HEATHCOTE NOTES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 872, 25 November 1916, Page 15

HEATHCOTE NOTES.

A meeting of the Heathcote Patriotic Committee was held last Saturday, Mr Flavell presiding. Arrangements were made for a send-off social to Gunner Thomas Leathwick. It was also decided to ask the Christchurch Strolling Players to give a variety concert in Heathcote on December 6, in aid of the Patriotic Committee's funds. A guessing competition for a 121b ham was agreed upon, the result (o be announced on the evening of the concert. Several new members were nominated. Sergt.-Instructor William Wetherall, a native, of Heathcote Valley, anil a member of the Field Artillery, stationed at Palmerston North, goes into camp next month to join the 24th Artillery Reinforcement. In a recent letter, Trooper William Wenmoth, who is in Egypt, states that lie has been in action again, and is in the best of health. On one strenuous march over the desert his squadron was for 27 hours in the saddle, with hardly a spell. On Sunday, 26th inst., the Heathcote Methodist Sunday School will hold its auniversary, when the morning and afternoon services will be conducted by the Rev. J. E. Parsons, and the evening service by the Rev. P. Battey. There will lie special singing by the Sunday School scholars, assisted by the choir I and friends. ;

The need of a good soaking rain is! causing nurserymen and market garden-, ers some concern. The hills are rapidly becoming brown, and feed is going off. Late cherries are feeling the dry weather. One grower on the Bridle Path Road has an acre of cherry-trees under one wire netting cover. There is more moisture in the subsoil than there has | been during the last two seasons, but on I the hillside properties surface roots are [ badly in need of moisture. Early potatoes are doing well, but heavy rain! would fill out the tubers ready for market. A phenomenally good crop of five acres j of hay is to be seen opposite St. Mary's Church, on the Bridle Path Road. Last season the same land yielded from 18 to 20 tons to the acre/out of 1751b of seed, and the crop was insured in the j stacks for £6O. It gives promise of be-1 ing just as good this year. ! Another successful farewell social was 1 held in the Club Hall, Heathcote, on! Wednesday evening, in honour of the departure of Gunner T. Leathwick for the front. The hall was well filled, and j Mr C.'Flavell presided. After the sing- j ing of the National Anthem, a programme of musical aud other items, interspersed with dances, was given by the following:—Mrs G. Watt, .Misses! Bettridge (2), M. Crocker, I. Round, L. Bloom, Messrs W. Agar, C. Flavell, and I B. Whykes. All the items were very well received. Miss Crocker acted as pianiste for the dances. Mr James Weir m the name of the local residents, then presented Gunner Leathwick with a case I of pipes and a supply of tobacco, to re-1 mmd him of his friends in Heathcote Valley. Mr Flavell, on behalf of the Canterbury Seed Company, presented the guest with a wristlet watch !