THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16437, 3 February 1919, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

On Friday a pleasant gathering took place in tho Town Hall, when presentations wero made to several returned soldiers, namely Sergeant Hyde, M.M., Corporal "Westland, Privates Wells, Twee die, Costello, Pocklinglon, and Murphy. Mr G. W. Forbes, M.P., made the presentations, and in his remarks made reference to the representation of New Zealand at the Peace Conference, and expressed satisfaction that we had secured two representatives. Ho further emphasised the fact that wo should not lose sight of the necessity of safeguarding our interests in tho Pacific. Tho Government should lose no opportunity of settling the returned men on the land, and enter into I the full spirit of the obligations we owed to our soldiers. Tho Rev. Mr Dyer also addressed the audience, and said that we were too apt to think that our obligations ended when we had made a presentation to tho returned; men; these obligations were only just* commencing. Corporal Westland returned thanks, f.nd said the opinion of all tho men, after what they liad seen/ abroad, was that New Zealand was a grand place to return to. j

OXFORD A meeting of the Oxford W.C.T.U. ws held iu the Coronation Hall on AVed- ! nesday afternoon. The president was if.,in the chair, and there was a largo atHondance. A resolution was passed expressing sympathy with Mrs It. E. Johnson and Mrs Roy in their bereavement. The Flower Mission report (superintendent, Mrs E. Foote) was read, showing that a number of visits had been paid to tho sick. The president announced that arrangements were being made to hold weekly meetings for prayer, on behalf of the liquor referendum. Mrs L. AncaU was appointed delegate' to, the Dominion Convention, to be held in Napier in March. The Rev. W. Ready, of Kaiapoi, lato military chaplain, thon gave a very interesting address.

•SHEFFIELD. The _ Returned Soldiers' Reception Committee . entertained a batch of returned, men at a social held at tho Town Hall on Friday evening. There was a large' attendance. Speeches :of appre- , ciation and welcome wore made by the 5r ey ' Hughes trad Mr John Jebson. Musicr for the dancing was gratuitously supplied by Messrs Atkinson and Brack , shawy for whom the, gathering gave three cheers.' The harvest is progressing very slowly and tlip broken weather is making the work veiy unpleasant. The rape •And turnips have benefited by the rain, .out even those crops could do with a spell of warm weather. Very nice fields of. both wheat and oats are to be seen on th« farms of Messrs T. ji. lanes C. Gamble, E. A. Adams, A. W. Adams, and u . Arps, which are rapidlj ripen-: Wff and should yield a profitable ro"V ,T potato crops are looking rcmarkably well, and should yield above the average. ,

SOUTH MALVERN DISTRICT. Tho rainfall for the month of January was 507 points. Rain fell on ]1 days, the maximum fall being 224 points on January 27th. Tho rainfall for the same month of the two. previous Tears was as followsl9lß, 167 point on 10 days; 1917, 229 points on four days. The _ month was notable for its evervarying conditions, especially during the last weekj when the hottest and coldest days of tho month were experienced. Since the rain at tho beginning of'last) Kwk, there has only been 0110 lino day. Friday was a sunny day, with a moder- 1 ate nor'-west wind blowing, but on; Saturday heavy rain set in again, and up to 4. p.m. 22 points were recorded. Tiio conditions aro somewhat muggy, and will have a detrimental effect on grain in stoolc or ready to leap. Several large crops.in the district are now ready for tlie reaper. Mr Jesso Prestidge, Coalgato, has a particularly pood crop of solid straw Tu,scgn wheat*. There is evidence that there is less disease than us>ual this year, and a good harvest is predicted. A good area of turnips and rape Ims been put down this season, and the present showery weather is ideal for these orpps. The Glentunnel School Committee paid a visit of inspection to tlie Hororata School on Thursday evening, for tho purpose of obtaining information about the heating of .the school. Tho Hororatn school in heated by hot water, and the visitors were very pleased with the system, and with. tho. splendid provision for hght and fresh air. The 1 Glentunnel school has alwavs been de- : fective in tho matter of heating in win- 1 ter, and M is.hoped to remedy this he- < foro the coming winter. The jai-tv was motored to Hororatu bv Mr W* Gil- 1 mour, chairman of the School Commit- ' tee. The Glentunnel school has been i presented by tho committee with a com- ' plete cricket outfit. The bovs are all c delighted with the gift, and under the ; guidance of the schoolmaster, Mr A. L Wills, aro entering keenly ' into* the a game. t

LADBROOKS. Tho wet weather during the week put a 6top to all' harvesting, but very little damage was done to the crops. The reaper and binder was again at work on Saturday. Tho potato crops are still improving but tho recent warm rains will have "a tendency to cause blight. The onion crops are looking well. 'lliere is now an abundance of grass and the dairy farmers aro looking fori ward to a plentiful supply for the winter. A large quantity of grass seed was sent forwaid during the week. j

Tile school re-opened on Monday, under the control of Mr \Y. Brown, headmaster, and Jiiss 0. Jarman, mistross. There was an attendance of 48 scholars. Privates J. Trott-, F. Burke, and E Tucker returned home with tho last draft. They looking exo&ptionaJlv well. Private JS. Bartram, of Lincoln,- . also arrived home the same boat, Private Bartram, who wasbadlv wounded, has mado as exceptionally good recovery. Several ct the lucerne growers in this district are awaiting the arrival of the Government experts. A visit from ; them to roport on the crops grown on tho heavy land may har*? the effect of opoaing up a t. 1 !, °,n line. There ore some splendid crops of lucerne just now.

