COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17285, 28 September 1916, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS.

[From Opr Correspondents.] ' , ASHBURTON. The coming lithing eeason promise* to be opened under very favourable conditions in the Ashburton county. . There ie a good demand for fishing licenses, and' from reports to hand the Rakaia, Eangitata and Ashburton Rivers are in splendid condition, and fish are stated to be fairly plentiful. It is expected that should the weather -keop fine some good catches will be reported). Since the opening of the Ashburton abattoir the drainage system has caused the Ashburton Borough Council some consideration. Various improvements have now been carried out. Tho solid matter is being collected and removed with the offal, white tho liquid is run away over the adjoining lands. Tho pit which was used for the drainage is now fitted up Mr W. Hopkins, manager of the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, inspected the abattoir and tho drainage scheme on Tuesday and expressed himself as thoroughly satisfied with tho arrangements. The Agricultural Department’s supervisor has also mado a tour of inspection and has approved of tho new arrangements. On Tuesday evening the. Rev H. B. Hughes delivered an interesting,lecture in the Baptist Church, Ashburton, on his experiences whilo journeying bv the All-iled route to Canada, where he spent some time, chiefly in Toronto at M’Mastor University. Tho Rev Frank Oldricve presided. The lecturer gave graphio descriptions of Fiji and Honolulu, and various cities of Canada and the United States. During the evening vocal items were given by Mr H. Scgers. A collection was taken up for the- new Baptist Church in Timaru.

On Monday evening the Rev T. BroomeSmith, representing the Church Missionary Socioty, delivered an interesting lantern lecture l’n St Stephen’s Anglican schoolroom, Ashburton, on his experiences as a missionary in the Congo, where ho spent twentythree years. Tho Rev H. R. Wright presided and there was» a good attendance. A collection was taken up in aid of tho mission work. 1

Farmers in tho Ashburton county aro busily engaged in ear-marking and tailing their lambs. Owing to the favourable weather, it is anticipated that the percentage will be . exceptionally ' good Feed is now fairly plentiful, and with an abundance of milk lambs are doing wonderfully well. WATERTON. A social and dance was held in tho Waterton Hall recently "by tho ladies of tho local branch of tlin Red Cross Society. During tho evening a cake, presented by Miss M. March was submitted, to auction and brought 255, and violets sold by little girls realised 10s and sweets 8s Gd. Supper was provided by tho ladies of tho society. At the Waterton Hall a farewell social was tendered to Private W. F. Pearson, who was homo from. Trentham on leave. Mr Bleo presided, and on behalf of tho residents presented the soldier with a case of pipes. A short musical programme was submitted and a dance was held. MARSHLAND. On Monday morning, at eleven o’clock, tho scholars of the Marshland School were assembled in tho playground in celebration of Dominion Day. Addresses suitable to the occasion wero delivered by Messrs D. Goode (chairman of tho School Committee), G. Chisnall (ox-chairman) and J. Voss (head' master). Tho flag was saluted, and three cheers wero given, and tho rest of the day was granted as a holiday. . The annual mcotiug' in connection with tho Marshland Public Hall was held on Monday evening, Mr J. Voss being voted to tho chair. Mr W. J. Walter submitted tho annual report of tho business transacted during tho year and presented the statement of receipts and expenditure. After aID liabilities had been, met, thero was a credit balance of JL’l 3s lOd. During the- year needed improvements had been made to tho doors to meet tho requirements of 'insurance companies. Tho report and balance-sheet were adopted. Tho caretaker (Mr J. 11. Basher) was complimented oil ‘.lie manner in which lie had carried out his duties, and a special voto of thanks was accorded 1 to him. Messrs W. J. Walter, T. Ouaid, 1). Goode, J. Voss, P. Basher, G. Chisnall, A. Wilson, Jos. Selnmanski and F. Selfo were elected a Management Committee. At a meeting ‘of the committee Mr J. Voss was oleeted chairman and M ! r G. Chisnall secretary and treasurer. It wns decided to grant the use of tho hall flee for public patriotic gatherings under the auspices of tho Lady Liverpool branch or lire local Patriotic Committee. Tho secretary was directed to thank the Waiinairi County Council for the. remission of rates. GAPES VALLEY. __ Oh Dominion Day the Gapes Valley schoolchildren assembled in tho playground- at 11 a.m., and saluted tho flag and sang the -.ational Anthem. Tho chairman cf the School Committee (Mr Ifeyder) delivered an address, explaining tho meaning of Dominion Day, after which tho children were provided with refreshments and a half-holiday was granted. LISMORE. Tho monthly meeting of the Eangitata Road Board. was hold at Lismore on Mondav, the chairman (.Mr A. M'Kciizie), presiding. The tender of Mr P. Kellibcr. was accepted for reforming Fountain’s Road. The board, after going into tho matter, decided that it did not consider Mr T. Bennett's proposal for stonc-crushing practicable.' It was decided to accept Mr King’s offer of a site for shingle on the Ilinds-Rangitata Road, also to torin about twenty chains of Anderson's Road, near Mayfield, as requested by settlers in the locality. Messrs J. Fleming and N. Orr waited on the board, on behalf of a number of and asked members to endeavour to get two water race.s on Lismor'e-Mayfield Road done away with or piped. They said that for a long time nothing had been done to tho crossings, which wero a nuisance on account of their depth. The clerk said ho had always been of tbe opinion that all piping should be in tho centre of the road, and not less than 20ft wide. This would be more convenient for traffic and save a great deal in tho cost of maintaining approaches to narrow culverts at the side where the turning to get on cut up the ground. Tho chairman said lie had been of the same opinion for a considerable time pact. The clerk was instructed to apply to tlio Ashburton County Council 'for pipes for these races and for another below Anama. The Ashburton County Council wrote agreeing to pay for filling up unused water-raco crossings. Accounts amounting to £4B 17s 8d wero passed for payment.

TINWALD. A cuchro tournament and danco were held in the Tinwukl Hail on Thursday in aid o£ tho funds of the Red Cross Society, when the sum of £l4 3s was realised. A cake presented by Mrs Edge brought £1 12s Gd; a cushion square, given by Mrs D. Teppett, £1 la; and a gentleman’s evening dress suit, given by Mrs Wagner. £5. lUNGIORA. Last evening the Rangiora Soldiers’ Entertainment Committee tendered a farewell to Gunner J. B. Purdom, of the Eighteenth Artillery Reinforcements, tho Oddfellows’ Hall. Sapper Colin M’Kay, ■of the Eighteenth Reinforcements, was unable to attend. There was a large gathering, Mr W. J. Rouse presiding. An entertainment occupied the early part of the-evening, an excellent programme being provided, consisting of songs by Mcsdames Chappell and A. T. Blackwell, Misses Doris Hankinson, A. Skilling, L. Mehrtcns and M. Young, mandolin selections by Miss Nottingham, recitations by Miss Buckley and Mr A. Jones, cornet solos by Mr G. Humphreys and violin solos by Mr Y. Morgan. Mrs ,C. E. Bell played the accompaniments. At the close of.the entertainment, the Mayor (Mr C. I. Jennings) presented Gunner Purdom with a soldier’s companion and fountain pen, and handed a similar gift for Sapper M’Kay to liis uncle (Mr J. Moffatt). The proceedings ended with a dance.