THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15869, 7 April 1917, Page 6

THE COUNTRY.

NOTES AND NEWS. JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS. The forecast- by the general secretary of the Agricultural and Pastoral Workers' Union that there would be a great shgstage of shearers next year has evidently appealed to a number of sheepowners (says the Wellington "Post")- The union has received advice that some stations arc already engaging shearers at 27s 6d a hundred for next season. Correspondents state also that the union rate of 7s per hundred for crutching j s being readily conceded, while farmers anxious to get the work done are in some instances offering more. v A gang of men is at present at work on the Rakaia riverbed near the nortli end of the bridge making a channel through thp. shingle bank in order to admit water to a channel which is now dry, but which forms the intake for tlio watcr-race which supplies a good part of the Southbridge district. There has been no water in this race for about a fortnight, and this has caused a serious position to stock-owners dependent upon its supply. In the past year the Rakaia river lias shifted its 'main course much nearer the south "bank, and each fresh makes it increasingly difficult to keep the watcr-raco intake open. HORN BY. On Tuesday evening a number of friends met Mrs and 'Miss Hay, of Islington, at the residence of Mr R-Wish-art, to bid them (rood-bye on the occasion' of their leaving the district for Wanganui, Mr Hay having been transferred as chief engineer to the New Zealand Refrigerating Company's new works at Imlay. Mr Leslie presided. A varied programme, consisting of parlour games, and songs, instrumental selections, and recitations, contributed by Me.sda.mes AYisiiart and Ross. Misses Hay. Durham, Creouor, and Ross, and Messrs Ranee. Callaway, Wishart, Crequer. Manhire. and Ross, helped to make a very pleasant evening. Mr Manhire presented Mrs Hay with a handsome modern bedroom clock and spoke eulogistically of that lady's services to all organisations in the* district appealing for he'.r). Mr Leslie presented Miss Hay with a pair of silver-mounted cut-glass scent bottles, and spoke of the assistance she had given her mother in all good work in the district. Mr Wisbiirt responded behalf of Mrs and Mies Hoy. The proceedings opened with th" Mnginjr.of the National Anthem, and closed with ,; Auld Lang Syne." WEST EYRETON. On Wednesday a second enjoyable and verr successful concert in aid of the Swannanoa Child Quc*n was given by Mr F. C. Raphael's party at West Eyreton. The proceeds amounted to £30. The performance, which was carried out by Mrs Irving. MUses Lilian Harper and Irene Camnbcil. Messrs f'. C. Raphael, Vernon Irving, Scott, and Colin Campbell, was much appreciated. each performer being heartily encored. Mr ifarmaduko IHxon,' on behalf of the residents, thanked the performers. Messrs Kesteven, Jones, and Symington generously motored th« party 'from" Christchurch. BAT.CATRN. j The residents, of Balcjurn assembled in the school on Tuesday evening to unveil a Roll of Honour to ex-scholars and men in the district who have enlisted. Mr J. Senimciis. a re.umod soldier, performed the ceremony. Addresses were given by Mr McLean

