COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16491, 5 March 1914, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS.

OXFORD

Instead of holding its usual afternoon meeting the Oxford Women’s Christian Temperance Union tendered a farewell social on Wednesday evening to Pastor Duncumb, who is leaving the district to go to college. The hall was well filled with members and friends, and an enjoyable evening was spent. The president, on behalf of the Union, thanked Mr Duncumb for kjs past help and sympathy in the Union’s work. Mr Duncumb gave an address on the “Care of Child Life.” Musical and other items were given during the evening by- Mr Duncumb and Mesdames Kippenberger, Ryde, Cuming and Comyns. At a business meeting of the Union held' before the social, it ‘was decided to accept the Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s invitation to cater for the annual show. RANGIORA.. The result of the .poll’ on .the question of rating on unimproved land values is not likely to be taken quietly by the owners of agricultural land on the borough boundaries. It is understood that-steps are. already being taken to petition for the severance of such lands from the borough. The annual conference of the Canterbury District. Druids will open at Timaru to-dav. P.D.P Brother W. Young, of liangiora, will represent the North Canterbury Lodges at the conference. KAIAPOI. At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Messrs C. H. Sneyd arid R. W.vlie> J-VP.,:William Kelcherwais convicted and discharged for drunkenness and was fined 40s and , costs 7s for. using obscene language. Nathan L'. Thompson, senior, was convicted and discharged for drunkenness and a. charge •of a breach of a prohibition order was adjourned till March 23. AKAROA. The Akaroa District; High, School Committee met on Monday evening; present—Messrs Newton (chairman), Munro and Leete and Rev A. H. Julius. The sub-committee reported on the arrangements made for the opening ceremony of the new school on Thursday. The headmaster, Mr C. Hall, stated that the children had moved that day into the new biubling and were very pleased with the change. The attendance was 136 out of a possible 150. Accounts amounting to £1 13s 7d were passed for payment-.

The new school at Akaroa is a very Handsome brick building fitted with ail the latest improvements. It stands on a hill in the centre of the town, overlooking the bay, and is a very noticeable addition, to the architecture of Akaroa. Both teachers and children welcome the-change from the old worm-eaten building that had served its purpose for so many years. Arrangements are well in hand for the entertaininent of the ..delegates, to the- iFire- Brig|dris; Association . to *;be held next week in Akaroa. At a meeting held in the Council Chambers on Monday evening, the Mayor presiding, it was stated that the Rangiora Brass Band had been engaged for the week. _ It was decided that the citizens’ picnic should be held on March 12 at Wainui. It was reporteed that the subscriptions collected amounted to unwards of £l3O.

On Monday evening the - congregation of St Peter’s (Anglican) Church tendered a farewell social in the Boating Club’s new hall to Archdeacon Stocker who is leaving Akaroa to settle in Christchurch. There was a large attendance, and the vicar. Rev A. H. Julius, presided. Musical items were contributed by Mrs Julius. Misses Westenra, Taylor, Julius, Jacobson, Rhodes and Yoiing'man, and 'Messrs Armstrong‘and-Taylor. During the evening Archdeacon Stocker was presented with a purse of sovereigns as a token of the esteem in which he was held by the parishioners, and the boys in his class in the Sunday School presented him with a fountain peri. At the.last meeting of the Loyal Good Intent Lodge of Oddfellows, Akaroa, the N.G. Brother Haylock presided over-a gebd attendance. The P.C.S. Lyttelton district wrote stating that the annual district meeting would be held at Lyttelton on March 12. Brothers Laurence and Haylock were appointed delegates to the meeting. It was decided to offer Akaroa as the place of meetiug for 1915. The receipts for the evening totalled £7 2s 9d. ■' ' ' CUST. . , Harvesting’ is almost finished in, the Oust district, the orify crop still in ratook being linseed. Threshing of grain is being vigorously carried on and good yields are recorded, several fields of wheat returning a yield of over 50 bushels per acre of wheat. In the Summerhill portion of the district the grain has -been seriously affected with smut, blight and “take all.”