THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16431, 27 January 1919, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. JOTTINGS FOB FARMERS, The scarcity of binder experts is being felt in the. Ashburton County, ana last week, in tho Willowby district, a young woman was seen in charge ot a machine, and doing good work. Lance-Corporal Coppin, of Levin, who was in charge of the rabbit-raising industry established at the Hornchurcli Convalescent Hospital in. England, lias returned to Levin. He states that the breed of rabbits raised there is a very "large one, in comparison with the variety that is found in New Zealand. At Jlornchurch, nine pounds, live weight, was not unusual, a fact that took-some getting over by the a vera go New Zealnnder in England. The "Digger' was scdptical about these abnormal rabbits, and was not adverse to a wager on the matter, and in this way a lot of New Zealand money changed hands. Corporal Coppin cays that tho largest rabbit reported in England was bred in Leicester and turned the scale at< 22 Jib. ' CHEVIOT. Messrs Dalgety and Co. held a clearing sale of live and dead , stock at Mr Craighead's farm on Friday. Good prices were realised all round. Draught horses made £17 to £40, unbroken draughts (yearlings) to £15 l(Xs, ewes 365, rams li guineas, lambs 19s Gd, cow £1010s. ... A lot of farms have been changing •hands here, lately. . Most of the farmers who have sold find that the recent strenuous times have proved _rather much for them, and they arc either retiring: or taking-on, .tussQek. country, where the' work is easier. ' \ " v A social- was,-lield in th& SpotswcodHall to welcome home Mr J. Fleming's, eldest; S911; Clifford,, who • put in. a few, ■years at the battleffont, Vapd went!through some of the severest battles. About, one hundred .arid fifty "people attended. During tho evening Mi; T. Stevenson, presented the ,guest'with a gold watch. . ; ~ BROMLEY. A social was. held in /tho school on Saturday evening, when. the returned soldiers, Privates Went and Osborn, were welcomed home. ■ Miss M. Dench and Mr Hall won the euchre prizes presented by Messrs Moore and Briggs, and Mr Partridge won Mrs Dryden's I prize. There was a good attendance, and a very enjoyable evening was spent, despite the closeness' of the weather. Mr Gowio acted as M.C., and Mr Polo supplied the music for dancing. The chairman, Mr Carter, announced that at the Society's next function a farewell presentation would be made to Mrs Higgs, one of our . most energetic Red Cross workers, and thnt'there would be a collection taken up in aid of the Naval Heroes' Fund. PORTLEVY. Advice has been received by Mr H. Field, Port Levy, that his son Trooper Lewis H. Field, is returning with draft No. .210.. Trooper Field is the second son of Mr H. Field, and volunteered on attaining the ago of 20. He left with the 26th Reinforcements, and has been about two years in Egypt and Palestine. He was in hospital for a time in Egypt with malaria. < LADBROOKS. Harvesting has started- in real earnest, and several oatensheaf stacks have made their appearance. The recent rains, followed by warm weather, have been the means of ripening tho. crops sooner than wns expected. The threshing mills are also at work. One local farmer is already shipping 1000-sacks of barley. The crops in this district this season are exceptionally bright and free from disease, especially the oats, and good results are predicted.; Tho potato crops since the last rain are vastly improved, but are still below the average. At present there ,is • ample labour available. Several returned soldiers have arrived in the district and are employed harvesting. Mr T. Anderson returned home, 011 Friday night, after spending an enjoyable holiday in the Oxford district. Advice has been received that Private James. Tro'tt. will arrive by tho 211 th draft to-morrow. Mr W. A. Trask has been discharged from'the Cashmere Sanatorium, and on the advice of his doctor will take complete rest in the country for six months Defore resuming his duties in the Rostand Telegraph Department. He will reside with his parents at Ladbrooks while off duty. The members' of the Ladbrooks West Tennis Club have been putting in some strenuous practice during tno past) month. . A welcome home social was given to Privates Pickering and Millier in tho Ladbrooks Town Hall on Thursdav evening. Mr H. Pickering presided, and there was a large attendance. The chairman welcomed the guests of the evening. Dancing was indulged in, and a sumptuous supper was provided by the , ladies. The duties of M.C. were car- I ried out by Mr A. Gabitas, and the music was supplied by Mr H. Meyer, i It was the intention of the committee to await the arrival of all the returning men, and arrange one big function, but owing to the time that will elapse before tho last man arrives, it was decided to hold this welcome home. OMIHI. Harvesting is being carried on under favourable circumstances . with the exception of occasional nor'-westers. The crops all round-appear to be good, some very good indeed: and the appearance of the Valley right along is that of peace and prosperity. After the long interval consequent -upon the the school is to reopen oil Monday, February 3rd. .It is to be hoped that harvesting operations will bo over by that time or at least that the children will not be detained

