COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17264, 4 September 1916, Page 5

COUNTRY NEWS.

[From Oca Cokbe£po>t>«nts.] RANGIOBA. Tho monthiv entertainment of the Banciora United .Band of Hope, held in the Templar Hall on Friday evening, was attended bv a larfro audience. Tint Rev 3. Guy presided and the Rev F. P. Fcndall was also present, and savo an addre«n. An enjoyable. profriamme. wnj carried out, \ f ocal ("elections boini? given by Misses Guv, M. Younsr. Violet Rowc. Thelina, Avers. Jessie M'Kenzic. Mary M'liay, Giiniwcod (2) and tho Taylor family, pianoforte music bv Eric Bell. Violet Rowe and I. Grimwood,. a flute solo by Mr H. Jackson, . recitations by Miss Ella Parlane. and Master Gibson, and a. dialogue by Miss Whitley and party. ■ , Good progress is bcinp made with tho erection of the Cam Dairy Produce Company's factory at Rangiora, and the premises will be completed and tho plant installed in ample time for chcase making to commence on October 1. The season's output has boon sold at 9|d per lb, a price (hat ensures the financial success of ths first's year's operations of <tbe company OHOKA. An entertainment was given I>v the Okoka school children in the local hall, on Thursday, in aid c-f the* school funds. Master. Hush Power mado an excellent chairman, and the programme consisted of action sonas. duets and recitations. Several competitions were held, the results being as follow: Drawing—Standard 11.. Eric Knight; Standard 1.. Evelyn Harper. Writing—Standard 11.. Ina Malmanche; Standard 1.. Avis Bailey. Plasticine Modelling—Standard lE. Bernard Kearns: Standard 1.. Evelyn Harper; Primer Class. Gordon Dunlop. Cookiner—Kis3 Cakes. Kathleen Kearns; sponge cake. Vera Poarce. Best Pot of Bulbs— M/ra Power. Tho proceeds of tho evening amounted to about £ls, of vhich £5 will be given to tho Red Cross Fund. WAIKARI. Aji enjoyable concert was given »< Waiksri on Friday evening bv tho Waikari school children, assisted- by -a- -few { ricmeb. '-•• "v!U»« concert was' in aid' of the Belgian Children's Fund, and realised £?5, with a few returns still to come in. Miss Hughey. the- mistress. had worked strenuously for- the past three weeks to get the children's items ready, with the result that the programme, which consisted of action eonga, recitations, Swedish drill ar.d vocal and instrumental solos and duels, proved to bo one of ths best that has yet beon given by school children. During the evening the children soki flowers and sweets. A large quantity of produce and fancy goods waa disposed of by Mr W. W. M'Rae. and the articles brought prices far in c'xcsjs of their value. Several pairs of baby's bcotees were- sold to single young men. much to the amusement of the audience, scuie of them bringing as much wi 7s €d. The total expenses were 7s . 6d, w'nicli constitutes a record -for the district. 05F0ED. A meeting of tho Oxford W.O.T.U. was he-id in the Methodist Church en Tuesday afternoon, the president being in the chair. M'ra Comyns having announced that she would be unable to attend the convention of tho W.C.T.U. at New Brighton, Mrs Rvde was appointed delosnto in her stead. It was decided that the next meeting of tho union should take the form of a birthday social, to be held on the evening of the I'uesdav in September, and that Ike Rev J. Peterson should be asked' to give- an address. The president reportr-d that arrangements are being made bv the Y Branch for a social to be held in October,, in place of the ordinary Band of Hope The_ president read some- extracts from the "Vanguard," dealing with the recent legislation in connection with tho sale of Hauor. A vote of thanks was passed to the trustees of the Mc-thodtet. Church for the use of the building. WATERTO". The thirtv-fifth anniversary of the Loyal Waterton ix*lge. 1.0.0.F..M.U.,' wa? celebrated by a patriotic concert "and dance in the Dibrarv Hall, the proceeds being devoted to the loc.il Red Cross Fund. Thero was a lcrge attendance, and the chair was occupied by P.G. Brother X. Marsh, who paid a tribute to the splendid work dona by the Red Cross societies throughout- the world. An enjoyable programme was submitted by a party from Athburton. At the close supper was' served, and n dunce followed.'-. The proceeds amounted to £'!T ?s 3d, ELGIN. There was m large gathering at the Elgin School on Friday. August i~>, the occasion bring a leave-taking social in honour of .Mr unci Mrs A. Jary and family, who have removed to AshbiiTton lifter many years' resilience in the. disirict: and also to their son, Mr Wm. .Tar.-, who br.? enlisted and is leaving for the training camp. Mr A. Prothero, \vnc> presided, expressed regret at tho departure of a familv which had done so much for tho district. Mr Jary hnd taken his share of public work, while Mrs Jary had icr many vcara had charge of the postal and telephone office, which duty she,had filled to the satisfaction of all Brief addresses were given bv Mr U l>. Butfcrick and Mr G. W. Leadlev, and a short musical programme was submitted'. During the cvcjiin* Mr and Mrs Jary were presented, on behalf of the residents", with two «»sv chairs, and Mr Jary, jun.. was'the-recipient of a wristlet watch. At the c!or-e supper was served by the ladies. Mr and Mrs Jaw have resided in the Elgin District for abcut thir'v-cighl years (the whole of then* married life), and Mrs Jary had charge c-l the telephone bureau sine-o. its inauguration many years nyo. APHBtRTOX. A fnnv.ov who wnp in Ashburfon on Saturday staled that it is reported that a large ; number of agriculturists are going in more I ext-ensively for sheen this year, because they ! tear there will be a fhcrtSfjc of harvesters. " In my opinion." he taid. " there will bo a greater thorta'.'r; of shearers, and as it takes an experienced man to shear a sheep, while anybodv. even women, can help with the harvest, thero is bound to be trouble at shearing lime. For my part," he- concluded. "I am sticking to grain." Mr C. Brauigan, Government Fields Inspector, stationed at Ashburtou. ; peaking en tb" result of the rabbit-poisoning in the AMiburl.on County since May last, states that it has been attended with satisfactory lesults. When it wus suggested that, poiBonnig should be commenced in May, runny formers contended that it was too early to make p. start cwiug to the abundant supply or feed. Mr Brauigan decided to give the poisoning »■ trial, with the result that it turned out to bo cne of the best poisoning campaigns tho farmers f.vcr had in tho count'-. Cp '.J the present, time over SOOOIu of pt-ison hud been laid in the county. Several farmers who had never had experience in the distribution of poisoned pollard, had now been educated up to its use. and had been shown the most effective ways to cet the best results. In the faco of recent results, said: Mr Branigau, there was no reason now Why rabbits should ever be allowed {• become a serious menace in the county. * There axe still a few localities m

