THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16259, 9 July 1918, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES

KAXGIOIiA

At the North Canterbury Poultry, Pigeon. ;ind Canary Club's show on Saturday evening a sheep weight guessing competition was held, half the proceeds going to the Lady Liverpool Trench Comforts Fund. Tiie weight of the sheep was /"lib 1-oz, and Messrs T. W. Ambrose rind M. Seed, who guessed with'.n ioiir pounds oi the weight, divided the prize. Messrs .\Joir and mhi, flounuillers of cf'outlibrool;. have made a donation or £10 10s to the .Sonthbrook Fire Brigade in recognition of its services at the vecent fire on their premises.

MARSHLAND. On Friday the residents of Marshland gave a vioiooui" iiouie to iSeryoant James A. lVrcasky. Ninth iteintoreemonts, and I'rivuti; O. W. Ashton, Twenty-fiftli Reinforcements. Both men wore wounded on the 'Western front, the former in the head and the latter in the thigh. Considering the nature of the ueadicr, then: u;;is a good attendance at the public liall. Mr \V. J. Walter, chairman of the Marshland Patriotic Society, presided. Songs were contributed by Misses Voice and Jean McMillan, and Mr J. Blackburn, and a recitation by Vera Phillips. The chairman and Mr J. Voss gave brief addresses, and the guests _ were loudly cheered on rising to reply. The Patriotic. Society's gold medals wero pinned on the breasts of the two soldiers by Mesdames Ashton and Harris. The music for the dancing was supplied by Mr H. G. Jones, and Messrs C. Myers and A. Rogal acted as The attendance at the Marshland School has been considerably depleted of late owin'g to mumps. Oil leaving to take up a position at the East Christchurch School, Miss D. Mnxwell, who has been connected with the Marshland School for nearly two and a half years, was presented bv the headmaster, oil behalf of the staff and the scholars, with a morocco handbag as a token of appreciation of her services. Last Sunday a "Pleasant Sunday Afternoon" was held in the Marshland Methodist Church. There was a Very good attendance of scholars, parents, and friends. Solos were contributed by Miss S. Voice and May Southon and Master V. "Williamson, duets by Eileen and Doris Bock and Rona and ■Marie McMillan, and recitations by Florence Berryman. Kathleen Moore, Hazol Williamson, Bott, and Barton Moore. An address was given by tho Rev. E. P. Blamjres and a collection taken up in aid of replenishing tho Sunday School literature.

MEDBURY. •A social was held m tho Medbury school to bid farewell to.Lance-Coii.bia(. E. Garuner. Mr 11. Manning, cnauV man of tho school committee, presided over a large attendance, I'hc chairman expressed the best wishes of. all present for tho soldier's safe return, and then handed him a money-belt containing a sum to be used by him at his own discretion. During the evening songs wero contributed by Mrs H. Brooker and Messrs M. Manning, D.. Tosach, G. Brooker, aiid F. Smith. Mus;c was supplied'by Mesdames J. Honeybone, H. Brooker, and Devonport.

• KIRWEE. •Mr W. J. Courtier, Government orcliard instructor, visited Kinveo on Saturday afternoon for tlie purpose of giving a pruning and spray.ng demonstration in Mr H, ltoper's oicuard. Although the weatli&r was very unfavourable, about thirty people were present. A very brief visit was paid to the orchard, as it was covered with snovv. Those present congregated in a shod, where Mr Courtier gave an interesting talk on the diseases of fruit trees anu a demonstration of priming young apple trees, having brought two toees with him tor the purpose. An adjournment was then made to Mr Roper's house, where the ladies provided afternoon tea," a charge being made, the proceeds, which amounted to £1 Is 3d, being devoted to tho Red Cross. Two trees, given by Mr Courtier, brought 14s, and pumpkins given by Mr H. Roper 12s 6d. Votes of thanks were accordod to Mr Courtier and to Mi Roper. Mr Courtier has arranged to give a lecture on "rose growing m the Agricultural and Pastoral Association's rooms next month. _ A social was tended on Friday evenmg to Private J. C. Stockden. who was on leave from camp. Although there was a lot of snow on the ground a. fair number of people were present. During the evening the Rev P. Revell, on behalf of the residents, handed Private Stockden a money belt and a set of military brushes, and wished him cood luck and a safe return. Mr j- ,or ~ rrelly also spoke. Dancine was indulged in to music supplied by Mesdames A. i Stewart and J. Christopherson and Miss Christopherson. A movement was I set on foot for the purchase of a piano for use at socials —at present an instrument has always to he borrowed. Ahout £20 was promised by those in tho room, and it was decided to canvass the district.

