THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16152, 5 March 1918, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES

HANMER SPRINGS.

At the weekly concert in the Queen Ma 17 Hospital on Thursday last songs were given by Miss Halliday, Miss l-'islicr, Captain Clifton, and Corporal Dobson, and a recitation by Private Dale. The danco music was played by Miss Summers, Miss McNaugiitou, und Privato Tutuncliife. The ladies provided supper. During an interval the folio \viiw prizes were presented by Captain ~ Clifton : — Billiards, Private llhodes 1, Private Brown 2, Private A. E. Sanders 3; croquet, Privates Squire and Fairbairn 1; tennis (.> grade), Privates Beslev and Sutton (b grade) Sergeant Haliord and Miss Sununars, (final) Privates Besloy and Sutton 1; bridge, Privates Jtainago and Woods; tennis, Corpora! Laurio and Private Harrison; billiards, Private Benton 1, Privato Dawson 2. ' A concert was given in the hospital on Saturday evening by a party from Christchurch. Songs were, contributed ' by blisses Wacked, Velvin, L. Green, j Mrs J. W. Bailey, -Mr R. Brian, a , duct by the Misses Yolvin, impersonations bv Miss L. Green, recitations by Miss L. C. Adams. Mr J. W, Bailey, Mr F. Barker., a sketch by Mr and Mrs Bailey, a musical monologue by Miss Velvin, dances by Miss Leone C'rnythorne, and pianoforte solos by Miss G. Hopping. A hearty vote of | thanks was given to tho party by the audience. AVAIAIJ. For the past fortnight the weather has been warm and dry, and harvest operations are almost completed. Unfortunately the yield in some cases will be most disappointing. Some iields of oats were almost ruined by caterpillars, and, as in other districts, crops of wiieat which at on© time appeared most promising, turned black in iho heads and the yield 1 therefrom will be small and of poor sample. Grass throughout the district is abundant, and tncro are some excellent crops of rape. Lambs, however, are not fattening too well, tho feed not possessing such fattening qualities as m drier seasons. Large dratts of sheep from tho hill country further north have passed through the township recently, en route for tho south, the latest being a draft of 3500 from Kaikoura. Vegetables have been more plentiful than usual, and there -will bo some heavy crops of potatoes, these up to tho present not being affected by tho blight to any extent. That favourite fruit, howevor, the tomato, which almost everyone grows i'or home consumption, has been attacked by blight in a number of gardens, the fruit turning black and rotting. Mr V. G. Oldman, who has a largo orchard in tho township, sent a consignment of apples to Dunedin last week, and the prico realised was most gratifying, exceeding all expectations. 1 and testifying to tho excellent quality of the fruit and the earnestness of Mr Oldman in spraying to prevent blight. Codlin moth is very prevalent in somo old established orchards, but one might go all through Mr Oldman's orchard and not find a sign of this pest. Tho favourite pastime recently has been blackbcrrying. Numerous picnic parties hiivo gone cut and returned with large supplies of this fruit, and lilac-kberry jam making has entered largely into tho domestic duties of the housewives. There is a whisper, however, tliat war is to bo declared on this notions weed, and possibly next autumn this pastime will be looked back upon as a pleasure of the past. The annual picnic in connexion with tho Presbyterian Sunday School was held on Saturday. A large number of children with their parents were conveyed across the Mason river to Dog Creek, where, beside tho clear, placid stream and in the shade of tho trees, a delightful day was spent. During tho aiternoon a number of races were ran, and games indulged in under tho supervision of the liev. Thomson, Mr W. Shaw, superintendent, and Mr C. Netting, each of whom entered wholeheartedly into making the children s outing a pleasant one. At the closo ot the service, at the Presbyterian Church on Sunday evening the annual prizes were distributed to tho Sunday School children. Robert Chiphn was the winner of the first pri-Ae among the senior boys, Anita Aldridge among the senior girls) Willie Stove among the junior boys, and Alice Douglas amon o the junior girls. , T , Tho Waiuu school troop of Boy Scouts has, up to tho present, been greatly handicapped by not having a meeting room, but how the Rev. J. HThomson has conferred a great boon upon the boys by granting them the uso of the Sunday School room.

AKAROA

On Saturdav a cricket match was plaved on tne Kccreation Ground, Akarou, between the local club and a Little Kiver team, which resulted in a win for the former'by 10 runs, Akaroa scoring 113, and Little Kivcr 10J, ot which W. Samuels made i3J. brooks and T. Maselicld for Akaroa and Ciiddcns and Scoullar for Little River, shared the bowling honours. ■On Friday afternoon a largo number of the brethren of the Lineolu Masonic Lodge motored to Akaroa, and in tho evening paid a fraternal visit to the local Phoenix Lodge, where, under thoir AV.M., Bro. C. Agar, they were invited to take charge of the ceremonies. The visitors on Saturday went for a launch trip, and indulged later in bowls and tennis. They returned homo on Sunday afternoon.

ASHBCiiTON. The monthly meeting of the Upper

Ashburton Roard Board was held on Saturday, Mr C. J. Harper presiding. Sir W. I'aintor was granted a fresh lease of reservo 2270. Mr W. Buchan wrote, agreeing to sell a piece of land for the purpose of widening the road at Digby's bridge. Loft in tho hands of the surveyor. The Chief Surveyor wrote, stating that lot 4, D.P. 3009, near Maronan, was tho property of the Board. It was resolved to inform the chairman of tho Maronan School Committor that the Board regretted that it could not transfer the property. The surveyor was instructed to make inquiries into tho position of the Winchmoro storm channel, and to apply to tho Ashburton County Council to widen, the bridge ovor O'Shea's creek. Tho monthly meeting of the Ashburton Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday, Mr Hugo Fried--I.in dor presiding. Tho- Sanitary Inspector reported on the outbreak of a number of infectious diseases in tho district, and the danger of tho diseases spreading through persons not observing the regulations with roferenco to isolation, and persons being allowed to come into contact with patients: suffering from infections diseases. The Inspector also reported on tho want of sufficient accommodation at the hospital for infectious cases. It was decided to send a copy of the Inspector's report to the District Health Officer, .and also to tho Minister of Public Health. Messrs T. J. S. Dohertv and J. .Cairns were appointed to the Visiting 'Committee. Mr J. Caims was appointed to represent tho Board at the conference to be held in Christchurch, with the object of forming a League for the advancement of Canterbury. The tondor of Mr W. Reid, at £160, for tho erection of a morgue, was aeccntcd.