COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17249, 17 August 1916, Page 9

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FnOM OUB CORRESPONDENTS.]

DOYLESTON. Tho annual meeting of residents for tie election of a' committee of management for Osborno Park for the year was held on Monday cvoning, Mi \V. 0. Rennie presiding The balance-sheot, which was adopted, showed a credit of £C 3s 9d. The following were elected a committee: —Mos3rs IV. O. Ronnie, G. W. R. Osborne, TV. M’Lachlan, F. C. Pratt, TV. J. Doyle, T. Habbcrjam, G. H. Hibberd, J. Poarco and James Quigley. Mr A. Werner was accorded a vote of thanks for a gift of two scats for tho park. SOUTHBRIDGE. A very pleasant evening was spent in tho St James's Parish Room on Monday, when the members of tho Ellesmere Brass Band mot to say good-bye to two of their members. Bandmaster J. Hannah presided. On behalf of the members, Mr B. Carroll presented Bugler-Corporal A. Shierlaw with a pipe, as on expression of goodwill; and Mr R. Twiss presented Mr H. Webb with a pipe and pouch. Keen rogrot was expressed at the departure of both mombors, and hearty good wishes were expressed for their future. LEE STOW. Tho Leoston School Committee met ou Monday eveuing, Mr J. C. Free presiding. The head master reported that tho number on tho roll was 88, and the avorago attendance 75. The wet weather had brought tho avorago down. A Gazette" notice was received from tho Government, stating that although it had been decided to discontinue tho closing of offices in celebration of Arbor Day, it was hoped that tho planting of trees by local bodies and education boards would still be undertaken. Tho Board of Education v/roto on the same subject, stating that it considered that Arbor Day should be observed' this month. Should the committee wiph to do any treo ’planting cn the school property, it would bo necossary to submit a scheme for planting for consideration of tho board’s instructor in agriculture.. The matter was loft in the hands of tho Visiting Committee, to confer with the head master. 'A communication from the board on the subjeot of freo class books was refovred to tho head master. A hearty vote of thanks was accordod tho teaching stall for their work in preparing the cfffldren for n concert held on Belgian Day. A voto of thanks was accordod Mr Jones for carting shinglo to the school ground. On tho eve of his departure for Master ton, where ho has been appointed t-o a positimi with the firm of Sims and Cooper, Mr T. Flannery, who has been a member of tho str.fi of the Farmers’ Co-operative Association for a number of years, latterly as auctioneer, was entertained at a smoke concert in tho Lceston Town Hall. There was a large and representative gathering, including visitors from the Peninsula. Mr J. Cunningham (chairman of the Ellesmere County Council) presided. A number of toasts were honoured, and vocal and other items wero given by Messrs L. Oppenhcim, Michael. G. W. R. Osborne, J. F. K. Jamieson, Harris, TV. A. Mansell and R. T. M’Millan. In proposing tho health of the guest, tho chairman said that Mr Flannory was known as a Leoston boy who was winning l his way to tho front by sheer merit. It was no easy matter to fill a position such as Mr Flannorv had held, for the reason that he had to please both buyer and seller, otherwise a bargain was flot satisfactory. The representative gathering that evoning afforded evidonco of tho high regard in which the guest was held. On behalf of friends, the chairman presented Air Flannery with a suit case, travelling rug and purse of sovereigns, and with a cat 3 oi pipes and a tobacco pouch from the staff ot he Farmers’ Co-opera-tivo Association. Mr J. E. Cantor presented the guest with a golf club bag, and Mr L. B. Coo handed him a present from tho Dwell Cricket Club. Messrs J. Bong, jun.. J. I'. K. Jamieson and F. G. Framptou spoke very highly of Mr -Flannery as a businoss man and. as a, sport. GAPES’S VALLEY. \ euchre party was held in tho Gapes's Valley Local Hall on Thursday evening, ill aid of the Ladies’ Sewing Guild. The prize winners were Miss E. M’Naughton and Mr TV. Gnilbort. The gathering resulted in £1

9s being handed to the fund. RAKAIA. A number of early lambs have made their appearanoo iu tho Rakaia district, and as the ewes are in tho pink of condition the lambs are healthy and strong, and a good percentage is anticipated. ASHBURTON. On Tuesday tho manager of the Ashburton “Guardian" received an additional twentytwo postcards from tho Now Zealand soldiers who participated in tho of tobacco ond cigarettes purchased with funds subscribed in Ashburton borough and county. All the ■’writers expressed their grateful thunks for the gifts. „ „ Several weeks of fine weather are urgently needed by farmers in the Ashburton county to enable them to gel oil with their spring sowing. The rain canid just as they were In tho middle of ploughing, and consequently there is a largo, area to be turned over. Should the broken .weather continue, there will bo a considerable sliortago of coreal crops in tlio county. The past winter has been'a record for feed, and with continuous fine weather there should bo an abundance of grass. Tiiero w.ns a good attendance at tho Ashburton High School Assembly Hall on Tuerdav evening, when a dobato took place <>u ** Americas Attitude m ths TV&r. J Tlio High School Debating Chib (Messrs G. IMiller, M. Walters and R. Turner) dealt with the subject from tho point of view that America’s policy of non-intervention was just’fia'ole. and the opposite view was taken by tlm Ashburton Raring Square Debating Club "(Messrs C. C. Judge, T. 11. Dunham ond C. G Andrews). Tho decision was given H favour of Baring Square. Supper was provided by tho girls attending tho school. KAIKOURA. At the meeting of the committee of tho Kaikoura District High School a motion was passed regretting tho uon-electiou of Mr Ilurk Bavd to the Education Board, and thanking him for his. aid. Members were pleased with the election of Mr Banks. A motion was passed regarding the increased cost to parents through the use of paper, instead of Elates, and tho non-passing on to junior members of a family of the books used. It was decided that if the master should not bo able to assist in tho matter, the Minister of Education should be written tO- By tho sale of flowers on Saturday school children realised nearly £l2 in aid of Rod Cross .work. , , Farewell was given and presentations made to Lanoe-Ccrporal R. Orton and Privates R. M'ltae A. Collins, TV. Laugeson and J. Sharp. At the social a motion of condolence with the paronts of the late Private Erie Morris (killed in Franco) wa3 carried in silence, all present standing. TE MOANA, A very successful social was held in the Te Moana School on Friday evening in aid of the Red Cress Fund. There was a good attendance Dancing was iniersporsed with songs contributed by Miss fe. Shaw, Mrs Tossack and Messrs S. Heydcr, G. Gale and I. Hopping. During' the evening tho chairman of the Patriotic Committee (Mr.G. Gab' welcomed two returned soldiers. Private S. Turner, of Geraldino Downs, and Private R Bates, of. Ornri. In replying Private Turner gave some, interesting information regarding work in the trenches at the front. An iced cake, with a Red Cross flag in *hc centre, wns raffled, and was won by Miss Mary Robinson. Tho cako was made by Mrs Lynn, of Tc Moana. and it Drought in £1 las. A ’ collection (alien up for the Pipe and Tobacco Fund realised 1 275. The sum of £3 13s fid was taken at tho doors.