COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 17033, 7 December 1915, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS.

[From Ocr Correspondents.]

AKAROA

The Akaroa Borough Council met on Wednesday; present—the Mayor (Mr G. Armstrong) and Councillors F.vfe, Penlington, Munro, Williams, Noonan, Fredericksen and Leete. The Defence Department wrote, stating its intention of issuing a handbook on recruiting. Tt was decided to obtain one dozen copies. Notice of transfer of lease of one of the council’s reserves at Ashburton was approved. The resignation of Councillor Vangioni was received and accepted with regret. The financial statement showed the receipts to have been £sl 12s 6d. Accounts presented for payment totalled £52 15$ 6d. A long discussion took place on the electric light supply, which, owing to the continued dry weather, has had to be considerably curtailed. Finally it was decided to hold a special meeting on Wednesday next, when particulars as to the best means of increasing the supply by supplementing the water power with engine power will be submitted.

The Aknroa. Indies who have charge of the refreshment, tent at the forthcoming Patriotic Carnival on Dceeruber If* have started an afternoon tea room in aid of flic funds. • Mr T.' Lewitt, of Wai-iti House,, has given the use of his up-stairs rooms. All the refreshments and attendance will be given by the Indies. On Wednesday the room's were opened by the Mayor, Mr G. Armstrong. who wished the project every success. It is intended to keep the rooms open until Janunrv 13, wheu the different functions on the Peninsula’ in aid of the Canterbury Patriotic Fund will close.

The continued spell of dry weather i;t having a disastrous effect on some of the d:ii ,, v forma. In some eases where water is scarce through the springs drying up, dairy cows have to he taken daily some distance to creeks. O+her farmers are considering drying off their herds, There will practically he no cocksfoot harvest this year, except in a few isolated cases. In the gardens fruit, esnecinllv stone, is n'nening a full month earlier than usual.

ASHBURTON. Five cases of scarlet fever have been notified in the Ashburton borough during the last few days. Steps have been taken to isolate the patients. There has been a keen demand for shearers in the Ashburton County during the last week. The demand for farm hands and unskilled 'labour is also good, and very few men are unemployed in the county. The residents of Sealield, Ashburton County, farewelled Messrs J. Churchill, G. B. Cooper, H. Pilbrow and W. Hendry on Friday evening. Mr James Bruce presided, and presented each of the guests with a small token as a recognition of valuable services rendered to the district.

A conference between representatives of the various branches of the Farmers’ Union in the North and South Canterbury districts will be held in the Ashburton Agricultural and' Pastoral Association’s room on Thursday. Invitations have been sent to the Prime Minister and other representatives of the Government, and to the chairmen of the Ashburton and' Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Associations. The Conference will commence at 10.30, and the visitors will be the guests of the local Farmers’ Union to luncheon. The programme will include discussions on the following important questions:— Sale and shipment of frozen meat, shipping charges on grain, simplification of income tax returns, and improved system of collection of grain statistics. If time permits the question of compulsory military service will also come up for discussion, as well as many minor matters.

The monthly meeting of the Upper Ashburton Road Board was held on Saturday, the chairman (Mr C. J. Harper) presiding. The chairman reported that in company with Mr Tucker ho had inspected the crossing which connects Jackson’s Road, Lagmhor, with the Old Mill Road, leading to the Forks Road, and fouud it impossible to open the road owing to so much water scouring the approach away. It was decided to return the form of license for electric lines in the board’s district to the Public WorkDepartment, stating that the board agreed to the terms. The tender of Mr Nicholas Fitzgerald for forming aud shingling a new road at Lagmhor was accepted. Accounts amounting to £139 15s 5d were passed for payment.

