COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17936, 1 November 1918, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FeOM OtOt OOBHESPONDESTS.]

.MARSHLAND. I The- Marshland bebooi Committee held a concert in the i'nbiic Hall in aid of the 'school grviiul improvement fund.' There was a* good attendance, andiMrD. Goode preside ed. The items of the programme wsro provided by ; friends from ' Kaiapoi, and were much enjoyed'by tho audience. Songs were given by Mrs M'Laughiin, Misses Elsie Thorne, Hoskin and Jean M'Millan and Messrs A, Baker and Cecil Eyles; vocal duet by Misses Thorne and Hoskin: vocai trio by Misses Thome, Hoskin and Young; recitations by Misses Young and Joyce Staff and Messrs Hirst and Eyles; comic and triok sketching by Mr Eyles; and a comedietta, "The Simple Life," by Misses Hoskin and Thorne. The accompaniments were played by Mrs Cory. A guessing competition for 6cwt of fertiliser donated by the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association was won by Mrs Lawson, It is intendsd'to claim a Government subsidy on tho net proceeds of the concert.

The Marshland Patriotic Society entertained Private.. Ernest T. Jlawkon at a "welcome home" sooial in the Public Hall on Wednesday evenim? last. Private Hawker/, who left with the "Twenty-seventh Reinforcements, .was on activo service on the western front for some timo when ho was incapacitated throtuh sickness after a gfis attack. Ho was in English hospitals for several months, and then invalided home. Short addresses wore given by Misses W. J. Walter and J. Yoss, and the society's gold medal was pinned on the returned soldier's breast by Mts Phillips, the sister of. a soldier now on active service. In replying, Private Hawken gave an account of! his experiences as an infantryman, a transport driver and a tunnellor. Hi eipresecd his intention to get back to the firiu? line if the opportunity offered. The music for the dancing wan supplied by Mr H, G.', Jones, and Mr A. Rogal officiated as M.C.

On Wedneed&y evening, at the " welcome home" to Privftt9 Hawken, the thirteenth photographic croup of so'diors was,unveiled bv Miss Hawken, of Hill's Road, the names being Rifleman P. Lainro (4th Battalion N.Z; Rifle Brijrado),' Privole M. Faulls (Twontv-ninth Reinforcements). Smaller thnr Baker fThirH'-aVhth Reinforcements), Private D, J. Lutton (Thirty-third Reinforcements). Trooper William Moore .(Twenty«ix+h Reinforcements) and Trooner Hugh Dawson (Thirtv-eiirhth Reinforcements). The pho f e f Mldie'R iiow hnnging on the walls of ths Public Hall number seventyseven.

, . SHEFFIELD. At a well attended meeting of tho Sheffield Patriotic Committee held last Thursday,' tho chairman, Mr W. J. Jenkins, reported that Private Eric Hewitt, whose parents reside at Annat, was wounded. ..■ Tho "sympathy of tho committei was extended to the parents. The secroory was to coßiuiunicatewith the Cakdonian Society in reference* to tho giving of a concert at an early date, at which souvenirs will be presented to J. Jebson, J. Johnston, G: Guy and F. Hilton. The treasurer'reported that' the subscriptions to the Copper'"Trail to date amounted to £ll7 5s 3d. WOODEN.D. The anniversary tea and prize-giving... in connection with tho Woodeud Methodist Sunday School was held on Tuesday evening last. .It was. well attended, in spito of the fact that (he weather- was unfavourable. The annual report, presented by the superintendent;.Mr E/C. Paternr-,:), was a most optimistic one, and showed .Vr considerable increase in (lie "number of scholars during the jear. .The chairman, the Rev C. B. Jordan, gave an rddress on "Tho Model Sunday School." A! Sojfpturo reciting competition conducted durin<r tho evening was won by Miss Louie Moody.

SOUTH MALVERJSr.

