THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16150, 2 March 1918, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. JOTTINGS FOB FA KM BBS. Many- of the wheat crops grown in the "SVairarapa have proved failures, or comparative failures (says the Grey town "Standard"'). The yields have been bad, and the quality of the grain very poor in many instances. Somo crops have been so poor that they have been burned. LINCOLN*. The JTev. J.J. North will preach in tho Lincoln Baptist Church to-morrow, at 3 p.m., on ".Ingratitude, the National Sin."' Mrs Morley Palmer will sing "Abide with Me." OXFORD. The annual show of tho Oxford A. and P. Association will be held on Thursday, April 4th. Schedules and entry forms may be obtained from the secretary. Entries close on Thursday. March 21st. The following correction has been made in the .schedule: —Classes 35 and 36 should read: "Dog-cart mare or gelding, not less than 15.2 bands; gig mare or gelding, not over 15.2 hands." UANGIORA. Yesterday afternoon, as Mr W. W. Jones, newspaper runner, was about to start on his round, he had the misfortune to have his gig, a new one, badly wrecked through his horse bolting and overturning if. He himself minor injuries. KAIAPOI. The proceeds of the Kaiapoi Horticultural and Home Industries Society's annual show, held on Thursday in aid of the I?ed Fund, totalled £33 19s lid. LADBROOES. The weather during the week has been very unsatisfactory to the farmers. Tho heavy nor'-west galo on Tuesuay did more harm than good. Very little harvesting has been done this week. The weather yesterday came in line with aflight frost in the night. Largo quantities of chaff have been sent away this week, also a few lines of potatoes. The greater part of the peas have been stacked, and threshing is in full swing again, mostly barley being put through. The figures of the yields.arc not yet to hand. ! Mr I'hilpctt is again busy in the district, having secured another chsiffcuttor. Mr 11. G. Butcher j of Broadfields, has 1.'.-eii confined to- his beci through illness ; but he is now progressing favourably. Mr F. Hill resumed duty this week, liaviug recovered from his recent accident. The young men of Lincoln have decided to form a young men's club there, and the movement is meeting with every success. Private "Ben" Descat is leaving for camp this week. Ben, who was employed 1-y Mr Yogan, of Lincoln, as baker, will be greatly missed in social circlcs. AKAROA. Tho first aunual meeting of tho Banks Peninsula Patriotic Association was held on Thursday, Mr Geo. Armstrong presiding. The annual report referred briefly to the success! ul efforts made during the year to raise patriotic funds. Tho balance-uheet showed that tho receipts had been £1900, and the expenditure £l'J7o. "lhe report and balance-shecfc were adopted. It was resolved that the Association should eontinuo its operations for the duration of the war, at least. Tho following were elcctea the' general executive: Messrs G. Armstrong (president), J. RThacker (Okain's), E. Hay (Pigeon Bay), J. Donovan (French Farm), T. Conwav and W. D. Macphail (W ainui), W. Dal'glish (Le Bon's), A.Waghorn (Little Akaloa), J. Black (Duvauchclle), J. D. Bruce (Akaroa)'. J. S. Dodds, and T. Lewitt (Akaroa), respectively hon. treasurer and hon. secretary. With respect to the work of the current year, it was resolved unanimously: (1) To send delegations to the rarious outlying bays for the purpose of raising enthusiasm and practical interest in the Association s work. (9) To endeavour to have fetes carried out at various convenient centres. (3) To canvass thoroughly the whnlo of tho Akaroa county and borough—this being the district covered Association's activities. (4) fo make a big general appeal with the object, this year, of raising at least £3000 for general war patriotic purposes. ASHBURTON. The vital statistics for the Ashburton registration district for the month of February, 1918, arc: —Births 21, deaths 9, marriages 2. The figures for February, 1917, were:—Births 29, deaths 12, marriages 4. On Thursday evening the members of the Ashburton Bowling Club met in the pavilion to bid farewell to Mr D. Campbell and make him a presentation. Mr Campbell, who is shortly leaving Ashburton for Roslyn, was a most enthusiastic supporter of the club, and for several seasons its champion player. Mr R. Galbraith, in presenting the departing player with two Morris chairs, stated that Mi" Campbell had been one of the club's most popular players, and had evinced a keen interest in new members and rendered valuable service in the way of coaching beginners. His merits as a bowler were known throughout New Zealand; five years in succession he won the club's Champion Singles competition, and later held the championship for two seasons. In addition, he twice won the coveted Maddison trophy, open to players of clubs affiliated with the Christchurch Centre, and was three times runner-up. Telegrams were road from the president (Mr R. Bell), who was unavoidably absent. Three cheers were given for Mr Campbell, who suitably acknowledged the gifts and good wishes.