on June 3rd, in the interests of the Defence and Miniature Rifle Club, and Boxing Association, has been accepted, by the committee at present engaged raising funds for the above bodies. The offer is on condition that the committee pays the expenses of the orchestra, only. Magistrate's Court. At the Ashburton Magistrate's Court yesterday, Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., presided. George Chambers, a farmer of G'hertsey (Mr C. F. Woodhead), pleaded guilty to being drunk while in charge of a motor-car at Rakaia. The Senior-Sergeant, stated that defendant drove his car in a dangerous manner along Railway terrace, in Rakaia, and he was pursued by Constable Butters. When accosted by the constable, he could not produce a. license. Tho Magistrate: This is a most serious offence. There seems only one method of dealing with it, and that is to cancel the license and impose imprisonment. The defendant will be fined £ls, and costs, and he will be prohibited from obtaining another license for six months. For driving without a license he was convicted and discharged. William John Brown, of Fairfield, pleaded guilty to obstructing a railway servant in the performance of his duty at Fairfield on April sth.

Senior-Sprgeant Mathieson said that defendant obstructed the guard of the slow train, and tried to induce a friend who accompanied him, not to pay for a carriage window, which had been broken. He tried to stop the guard boarding the train when it was moving off. Accused was fined £-3 and costs. A further charge of using indecent language on the same date, was dismissed. On a charge of allowing six cows to wander at large in liermode street, Oliver Ernest Blackler pleaded guilty and was fined 20s and costs. Charles McArteer, who did not appear, was charged with being in arrears for maintenance, to the extent of £lO. He was sentenced to 4 months' imprisonment, the warrant to be cancelled so long as he pays the sum of £l2 and £2 £s costs. In a civil action, Reid and Gray (Mr R. Kennedy) claimed from Annie Moses (Mr A. K. North) the sum of £2l ss, representing an account for balance of goods, together with interest. The defence disputed the interest, and the Magistrate reserved his decision. Judgment by default was entered in the case of E. Doyle v. A. E. Chandler, claim for lis and costs 10s. On judgment summonses, G. Smith was ordered to pay G. Hefford and Co., £*2 3s 6d forthwith, in default three days' imprisonment, and F. J. Barry was directed to pay W. E. Munday and Sons, Ltd., £3 9s, in default 21 days' 1 imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended for 21 days. MOUNT SOMERS. With the arrival of a new vicar, the question of means of transport is occupying the attention of the vestry and church people. An inspection of the parish car reveals it to be beyond repair, and unfit for further use. A suggestion has been" mooted to .raise the vicar's stipend by £IOO, fr&n which he will provide his own meansljnd ways of transit. A canvass is to Jte made to ascertain what support is forthcoming from tho parishioners towards the scheme, after which a definite decision will be reached. The question of the centralisation of ckurch services is also receiving attention. Suggestions have been made to eliminate some small centres within easy reach of nearby centres, and thus enable more frequent services to be held in the more central parts of the parish. The system will be given a few months' trial. The County Council surveyors are surveying the tramway reserve between King's corner and the township. It is proposed to fence off the reserve and plant it in trees which should be more profitable than its present "crop of gorse." The clearing of the section

should provide work for local unemployed. ... t,-a At the opening of the.Miniature Kinc Club's season, there was a muster of over 20, including a number of new members, which augurs well for a successful season. The electric lighting on the range was greatly appreciated, and probablv accounted for the high standard of shooting for opening night. The following are the best scores: P. 11. Jones 34, R. Hix 34, 33, G. Bland 33. K. E Gifkins 33, 30, J. Gorrie 33, H. Gifkins 32, R. W. Archer 32. DORIE. At the weekly shoot of the Dorie Miniature Rifle Club; the priie was a sweepstake. The following tied with total scores ot 35:-R. Harrison (4) 33, L. Kingsbury (3/34, B. Kingsbury (3) 33, R Shanks (4) 32, H. Currey (6) 33, J. Beard (3) 33,' E. Kingsbury (6) 30. On the third shoot-off B. Kingsbury won with 33, 32, 34, JL. Kingsbury being second with 34, 35, 33. A niatcli against ; the teeaneld Club was tired 011 the Dorie range, and resulted in a win fpr Dorie by four points. Scores: Dorie, F. Alexander 35 L. Kingsbury 34, E. Kingsbury 33, D Harrison 33, R.' Shanks 32, J. Beard 32, D. Banks 32, J. Baker 31; total 262. Seafield: L. Scott 35, J. Lnmbie 33, A. Gregory 33, R. Baynes 33, J. Gregory 33, A. Watson 32, H. Watson 31, C." Johnson 28; total 258. % ■ RAKAIA. The first annual meeting of the Rakaia branch of the Plunket Society was held in St. Mark's Schoolroom. Mrs Laing, president of the Ashburton branch, presided over a good attendance. 