THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16252, 1 July 1918, Page 4

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. ASHBURTON A. AND P.ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on Saturday afternoon, when there was a good attendance, Mr F. Frampton presiding. The annual report congratulated members on the satisfactory result of "the year's operations, the balance-sheet showing a profit of £56 Is 4d on the year's working. The annual show, held on March 14th, had proved very satisfactory, and the committee's decision to hold a one day show during the war had given general satisfaction. After the adoption of the report and halance-slieet, Mr Iteid presented the ( retiring chairman, on behalf of the Association, with a bound catalogue as a memento of his term of office, and as an expression of appreciation on the part of the Association of what Mr Frampton .had done. Mr James Cow referred to the heavy overdraft the Association had to work under. He thought the overdraft of £963 3s 7d could bo easily wiped out, and in spite of, the war he thought the time was now opportune to make an effort to do so. Ho had that morning, he said, interviewed seven -or eight peopl.e, and they had promised £125 amongst them, if others would subscribe and wipe the overdraft off. He • suggested that a committee i be appointed to interview members.. Mr John Brown and!Mr Allan suggested that the incoming committee should take into consideration the matter of agricultural education', and get more in touch with the teachers,of the schools. ." ' After various other matters had , Been; discussed, the . balancesheet were adopted. I Officers wore declared elected as follows President, Mr Jarties Cow ; vicepresident, .Mr A. Horsey; committee, Messrs \V. .J. Doak, J. Glasson, J. W. Butterick, *W. Butterick, W. Moses, T. Doig, L. R.- Stoddart, W. G. Gallaghter, J. Bland, jun., A. Croy, W. D. Dawson, John Brown, J. A. Fleming, J. M. Hampton, J. McLaughlan, Rl J. S. Wilson, W. J. Taylor, W. Oakley, H. A. Lloyd, R. J. Mulligan, G. Miller, H. E. Blunden, D ; T. C. Mcllroy, A. Brown; auditor, Mr C. Jennings.

| SHEEP RETURNS. In last week's "Gazette" is published an interim return of the -number of sheep in the Dominion'on April 30th, 1918j as under :— .< 1917. 1918. - Auckland ... 1,983,510 1,968,960 Napier-Gisborne 6,732,883 6,804,43 d Wgtn.-W. Coast 6,850,735 5,900,776 Marlborough-Nel- , son-VVestland 1,364,469 1,402,000 Canterbury - Kaikoura ... 4,718,026 5,330,139 Otago ... 4,620,763 4,948,284 Totals ... 25,270,386 26,354,594 This represents a total increase for the Dominion of 1)084,208. JOTTINGS FOR FABMIBS. The Fairfield. Freezing Works . wiu close down for the season in about, a fortnight's time.. LEfCOLN. A large crowd assembled in the Druids' Hall, Lincoln, last Wednesday

evening, to say farewell to Mr and Mrs . John G. Scott and family, who are leaving for Blenheim. For the past 14 years Mr Soott has been stock inspector and agricultural inspector for tho very wide district from Akaroa to Hororata and from the Rakaia -to the Waimakariri. Many speeches were made eulogistic of Mr Scott's services, and the Rev. J. C. Paterson, of the Presbyterian Church, Lincoln, also testified to the zealous services of Mr and Mrs Soott in connexion with church work. Daring the- evening Mr It. E. Alexander, who presided over the meeting, presented Mr Scott with an illuminated address and a wallet containing a substantial cheque. Speakers mado special reference to the good' work done as "viceI president of the Red Cross by Mrs Scott, and Mrs R. E. Alexander, president of the Lincoln Red Cross, presented Mrs Scott with a handsomely-bound copy of Lady Liverpool's Souvenir Book, and also with a lady's companion. Mr Scott replied on behalf of his wife aixl himself. The various speeches were interspersed with items by Messrs Leslie Cookson. Cox, and Raphael, Mr A Cookson acting as accompanist. On Wednesday afternoon members of the P.W.M.U., in connexion witli the Lincoln Presbyterian Church, bade farewell to Mrs Scottj who was one of the vioep residents, and the other vice-president, Mrs Whitelaw, mado her a presentation of a silver hot-water jug.