SPRINSSTON\ -The Ethelbert Lodge, U.A.0.D., at its fortnightly gathering took the opportunitv of making a presentation of a wristlet watch to Bro. H. Page, who was down on final leave. Private Page is the sixteenth member of the to leave for the front. Bros. K. it. Coe and T. Hutchison have died of sickness, Bros, Robert Chapman ana C. Tuniner have been killed in action, and three others have been invalided home. 'Hie members of the Loyal Orange Lodge, No. 48, made Bro. Page a presentation of a case of pipes. _On Friday evening members and friends of the Springs Patriotic Committee held a very pleasant function for the purnose of farewelling Private Harry Page and Private W. Moorhead. The Jatter, however, was unable to be present Items were contributed by Messrs W. Kimber, W. Page, P. Riordan. T. Sagar, G. Pilkington T and b. Lugg. Mr J. W. Kime, chairman af the committee, presented Private Page with the distnet's gold medal- Mr H. Xeale spoke of the good qualities of the guest of the evening* and wished him God-speed and a safe and speedy return. . The quarterly meeting of the Spnngston Methodist Circuit was held on Saturday, the Rev. J. Harris presiding. A welcome was extended to the chairman, who, in reply, stated that he had.visited most of the places in the circuit, and he hoped that his ministry would be a blessing to himself and she people. The Sunday schools were reported to be in a good condition. A letter was received from the Military Committee of the church appealing for assistance for the chaplains' fund. It

was decided io invite the Rev. "W. |

Walker to give au address on his experiences at the front. Messrs J. W. Marshall and J. V. Chatterion were appointed delegates to the No-License Convention, to be held in Christ-church. The "VVeedous people were complimented on petting their church thoroughly renovated inside and out-. Votes of i-ympathy were passed to Mr and Mis L. Loire and to Mrs T. Hutchison Mid fannlv in their recent bereavements: to M' rs AV. Chamberlain in htfi- accident, and to Mrs Clarke, sen., in her illness.

RAKAIA. The monthly meeting of the P.W.M.T". in connexion with St. Andrew's Church was held on Thursday, and the annual meeting was held immediately afterwards. The hou. president, the Rev. A. Morrison, occupied the chair, and delivered au address on the iraportanco of mission work and the beneficial effect the knowledge of missions had on the Home people. The annual balance-sheet, which was adopted, showed a credit of £4 14s 6d. Musical items were given by Mcsdames Morrison, Croy, and Ross, and Miss Tucker. The election of officers resulted as follows: Hon. president-, Rev. A. Morrison; president, Mrs Morrison; vice-president, Mrs Boag; secretary and treasurer. Mrs Oakley: secretary to Harvest Field, Mrs Jackson; secretary to Maori Mission Birthday League, Miss M. Oakley.

The extra work devolving on Magistrates on account of the war conditions is responsible for the suspension of Magistrates' visits to Rakaia. Now all eases not dealt with by justices have to go to Ashburton for trial.

The Rakaia Soldiers' Entertainment Committee organised a social for Friday night in the Oddfellows' Hall to farewell Private L. Street, of Rakaia, and Private G. Hooper, of Mitcham. There was a very good attendance, and the evening was spent in dancing. The Hon. C. A. C. Hardy delivered a patriotic address, in the course of he stressed the difference between those who had gone to the front willinglv and those whose attitude had been different. He presented each soldier with «i useful hold-all, and the men were heartily cheered. Private Street thanked the Rakaia peoplo for the gifts. Several returned men were on tlie platform, and they also were applauded. Mr M. Timmings acted as M.C. for the dance, which was carried on till 2 a.m.

