THE COUNTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 27

THE COUNTRY.

jgr Correspondents are reminded that all let' bers for the current week's issue must reach Dunedin NOT LATEB. THAN MONDAY NIUHT. Letters coming to hand on Tuesday are too late, and are thus a week old when they appear.

HOLIDAYS AND CORRESPONDENCE. Country correspondents will please note that owing to thß Christmas and New Year holidays communications for the issues following this should reach us not later than the 23rd and 30th inst. respectively.

ermedale (Southland). December 15. —A good neighbour is better than a friend was the tone which pervaded the social held in the local school on Friday evening for the purpose of saying good-bye to Mr A. Baird, and presenting him with a visible token of the esteem in which he is held in the district. Mr Baird was one 01 the hist settlers here, and now he has enlisted and leaves for Trentham at the beginning of the year. We are all sorry he is leaving, and his movements will be watched with interest by those who esteem him so highly. He has proved himself a very good, honest, obliging neighbour, and his attitude to his neighbours has been, " What is mine is thine, and if I can be of any help to you either by my own efforts or with what I possess, I will do it." Mr Baird shared with, the local people all the hardships that usually fall to new settlers, and in wet weather in harvest time was always willing to assist. On one occasion a neighbour asked him if he could help him for an hour or two. He said ho was very sorry he could not, as he had premised another neighbour. It was remarked at a previous social bj' a near neighbour of the one who was leaving that when his stock strayed on to that neighbour's property there was never a word said. The same can be said of Mr Baird. Strange sheep have been known to be in Mr Baird's crop for a month without being removed; neighbour's fowls also found their way there, and stray horses have been seen on the road, breaking his fences reaching- to his crop, but nothing was said. Mr D. Mitchell occupied the chair, and Messrs Murray, Jack, Mann, Fleck, Carmichael, and W. Forde also spoke of Mr Baird's many excellent qualities, and all were sorry he was leaving them. "For he's a. jolly good fellow" was then sung. A dialogue was given by the school children, and songs and recitations by Mrs J. Reidie, Misses Forde, MrCallum, Ewcns, Messrs Mitchell, Jack, M'Narey, and Humphries. Mr Douglas acted as M.C. for the dance which followed, and Mr Bell supplied the music.

MOM ON A. December 16. —Since my last notes were ■written we- have experienced fine weather generally, and consequently on most farms everything is looking very well. The protracted periods of dry weather which were experienced during the- early pait of last summer have this year been absent. The subsoil has remained damp since the heavy rains of the early spring, and we have always had showers at interval", to keep the surface soil from becoming too dry. Turnips and mangolds are iiow ready for thinning. It is difficult to obtain competent labour for this work, though high wages are being offered. Yesterday afternoon a trial of a M'Alister turnip-thinner was held at Mr A. Moynihan's farm at Momona, but from jw>at I have been able to gather the farmers who witnessed the demonstration were by no means greatly impressed with the work of the machine, and it does not seem probable that its use- will ever become popular here. Potatoes are growing very rapidly, and indications point to a good return if the blight can be- kept off. Those who usually resort to spraying have made a commencement with this work. With sulphate of copper at 84s per cwt, spraying is a costly business, but I believe the results will justify the expenditure, heavy though it is. Cereal crops are now in car, and give promise of heavy yields. The showery weather has caused some of the grain to lodge badly, and in many fields harvesting operations will be difficult on this account. Grass h?.s never been more abundant than at the present time, and many farmers are considerably understocked.

School Concert. —The annual school concert was held in the hall at Mom on a last evening, 'when the chairman of the School Committee (Mr A. Amos) presided, and there was a very large attendance. Practically the whole of the concert programme was supplied by the children, the only adult performer being Mr Peter Bathgate, who contributed a vocal solo in a very tasteful manner. The efforts of the little ones pleased the largo audience, and encores were numerous. Obviously the teachers (Mr Melville and Miss Argue) had been to considerable pains in training the children During the evening Mr Amos took occasion to congratulate the teachers upon the high stale of efficiency in the school as revealed by the inspector's reports. All the candidates for proficiency certificates were successful.

