NORTH OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23364, 2 December 1937, Page 15

NORTH OTAGO

ACTIVITIES OF THE DISTRICT

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT)

SEVERITY OF DROUGHT FARMERS’ POSITION SERIOUS GOVERNMENT AID SOUGHT The brief respite of a few points of rain a fortnight ago, has been followed by unusually hot, dry weather in North Otago for this time of the year, and the fair indications for further falls of rain have remained unfulfilled up to the present, making the plight of the farming community in this district a fairly desperate one. The considered opinion of men in close touch with farming affairs in North Otago points to the prospects for this season being practically nil, and even if copious falls of rain were to come now it would do little more than prevent a bad position from becoming worse. The rainfall for November of 46 ■points, compared with 209 points in November, 1936, brings the total for the 11 months up to 13.68 inches, compared with 22.57 for the corresponding period last year, which is about the average for North Otago. The position has been fairly summed up in a letter from the Provincial Executive of the North Otago Farmers’ Union to the Rev. A. H. Nordmeycr, M.P. for Oamaru, in which the secretary (Mr A. W. Woodward) points out the plight in which farmers in North Otago find themselves as the' 4 result of the long period of dry weather. From the present outlook, states the letter, it would appear that the season will be one of the driest on record. Evidence of the plight of farmers can be seen in the wheat crops, which are being fed off in most places in the hope of saving stock from starvation. It is also a common sight to see fairly large herds of dairy cattle being herded along country roads to augment their meagre food supply. The failing water supply on many farms is giving farmers the utmost concern. This affects both dairy and sheep farmers, and as regards the latter, those who can do so will send away every lamb that can possibly be passed through the freezing works. In most cases this may be only a small proportion of the flock. Stock has been sent away from here to other districts for grazing, continues the letter to Mr Nordmeyer, but the greatest obstacle to relief in this direction is the cost of transport, and we think that the situation warrants action being taken by the Government in granting free railage of stock from the district or supplies of fodder from other districts. We have a precedent for this in the drought of 1915-16, when large quantities of stock were sent to Southland, and also in 1931-32, when South Canterbury was granted a similar concession on feed for stock. From present indications the situation is becoming desperate for farmer’s, apart from its effect on the- business community, and any action you can take to assist in relieving the position will be highly appreciated by all farmers- in the district. BOWLING SIDEY CUP In the Sidey Cup match played at Awamoa on Tuesday evening Awamoa defeated Meadowbank by 165 points to 147. The position of the clubs is therefore as follows: —Phoenix, 1 win, 1 draw; Awamoa, 1 win, 1 draw; Meadowbank, 2 losses. Results, Meadowbank names first:—McKay, Rushton, Draper, Denholm 15, Torrance, Gerrie, Oats, Chappell 29; Don, Archibald, Crichton, Martin 23, Smith, Findlay, Brown, Jenkins 21; Black, Patterson, E. H. Taylor, Campbell 17, McCombie, K. Familton, McJsnnett, Kennedy 26; Genge, Reid, Clark, Donald 23, Nicholson, Campbell, Crisp, Christie 17; Brown, Robertson, Atkinson, Blacklock 14, Faris, Grant, Glen, Rusbatch 20; W. Paterson, Richardson, Carson, Smith 18, Boulton, Brooker, Stichman. Tisdall 20; Crombie, Herron. Nimmo, Berry 19, McMurtrie, Weir, A'. Robertson, Hewat 15; A. Robertson, Skirving, Hartley, Hart 18, Moore, Reid, Jackson, Jeffrey 17. The following rinks have been selected to represent Phoenix against Awamoa in the Sidey Cup match at Awamoa on Tuesday. December 7, at 5.45 p.m.:—J. Grant, W. Watson, Kear, Buist; C. Robertson, Speid, C. J. Mollison, Calder; Coulter, Hopkins. H. L. Familton, Forrest; Forbes,, J. Robertson, Humphries, J. Reid: H. P. S. Familton, Weavers, Wedde, E. W. Grenfell; Armstrong, Cox, Mathieson, Slater; A. Watson. Roney, Craig. Adams: Watts, Smith, McNarry, Corson. Unofficial rinks: Colenso, Rollo, Anderson, Moyle; Green, Muir, H. Drennan, Burry. MILLS SHIELD

