COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18583, 9 December 1920, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS.

[From Opr OoHBBSPONBENra.J ■ ASHBURTON. A violent nor'-wester sprang np early yesterday morning at Ashburton and continued: throughout the day! Alter tha spell of dry, hot weather the parching effect of the wind will not bg helpful m increasing the oats yields many qrops looking very thin in the upcountry districts- In some cases sheep have been turned into the oats during tlie past few days. ® Sir W. Anderson has resigned his position as secretary and general manager of the Ashburton Co-operative Dairy Factory Company. Mr L. It. Clarke has been appointed secretary to the company, 1 the position of general manager being left vaoant. Messrs E. Koig and A. H. M'Donald have been appointed working managers of the butter and cheeeo factories at Ashburton and Blackbridge respectively. The weekly output of butter at the Ashburton factory is 12| tons compared with soven tons at this time last year. Thin month always shows the best results, hut the figures indicate that greater attention is being paid to the dairying industry in the county, a result due probably to the better relative return from butter than wool at the present juncture. The land market in the Ashburton County is reported to have steadied in reoent months, although one large firm states that sales are still being made where the vendor is prepared to leave most of his money in the land. This firm’s register shows sales of a total value of £120,518 since October 14, or a monthly average- of £60.000 compared with a monthly average of £IIO,OOO in the quarter ending September 30.

PUAHA. The third box-opening ceremony in connection with the Puaha School Habitation of the Young Helpers’ League was held in the school on Friday, December 3, when there was a good attendance of the box-holders. _ An elaborate afternoon tea was provided by the ladies. The sum of money in the boxes amounted to £lB 16a 3d. Mias Bell urged the children to keep up their good work, and informed them that the money would he cabled at once to help the poor, motherless children at Christmas time. She spoke of the hard times they had had during the recent struggles in the Homeland. The children sang and Miss lnder contributed gongs and a musical monologue, which the children enjoyed immensely, hollowing the singing of the National Anthem and the giving of heartv cheers for the ladies and Miss Bell, the children went homo very happy*

leeston. A verv enjoyable social was held in the Leeston Anglican hall, tendered by Mesdames Hanky and Volckman and the wives , of the St John’s vestrymen to the Leeston and Doyleston congregations There was a large attendance from both localities. Two guessing competitions were won by Mrs Quartern! an and Mr M Bride, and Mr Wagner and Mr Rookes respectively. A short musical programme was given by Mesdames Perkins, W T oodard and Eldridge (songs). La Meut (recitation), Messrs M’Bndo (piano solos), Austin and Owens (cornet solos) and Hanb\ (songs). The hall was very pretiily docorated.

A complimentary banquet was tended to Mr John Cunningham (chairman of the Ellesmere County Council for a number of years) in the Leeston Town Hall, by the residents of the* Ellesmere district. The affair was presided over by Mr W. Scott, of Southbridge. Several toasts were honoured. Among the speakers were Sir Heaton Rhodes, the, Hon O. A. C. Hardy and Messrs D. Jones, M.P., J. Boag, junr., J. Sfcorry, T. A. Stephens, R. E. Alexander. F. Rowell and several others. During the evening the chairman presented Mr_, Cunningham with a handsome illuminated address.