THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16432, 28 January 1919, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. OXFORD. Very hot weather was .experienced last week. Nor'-westcrs were general, at times blowing with, almost hurricane violence. The result has been the drying up of the pastures, and the hastening ol harvest operations. The galo that blew on Saturday night, shook ripening corn seriously, and broke down, a. good" deal of that which was quite Green. A meeting of the St. Andrew's.vestry was held to consider the question of the annual festival. On account of vhe influenza epidemic it had been found impossible to hold it at the usual time, and it was decided to hold it as soon as possible alter Easter. It Aras regretted that the flower stow* would have to be abandoned, except in a small degree, but it was dcctdod to extend the cooking aud domestic ennpetitions. RANGIORA. The Raugiora Borough School reopened yesterday. There was a very good attendance. During tho afternoon proficiency and competency certificates, and good attendance certificates, were presented by Mr F, B. Lano, .in the unavoidable absence of the chairman. After addressing the children* lie called for three cheers for the Navy and Army,, and the women workers, i which were heartily given. | About 9.30 yesterday morning a sixroomed hcuso"' in Ashley. str&et, owned and occupied by Mr T. Mar don, was considerably damaged by 'fire, the> two front rooms, and the rooms upstairs, being completely gutted. Before the arrival of the Fire Brigade,' a huckefc brigade materially assisted to keep the lirb in chock. At the roar ot the house a laundry is carried on, and it is surmised that a . spa'rlr from a firo there was carried, jjrl upstairs room. The building was insured in /tho Nejv. Zealand ■ Insurance Company- for,, £20tl; : thore was- no-: instoanc©: on the ftjrniT ture, which was mostly, saved. , ; ' v'j At the . fdrtmglitly. lifting of the" Rangiora ..Volunteer Fire _ Brigade, l Deputy-Superintendent L; H.ili Vas • pointed delegate to tho Firo.Brjga.des' Conference' to be held at InvergargiU next month. ' It 'was 'also decided -to hold a picnic shortly to the Waikuku beach, and a sub-comiuittco was set tip to make arrangements. The Cam Cheese Factory for the past month paid out to suppliers the sum of £1529 lis 9d, being equal to 20,394$ ib of butter-fat, at Is 6d per lb. This is a rosord. for the company, the next best 'total laving been during the previous month, when £1389 2s Id was paid to suppliers. ELLESMERE. • At a meeting of returned soldiers, held in tho A. and 1\ Room, Leeston, on Saturday night. Mr W. De Meut presiding, it was decided to form an Kllcsmere branch of tho Returned Soldiers' Association. Various matters affecting the welfare of returned men were discussed, and it was docided to hold a further meeting to elect officers and transact other business, after a reply to an application for affiliation was received from tho Wellington headquarters. ASHBURTO^. The various schools in Asliburton re- . opened yesterday, after being closed since November. HINDS. The Hinds School re-opened yesterday morning, after an extended _ holiday.^. There was a good attendance, including some new pupils. The cocksroot harvest i 3 in full swing, and a good deal of seed is being savfvd. Mr Cottam, tho local stationmaster, is enjoying his annual holiday, and his ; place is being filled by Mr Chambers, of i tho relieving staff. ;