RAKAIA.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 763, 21 July 1916, Page 10

RAKAIA.

From Our Own Correspondent. At the Rakaia sale on Thursday there was the usual good attendance. Competition was keen throughout for good quality sheep, but the poorer sorts v ere not selling so well as of late. A good proportion of the yarding was passed in, owing to farmers' reserves being too high. There was a yarding of about 3000, mostly ewes of poor quality. Values were as under:—Failing mouth ewes 17/- to 20/10, ewe hoggets 24/-, wether hoggets 17/- to 21/-. A line of 550 4, (5, and S-tooth halfbrcd ewes was passed in at 29/3. No fats were yarded. On the Ashburton Domain on Thursday the Rakaia ladies' hockey team beat the Hinds ladies' team by four goals to nil. Mr .1. Moore, of Ashburton, was referee. For some time past a considerable number of children from the many schools iu the Rakaia district have been going from their homes to complete their education in the secondary schools in various parts of Canterbury. It has beet) urged that the time was now fully ripe for the establishment of a District High School in Lakaia. The Rakaia School is_ the largest in Canterbury that is so far from a secondary school. The School Committee has determined to give the householders an opportunity of speaking on the matter, and for this purpose has called a public meeting for Monday, in the Oddfellows' Hall. The Oddfellows' Hall was well filled on Thursday evening when a publicsocial gathering was held to say farewell to Privates Richards, Weaver, Brown, McClure, Riley, and Coffey, who are leaving for the front with the 16th Reiuforeement. Private Coffey was unable to be present. The chair was occupied by the Rev. W. T. Todd, and the proceedings opened with the singing of "Rule Britannia." After several musical items had been rendered, the chairman praised the patriotism of the men going to the front, and presented each of the guests with a soldiers' hold-all. The Rev. Mr Aitken, of Mathven, urged those men who could go to the front to shoulder their responsibilities and serve their country in the battle line. t Private Richards briefly returned thanks on behalf of his comrades and himself. Items were contributed by the foltew ing:—Mesdames Brittenden, Todd, Haydock, Hill, Misses Hardy and Penny, Messrs O'Connor, Mcßride, MeLenuan, and Masters Haydock, Todd, Rapley, Penny, and Wright.