The following rinks have been selected for the Mills Shield matches on Saturday, December 4, at 1.45 p.m.:— Phoenix v, Awamoa, at Phcenix.— J. Grant, Treseder, Kear, Buist; Bremner. Colquhoun, C. J. Mollison. Calder; Foster, Burry. H. L. Familton. A. G. Robertson: Luke, W, Watson, Humphries, J. Reid. Phoenix v. Awamoa, at Awamoa H. P. S. Familton, T. Watson, Wedde. E. W. Grenfell; Borrie, Hopkins, Mathieson, Slater: F. Grant, McKenzie, Forrest, Adams; Jamieson, D. H. Reid, Forbes, Corson. Phoenix unofficial rinks, at Meadowbank, at 1.45 p.m.—J. Robertson, Rutherford, Moyle, Coulter; Green. Philp, Colenso, Speid: H, Drennan, Mclnnes, W. Drennan, Roney. Awamoa v. Phoenix, at Awamoa. — Vernor, Cradock, R. W. Robertson, Christie: Torrance, Thomson, Grant, Kennedy; Brooker, Stichman, Oats, Jackson; Boulton, Campbell, Tomkins. Tisdall. . ’ Awamoa v, Phoenix, at Phcenix.Nicholson, Cooper, C. Brown, Chappell: Tempero, Ferguson, Crisp, Rusbatch; McMurtrie. J. Henderson, Glen, Hewat: Moore, Barsdell, Findlay, A. Robertson. _ . , . , ... Awamoa unofficial rinks v. Maheno. —Faris. Crombie, Gerrie, Jenkins: McStay, Hay. McJennett, Jeffery; R. Brown, McDnoald. A. Miller, K. Familton: Watson, Marsh. Reid, Officer. Meadowbank v. Hampden, at Hamp(jen—W. Brown, Miller, Crichton. Martin; Black, Genge, Atkinson, Smith; McKay. Richardson, Carson, Blacklock: Hartley, Skirving, Robertson. B Meadowbank v. Pukeuri. at Pukeuri. —Don Keen, Hart, Donald: Crombie, Archibald, E. H. Taylor, Campbell. PORT OF OAMARU High Water.— December 2: 2.22 a.m and 2.54 p.m. _ The Wainui will load at Oamaru on Monday, December 13, for Wellington. Napier, and Gisborne. The Waipiata, from Auckland, i? docking at Port Chalmers, and is now due here on Saturday. December 4, for Auckland, via Timaru. . . The Union Company s intcrcoloma freighter Karelu was expected to sail from Sydney on Monday, for South Island ports, including Oamaru, . The Kaimai, replaces the Waipahi in the Wellington, Nelson, and New Plymouth service. This vessel is scheduled to load on Monday, December 6, for Wellington, completing for Nelson and New Plymouth.