RANGIORA. The monthly meeting of the United Band of Hope, was held on Friday evening, the Rev. J. Guy presiding. a varied programme of songs, recitations, and dialogues was contributed by the children. Miss Worsfold and MrsDownes •also assisting. ' The address was given by the R<3v. W. H. Howes. The Rev. JW. H. Howes (Presbyterian) and the Rev. J. Guy (Methodist) exchanged pulpits at last evening's services. The Public Works Department intend starting almost immediately with the electric light installation in the j borough of Rangiora. The work wiH be carried on simultaneously with I County Council installations. It is intended to have three gangs of men working on the scheme, with Rangiora as their headquarters. TUAHIWI. About forty residents attended a meeting called by the Tuahivfi Patriotic Committee on Friday evening, to make arrangements for despatching Christmas presents to the Maori boys. Mr W. T. Pitama presided. After deciding on the contents of each pared, a purchasing committee, comprising -Mesdaiiies Fi'iier, Flutey, and Barrett was appointed, with instructions to have all material on hand, ready for parcelling, by the end of July. Owing to the departure of several members of the Patriotic Committee from the district, the meeting appointed the Rev. G. W. Harding and Mr C. Flutey to fill two of the vacancies. At the conclusion of the meeting, those present were .entertained at a very enjoyable social evening, given- bv Mr ami Mrs Andrews, in aid of the school piano fund.

HORNBY-ISLINGTON. Private Fred Laurenson, who returned invalided 'with the last draft, left with the 26th Reinforcements, and is well-known throughout the HornbyIslington district, having been in the employ of the N.Z. Refrigerating Co. at Islington for several years previous to enlisting. Some time after his arrival in France Private Lauren son was taken ill,. and shortly after his recovery he was severely gassed, and later was invalided home. A brother Ted, was killed in the Battle of the Somme. Private Laurenson is a brother of Mrs W. Kerr, who was for very many years a resident of Hornbv.

The Hornby Rugby Leasee Football Club havo acquired a lease of the Midlands Saleyards Co.'s hall at Sockburn on very satisfactory terms as a •club room. The Riccarton Domain has, been secured as a playing field, and during last; week the officials of 1 the "club were busy imp/roving and liiai-king out their new grounds. -

; . ASHBURTON, The third annual meeting of the Groenstreet branch of the Red Cross Society was held on Wednesday last, Mrs Corbett presiding. The balancesheet showed a credit balance of £16 16s. The report, which detailed 'the articles that had been forwarded, and tho balance-sheet were adopted. The .■election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows President, Mrs Corbett; treasurer, Miss Shearer: secretary, Mrs Watson. -Supplies of poisoned wheat from the Ashburton County Council hare been in great demand of late, but with careful distribution sufficient is in hand to meet all requirements. ■ The Tinwald Town Board met on Friday evening, last, Mr T. Williams presiding. The sum of £20 was voted to trie Prisoners of War Fund. Attention was drawn to the damage done by traction engines to the water-tables on tlie. (south road, fronting; the railway station. It was decided to instruct drivers to use another crossing, which was more suitable for tho carrying of heavy traffic. a Ti?°J natr 2 1 n and nursing staff of the Ashburton County Hospital, together with a number of friends, met on Friday evening last to farewell the staff nurse (Miss Ada Withell), who leaves at an early date on active service. Dur-tho-evening the matron (Miss Man4 or) ' ™ u e » alf ° f the staff, presented Nurse Withell with a fountain pen, and referred to her skilful work- in the in" stitution. ~ . •

/^ G Peetinfi of the Lismore Red Cross Society, 16 parcels for soldiers were packed and dispatched. Three ladies—Mestlames McLatichlan. Avstui, and Drummond—offered to nola a soldiers parcel evening. • The secretary reported that during the past half-venr 300 garments had been senS to tho Ashburton depot.