'lhe Plunket Nurse's report showed visits to rooms 532, adults 266, babies 266; visits to homes 16; new cases, 23 breast-fed, 1 partly breastfed, 3 artificially fed; visits to district 23. The report stated that Rakaia has the largest proportion of breast-fed babies the new cases in the county. The annual report, which was presented by the secretary, Mis Cooke, showed that since the branch was established in July, the number of members had increased to 51, with a committee of 22. The monthly meetings had been well attended, and the work of the Plunket Nurse was steadily increasing. The thanks of the committee were due to the Library Committee, the workers at the recent-fair, Mr A. S. Henderson, treasurer, and Mr Tucker. The balance-sheet, presented by the treasurer, Mr Henderson showed receipts £l5B is lid. • The expenditure was £2O 16s Id, leaving a credit balance ,of £l3B lis lOd. The reports and balance-sheet were adopted. The following officers v/ere appointed: President, Mrs-J. D. O'Connor; vicepresidents, Mesdames' Boag, Breach, C'ordner. Henderson, Bagley, Connolly, Hardv, ' Morrison, Hawks worth, Blacklev, iiochliead; secretary, Mrs H. J. Baxter; treasurer, Mr A. S. Henderson ; auditor. Mr G. S. Hardy; committee, Mesdames R. Harrison, Hopsvood, McNamara, Sargent, Weaver, Crov, Whitcombe, A. Crosslev, Ors- ■ bourn, Cooke, Penny, O. Hooper, Oliver, Hart, A. E. Mead, Kingsbury, Saunders, Langford, Misses Hight, H. Langley, and M. Langley. V<ftes of thanks and appreciation to Mesdames J. D. O'Connor and M. P. Cooke for their work as president and secretary were carried by acclamation. Mrs Laing congratulated the branch on the success of its work, and on its financial position. A very interesting and 1 instructive address was given by Mrs Laing mi the Plunket work which is being done in the Ashburton County. METHVEN. At the annual general meeting of the Methven. Miniature Rifle Clul>, Mr G. H. Nicliolls presided, and there were also present Messrs R. H. Allen, G. "Waddington, E. Hyland, J. Anderson, G. Ruddenklau, R. Compton, H.. Noble, S. Hyland" J. E. Carr, Geo. Anderson, W. M. Holland (hon. secretary), W. Jackson, J. Wightman, and R. H. Cranfield. Apology for absence was received from Mr R. L. Haskett. The secretary read the report of the past season, which stated: The third season has been the most successful since the inception of the club 60 far as the standard of shooting was concerned. Some excellent shooting was recorded on many occasions. An excellent performance was thai put up by S. Hyland, who put on 23 consecutive bulls when he had a score of 22 to beat. The championship was won by M. Holland with a record average of 34.3. J. E. Carr tied, but was beaten in the shootoff. This was the second occasion on which Carr had been runner-up. G. H. Nicholls was only one point behind the winner and runner-up. At championship meetings the club met with varied success. One member won the individual championship and another gained good places in. the prize-list at the Ashburton Meeting on* June 3rd last. On August 28th, at. Ashburton, G. H. Nicholls shot consistently in the individual championship and aggregate. In postal matches and matches on the club's range the club met with a satisfactory amount of success, winning seven matches out of eight and being beaten in one instance only by the Dorie Club by one point on the local range. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: Patron, Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, M.L.C.; president, Mr William Morgan; vice- , presidents. Messrs H. A. Nickolls, Chas. Ireland, \V. J. Cooksley, T. S. Harrison, F. W. Ruddenklau, Stanley Smith, J. McD. Anderson, W. P. Cosgriff, A. Orchard, E. Hyland, James Carr, S. Robinson, and R. J. Low; captain, Mr J. E. Carr; vice-captain, Mr James Anderson; hon. secretary. Mr W. M. Holland; hon. treasurer, Mr IV. M. Holland (pro. tem); hou. auditor, Mr R. H. Cranfield; committee, Messrs R. L. Haskett, J. Manning, J. Wightman. G. H. Nicholls, G. Waddington; delegate to Ashburton County M. R. Association, Mr W. M. Holland; handicappers, Messrs G. Waddington and G. H. Nicholls; checkers, Messrs J. Manning and J. E. Carr : sight testers, Messrs J. E. Carr and G. H. Nicholls; social committee, captain, secretary, R. Allen, R. Crompton, and H. Noble. Club shooting night was fixed for Saturday night in each week. It was arranged to hold the opening shoot on Saturday, May Ist. It was decided to hold a working bee 011 Tuesday to pub the range in order. At the first committee meeting of the Plunket Society for the new. financial year, held in the Anglican Hall, there were present: Mesdames Reid (presiding), Fairbairn, Owen, Bremer, Aitken. Green. Elliott, Toolev. Jessep, Baxter, Nicholls. and Wisely (hon. secretary). Apologies were receive*! from Mrs McKay and Mrs Ruddenklau. The secretary and treasurer were empowered to sign cheques conjointly. Following iew members were elected: —Mesdames Rutledge. Topp, H. Drummond, A. Lawrence, G. Heney, A. S. Kennedy. A. Adams. Mrs Lawrence was elected to the committee. Final arrangements for the annual appeal on April 29th were made. DROMORE. The friends of Mr Pat Hanrahan will be pleased to learn that he has at last been able to leave the Public Hospital. Mr Hanrahan was severely burned in the disastrous fire that swept the countryside some three, months ago. Complications set in as the result of the shock, so that Mr Hanrahan had to spend a much longer time in the Hospital than was at first anticipated. It is hoped now that Mr Hanrahan . is fully restored to health*