THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16153, 6 March 1918, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. JOTTINGS FOB FABMEBS. The annual Earn Fair of the Canterbury A. and P. Association will take place on the Show Grounds, Addington, on Thursday and Friday, 21st- and 32nd inst. Entries close next Tuesday. The annual general meeting of the Canterbury A. and P. Association will be held in the Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. 21st inst.. at 8 p.m. Nominations for the General Committee close on Saturday next, at 1 p.m. A demonstration of ploughing the Avery kerosene farm tractor will be given to-morrow afternoon at Mr oco. Sheat's farm at Dunsandel, in a paddock next to tie public school, and close to the railway station. HALSWELL. On Thursday last the (school picnio was held at Sumner. There was a good muster at 8.;i0 a.m. at the store, where traps and spring drays wore in readiness to convey the children to the Addington showgrounds. A special tram at U. 30 a.m. met the party there. The picnic was held at the Scarborough end of Sumner, in the garden of the tea kiosk. Races, etc., were held, in the majority of cases first., second, and third prizes being awarded. After a sumptuous lunch, afternoon tea. and numerous ice, creams, the party returned to town at 4.30 p.m. The day was fine. The committee worked with a will to make the outing a success. The satisfactory organisation and arrangements were largely due to Mr P. Watson. who acted in the absence of the chairman. About 60 adults and tho children of both schools _ took part. Several residents of the district, joined tho party later in the afternoon. RANGIORA. On Saturday last, as Mr J. R. Stackwood, manager for Mr C. Dilworth Fox, of Scargill. was trimming trees, lie had ■ the misfortune to cut, his left wrist, severely, severing the .sinews. Ho is at. present in I>r. Wills'® home in Itangiora, anil is likely to be laid up for a few weeks. Farmers at. the Rangiora market yesterday stated that there is still a considerable amount of grain out in the. stook, and owing to the rain, harvesting will be further delayed. Several farmers who had arranged iv thresh from the stook now regret, having decided to do so, as it is very difficult io know when to expect the threshing machines. One farmer stated that his wheat had already been in the stook a month, waiting. Very little grain was offering yesterday. BROMLEY.' At the final meeting of the Bromley Carnival Committee the secretary reported that, the proceeds amounted to £105 19s Bd, made up as follows: — Collections by Messrs J. H. Moore £18 4s 6d. J. Drvden £17 ~.s Bd. T. Carson £16 17s Sd, G. O. Templeton £14 Is 6d, J. Briggs £12 18s, "A Casual" £1. 3s; proceeds of social £4 B.s, Mrs J. H. Moore's cake £o ss, sale of sweets and flowers £2 IDs. sale of other goods £12 los 4d. The expanses amounted to 9s fid. and the balance (£lO5 10s 2d)_ '.tad been handed to the Ladies' Committee for the purchase of material. On the motion of Miss M. Moore, president of the Ladies' Committee, a. hearty vote of thanks was passed to the men workers for their successful effort. Special votes of thanks were, also accorded to the chairman of the Carnival Committee (Mr J. Briggs) and to the secretary (Mr G. Templeton) for keeping down the expenses. A.KAROA. A meeting of the directors of the Akaroa Co-operative Butter Factory ■Was held on Saturday afternoon, Mr A. J. Turner being in the chair. The secretary submitted a statement of the season's working up to the end of January, which the directors unanimously regarded as veiy salistactory indeed. The manager reported that the daily supply was keeping up iciuarkably well. Tnere wa.s every prospect of a, record season being established. Lt was decided to pay out Is <kl per lb for butter-tat supplied during .January. The. monthly meeting of the directors of the Peninsula Saleyards Company was held at Duvaucbelle, Mr R. Latter presiding.' It was agreed that, provided the several auctioneering firms interested contributed towards the cost, the necessary building should be erected and telephone installed. Messrs l>algety and Co. wrote making application for permission to erect an office. Granted. The secretary reported that yard fees collected at the February sale were £12 los 6d. It was stated that it would be an advantage to have the large pens at the yards divided. The meeting agreed to halve 10 of them. . After another sunny and warm weekend, an easterly drizzle set in on Mon-

day afternoon, and yesterday morning it was still drifting down with every piospect of continuing throughout the day. Fortunately the great bulk of the grass seed is threshed and safely bagged. Only on the higher levels, where foggy, damp weather and unusually heavy growth of the pasture have interfered with the harvesting, does one find some of the seed still lying out. OUEKXDALE. The annual meeting of the Malvern Blacksmiths' and Farriers-' Association was held at Darfield on Saturday. The president, Mr J. \Y. Bel grave. presided over a fair attendance of members, and various matters of interest to the Association were freely discussed. The secretary, Mr W. F,. Willstecd, presented the balance-sheet, showing a credit of over £'2. Officer* for tho current year were elected as follows : —President, Mr -J. S. MeHimh (Lioiorn ta): secretary. Mr W. A. (Grecndale); all the members constituting the committee. Hearty votes of thanks were accorded the retiring president and secretary, who have held office since the Association was formed, and to whoie efforts the present successful condition of the Association is largely due.