THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16263, 13 July 1918, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES.

JOTTINGS FOB FARMERS.

During July there are 13.365 acres of Crown lands open for 7405 acres are also for tion in August. The bulk of open this month is situated m laranaki and Canterbury, and is nearly all grazing land, and , suitable for d*charged soldiers. The selection in August is situated in «el son, Otago (including the Gladbrook settlement), and Southland.

GOVERNOR'S BAY. Great interest is being in the "copper trail" lQ aid of the Lady Liverpool Fund, to bo held in the AUandale Hall, C*°/ernor's Bay. Three princesses have been selected —Miss Alma Bamford (Governor's Bav), Miss Edna Small (Allendale) and Miss Jean Manson (Teddragton). A concert bv Christchurch friends under the directipon of Mr Thomas Hatton, will form the first part of P gramme, to be followed by the trail," under the supervision of -> lr "W. A. Carpenter.

METHVEN. The recent snowstorm lias played havoc wiui iu .victuven, it Uavmg ueou practically at a sta-uusiul lor a ioituigut. A'tuouga tho lonmgnty stock suits was aaverused for ihursu- J last not a sueep was yardod, iarmeib being too busy attending to their stock, wuiJh Have to bo hand fed. The Mount Butt lioad Board iias rood grauer, wade many of ther°ads available for traffic. It is stated tna the loss of sheep on tho fiat country will be light, most of the stock having now been trucked to pnsUires lower down the line toward A*" l ™®- fall of snow, from observations made on tho journey from ,burton .J° Mothven, was heaviest between Springfield Estate and Methven a distance of about three mi es, and the jrorso fences are only visible in patches. \ farmer from tho Rakaia Gorge states that in his district the snow was about 3 feed deep on the flat, to / foet in the enllies. He considers the average losses of stock will be about 3 per cent. During the first few days of the stom he sledged right over sheep which were buried, but were subsequently recovered.

AjSHBURTON". The auctioneers and stock agents met on Thursday to bid farewell to Mr L. Espagne, who has been m charge of Messrs Dalgetv and Co. s loca. branch for over three pears, and who leaves ior camp on Monday. Mr T - J -, i L U n ' local manager of the Co-op., presided, and during the evening presented the guest with a wristlet watch.

geraldine. Private €. Mulvihill was welcomed home at a large gathering on Tuesday night, and Privates A. MoT\enzie, Jv. Logan, and. Brooker farowelled.

temuka. The Erst lambs of the season in the Temuka district are to be seen at ->lr p. Warei tig's, Milford. They are strong and active, and seem to be doing well, in spite of tho trying weather. A pair of gloves recently purchased in Temuka, contained the j oTn " s stamped inside: — Made in Austria." It is stated that they were taken from a freshly-opened box. ,

WAIMATE. Several traction-engine owners are continuing the haulago of produce spite of the County Council's prohibition, which dates from July 4tjh September 4th. The roads are in good ■order. Moreover, the Supreme. Court decision in the case of jVleredith and Co. v. tho Levels County, lias emboldened cMgino owners. There were seven d e ß recs of frost yesterday morning. Cnnning Bros.' traction-engine was in the Waihaorunga district when the snowstorm came." Tho frost which ensued burst the ejector pipes, causing serious damage to the engine. The Patriotic Society has presented the Public Hospital with a phonograph, which is a boon to the inmates, especially soldier patients. The Presbyterian Church lady workers were entertained by Mrs Clarke at the manse on Thursday afternoon, 40 being present. Tho sum of £10 10s was contributed . toward the Sewing Guild's ftinds,'besides materials. Songs were given by Miss Smart and Mr liogan, recitations by Misses Harries'.and Shackleton, and a violin solo by Miss Rath Jones.

The Red Cross Society raised £21 8s 6d by means of a guessing competition in connexion with a window display of comforts - ready for shipment. The correct ■ number of articles was 1465. The first prize was won by Miss Tin by Jamieson with 146-5, Mrs A. Henderson second, and Mrs A. I. Logan and Mr A. E. McCombes equal third. The Methodist quarterly meeting was held on Thursday at Mr- John Hayman's residence, the Rev. N. Sootter presiding.. The receipts were £'86, and the expenses £85 13s. A resolution of sympathy with the relatives of the late Richard Hutt was carried.