COUNTRY NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12636, 22 May 1919, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[From Our Correspondents.] ASHBURTON. At the last meeting of tlio Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association .it was announced that a requisition <vas being freely signed favouring the president 'Mr James Cow) • remaining in office for another term in recognition of the energy displayed by him during his period of office. It was also undoes stood that Mr A. Horsey, whoso turn it was to take the presidential chair;-was agreeable to Mr Cow remaining in office.. Since the meeting it is stated that some members of tile committee aro reported not to favour the arrangement, and an election is probable. It is reported that the Surrey Hills Estate has been offered for sale to the Land Futchaso Board for cutting up for a soldiers’ settlement. The price is said to be between £ls and £l6 an acre. For some time past Mount Somers residents have ventilated a complaint of insufficient facilities on the Mount Somers tramline to convey the available coal to the railway. During the past few days ‘ the chair--1 man of the Ashburton County Council (Mr J. Cairns) has investigated the , matter, and it is understood that the information obtained will bo placed boiore the council at its, next meeting. At a meeting of the committee of the Ashburton Hospital Board on Tuesday a letter was read from Dr Arthur Kidd, declining his recent appointment as resident doctor at the Ashburton County Hospital. After discussion [t was decided to appoint Dr Russell "Wells to the position, his application having been favourably considered when Dr Kidd was appointed. Dr Wells is married and resides at Timaru. He hag also been ‘ on octave service, and will reside in a house to be purchased near the hospital Dr Russell Eondle, Ashburton, received word by the last mail that his second son, Second-Lieutenant Henry ' Randle, who left Canterbury College in 1917 on reaching his eighteenth birthday, to return Homo as a volunteer for war service, and gained a commission in the Devonshire Regiment, was in Germany, his battalion having been transferred to Cologne as part of the army of occupation. ■ A visitor from the back-country stations of the Ashburton 'County states-.that feed.', is' getting remarkably scarce owing • to the long spell of dry weather. Rabbit poisoning has been carried out most successfully, the rabbits having taken the pollard freely. MAYFIELD. The residents of Mayfield welcomed home several soldiers in the Band Hall on Friday evening last. There was a large gathering, and during the evening Mr C. Withell made presentations of framed addresses to Sergeant Burgess, M.M., Trooper M'Millan, Sergeant Harvey Private Toner and Driver Hydes. At the close supper was served and a dance was hold. .LAKESIDE; ■ Corporal A. J. Young was the guest si,a welcome home social tendered by the residents of Lakeside in the Memorial, Hall. There wash large attendance. Mr'Ri'Pat-" teraan, chairman of the Patriotic Committee, presented the soldier with a gold medal and travelling hag to mark the appreciation of 1 the residents. It was intended to welcome Rifleman J. K. Leahy on the same but ho 'Was on the sick list, KILLIKCHY. Private J. Henry and Sapper S. Baanland were welcomed back from the front at a social held in the Killinohy Hal!, and each was presented with a gold medal. The function was well attended, and dancing was kept up until the early morning to muaio supplied by members of the Chappell family. iho Rev H. G. Hawkins presided, over the annual meeting of parishioners of All Saints Church, Killinchy. The general bal-ance-sheet showed a small credit,- and the cemetery statement showed a credit of £5 15s. Mr A. Glassey was nominated as bishop $ warden, and Mr Z. Simoock was e ected people’s warden. The following were elected a vestryMcsdaraes J. Isles, A. Alien and M. A, Allen, Mis,- Warnock, and Messrs A. Allen, 0. Isles and G.-Mlen. Messrs W. G . Chappell, W./ Alien and. A. Adams who are awry on active service, wore’ elec-cd honorary members of-the vestry. A tatter from the bishop in regard to increasing the stipends of clergy was considered, and it was decided;— 11 That this meeting , of parishioners is opposed to being amalgamated with .the Leeston cure, and is prepared to raise its guarantee to stipend 25 per cent, in accordance with the bishop’s letter, bo as to save the identity ol the Panics were accorded Mr it- B. B. Wilhs (lay reader), Mr T, Allen (organist), the retiring officers, church'cleaners and others. DUNSANDEL.' At the annual meeting of the parishioners of St Diuisandel, the Rev H. G. Hawkins presided. The • balance-sheet showed a credit balance c{ .