THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16267, 18 July 1918, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. AMBERLEY. At the annual meeting of tho Araberley and Broomfield lied Cross Branch, Mr G. R. Holton presided. The balance-sheet, which was :u'.opred. showed that tho receipts had been £436 4s lid (including £51 os 5.1 brought forward), and tho expenditure £'34'J os ljd, leaving a balance in hand of £93 19s lOd. Votes of thanks were passed to the ladies who had carried on tho work during the year. The <-om. i > it— tee, Mesdames Courage, Holton, Fairweather, Miss Buseh, Miss McNaught. and Messrs F. P. Coleman, J. M. South, C. H. A. Wylde-Brown, and G. R. Holton, was re-elected. DOYLESTON. The annual meeting of residents of Doyleston for the elootion of a Hall Committee, was hold on Monday evening. Mr W. J. Doyle presiding. 'i *'© balance-sheet showed a credit of £3 19s 6d. It was decided to lease the section adjoining tho hall to Mr P. McGrath on the usual terms. The following were elected a committee: —Messrs \V, J. Doyle (chairman). W. McLachlan, James Pearce, AV. Brizzlo, G. H. Hibbord, J. Robb, and ,T. Fuzzell (hon. secretary). The secretary was voted an honorarium of £1 Is. The third of a series of monthly socials in aid of the piano fund "was held in the Doyleston Sunday-school Hall, and was successful in every way. The musical programme comprised Rongs by Miss M. Pearce ..arid Mr J. Pearce. recitations by Misses Vince and Maisie Pearce, and a character duet l>v Misses Money and Brizzle. The Rev. W. Lavcock pave an address, and Barnes and competitions were indulged in.

SPRINGSTON. The death occurred at her residence, "Mostyn," Springston, on Sunday, of Mrs McCormack, wife of Mr James McCormack, a well-known farmer, and formerly of Leas ton. Mrs McCormack, who was Jiffy-two years of age, was apparently in her usual state of health up to 10 a.m. on Sunday, when she hadt a seizure, from which she did not rer cover, passing away on Sunday night. She loaves, besides her husband, a family of two sons and three daughters. The eldest son is married, and is farming in North Canterbury, and the eldest daughter is the wife of Mr Bernard SlcEvedy, of "Beachcroft," Southbridge. A very large number of people attended tne funeral, which took place on Tuesday. Requiem Mass was celobratcl at the Shand's Track Catholic Church at 9 a.m. The interment took place nt the Lin wood Cemetery. The funeral service was conducted by the TC<iv. Father Lopn. of Lincoln, assisted by the Rev. Father Creed, of Leeston. SOUTHBRIDGE. The Soutubridge .District High ocnovil Committor met on Aionuay eveumg, all- 11. J. Sutton presiding. La uumng a resolution ox sympamy with, tho widow and iauiuy ol tlie late Dr. I'. J. Y\ lthers, Air xiowe made retereuce to the valuable services rendered Dy Dr. Withers to tne cause of education over a vcjy lengthy period, aud particularly to Lis woik as a member of tne School Committee. Tlie late Dr. Withers was one of three gentlemen who were mainly instrumental in having the Southbridge School made a District High School some sixteen years ago. The motion was carried in the usual way. The headmaster gave the attendance returns as follows: —Average attoadance, primary 130, secondary 22.4; average weekly roll, primary 169, secondary -ti. Books to the value of £8 15s had been selected for the school library. The Committee decided to "have some shingle placed in the school playground.- " A sum of £83 4s fid has been collect'ed in Southbridge and Sedgemere for the Prisoners of War Fund. Mr E. G. Hubbard left yesterday on a health-recruiting trip to the "VVest Coast. A horse harnessed to a gig, the property of Miss Cryor, of "Waterford," dropped dead in the main street at Southbridge on Saturday. Mr A. E. Appleton, who has acquired a butchery business at Greenmeatlows, near Napier, and is about to leave Southbridge after ten years' residence in the district, was on Saturday night entertained at a well-attended smoke concert in the Town Hall. Several speakers referred to the live interest Mr Appleton had taken in thfe welfare of the district, to his services as a member of the Town Board, and to the high rgard in which he was held by &11 sections of the community. In presenting Mr Appleton with a fine travelling rug, Mr J. C. Free remarked that the guest knew his business from A to Z, and was certain to succeed in business on his own account in the North Island. Mr Appleton suitably replied.

ASHBURTON. Dr. Petty, formerly of Ashburton, who has been serving with the forces in Franco for some time, has returned to the Dominion. Early lambs are making their appearance in the Ashburton county. Sir G. Sutter, of Greenstreet, has upwards of a dozen, which appear to be fine and healthy. The barometric pressure on Monday, as recorded at the Ashburton Domain weather station was 28.68 degrees, which is the lowest reading recorded for several years. On Starch 19th last the reading was 28.86. It is believed that the lowest reading of the barometer in Ashburton was 28.56, in 1911. Mr John McGibbon, accountant in the Bank of New Zealand, Christchurch, will succeed Mr A. L. T. Jones as manager of the Ashburton branch of the bank. Mr Jones will leave in November to manage the Nelson branch. On Sunday evening a united Presbyterian and Methodist service was held in the Presbyterian Church, Mayfield, for Nurse "Withell and Private G. B. Murdoch. Tho Rev. F. Kellow occupied the pulpit, and preached an appropriate sermon. Sir J. Dellow offered player, and the Rev. J. Johnston read extracts of tho fine work carried out by the Y.M.C.A. organisations. He also, sang the solo, "He Will Hold Me Fast." At a meeting of the Ashburton Second Division League Tuesday, a case of hardship was reported, and it was decided to write to the Financial Assistance Board in tlie matter.