COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16646, 3 September 1914, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS.

I [From Oun Correspondents.] OXFORD. The mouthly meeting of the Oxford No-licenso League was held on Wednesday. There was a good attendance and the president, Mr D. Hawke, was in tho crnir. It was decided to ask Mr H. D. Bedford, of Dunodin, to address a public meeting at an early date. A resolution was carried heartily aup» porting the Canterbury Prohibition Council and tho Alliance in its determination to carry on its activitios ag-unst tho liquor traffic at the present juncture. Mr Comyns was elected to represent the League at a district council. ■WATAU. Tho Waiau Domain Board met on Thursday evening, Mr C E Derrett in the chair. It was resolved to fence off and plant the southeast sido of the Domain, and-to effect some necessary repairs to the boundary fonce. Tho members of tho Loyal Waiau Lodge met informally on Monday evening, when P.G. Brother D. Q. M'Kio was presented on behalf of tho lodfjo with a Past Grand's 'sash: The N.G. Brother Dunbar spoke of tha excellent sorvico done by P.G. Brother M'Kie sinqe the opening of the lodgs. P.G.'s Brothers Man-, Lewis and Oldmam also wished Brother • M'Kie every success in his new' home at Porie.

On Friday evening a social was held in the Rink Hall, Waiau. in aid of tho fund for the poor of Groat Britain and Ireland and was fairly well attended. Much needed rain commenced to fall on Saturday night and it has been quietly raining for twenty-four hours. The fillip given to the grass was hist what wis wanted for the lambs, which are now appearing all over the*district. There appear to bo i_ore twins than usual in the paddocks. The Waiau School Committee held the •monthly meeting on Monday ; presentMessrs C. Oldman (chairman). P. Woodall, W. R. Creed, A. Sunckell, S. Mander and W. Mockett. Tho master reported that tho average attendance for August was-sixty-five out of a roll number of seventy-one and two children had been admitted and four withdrawn from the school. Tho master also reFiorted that' ho, had received circulars rom the Board and tho Department of Education regarding a fund for patriotic purposes, and the teachers.had arranged to hold a, school patriotic concert. A letter was read from Mr G.. W. Forbes, M.P., in connection with the proposed shelter shed, stating that he.had much pleasure in contributing to so worthy an object, and enclosing a cheque. A letter was received from Mr W. C. Large, of the School Committee Association, in reply to a request for particulars of up-to-date school-heaters, and the committee expressed its appreciation of the thorough manner in .which ho had answered the request. On account of the present unsettled' state of affairs duo to the war, it. was resolved to hold over the question of heaters and other improvements for a future date.

WAIMATE. The* Rev.. Neho Hemi Papakakura, superintendent of the Southern Maori Mission, preached at St Paul's Methodist Church on Sunday, ar.d sang several solos. He expressed the opinion that the Maoris who had volunteered for the Expeditionary Force ought to bo accepted. . v About, sixty men are employed on the Waihao Downs railway: extension works at present. The Dunedin batch has been supplemented by a batch from Christchurch. The men aro not employed on the co-operative plan, but on the piece-work principle. Some of the gang are making good wages. I BROADFIELD. The annual meeting of shareholders of the Broadfield Shearing Shed Company, Ltd., was held in the Broadfield Schoolroom on Saturday. Mr H. r Paterson presided over a fair attendance. The report and balancesheet, which were adopted, ehowed a credit balance on profit and loss account at the close of the year of £36 lis sd. This was considered satisfactory, notwithstanding that the company suffered a heavy loss, owing to the shearing shed and all plant being destroyed by fire during the past shearing season, which interfered with shearing operations considerably. The following, were elected directors, with power ' to add: Messrs H. Paterson (chairman), M. Jiyan, sen., T. Cunneen, T. Henley and F. Carpenter. Mr F. H. Labatt was re-elected auditor. A vote of thanks was accorded the directors and staff. It was decided to convene a meeting in Christchurch of representatives of the various shearing sheds, to discuHs important business matters in connection with ,the' working of sheds for tho coming seanon. RANGIORA. There was a large attendance at the ordinary meeting of the Bud of Hope Druids Lodge on Mondey evening, a fraternal visit being paid by brethren of the Kaiapoi and Onoka Lodges. A sum of £5-"was. voted to the Food for Britain Fund, and it was decided to keep members who had joined the ExI peditionary Force good on" the books I until their return to the Dominion. At the conclusion of the business a card -\ match was played between the lodge and visitors, the Rangiora players winning by 220 points to 216- The visitors were entertained at supper before leavingfor home. The meeting of the Literary and Debating Society held on Mondav evening was well attended. Mr S. L. Paterson was in the chair. The question debated was, " That the good old times were the bad old times. Mr S. A. Clark led the debate on the affirmative aide, and *fras seconded by Mr T. W. Ambrose. Mr R. Ball was the leader on tho other side, with Mr S. S- Clark as his main supporter. An interesting discussion eventuated, and the chairman, acting as judge, awarded a win to the affirmative side by one point. BELFAST. A well attended social and dance in aid of St David's vicarage and sinking fund was held in the Town Hall, BeU fast on Monday evening. The Rev A. Curnow presided, and a large number of vocal and instrumental items were given. TEMUKA. A special meeting of ■ the Temuka Sports Association was held on Monday Mr Thomson presiding. The chairman referred with regret to the demise of the late chairman, Colonel ! Hayhurst. Tho action of the chairman and secretary in forwardine; floral tributes and letters of sympathy was confirmed. , It was agreed that the Association should plaoe on record in the minutes its sense of loss, the motion being carried in silence, members standing. Mr H. H. Hayhurst was appointed chairman of. the Association in place of the late Colonel Hayhurst. A special meeting of the Temuka Caledonian Society was held on Monday evening. The chairman (Mr G. Thomson) referred with regret to the deaths of Colonel Hayhurst and Mr T. F. Hooper, in whom the Society had lost two very valuable officers. It was agreed that a motion of condolence should be recorded or the minutes. The;action of;several members in sending .floral tributes and letters of sympathy, was confirmed. A meeting of the Temuka Bicycle Club was hold on Monday, Mr F. A. Joynt presiding. The action of several members in forwarding .floral tributes to and messages of sympathy with the families of Colonel Hayhurst and Mr T. F. Hooper, late members of tne club, -voa confirmed. It was agreed that