PLEASANT VALLEY (Geraldine). December 12. —During- the past month the weather has been very showery. The crops are very good, and there is no scarcity of grass. Farmers have finished shearing, and are speculating as to the date of the harvest. This district is one of the few that will feel the pinch of scarcity of labour. This year many children will be helping in the harvest field, and the local school is in consequence taking two weeks' holiday at Christmas and four weeks in February. Patriotic. —Tcmoana, Four Peaks, and this district combined on St. Andrew's Day to hold a carnival in aid of the Patriotic Funds. This was most successful, the sum of £2GS being taken. Great interest centred in a silk flag, presented by a resident of the district, with the names of the soldiers who left the district worked on it. A voting contest was held during the day and evening, the flag being secured by Pleasant Valley with over 3000 votes. The flag raised £lO6 in threepenny votes. Great credit is due to tho combined committees for their successful management and to the many willing helpers. HANMER SPRINGS. December 14.—A meeting of residents was held this week to arrange for holding the annual New Year's Day sports. Captain Hardham, representing the Queen Mary Hospital Entertainment Committee, attended, and expressed the willingness of that body to combine with the residents. This ws« readily agreed to, and it was decided Umt the not proceeds should be handed over to the local lied Cross Funds. A good programme was arranged, including events that the convalescent soldiers will be able to take part in. The following officials were elected;--Patrons, Messrs D. Rutherford nnd 1. J. Savell; president, Mr W. Hanmei

Atkinson; vice-presidents, Messrs C. H. Ensor and Godfrey Rutherford; committeeMessrs Turton (chairman), Johnston, Dodds, Murray, Hush, Graves, Lucas, Patterson, Mead, Reid, Peters, Roach, Phillips, A. P. Smith, Whitinore, O'Malley, and Morrison; handicappers—Messrs Rush, Roach, and Reid; judges, Captain Hardham and MiMead; starter, Mr Turton; gatekeepers, Messrs Patterson and Peters; hon. secretary, Mr W. J. C. Wallace. . , _, , Rod Cross Sale.—The Hanmer Ladies Bed Cross Guild held another very successful sale of work on Saturday afternoon, the amount taken being £23 18s. The Hospital Rag-time Band helped to enliven the proceedings. The guild has held five sales of work and has taken the sum of about £95. lis, which is a 'good record fo* a small village. The committee wish to thank all those who helped to make the sale such a success. The following very kindly gave fancy goods, cakes, confectionery, and produce:—Mesdames Turton, Johnston, Underwood, Fawcett, M'Cracken, Argelyn, Lavie (Christchurch), Ashton, Walters, VYhitmore, Dodds, Geddis, Morrison, and Copeland, Misses Stewart (Invercargill), Patterson, Smith, Wilding (Christchurch), Stewart, Dere, Argelyn, Fawcett (-2), Turton (2), Lahmert, Nurse Strong, Mrs Orr, Mrs Mansfield, Trooper Anderson, and Sapper Smith.

KAITANGATA NOTES. KAITANGATA, December 14. The final competition in the first three mashes of the Carson Cup was fired by the Kaitangata Defence R'fle Club at Centrewood range on Saturday. The shooting conditions were good. The following arc the scores:—Rifleman Jas. Kyle 63, Rifleman H. Cuthbortson 63, Rifleman F. Carson 61. Rifleman W. D. Cnrson 59. Rifleman Geo. Middlemass 57. Rifle-man J. M. Coulter 57. Rifleman D. Marshall 57. Rifleman D. Anderson 56, Rifleman W. Oliver 56. Rifleman J. Knowies 54. Rifleman W. J. M 'Dougall 50, Rifleman W. D. Paterson 47, Captain Rutherford 47. The following officers were elected at a ballot recently • taken by the Miners' Union:—President, Mr Robt. Penman; secretary, Mr Win. Braidwood: treasurer, Mr T. Cairns; committee—Meters D. Garvin. A. Cooke., W. Cairns. J. (.'. Smith. The Boy Scouts, under Scoutmaster E. P. Lavery and F. Carson, held a church parade at the local Anglican Church on Sunday, when the Rev. Mr Perkins addressed the hovs, and congratulated them on their soldierly appearance. The scouts have practically completed arrangements to hold a picnic near Smith's Beach during the Chrv ! tmas holidays. Splendid weather prevails here, but rain is needed badly again. The turnips and crops apoear to bo flourishing despite the dry weather