the county whero rabbits are fairly numerous, and' in order that farmers might protect their young grass and cereal crops. Mr Branigan advocates a late poisoning campaign in the nature of a " spring cleaning. Poisonod pollard may still be obtained from the Department of Agriculture. Bv poisoning now a large number of docs will bo destroyed, and tho destruction of one of these means preventing an increase of morn than a scoro <rf rabbits in tho season. To get satisfactory results, simultaneous poisoning is advocated. In the back country several people who poisoned rabbits collected the skins, which returned them a pood profit this; yoar. For black skins up to one shilling each has been paid. BROOKSIDE. A farewell was tendered to Trooper J. 800-g in the Brooksido Schoolroom on Friday evening prior to his departure, with tho Reinforcements. . Thero was a very large attendance. An enjoyable evening was spent in musical items, cards and purlour games. Mr J. Cunningham, chairman of tho Ellesmere County Council, in presenting the guest with a- money belt, referred to the recipient's many good qualities and to ithe very high esteem in which ho is held throughout the district. The Rov .1. Swanson Roid, chairman of tho Dunso.ndel Patriotic Committee, and Dr Volckman, chairman of tho Leeston Patriotic Committee, also spoko in eulogistic terms oi the guest. Opportunity was also taken to present Mr Frank 'NYashbourne, of Morrinsville, formerly of Brookside, who haa recently enlisted, with a money bolt. Musical items were contributed by Misses Cunningham 02), Reirt and Mr Cunningham. Supper was provided by the ladies, and a danco followed, for which Mrs J. D. Campbell supplied the music. LEESTON A combined church and Wesley Guild social was held in the Wesley Hall, Leeston, on Thursday evening The attendance was good and a very pleasant evening was spent with musical items, games and; compeit-i----tions. Songs were sung by Misses D. and N. Grieg, and tho Rev J. W. Baylis.-. Tho Misses Grigg sang a. duet and Mr S. Max well gavo a, recitation. Statements concerning finance and church affairs generally wero made by Mr J. Barnett, senior circuit steward, and'the Rev J. Bayliis. *"* A' public meeting of ltidics, convened by Mrs Jones, was held in tho Leeston Library on Thursday ior tho purpose of forming a committee to carry on work in connection with tho fund inaugurated by her Excellency Lady .Liverpool, Hitherto th'o work has beon carried on in conjunction with tho Red Cross work, but as the two funds are distinct it was thought that thero should be two separate commiitees. Thero was a good attendance. The -following officers were elected' —President, Mrs Jones; secretary, Mrs Jecks; treasurer, Mr Joclts; committee, Mosdames P. Chamberlain, T. J. Gilbert, E. Bchan, C. Fisse, D. Harford and P. H. Jamieson. SOUTHBRIDGE. The St James's Red Cross Guild, Southbridge, sout almost 2000 buttonholas to Christchurch for Violet Day. Most of them were exquisitely made up with maidenhair fern. SEFTOX. On Thursday afternoon the Sefton school children gave a concert, and made a small charge for admission, in aid of tho Belgian Children's Fund. Thero was _ a good attendance of parents and friends, who thoroughly enjoyed tho j'oung people's performances. Afternoon tea provided and served by tho children, waa included in tho programme. A 3um of £2 18s was raised. In the Public H3II on Friday evening a progressive' euchre party was held to raise funds to pro.'ido presents . for soldiers leaving the Sefton district ior tho front. There was a large attendance and a pleasant evening was spent. The ladies' prizes wero won by Misses Annabcll Dalzell and Wyllie, and tho men's by Messrs W. Livingstone and F. Wilson