duvaughelle. A meeting of the directors of the Peninsula Saleyards Company was held at Diivauohelle on Friday, Mi- It. Latter, chairman, presiding. . me secretary was instructed to 6end a letter of condolence to the family of the late Mr F. H. Pyne. Mr Wilkins, engineer, submitted a draft plan ot proposed additions to the yards, comprising another sixteen pens. It was decided to proceed with the work. Accounts amounting to £lB 10s 7d were passed for payment. WAIAU. At a clearing sale held on Mrs Breckon’s farm on Saturday a. Shetland pony, kindly presented by air P. Dunbar, in aid of the Waiau Q.ueeu of the Haumer Red Cross Carnival, was put up by auction and realised £4, the bidders being Messrs K. Pettigrew, A. W. Rountree and C. Netting. At the last meeting of the committee of the Waiau Tennis Club Messrs T L. Derrett and J. Pocklington, who are on active service, were made life members. AV ADDINGTON. The Sheffield Riding Patriotic Committee held its usual monthly meeting at Mr Miller’s residence, AA : addington, on Friday evening. 'There Was a good attendance, presided over by Mr AA 7 . J. Jenkins. The secretary reported that the proceeds of the last social reached over £ti(), and pleasure was expressed at the result. It was decided to comply with the provisions of the new Act as soon as possible. _ Messrs G. F. AA'right and W. J. Jenkins were appointed to attend the Darfield meeting in connection with the carnival queen business. Messrs M’Millan, Pole and Wright were asked to arrange for a roll of honour for the riding. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Patten for the manner ana promptness with which tho soldiers’ souvenirs had been prepared. AVAIKUKU. On Sunday the Methodist Sunday School anniversary was celebrated at Waikuku, there being large congregations at each service. Tne preacher was the Rev J. R. Clark. The children, trained by Mrs Morris and Miss Finch, sang anniversary hymns. On Thursday the celebrations were continued. The children, assisted by friends from Rangiora and Woodend, presented a capital programme. Tbe financial returns were very satisfactory. Votes of thanks were passed to all who had assisted in making the function a success. KIR WEE. Tbe rainfall registered at Kir wee for the month of November was 1.98 in. Rain fell on fourteen days, the maximum fail being .i3in on tne 9th. For the corresponding month of 1914, 2.53 in were registered. The total fall for the eleven months ending November 30 was 10.03iu. This is a very marked decrease

for a similar period for a number of years. In 1914. for the same period. 2fi.37in were registered: 1913, 23.55 in ; 1912, 36.18 in; 1911, 28.21ih; 1910, 28.30 in; 1909,33.45 in; and' 1908, 25.96 in. North-west winds have predominated during the month, and there were several frosts, one of winch did a lot of damage to potatoes and other garden plants. A social was held in Mr Lawrey’s hall on Wednesday evening for the purpose of bidding farewell to Corporal It. G. Burgess, who is acain proceeding to the front. Corporal Burgess, who was the first man to enlist from Kirwee, left with the Main Expeditionary .Forces, hut was invalided home some months ago. Ho has again been passed as fit for active service, and will leave with the next reinforcements. There was a good attendance. During the evening C’orooral Burgess was presented with a soldier’s hold-all. and the hope was expressed that he would return safely.

KIMBERLEY. The Kimbeiiey Social Club held a concert and dance in the Kimbcrley Hall on Fridav evening, in aid of the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. The weather was all that could bo desired, with the result that the hall was crowded, the financial result being very satisfactory. Songs we.ro given by Mrs G. Gartrey, .Miss Ruby Clark, and Messrs (i. M'Cormack, P. Gibbons and' D. M'Beth; recitations by Miss L. Reveley and Mr.G. M'Cormack; a competition song bv Misses Delcie Bou'ton, Emily Reveley, Rita Reveley, Ada Reveley and Gladvs M'Clelland 5 a pianoforte solo bv Master Basil Bedford and a Highland fling by Miss Ruby Clark. The music for the dance was provided by Misses A. Gill and I. Clements, and Messrs Syine (2), G. M'Cormack and J.. Ede. The duties of M.C. were carried out by Messrs J. Tootell, C. Jl'Causland and .las. Cosrau. During the evening a quantity of butter, eggs, honey, cakes and new potatoes, green peas, etc., were sold, and realised good prices.

CULVERDEN. The Culverden Sunday School treat was held in the Culverden Domain on Saturday afternoon. The weather was all that could be desired, and there was an attendance of about 100 adults and children. A short programme of races for the children was carried out, and various games kept them pleasantly occupied till tea was served. Afterwards the prizes for the year were presented by the Rev J. 11. Thomson. The special nrizes for best attendance were awarded to Bessie Fraser and Carl and Clarence Crampton, and the prizes for the best scholars in Sunday School to Aileen Hare and Willie Scott. A motion of sympathy- with the widow and family of the late Mr W. O. Rutherford was carried in silence. On Sunday morning a memorial service was held in the Culverden Presbyterian Church for the late Mr W. O. Rutherford. The Rev J. H. Thomson preached from the text, "Blessed are tho dead that die in the Lord from henceforth," and referred to the late Mr Rutherford's connection with the Anutrii Persbyterian Church, he having been treasurer for uearly thirty years.