unless absolutely necessary. This is particularly urgent, as tho Education Board has been goo 3 enough to supply an assistant teacher from the opening dato. In order to maintain the average and promote the best interests of tho scholars, it cannot be too strongly impressed that regular attendance is necessary from the very start. The prizes were? distributed "in the school on New Year's Day. Much interest centred round the Ihix Gold Medal, presented by Mr Waugh, and won by Master Jno. Oborn. Tho chairman, Mr Brown, invited donors for medals for succeeding years, so that each year the successful pupil would have his or her name inscribed on the beautiful merit board supplied by the committee, certain conditions being laid down regarding the competition. Mr David JDcak the medal for the current year, and no doubt the 6ixth standard pupils will work hard to reach tho happy goal. Now that the war is over, improvements of a local nature demand attention. Additional private telephones have been installed; and now and again one hears of tho proposed public hall. The Sunday school prizes are to »e distributed at an early date, and tno superintendent, Mr Doak, deserves every encouragement in this most important part of a child's education. LEESTON. Sergeant James McVinnie and Privates John Croat, J. Rogers, ana \\ • X. Parkin, who recently returned from the front, were entertained at J* * e r7 attended and very onjoyable social ho. in the Leeston Town Hall, under th auspices of tho Patriotic Committee. The function took the form of a dance, Mrs J. F. Donald supplying the music. The soldiers were accorded a > ery hearty welcome by Dr. Volcknia, chairman of the Patriotic Committ > who presented each _ man with a g medal, suitablv inscribed, as an expression of goodwill and appreciation front the residents. The gifts were suitably acknowledged. . . T>..i-in On Thursday evening Private lttrhin w.is welcomed" at a social arranged > the Leestcn Wesley Guild, of which he is lay president. There was a large a very representative attendance. Jttusical items were given, an^ games and competitions, the Itcv. v. Lnycock and othor speakers the roturned man, and expressed gooa ■ wishes for his future. . . The Leeston school picnic took place • on Saturday, at the Mlesmere A. an t P. Association's showground, Leeston, a larg-i number of children and tliei elders attending. • SOUTHBRIDGE. 1 Six Southbridge men are expected to 5 arrive back from the front on Tuesday. ! A line of 700 prime lambs from the farms of Mrs Abbott and Messrs • • M. Cabbie and A. AV. Scott, Lit tle ' ltakaia, was sent by rail irom South- • bridge on Friday, K was one of the ' best lines cent from tho district this season. „ _ , . n f The Southbridge Town Board, at a ' special meeting, fixed upon Saturday 1 as the day of the week upon /bicli tho statutory half-holiday is to be cD- " served during the ensuing year. LAKESIDE. ' On Friday night a large and representative gathering of iX Az. Sedgemere people assembled in the Lakeside Soldiers' Memorial Hall, to accord a welcome home to Coroorai Roginald C. Thian, son of Mr Frank Thian, a well-known resident of the district, who litis returned after ing for three years, having been wound--1 od on two occasions. Dancing was kept up with great vigour until the early hours of Saturday morning. In » n : appropriate speecli, Mr II Patterson, ■ chairman of the Patriotic Committee, ■ welcomed the soldier back t° th e district;- and assured him that hia many tfriends were proud of what lie had done for his. King and country. He > congratulated " Corporal *. Tluan upon • Ittting made a good Ji-ecovery from the ■ teffcets of his wounds, .and. ™ beh ' • off the, people' of Lakeside handed tn c sdidier a gold' medal and a fine Gladstone travelling bag, bearing a suitable inscription. Corpontl Thian was heartily cheerod, and acknowledged tho gift in suitable terms. rangiora. An arch purple meeting in connexion witn the Loyal Orange Ixjdge.Kangiora, No. 37, was held on Saturday night. The degree was conferred on two candidates. Subsequently the visitors were entertained at supper. Th© annual picnic of the employees of the Rangiora Farmers' was held on Saturday at the W aikuku The Rangiora Brass Band, under Bandmaster 0. Humphries, gave a concort in Victoria Park yesterday afternoon. ASHBURTON. The new borough school is nearing completion, and although it will not be furnished in time for the opening to-day, it is oxpected to be ready for opening in about three or four weeks' time. The school is built of brick, with a tile roof, and the system of heating leaves little to be desired. The building was constructed by Smith Bros., Ltd., Ashburton, the contract price being £3475. The total cost of the school and iittings is in tho vicinity of £0000. Steps are being taken to decorate tho walls of the classrooms, and towards this fund Mr Robert Bell has given a •collection of pictures, to tho value of 30 guineas, and has also given £10 10s, to bo awarded to scholars as prizes in essay competitions.