COUNTRY NEWS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 287, 8 January 1915, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS.

(From Our Special Correspondents.)

BANKS PENINSULA.

During the Christmas holidays, the seaside resort has been full of visitors, and they are still coming. The weather has been all that could be desired for holiday-makers, but not so for the pasture, although the milk supply is keeping up fairly well. During the Christmas holidays, Mr George Harper, the president, of the Christchurch Citizens' Defence Corps, addressed a meeting of Akaroa residents on the formation of a local corps, with the result that about 70 residents have enrolled, and on Wednesday evening they met together at the Borough Council Chamber .and formed themselves into units of 16, with a corporal over each. The first parade will take place on the Recreation Ground on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. Sergt.-Major Barrett will attend, and inspect the new and make arrangements. Mr C. Fredericksen was appointed sergeant for the whole Akaroa Corps. HAWARDEN.' At a special meeting of the committee of the Hawarden A. & P. Association, held* yesterday, Mr C. Fox was appointed secretary during the absence of Major B. S. Jordan. At the Hawarden sale yesterday Mr Leicester Matson sold on account of the Brooksdale Estate 250 lambs at prices ranging from 21/- to 25/-. OHOKA. The quarterly meeting of the Ohoka Methodist Circuit was held last night in the Horrelville Church. There was a good attendance, over which the Rev. J. F. Martin presided. The reports concerning membership, Sunday schools, and young people's societies were satisfactory. The balance-sheet showed that the quarter's income was 7/6 less than the expenditure after giving away three Sundays' offerings to various deserving objects. The chairman reported raising £32 10/- for foreign missions, £2B 30/for home missions, £6 10/- for the Papanui Orphanage, and £l3 for the Belgium Fund. An additional £1 10/was voted to the orphanage and the work of the orphanage was commended to the people. The minister was granted two Sun- j days leave of absence, January 24 and •!1. Messrs Lindsay and Pearce reported on the recent District Synod, and Mr Lindsay was elected representative to the conference, with Mr Pearce as substitute. The following officials were elected for the coming year:—Circuit stewards, Messrs Downs and Mortland; society stewards: Ohoka, Messrs Steele, Orchard, Macann; Swannanoa, Mr J. White; Eyretou, Mr W. Beal; Horrelville, Messrs Dennis, J. Graham, A. Hurley. Sacramental stewards: Mesdames Walker, Martin, White, Atkinson, Bennett, Shepherd, Blackmore, and Miss A. Graham. The ladies provided supper and received a hearty vote of thanks. The next meeting was fixed for Ohoka on the second Thursday in April.