A highly resident df the district, in 'the'person-' of Mis W.jJ. Barlow, died at her residence,. G.'cntunnolj on Saturday last. She had been in indifferent health for some years, and her end was not unexpected. She was geventy-aeven years of age. Mrs Barlow was born in Staffordshire, England, but spent most of her early life in Scotland. Sho with her lato husband arrived in. Lytt-elton in the ship Blairgowrie in 1875, and shortly afterwards* came to reside in the South Malvorn district, Sho was a staunch Presbyterian, and was the coldest member of • the church in the district. . • \ Tho weathsr ■ and the influsntn, epidemic ( have been tho chiei topics of conversation during the past week. Tho former has been very changeablo, and bitterly cold at times. The early part of . Ootober was very dry, with nor'-west winds prevailing, but at present weather conditions' aid quite the reversa. Cold, squally rain showers are frequent, and there is stiii a heavy coatin™ of .'-now on tho back ranges. Yestords-y a severe thunderstorm passed over the district,' and rain fell in torrents" for many -'hours. Newly . shorn 6heep are having a trying time, and shearing; operations have bee-n almost at n standstill. Driving through the Hom<ibush district recently, tho effect of the severs weather in July was very noticeable in some of tho S?l----wyn Plantation Board's reserves. One fine plantation of gums of many varieties near Mr G. W. Rroufjhton's hwts« has had all its lower branches killed outright, leaving alive only the limbs at the tops of the trees. Influenza is still very prevalent in the district, and the local doctor is having a trying time.

WAIATT, Prior to his departure from the district. Mjt T. Frascr, who ior tho past four years* has occupied the position of manager at Mr B. Sfith-Smith's Cheddar Valley Station, was,, entertained by aome of his friends at Mr C. Netting's residence. Ste,nton Downs, and presented with a safety razor and pocket wallet. In making the presentation, Mr P. Ivorach referred to the many good qualities -of ths guest of the ovening. Mr C. Netting b.lso spoke, regretting the departure of Mr Frasor from tho district; The wsather has been very cold and stormy for the last few days. Yesterday an exceptionally heavy hailstorm was experienced, the hail in some cases being as largo as pigeons' oggs. Trsos were stripped of their leaves,'by the force'of the storm. The snow is fairly low on tho hills, «o frost is bound to come when - the weather clears. Shearing operations havo bsen brought to a completo standstill, and tho co T d snap will be very hard on recently shorn sheep. - ' . AKAROA. . A meeting of tho Peninsula Advisory Committee was held at Duvauchello on Saturday; present—Messrs J. R. Thacker ; fchiirl man), J. D.'Bruce.T. Stewart, C. B. Thacker and F. W. William*«s.,The Efficiency Commissioner wrote enolosing a. list of dsfsuiters, and asking that inquiries should be mad-e in each,case. It was decided to make inquiries. Mr C. Thacker reported that arrangements were being made to take over tho mlanagomont oi Mr O. Wakelin's farm.

Very heavy ,rMn foil at Akaroa on Tuesday, and proved very acceptable, as so far it has been ft very dry and backward 6priJngV Feed is very short, and therjt is very little growth in the cocksfoot paddocks, Some have been closed op for three months, they are still so bare. Tailing is finished now on the Peninsula, and it is generally reported' that the percentages arc eomowhnt less than normal, and the loss in owe 3 heavier than usual. Shearing is starting, but will'not be general until next month. HURTTNUI. A very pfeasant function took place at Hurunui last Friday evening, at which Mr and Mrs Smeilie and family, of Mount Bongor, were entertained by their many friends in the district. During the evening Mr S. Prico. on behalf of t’heir many well-wishers, presented Mr Smeilie with an oak N roll-top desk, and in asking Mr Smellic’s accbpiar.ee of the gift he extended the best • wishes of the community t>o Mr and! Mrs Sniiehie and family’s future welfare, and expressed the regret thoßO present felt in losing such highly esteemed residents. Reference was also made to the- whole-hearted and valuable work that Mr and Mrs Smbllie had performed in assisting every movement of a patriotic naturo in tho district, and their efforts in this direction were highly eulogised. Mr Smeilie euitahly responded, and expressed his reg Tots in leaving the manv friends he had mado in the distriot. 'Dancing and aengs by local talent contributed to the-success of a vory enjoyable social gathering