RAKAIA.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1028, 29 May 1917, Page 9

RAKAIA.

From Our Own Correspondent. A meeting of the Rakaia Soldiers' Entertainment Committee was held in the Town Hall on Monday evening. Mr-B. McNamara occupied the chair. It was | decided to hold a farewell gathering on | the evening of Monday next, and a I sub-committee was appointed to arrange rthe programme. Collet-tors were appointed to canvass the district for subscriptions for the ensuing year, which was fixed to begin on .Inly 1. It was I stated that about £<>t! was jn hand at j present. Preaching on Sunday evening at St. I Andrew's Church, the Rev. U.K. AitI ken declared the chart,';' vacant, and a i congregational meeting was held on Monday evening to arrange for (he appointment of a minister. The Rev. Mr j Aitken presided as Moderator. It was 1 decided that the stipend to be offered should be £275. The following Selection : Committee was appointed: Messrs R. ' Oakley, VV. Lee, C. Evison, J. Wilson. C. ■ Ross. 0. B. Edwards, M. Macalc, Cormick, ,1. T)oig, d. Lambie, .!. McI'hail, W. .7. Lillv, R. Crav, VV. Read, D.

B. Carruthers. <_'. n. Oakley, W. Boag, P. Doig, .1. Lemon, and Miss Bruce. The bail weather early on Sunday morning proved rather severe on a consignment of eight trucks of aged ewes, which arrived at Rakaia on Saturday night from Fairlie. When the sheep were untrucked some of them were found to be dead, and some collapsed hooh after, 20 beiog lost altogether. After a little over a week of tine weather, a change occurred very early on Sunday morning, when heavy rain began to fall. T'p to 9 a.m. on Sunday 88 points had fallen. Nearer the coast the rain began somewhat earlier, but the fall was substantial from the sea to Methven. Sunday was a day of southwest squalls, and another W points fell before 0 a.m. on Monday. 'Monday morning was very wet, but the weather gradually cleared, though a fairly cold wind remained. Residents state that so far this is the wettest winter experienced for some years. The rain should make the ground soft enough for the road-inakiug work contemplated by the Road Board in the north-west quarter of the township.