COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17933, 2 November 1918, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FKOM OtHI CoEKESFONDENmJ ashburton/ • The annual r=port of the Ashburtoa Couuiy btoc-K ana oaieyards uonipaay recommended a dividend ot 7 per cent and a, iwuu ui ii per cent, absorbing £ll2, and leaving £l6u 16a 8d 10 be carried forward. Ine principal Kenis in the' balance 'snowed paid up capital £dtkiO, capital uncalled £2400, toiai £otKHJ. Tne asseis Bhowea —Jiy Property £iu'Sl 10s tid, less depreciation £2OO, iawl ills (id; furniture ami tools, £oUlOs bd; deposit with Asnbunon lias Company, £6OB 6s lid; loan and accrued interest, £507 18s lid, £lll6 4s Id; stock on hand, £ll2 16s 6d; rents, rates and taxeß, £lB6 9s lid; salaries and wages, £324 los: maintenance and depreciation, £244 5s Id; baianco at credit of accident, £sll 16s 3d; yard lees, £748 7s, Id; Bundry fees, £2s*B 0a 9d. The report waa adopted at the annual meeting held yesterday. • ; BALCAIRN. There was a large auendanoe at the Bftlcairn Schoolroom on Friday evening, when a public weioome homo waa extended to Private H. Henderson, Twentieth Reinforcements. Mr J. Robertson, chairman of the Patriotic Committee, presided, and, on bahalf of the residents end Patriotio Committee, presented Private Henderson with a gold medal suitably inscribed. Private Henderson briefly responded. During the evening songs were given by Mesdames Chftpell and Trollope. Dancing was ind'ulged in to music supplied by Hanna'a Band. MrDermott acted as M.C. The annual general meeting of iih'e Amberley Horticultural and Produce Society was held in the library room, Amberley, on Monday evening, Mr H. H. Busoh, president, in the chair. The balanoe-sheet presented' showed receipts £65 10s and expenditure £25 5* 4d, leaving a credit balance of £42 4s. Bd, which had been handed to the local branch of the Red Cross Fund. The following; officers were elected for the ensuing year :-fPatron, Mr G. W. Forbes, M.P.; president, Mr H. H. Busch; vice-presidents. Messrs W. H. Hale, H. ;W. Mockett, F. P. Coleman, J. H. "Watson, G. D. Greenwood, J. Jackson, C. H. Wylde Brown, E. J. Chamberlain, F. A. Busch, Mesdames F. Courage and W. HHale; committee, Messrs Lukey, T. Ford,,' R.' Holmes, H. Eaton, Mrs Milier, Mrs H. ! Busch, Mis R. E. Wornall, Mrs Holmes and. Misses Bristow, Duncan and E. Baker. WADDINGTON. A much needed rain eat in on Wednesday morning, and continued in torrent* until about 5 a.m. next day, .the gauge registering: 2.21 in. At first there were signs only of a thunderstorm, but as the day wore on the <<torm increased in violence, and as a result a good many newly shorn sheep have suffered*, but this loss will he small compared! : with the benefits accruing from the growth of feed fox stock. The total rainfall for the month of Ootober waa 4.94 in. The snow .is. again very low down on, the higher country, and the weather is very oold, so thai frost* , may yet be expected. . -• '•