COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17096, 19 February 1916, Page 7

COUNTRY NEWS.

[From Ocr Correspondents.] AKAROA. Though coming too late to do much good to ‘the dairying industry, tho recent rains have had a wonderful effect in the Peninsula pastures, which a, few weeks or so si go- were as bare as the roads. Now, owing to the warmth of the soil and the cessation of the dreaded nor'-wester, the surrounding hills have quite a verdant appearance, and given some more good' rains the question of winter feed for the stock will be settled satisfactorily. The annual meeting of tho Akaroa Coronation Library was held on AAednesdav evening There was a fair attendance of subscribers. Mr _ AY. H. Henning, vice-president, was in the chair. The report and balance-sheet, which were adopted, showed the receipts to have been £59 13s 7'd and the expenditure £'4o 10s lid. leaving a balance to credit of £lO 2s Bd. Officers were elected as follows: —President. Mr J. T>. Bruce; vice-president. Mr AA*. H. Henning: committee, the Revs J. AY. Havward and A. H. Julius and Messrs G. Armstrong. A. J. Turner, G. AV. Thomas, A. H. AVestenra and J. S. Dodd : honorary secretary and treasurer. Alias Jacobson: auditor. Mr C. AV. Leeto. A hearty vote of thanks and appreciation of her good services tuts passed to the librarian. The question of (inn,nee for the coining year was discussed in view of the fact that no Government subsidy would be forthcoming this rear, and it was decided to hold a concert during the winter to raise funds. Mr G. Armstrong offered to donate £3 towards the purchase of new books.

AYATAU. Tho annual meeting of the AAaiatt Domain Board was held on Thursday evening. Mr C. E. Derrett being in the chair. The balance-sheet showed a cash bill a nee of £lB 7s 6d to credit and £26 9s Gd outstanding for grazing fees. The estimated assets stand at £2OB. The renort and balance-sheet wpre adopted.' Arv C. K. Derrett was reelected chairman. Alcssrs Lyford and Marr were appointed' to inspect the fences and report to the next meeting, also to see what steps were necessary to eradicate gorse and blackberry. Itwas resolved to ask Mr Powis to plough aiu l sow the sports ground as soon as possible.

OXFORD. M'hon an assessment was made on the Oxford County for the Patriotic Fund. the manner of its raising was fully considered. The question of holding a carnival and having a carnival queen was discussed', and it was decided that a thorough canvass should be made ot tho district to raise the money, and that the district should take no part in a carnival. Mr AV. Weld was appointed <o canvass the district, and he was assisted by Messrs A. totubbs, T. .J. Frame, T. Horne, F. AA other.spoon and R. F. Henderson, with the result that instead of raising tho quota ot £ISOO. they obtained promises tor £2367 13s.

ASHBURTON. Messrs Hugo Friedlandcr and F. W 7. M utt, representing the. Ashburton Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, watted on the special meeting of the Ashburton Colin tv Council yesterday in leloience to future office accommodation tor the board's secretary. The deputation stated that the rent of the present office had been raised to ,€SO per annum, and it. had been suggested that a new office could be erected at a cost of £250, provided the council would give a site for the building adjacent, to the council offices. The councillors favoured the idea, and the matter will be dealt with at the ordinary meeting next month. In September last the lady members of the Ashburton branch of the Blanket Society sent away a consignment of 850 garments for the children and wives of soldiers in Great Britain, with the name of the down; attached to each parcel. On Thursday Mrs H. C. Shrimpton received an acknowledgment from a. recipient at Lincoln Mount, Leeds, who wrote os _ fol|ows • “Mr Anderson, our minister at, ' the Burmantafts Congrcgationa Church, has tendered to me your parcel of prottv baby clothes. For this kindness please accept my sincere thanks. My distress is too great to .write more. 1 have latelv had news of my husband s death, in France.” The Ashburton Society sent a further consignment of JOOO garments away in November and another case is being prepared to fotward at an early date.