OAMARU PRESBYTERY MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Oamaru Presbytery was held in St. Paul’s Hall yesterday morning, the moderator (the Rev. A. Chisholm) presiding. A welcome was extended by the moderator to Mr David Martin, a student for the ministry. Elders’ commissions were sustained in favour of Messrs H. Archibald, C. Stringer, O. C. Austing, George Coley, A. Mclntosh, J. Henderson and A. McKenzie.’ The report on the Dunback visitation, including a minute of appreciation of the work of Mr R. Leishman (home missionary), was adopted. The presbytery clerk (the Rev. H. T. Blair) was re-elected for a further year, and the Rev. J. T. V. Steele was reappointed treasurer. The Revs. W. Lawson Marsh (convener), H. H. Barton and H. O. Bowman and their elders were appointed a committee to go into the question of presbytery committees for the year, and to deal with remits. Reports on the business transacted at the recent General Assembly in Auckland were given by the Revs. H. T. Blair, J. Badcock, W. Lawson Marsh, H. O. Bowman, and Mr R. Jenkins. A discussion then took place on the evangelistic campaign. The convener (the Rev. H. H. Barton) said the committee was desirous of any comments that might be helpful and any suggestions for the programme of 1938. He considered it desirable that the Life and Work Committee should arrange a ministers’ retreat in March, and that there should be a group meeting of sessions at a fairly early stage in the winter. He felt, too, that they should continue the idea of a special communion. In the past year their aim had been at the church members, but he thought the time was now ripe to consider the outward movement with a view to winning the outsider. The vital fnatter was the formation of Christian workers’ bands. Mr O. C. Austing said various people had testified to the worth of the campaign and meetings from which they had derived both enjoyment and spiritual benefit. One outcome of the campaign in Hampden was a definite advance in spirituality, and another was the addition of four members. A helpful feature, he considered, was the visits of ministers from other parts of the presbytery’s district. Mr James (Hilderthorpe) spoxe of the meetings at Papakaio, which was a large charge, and this fact made it difficult to obtain big gatherings at any one point. The Rev. J. Badcock said he considered the two most important features of the campaign had been the meeting together of the ministers in the morning for prayers, and the house-to-house visitations in the afternoons. While at Auckland he had been amazed to learn of the interest in the Oamaru Prestbytery’s evangelistic campaign. The Rev. S. D. Baird said that while he was in favour of the campaign, he did not want to see Church Rally month neglected. Mr J. Rodman proposed that the campaign should be continued over a period of two or three years, and that certain parishes should be selected for attention each year. The Rev. J. M. Bates also spoke, and the Rev. H. O. Bowman said the Maheno people felt that the mission was too short.

The Rev. J, M. McKenzie suggested that the campaign should begin and end on Sunday. He considered that if they were to cover fully each place in each parish, too large a programme should not be undertaken in any one year. The various suggestions were referred to the Life and Work Committee, which was empowered to arrange a minister’s retreat at a suitable time.

A deputation from Lower Waitaki, comprising Messrs Bunton, W. McDonald, and Borrie, then waited on the presbytery regarding a special grant from synod for the liquidation of the debt on the manse at Peebles. It was mentioned that the debt was £416.—1t was decided to defer consideration of the application until the next meeting. The moderator reported that synod had approved of the sale of the manse and glebe at Palmerston and the purchase of a new manse. —Approved. Mr McKenzie reported on behalf of the Missions Committee. He mentioned that the publicity agent of the committee, Mr Joseph Hunter, would pay a visit to North Otago about the middle of February.—Mr McKenzie was appointed to arrange the itinerary for the visit.

Notice of motion to come before the next meeting of synod was given by the Rev. H. H. Barton, as follows: “Whereas it is desirable that professors of the Theological Hall should have opportunities from time ter time of special study abroad in subjects connected with their chairs, synod should take the matter into consideration with a view to determining whether it is competent and feasible to make the necessary financial and other provision involved, and the conditions upon which leave of absence should be allowed to professors for such purpose, or should determine otherwise, as in its wisdom it may deem best.” An application for an ordinary grant from synod for repairs to the Dunback Church was approved. Mr McKenzie reported that Mr lan Dixon had been offered and had accepted the position of assistant to St. Paul’s Church and Eveline, and he would begin his duties at the beginning of February. The term would be at least for two years, at £250 per annum.—The report was received, and a commission, consisting of the moderator, Messrs J. M. McKenzie, H. H. Barton, and elders, was appointed to arrange for the ordination of Mr Dixon. MANCHESTER UNITY LOYAL STAR OF THE NORTH LODGE The usual fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Star of the North Lodge was held on Monday evening, N.G. Sister J. Hood presiding over a good attendance of members. Accounts amounting to £2 18s 5d were passed for payment. Permanent Secretary Sister C. Jenkin reported on behalf of the sick and distressed of the Order. An invitation was received from the Loyal Oamaru Juvenile .Lodge to attend its installation of officers and parents’ night on Thursday, November 25. The entertainment for the evening look the form of a table tennis tournament. the winners being Sisters Shcrwin and Crawshaw, The N.G. intimated that the programme for the next lodge meeting would be the nomination of officers and degree meeting.