those sad losses should be recorded in the minutes. ASHBURTON. A miniature rifle match was fired on Monday evening between teams representing tho Foresters' and Druids' Lodges, the former winning by seventyeight; points- The scores wore—Foresters t)2O, Druids 542. The fortnightly meeting of the Ashburton borough Council was held on Monday evening; present—the Mayor (Mr ii. Davis) and Councillors F. Ferriman, J. B. Christian, H. M'Elrea and H. A. Lloyd. Tne Mayor reported a debit balance on the temporary loans 'account amounting to £'JGO, and a debit at the Bank of Now Zealand of £6546 10s 4d, making an overdraft of £7104 10s 4d. The amount received since last meeting totalled £221 7s 9d. It was decided to refund half the license fee paid by tho Ashburton Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Society in connection with the late winter show; also to pay the sublet intion to the Municipal Association. The matter of the rest room for women was held over until'next meeting. The sanitary inspector reported on a' case of defective drainage, also breaches of the by-laws, and it was deeidrd to take action with regard to the by-law breaches. Sitting as a Domain Board, the Council decided to thank Mr T. W. Adams, of Greemdale, for tho gift of valuable trees for the Domain. The Cemetery Board reported a crrdit balance of £3l 16s lid, and amounts received since last moating amounting to £6 7s 6d. At a special meeting of the Ashburton Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Society held on Monday evening, it was decided to alter Rule 10 to read that tho annual general meeting should be held in the" month of October each year, instead of in January.

The vital statistics for the Ashburton registration district for the month of August, 1914, are:—Births 28, deaths 10, marriages 10. The figures for August, 1913. were:—Births 33, deaths 9, marriages 9. The annual tea and concert in connection with the ( Winchmoro Church was held on Friday evening last, when the Methodists,. Anglicans and Prefbyterians combined. After tea a public concert was held, when tho Rev W. C. Blair presided, and a musical and elocutionary programme was carried out. The Ashburton branch of tho Mothers' Union, in conjunction with tho St Stephen's Anglican. Sewine; Guild, on Friday afternoon Inst presented Mrs W. G. Roberts with a pearl pendant and chain. Mrs Roberts, who is leaving for Christchurch, has boon secretary to the Union for a number of years.

The i Association miniature riflr •natches were fired on the Ashburton range on Tuesday evening, when the results were:—Senior 3rado: Friendly Societies No. 2, 323. heat Ashburton'Club. No. L 321, by two points. Junior Grade: Friendly Societies beat Ashburton Club M.S.A by d-fault. Third Gr.-ide: Friendly Societies 317, beat Ashburton Club 30S. by nine points. The third grade competition in connection with the Ashburton Minia■uro Rifle Association was concluded on Tuesday evening. The Friendly Societies'team won, scoring 3 points; Ashburton Club, No. 1, 2} i>oints: Tuckers, Ltd., 2£ points; Ashburton Club No. 2,2 points. RAKAIA. At Ovcrdale, Rakaia, on Thursday evening last, Miss O. A. French, who has.had solo charge of the school for the jjast two and a half years, and is leaving to take a position in Christchurch, was farewellcd and presented with a cheque by the residents. The chairman (Mr R. Oakley) made tho presentation, and Miss French, feelingly replied. TEMUKA. A meeting of tho committee of the Milford Lagoon Recreation Association was held on Tuesday evening. Dr Rugg presided. Tho chairman made sympathetic reference to the death of tho late Colonel Hayhurst, and a motion of condolence with Mrs Hay- | hurst and family was passed, members standing. Messrs F. Daily, J. Leckie, and T. Tilbrook were elected members of the committee. Tho secretary stated that weeping willows had not been planted, as they would not thrive so near to the sea. They had, however, planted 280 other trees at a cost of £4. The cost of fencing the land given by tho late Colonel Hayhurst and Mr J. S. Rutherford was £l9 10s 6d. It was agreed that the annual meeting shouM bo held on September 25. 'A deputation, consisting of Messrs 'C. Ferguson, J. Leckie and W. F. Evans, was appointed to wait on the Temuka Road Board, and ask for assistance with regard to protecting the road and leservo from the river. It was agreed to recommend that the date of the annual picnic be December 16. Hearty votes of thanks were passed to Mr E. Daily and members of the working bee for planting trees, and to Mr T. OJdfield for ploughing at the reserve. It was decided to set aside half an aero as a oamping ground for members of the Association. .