THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16256, 5 July 1918, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEW.} AND NOTES 310U*T SOMERS. Last week ;i social and dsiuco wns tendered to Mr snd .\lrs (Jarleton, who arc leaving the district, in the Mount Swuers bait. Mr llood' presided, during the evening presented T -ae guests, ou behalf of the residents, wiwli two Morris chairs. Ac the third annual meeting ot the Mount riomers Patriotic Society. Jir dheldon presided. A motion of sympathy was passed to the relatives of those who had made the supreme sacrifice. . The report stated that three soldiers had been farewelled and presented with safety razors, and. five returned men welcomed home, and presented with oak-framed certificates. Similar certificates were also presented to the relatives of deceased soldiers. The election of officers was postponed. RUAPUNA. A farewell social was' tendered to Corporal J. Boaler and Private J. Oakley in the Ituapuna hall on Friday. During the evening Ifr Eaden, on behalf of their Ruapuna friends,, presented each soldier with an illuminated wri3tlet watch. A short programme was submitted, and after supper nad been served s. dance was held. RANGIORA. The North Canterbury Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Show open their 20 th annual exhibition in the Drill rlall to-day. The entries, which are a record for the club, number 813; there nre sis South Island Poultry Championships, and six Champion Cups for competition by members of the United Pig'jcwi Fanciers' Club. The show will be open for two days up to 10 p.rnThe monthly united intercessory services were held on Wednesday evening in the Anglican Church, the various ministers of the town assisting. There was a vorv fair attendance notwithstanding the very inclemcnt weather. RAKAIAThe shortage of men and of petrol is responsibly; for a reduction in the number of 6tock sales at liakaia. By arrangement with the auctioneers (ho .Salevards Company has agreed to retain only the first Thursday of the month as sale days during July. August, and I September. j iVLr Butcher, who has been engaged.: for somo months repairing schools for the Canterbury Education i Board m Rakaia and surrounding districts, met with an accident at the Dorie school. While working single-handed putting up a heavy cover-board, the weight upset his balance and pushed oyer the ladder on which he was working. In. the fall he again injured a leg which had previously been hurt. He is uow C9nfined to bis bed ot his home in. fimaru.

On Tuesday evening Mr and sirs Walter Street, of ILakaia, entertained a party of friends in the Oddfellows'' Hall for the purpose of giving a fitting farewell to their son, Private Lionel Street, now on final leave. The weather fras tne worst possiblo l but that did not prevent a most enjoyable evening being spent. Lionel is the fourth or the sons of Mr Street to don khaki, and all four volunteered. One has been killed, and two are now in France. This family easily holds the record for service for the Rakaia district. . , The now postal regulations have not so far seriously affected the conduct of business at the Rakaia office.

j WAIMATE. Dr.. Longhnan and. thred othfcr, members of tiie South Canterbury Hospital tioard visited tho Waimato Hospital on Thursday i-egarding the projected isolation hospital.- All -difficulties -respecting Or. Chesson's plans wore settled, and the site of the now building left to the Jentral Board. The local committee .vished it near the present fever hospital. Tho Central Board desires the vVaimate committee to formulate plans for improvements adequate for the next ten years, so as to have authoritative guidance in regard to all applications for expenditure on the Waimate institution. Mr Justice Sim (president) and members of the Compensation Board motored through from Timara to Waihao Downs yesterday in connexion with Edward Richards's claim for, compensation for iand taken and damage in consequence of the railway extension beyond Waihao Downs. The Hon. T. M. Wilford will give his war lecture here in abirat. a fortnight's time in aid of lie funds of the local; Red Cross. I