The monthly meeting of the Rakaia Band of Hope was held in the Methodist Church on Friday evening. The Rev. A. Morrison presided over a fair attendance. Songs were sung by the Rev A. Morrison and Mr Hunt; Mr C. Ross provided several gramophone selections, and Misses M. Hopwood and P. Judkins recited. A temperance address was given by the chairman.

MEAD. . An epidemic of chicken-pox is raging at the Mead. The attacks are of a slight nature, but have spread throughout the district.

CHERTSEY

A social was held in the Chertsey hall on Friday evening to entertain Private E. E. Gill prior to his departure for the front with the 4lst Reinforcements. On behalf of Chertsey friends Mr R. Croy presented Private Gill with a set of military hairbrushes as a token of the esteem in which he is held. Songs were sung by Messrs W. Rankin, H. Gill, and w. Halliday. The music for the dancing was plaved by Miss Halliday and Messrs W. Rankin and Halliday. During the evening Mr H. Wilkinson appealed to all who could to attend a meeting to elect a fresh patriotic committee to carry on the work of providing farewells to soldiers.

ASHBURTON. Privates C. Neill, Ross, Willetts, and Tully, ivho were home on leave, were entertained by the residents of Lyndhurst on Friday evening. Mr "W. *J. Dickie, M.P., on behalf of the residents. presented each soldier with a set of military- hair-brushes.

At the Ashburton ' Cburt yesterday, before Mr R. Galbraith, J.P., Hugh Holland, who did not appear, was fined £2 and. costs for being drunk. while in charge of a motor-Cat.

The Wakanui Road Board met on Saturday. Mr J. Brute presiding. The matter of a donation to the Prisoners of War Fund was held oveif for further consideration. Robert Grace was granted permission to plough a roadsido to destroy gorse. John Kidd's tender of £5 for the lease of Reserve 1417 for seven years was accepted. McElhinney Bros.' tender for supplying traotion-engine powef was accepted. Mi* Frampton gave notice to move at the next meeting that a rate of 3-16 d in tho £ be made and levied.

Tile Upper Ashburton Road Board met on Saturday, Mr Joshua Tucker presiding. The Ashburton County Council drew attention to the state of tho fords on the LauristOn road. Mr A. T. Lilley was granted permission to plough in and grub gorsG oti the road fronting his property. The sum of £25 was granted to the Prisoners of War Fuiid. In accordance with legal advice it was decided to proceed with tho framing of motor speed-limit bylaws. The tender of Mr N. Fitzgerald to deliver shingle on the Winchmore road was accepted. The monthly meeting of the Ashburton Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday v Mr C. Reid presidihg. Messrs Nicoll and Dickie woV) appointed a visiting committee. Correspondence was read from the Minister of Public Health, with reference to the legality of the Board's action* in investing £1500 in war loan bonds. Mr Dickie said the Act passed last session validated the Board's action, and the matter was left in abeyance pending further correspondence from tho Minister.

The monthly meeting of the Red Cross branch was held on Saturday, Mrs H. Hunter presiding. A letter was read from Mrs Templar, Christchurch, saying that a supply of cane had come to hand, and orders for baskets and trays could now be carried out. The secretary reported that the Christchurch depot could no longer take the scraps of material, space on the boats being so limited. The Allenton Mills would take' all woollen scraps. She had written to the paper mills, and they were willing to take all scraps at 3s 6d per cwt. carriage paid. Mrs H. Hunter reported that the Allenton Mills had agreed to snpply uix rolls of flannel per week, but outside that it was becoming difficult to get enough for' the needs of the Bed Cross. Recret was expressed at the removal of Mrs Ockleshaw from the district. In connexion with the "Onr Day Fund" the secretary was instructed to see the Mayor with a view to calling a public meeting.