Local and General

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LX, Issue 18, 7 March 1939, Page 3

Local and General

The high winds of last month blew a large quantity of grass, gorse, and other light debris into the water races, causing frequent blockages and a great deal of extra work for the caretaker in cleaning them. A Southbridge fisherman on Monday had the good fortune to land a quinnat salmon which turned the scale at 25|lbs. The bringing of the big fish ashore was quite an exciting episode for the fisherman and his companion. At the Leeston stock sale next Friday, Messrs H. Matson and Co. will offer 162 Corriedale ewes on behalf of the estate of the late Mr L, R. Barnett. The Farmers' Co-op. Assn. will offer 131 three-quarterbred ewes for Mr J. T. Denton. . The New Zealand Meat Producers' Board reports as under on the London market for the week ended March 2:—Lamb again a shade easier, but lower prices stimulating consumption. Trade in wether and ewe mutton slow with prices for heavyweights lower. " Light-weight New Zealand porker pigs easier, medium weights firmer, demand quiet; market for baconers quiet and unchanged. Little Rakaia School having been amalgamated with Southbridge, it is necessary to set up a committee of control to look after the school building and grounds. A meeting for the purpose, convened by Mr F. H. Greenwood, is to be held next Tuesday evening in the schoolroom. It is necessary to have a committee of control if the building is to be retained as a social hall for the district. , The heavy demand for railway trucks throughout the grain-growing districts in Canterbury is reflected in a continued acute shortage ol trucks for the conveyance of grain from this district. Many thousands of sacks of grain are stacked in the paddocks where threshing plants have been at work. While the dry weather continues there is considerable risk of damage by fire, and much damage could also be done if a spell of wet weather set in. A very popular event with dancing enthusiasts throughout the district is the annual St. Patrick's ball of St. John's branch of the Hibernian* Society. This year's function will be held in the Leeston Town Hall on Friday, March 17, and arrangements are already well forward. Mr Colin Campbell's Orchestra has been engaged and provision is being made for a cards tournament in the lounge. Mr J. A. Creagh is again acting as secretary. Hopes that the main highway through the Southbridge town district will be paved very soon have been raised by the presence of officers from the Public Works Department, who are busy to-day making a survey of the road. It has been suggested that if there is not much reconstruction work to be done the contractors may feel disposed to seal this section before the winter. Rounding off is to be done at Flood's corner and also at the bend opposite Mr P. F. McCartin's homestead. , The fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Leeston Lodge of Oddfellows was held in the Lodge room, Bro. C. Newton, N.G., presiding over a good attendance. Sick pay was passed for payment and Bros. Newton, P.G., Donaldson, P.G., and Parkin, P.G., reported on the annual conference held in Christchurch, for which they were thanked. The lodge offered its congratulations to Bro. Newton on his election to the District Management Committee. One candidate was initiated into the order, Bro. Newton, P.G., acting as lecture master. A very enjoyable game of quoits concluded the evening.