£9 6s 9d. The Sunday School statement also showed a small credit. Mr H. F. Wright was nomiv n by m the J lc - H , as Chop's warden, and j • Wraight was elected people’s warden. The vestrymen elected wereMessrs P. T. Clarkson, C. A. Wright, D. VS. Westenra, J. A. Thomson, W. Owers, W~ Balloch, J. Hill, H. W. Fascoo and W. J. Webb. Mr hj. E. Owers wm re-elected hon-. orary auditor. It was agreed .that .the. wardens should be authorised to sign, the, stipend guarantee for £3O, an increase of £ls. Hearty , votes of'thanks were accorded Mr R Ji. B. Willis (lay reader), the church wardens, Miss Doris Chattcrton (organist), Mrs Wraight and Miss Owers (Sunday School eachers) and the ladies who had attended to the cleaning of the church, SOUTHSBRIDGE. Mr W. Scott, vice-president, presided over .(ho twenty-second annual meeting oi the bouthbndgc Horticultural Society, in the absence of the president, Mr J. Starry. The balance-sheet showed receipts totalling £ 9l 12s lOd and expenditure £55 Os Id, leaving a. credit balance of £BB 12b fld. Officers were elected as follows;-Patron, Tfco Hon B II Rhodes; president, Mr W. Scott; vice-prod-dents, Mrs A. J. Inwood. Miss Scott and Messrs D. and A. J. Inwood; honorary secretary and treasurer, Mr J. S. Chapman"; committee, Mesdauies W. S, Worner *H 1 Sutton, D. Tong, 0. Goulden and R. ‘ G. Bishop, Miss Glanvil’e «nd Messrs J. Moota a r’ . R r n^ We ’ A. Gresnv-ood, A. J. MPhernon, J. W. A. Walker, A. Tong. T. Greenall J S. Inwood E. F. Chapman; G, A. Marsh I, M Millan, W. J, Bishop; J. fetorry and M. Ttviss; auditors, Messrs E F. Chapman and W. Scott. On the motion at Mr A. J. Inwood it was decided Unit special prizes should -bo given at the annual, snow next year. Lho practice of givhw specials was suspended during the war period, owing to the many calls made upon the public for patriotic purposes. Mr Chapman spoke strongly m favour of getting special displays of flowers from outside the district as a draw and education to local exhibitors A proposal to have a past presidents’ shio'd mi- competition was discussed, and eventually referred to the committee, A motion of sympathy with Mr J Starry in his continued illness wan carried, and the hope was expressed tna» he would Mian be restored to good healf— .appreciative references were made co the supporr given the_ society by the lam j Huhosrd, ar.a :ho ?ecrev&rv was instructed to convey the sympathy or t’--e society to his widow end son." Th e -isual ■ votes of thanks to judges, steward s~ officers' aiid tiioso who ior the show were carnod. The monthly meeting of the Fouthhridgc District High School Committee was presided over by Mr II J. Sutton. It Vl h decided (hat the new technical room should be officially opened on May 2). Advice wa: received that at its hist meeting the Iv-ur,) ",',.- Education decided to approve of the iv-wit-nuuKirßon to m., ;1 ,,d !

tcct' that tha old class-room at the Southbndgo 00l should be replaced by a new and larger room to accommodate tie secondary department. The board was now making; a {? 'to til© Department for its share ot the oost of rebuilding the room. The aichitoct had. stated that the new room could building. _lt was decided to write to the board again cn vubjejt, pointing out that there were several suitable sites available, adjacent to the school,; The head master s report was considered. -It stated ■Jm-/ ■ avern fi 9 weekly roll numbers were • 367 (primary) and 36.5 (secondary'). It - was agreed tiiftfc tho secondary mistress should be authorised to procure a basket ball sot for tee mrls. On the motion of Mr Rowe, it was doomed to procure a Roll of Honour of all old boys of the school who had gone to the front. The chairman, Miss Glanville and ■ I i? we " ere appointed a committee to go into tho. matter and report, ASHLEY BAKU, , A v «ty successful welcome home social was Mnaered to Sergeant J. Eraser- and Corporal ± Stewart, M.M by the Ashley, residents on Tuesday, May 20, the schoolroom boinircrowded to its utmost capacity. On behalf of the Patriotic Committee tho chairman presented each soldier with a suitably inscribed f° J “, ®. C S‘ 3 '‘' The music was supplied by Mr J. VViutham, extras being played by, Misses f ■ ®° wb / es - . G-. Shaw and T. Loffhagcn. bongs -and recitation© completed a very nlcasw ant evening. .