(chairman of the County Council, M; - 1 Fleming (chairman of the School Committee), and 3lrs XoU'e (chairman of ! ;he Patriotic Committee. Songs wore contributed by the school children, Mrs "Wilson, and Mr Noble, and recitations by Misses Buckley and Tartridge. AYLESBURY. A large number of residents met in the schoolroom to bid farewell to Mr Boulnois and family. Mr Davis, in presenting the guest with a piece of plate, suitably inscribed, spoke of how much the guests had been appreciated, arid hem- much chcir absence would bo felt, especially in Red Cross work, in sport, and also in church activities. Iho Rev. I*. Rcvell also spoke. Mr Boulnois. in replying, gave a short hut very interesting sketch of his early life in tho Dominion. Thanks are due to Mesdame.- Bedford and l>aeev, Misses Turner and Milne, Messrs McKay, Belgrave, Caldcr. and Whitcleigh tor items, to Mr« Cristoohorson and Mr Gniney for music for the c'ance. and Ao Mrs Henderson for the use of piano. Cheers for the guests, and "Anld J.ang Svne" concludcd a pleasant evening. | ASHBURTON. . The monthly mooting ot the Ashburton District. wamh oi'_ tlif Women's ; Christian Tcmperon?:;* Union was hold ■on Tuesday aitenio-.-u. when Mrs W. ;K. Watson presided. The resolution ; passed i!u »•/on the qticsi ti.ti ot 0 o'ciock «Wing of hotel bars I was cKscu'-scd, an;l iv v.as decided to | jiiuii/c forms hit- signature immediately. Captain K. M. Uutterick, of tin; S:i':» aiion Amy Industrial Home, Caverslia.ni. wa* urea-jiit, and delivered' an interesting :uidrrt.s on the work of ! the institution. i The Eighth. (South Canterbury) j Mounted Rifles Hand gave an opon- • air concert in the band rotunda on Wednesday During the evening a tjresi ntui'on ol' a wrist.'et watch was made to Private E. V. fillers, I who is leaving on active .service. Mr J. C. Thomas, who is about to be married, was nbo presented with a thermos flask and the bride elect, with a caned table. The Rev. Father J. -T. O'Donnell, ol Ashburton, left for Quecnstown oil Wednesday to visit his brother, who is seriously ill. At, tho monthly mooting of the Wakauui branch of the Red Cross Society it was unanimously decided tlma the branch should retain the management of its own finances a.s hitherto, paying for material as required. The Mayor QJr R. Galbraith) and members of the Ashburton Domain Board, visited tho Domain on Thursday morning in order to arrange for the planting of crops in accordance with a recent decision of the Domain. Board. J.t was finally decided to utilise a portion 0 f tho football ground for growing grain; to sow the reserve near the hospital, which was cropped last year, with oats, and to plant a portion of the hockey ground with potatoes. ' ' The monthly meeting of the Greenstreet branch of the Womcn'6 Christian Temi>ei ante Vnion was held at the home or' Miss Kennedy on Wednesday, and took the form of a "cradlc roll." Mrs Frost, from Ashburton, presided, and the. Plunket nurse for the district was present, and read a very instructive paper. Miss Kennedy, the Cradle Roll Superintendent, was complimented on her work there being now 3o members on the roll. A highly successful rendering of Stainer's "Crucifixion" was given in St. Stephen's Church, Ashburton, by tho choir (with Mr C'. Spencer Compton at the organ) on Wednesday night. The solos were taken by the Rev. Nel- ; son Wright and Misses R. Stock, H'. A. Gates, L. >J. Wr.tt, T. Turtill, J. Templcton, and C. Go6s. LEESTO-W The monthly meeting of the Leeston Scliooi Committee was presided over by Mr l'\ 13. Clausen. A letter was received from the Board of Jiduca tion in reply to a request by tho committee for asphalting round the school, and for an improved water supply, stating that the architect would'report oh both matters at the earliest opportunity. The headmaster reported that the number of pupils on the register was 87, and the average attendance 78. RAKAIA. Mr L. Oxlcy, clerk to the Rakaia Road Board, lias bocn away in search of health. He was present at the Roard Board meeting on Thursday, but . was looking far from well. Some of the sumps put down by Road Boards and County Councils in out-of-the-way corners of the county in order to drain storm water, are sometimes neglected. They, become surrounded bv gorse and other scub, and more than one instance has been recorded lately of travellers falling iuto them. The Rakaia Lodge of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, met on Thursday evening, having changed their meeting night to the first Thursday in every month. P.G. Bro. Barlow presided. One new brother was initiated into the Order. Correspondence was received from the secretary of the Ashburton Friendly Societies'. Association stating that the hospital authorities had agreed to a renewal of the hospital benefits scheme, but at an increased rate to the Association, through members' subscriptions were not raised. M. E. Inwood wrote thanking the lodge for its sympathy in his recent bereavement. A photograph of the late Private Inwood is to be hung in the lodge rooms. A letter was received from the district secretary announcing the remission ot the fine inflicted upon the lodge for nonrepresentation at the district meeting. The renort of the district auditors stated that the books were in good order and there was a credit balance of £110 3s 6d. It was stated that the hall rent had been reduced from £5 to £3 10s on account of tho fewer meetings. The receipts for the evening were £1 I'js 9d. and the expenditure £10 14s 10d. At the meeting of the Rakaia Boad Board hold on Thursday, the chairman expressed the opinion that it should be possible during the coining year to lower the rates, as not so much money would be required for the roads. OF.R AI.DINE. Mr Flahnan. chairman of the Geraldine Road Hoard, mot with a. painful aoeident. He bad bad tlie petrol tank of his c-ar washed out with water twice, it having civcn him trouble, and was looking to sec if there was any obstruction. his pssistmt'holding a light, when an oxnlosion occurred. Mr Flatman was badly burned, his eyes suffering, but it is hoped that hi* sight will not be nermanently affected.