COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16741, 23 December 1914, Page 9

COUNTRY NEWS.

[From Our Correspondents.]

KAIAPOI. Tho thirty-ninth annual meeting and social of the Kaiapoi N\ oollen Mills Sick and Accident Society was held in tho Kaiapoi Oddfellows’ Hall on 1* ridav night, Mr T. Mallasch presiding over an attendance of. about 300 members and friends. The balance-sheet showed tho receipts to have been £lßl os 9d and the expenditure £l3B 13s sd, leaving a profit for the year of £42 12s 4d. Tho assets were £340. The amount of sick pay for the year totalled £129 14s 7d. The balance-sheet was adopted. Tho following officers were re-elected: — Committee, Messrs T. Mallasch, F. Richards, G. Templeton, sen., A. Pearce, G. ltollinson, J. Murphy and Misses E. Column, A. Colnmu, M. M’llorie; secretary, Mr C. Bennett; treasurer, Mr S. Rinaldi; auditors, Messrs G. A. Ellen and A. Blakeley. Votes of thanks were passed to the mill manager (Mr T. R. Leithead), to the auditors and to Mr T. Mallasch, chairman of the committee, for his untiring work for many years in that position. A vote of sympathy with the relatives of tho late Mr G. H. Blackwell waa carried in silence, those present standing. After the business was concluded a programme of vocal and instrumental items was contributed bv Misses I. M. llrierley and J. Smith, Messrs G. Lynn, A. Howarth and C. Stewart and Master C'apil, and a dance concluded a pleasant evening. NY AIM ATE. The committee of the NY ai mate Racing Club at a recent meeting decided to call tenders for additions to tho grandstand. A definite decision as to building is to como up after receiving the tenders. The present position of tho club is that its bank balance stands at £7lB, with subscriptions (good) outstanding to the amount of £2OO. Tho present liabilities are £470, leaving £448 upon which to work. The new ■ totnlisator house is finished. Tho Trades Picnic Association met on Monday evening, Mr NY. Barford in the chair. The secretary reported that January 21 was not available and January 28 was the date of the Timaru Friendly Society’s picnic to Oamaru and the town would be closed up. He suggested that an amalgamation should be made with tho school picnic. A committee was appointed to meet the school committee to confer on the matter, the committee consisting of Messrs Russell, NVilliams, Searle, George and NVebstcr. The Australasian Christian Students’ oamp is to be held this year in NVaimate. A public meeting was held in the Mayor’s room on Monday evening for the purpose of arranging for a public welcome. The Mayor. Mr J. Black, presided. Miss Borrie and the Rev j! Stockwell were appointed joint secretaries. The Mayoress undertook to convene a meeting of ladies to consider tho possibility of arranging for a. picnic on the afternoon of Saturdav, January 2. . GLENTUNNEL. A public meeting was held in the Glentunnel Hall on Friday oVening to decido whether, the combined districts picnic should be held as usual. It was decided to hold the picnic os usual. On a vote being taken New Brighton was selected as the place for tho picnic, which is to be hold on Saturday, February 20, providing suitable train arrangements can be made lor that date. ... Those at the meeting were formed into a committee to carry the scheme through. Mr C. Allard was appointed secretary, and Mr F. Milne chairman. Ihe spell of nor'-westers has been broken by a very welcome rain, which commenced about ten o’clock on Sunday night, and kept on till tho early hours of Monday morning. The v-ind then changed to nor’-west for nart of the day, but towards four o’clock rv sou’-wester sprang up with heavy rain and hail. The lain will do a lot of good to tho rape and turnip crops, but is a bit late for the cereal crops. TAI TAPU. After a week of strong continuous nor’-westers rain came on early on Sunday, night. By 9 a.m. on Monday .63 inches had fallen .. giving, a much needed supply of moisture to the parched soil. Again on Monday afternoon dark heavy clouds from the south-west gave indications of further rain. A violent thunderstorm broke, accompanied by a heavy fall of hail, not, however, of force sufficient to do much harm. The rain will prove of incalculable value to crops, gardens and pastures, which have for some time now felt the need of moisture. Tho children of the Public School have this year decided to hand over their prize fund to aid in the relief of the Poor of Belgium. The act is a voluntary one on the part of tho children. Each pupil will receive a small certificate in acknowledgment of the self-denying gift. AMBERLEY. . > On Monday evening tho members of the Amberlev Methodist choir entertained Mr A. T. Blackwell at tho residence of Mr E. J. Chamberlain. Mr Blackwell, wlio is leaving Amberley, was the recipient of a handsome bound hymn book. Mr Costain referred to tho loss of a good worker. AKAROA. Very heavy rain fell here on Sunday evening, and on Monday afternoon a severe thunderstorm passed over the town, accompanied by heavy hailstoues. The hillsides around the harbour were covered with snow. The rain continued at intervals all through tho night. It will do an immense amount of good to the pastures. A summoned meeting of the Loyal Good Intent Lodge was held in the lodge room, Akaroa, on Monday evening, tho N.G., Brother G. Kearney, presiding over a fair attendance. The District C.S. wrote, stating that the Government would pay half tho lodge fees of those members who had left with the Expeditionary Force. Several applications for sick pay were granted. Officers for the ensuing term were elected as follows:—N.G., Brother T. Lawrence; V.G., Brother T. M’Guire; lecture master, Brother C. NV. Leete; minute secretary, Brother W. Rhodes; auditors. Brothers Bruce and Leete. The fortnightly meeting of the Akaroa Borough Council was held on Friday; present—The Mayor (Mr G. Armstrong),_ and Councillors Lewitt, Fyfe, Vangioni, Walker, Munro and Leete. A motion to alter the charge for supply of electric energy to • sinners outside the borough was feated. Several applications for trie energy were granted. The chairman of tho NYliarvos- Committee re ported that tho Marine Department had authorised the County Council tc erect the boat slip, and the county wadoing tho work. An application from tho Fire Brigade for a ladder for prae tico was granted. It was decided t< have name plates for all the streets i? the borough placed at tho corners. Tl> financial statement showed the recoip since last meeting to have been £7i v 16s 3d. Accounts amounting to £S7 8 wore passed for payment. It was d c’ded to close tin l Council offices fvm December 21 to January 14. A meet ing of tho Domain Board was thcr held. and accounts amounting to £3l 14s 9d were passed for payment.