COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17982, 26 December 1918, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[From Ot;k. Correspontjexts.] E-ANGIORA. The first meeting of (ho newly Appointed Bangiora Domain Board was held on Twv«clay ove-iirg. J O. Jos'in-g, H.-Soycl, F. Horrrfl and J. W. Foster were present Mr Jo~lin? w-s re-o!ec ed chairman. The 'reasnrer reported a credit balance of .£25 13s Gd. DORIE. Harvesting operations have commenced in the Dorie districV several crops of Algerian oats being cut and stookod. Several othc crons in the- district are showing signs cf ripening'. ASHBURTOIS T . There were three celebrations of the HnW Communion at St Stephen's Anglican Church at Ashburton ench of which w»«i conducted bv the vicar, the R=v \>lonn Wright. A spe?ial carol service wi' cond'ncted bv the- vicar in the evening, after which R ( - Rtcnhen's ebn!r vifn'ted *he ho« ni'nl and th" Tunm,n"i Old W»n'* Heme, urr 1 en'er'aincd the patients and inmates re=nec lively at an ! enjoyable musical entertainment. OXFORD. A general meeting of the Oxford subbranch of the Navy League w?s held c: Thurpclav nicht, when the president (Sir W. Wold) uresided over a Rood attendance, of memb-rs. The- president referred to the paramount importance of Its, Navy to the British Empire, and appealed iftr a large accession of membership to the. league. Several no" members were elected. In order to celebrato the surrender of the ■German fleet, it was cle tided to hold a social in the. Town Hall on New Year's Eve, and a sub-committee woe —„„.'nted to make all arrangements. It was also decidod to invite Mr J. J. Dougali and the Rev E. Eliot Chambers to address a publio meeting at a later date, on the rise, growth and importance of the British Navy," The secretary of the branch hae received word from tho Public Health Officer that permission will not be given to hold the social if dancing is to bo a part of the irn»rammo,'. Tho social has therefore been postponed. For a littlfl more than a week idea,! summer conditions have prevailed. Shearing has progressed for a longer period without hindronoo than has obtained 6inco tho beginnin<r of the season. Hay making- is becoming general, the crops, are light, there be ; comparatively little_ bottom growth. A marked improvement is visible- in the crops.' it is noticed, however, that there is here a largo amount of undergrowth, such as grass, clover and trefoil, and a casual glance would indivato that the crops generally wii! be lh-M.

Owing to tho adoption of home-separating, the Oxford creamery, after running for twenty-five years, ceased operations on November 30. During the whole of that period Mr L. Newport has been the officer in charge. Twenty-five years ago the dairying l industry in the district was iin a parlous condition. Dairy farmers worked long and hard with little reward, were largely dependent on the storekeeper. Little money was handled, prices were often absurdly low, and progress was retarded. -With the advent of the creamery a marked change took piaco. Tho dairyman got- full vahto for his commodity, he handled his money, and soon became independent of tho storekeeper. The improved condition of the output soon resulted in the improved condition of the homestead, and tho standard of living was raised. The small man discovered that dairying provided a suro means to a comfortable livelihood. To-day the dairying industry is one of the most important in tho district, and is growing in importance.