MIDDLEMARCH NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3292, 18 April 1917, Page 24

MIDDLEMARCH NOTES.

MIDDLEMARCH, April 16. Last week a canvass of the Middlemarch -district to secure funds for the carrying forward of the war-time schemes of the Y.M.C.A. was undertaken by Mr Black, of the society, who was assisted and introduced to the residents by Mr A. Mackinnon, chairman of the Patriotic Committee, and other prominent gentlemen. I'he result was very gratifying, all classes of the community responding heartily to the appeal. On Sunday evening the amount subscribed was incidentally mentioned by the Rev. J. Stanclrmg in tho course of an appeal for the homo mission fund of the Presbyterian Church. Ho said that in the course of a day or two between £6OO and £7OO had been secured for the Y.M.C.A. There vvas plenty of money in the district, as such a generous response to this splendid organisation testified. . There are many and loud complaints in the Strath-Taicri district, which during the past year or two has become infested with motor oars, against tho excessively glaring and blinding headlights carried, and the bor« is expressed on all hands that the County Council may intervene in the public interest, and compel the motorists to use softer and less obnoxious lights. Such brilliant lights serve no good purpose in the world, and at best they but giatity some sort of perverted vanity, while at worst they are a yery real danger to pedestrians and riders of horses. A milder lights would serve the purpose equally as well, and would not, as at present, blind all people who come within its rays. The evil grows greater daily, for the cars increase in number and the lights become more brilliant. So far, tho County Council has not moved in the matter, but it is hoped that action will bo taken before winter is far advanced, a»d the oars running at become a real menace to the safety of the non-motoring public. That there is a boom in the black polled Aberdeen Angus breed of cattle is evident by the great demands that are being made upon the famous Gladbrook stud herd, "Very many sales of bulls and cows have taken place of late months to buyers from the North Island and Australia, who have since written testifying to tho satisfaction tho animals have given. A week or so ago 12 stud cows, with their calves, were despatched to the North Island, and a large consignment of bulls is already ordered, and will shortly be despatched. So great indeed is tho demand 1 that the large stud herd is put to it to fulfil all orders. There is a similar heavy demand from many quarters for the Gladbrook stud rams, Romneys, Border Leicesters, and Corriedales, and" seldom have these stud animals, cattle and sheep, appeared in such fee condition as now, after long months of a rich and, bounteous summer and autumn. With the multiplying of motor care in the district, motor accidents promise to become a common occurrence. About a week ago. while Mr Eric Hansen, with two friends, was motoring from Middlemarch to Outram an aocident occurred on a dangerous part of the road near Sutton. Ono of the wheels broke down, and the car was somewhat badly damaged, but tho occupants escaped with trivial injuries.——On Sunday night an accident occurred at the Middlemarch Presbyterian Church, the motor cars belonging to and driven by Messrs Ralph and Archibald Scorgie and Mr Bailey, the Shannon, coming into violent collision. Again the cars suffered damage, and were put out of action, but tho drivers fortunately escaped.