NEWS AND NOTES. SOUTH CANTERBURY RAINFALL. Mr W. P. Storicker, of Sutton Farm, Timaru, writes: —The rainfall recorded bv me for last month was 0.43 in. For the corresponding month of last year 3.19 in fell. Tho average over a period of 30 years for January is 2.Coin. JOTTINGS FOE FARMERS. Some time back Mr W. Nosworthy, M.P., telegraphed to the Hon. W. I>. S. Mac Donald, .stating that during the severe winter sheepowners in the back country, and on the flat had, under great 'difficulty, saved a number of sTheepskins, only to find that they were debarred from fellmongoring them. "Do you think the Government is, 1 ' ho | asked", "justified in preventing the producer from marketing his produce to the best advantage under the commandeer?" Mr Mac Donald replied that the Hon. D. H. Guthrie is in chargo of the Imperial Supplies. Department, and the telegram lias been forwarded on to him. Mr Nosworthv, having had no reply is in further communication with Mr Guthrie in the matter. Mr Nos worthy urges that the Order-in-Council of October last be revoked . or permits granted. CHEVIOT.

BROMLEY. A meeting of the Bromley Gala Committee was held iu th© schoolroom on Saturday evening. There was a good attendance, and Mr G. K. Burton occupied the chair. Mrs Christian was appointed convener of- the Ladies' Committee; Mr Pole to arrange the speakers' programme; Mr Gowio, M.C. for the dance; Messrs LiUy and Carr, sports managers; Mr McHarg, advertiser; Messrs Carter and Hill, produce managers; Mr Burton, lighting arrangements ; Mr Dry den, guessing eompoti- ! tions; and Mr Briggs, ground manager. It was decided to ask tho Heathcoto County Council to extend their patronage to the gala, and that no spirituous liquors bo allowed on the grounds. Messrs Lilly, Carr, and Hill, and Misses Moore and Christian were added to the committee. Messrs Carter, Burton, Moore, Dryden, and Briggs were appointed a committee to go into the matter of a hall. •

KAIAPOI. Special services were held in connexion with the anniversary of the Kaiapoi Methodist Church yesterday, tho preacher at the morning service being the lie v. W. Ready, and at the evening service Laeut. Olds. In the afternoon a sacred song service was held, at which the soloists wore Misses Bessie Olds and Gwen Thompson, and Messrs Rex Harrison, J. H. Blaekwell, and Lieut. Olds. AKAItOA. On Friday evening the funds of tho Alcaroa Volunteer lire Brigade received a very substantial addition, through the generosity of Mr T. E. Taylor, who gave a pictura beuc-Jit. Tho Mayor, in a speech from the stage, extended to Mr Taylor the cordial thanks of the Brigade for his consideration. As soon as tho heat of the sun on I 1 nday morning had dried tho cocksfoot sufficiently, every man and boy nva.il- [ able was i.ard at work with his reaphook. A hot spell of weather following drenching rains develops the seed to such an extent that it is easily shaken out of tho ears. Hence the necessity for rapid juid skilful cutting at such a time. On Friday evening oilicient labour was being offered 3s per hour, and tho supply waf; not equal to tho domand. On Saturday morning, unfortunately, (.he t;ky bscamo overcast again, aud a ligtit drizzle began to fall.

MAYFIELD. There was a large and representative gathering; in the Mayfield Band Hall on Thursday oreuing, to hid farewell to Mr E. G. Beckett and family, who are leaving the district. On behalf of tho residents, Mr G. B. Mabley presented Mr and 3lrs Beckett with a. Morris chair oach; and a silver kettle and entree dish. The> Rev. Mr Petrie, on behalf of the Church, of England, presented them with a travelling; rug, and tho Red Cross ladies liandeJ Mrs Boekett a leathor hand-bag. The residents also presented the Misses Beckett and .Master Beckett with envelopes containing money. A short program mo was submitted, and after supper had been served, a danco was held.

ASHBURTOX. After a fine day on Friday, the weather took another change oil Saturday morning, when, light rain commenced to fall; Shorty after midday it developed into a heavy drizzling rain, which continued throughout the afternoon. The Asl'burton Bajirig square Young Men's Bible Class held a social in the schoolroom, on Thursday, to bid farewell to Mr H. Beaumont, who has boen appointed a tweher at tho "Woolston school. During tho evening Mr Beaumont nas presented with a fountain pen.

The raiufall at Hackthoroe, Ashbnr:on, for January, was u.l4in. For the 24 Jioi'.rs ending 8.30 a.m. on January 2Sth, 'J.3sin was recorded, this being th© greatest fall 'or tn« time stated smeo Dacomber 28th, 19.11, when fl.o7in i was registered. The record fall for 24hours tho last 13 years was 4.usui, on October 22nd, lyoy. On Thursday evening, Mr and Mrs J rimes Lcnuoii*oorJ r JCigin, were entertaiued by tlio Ashburton Hibernian Snc'ety, aud tho Catholic Young Men's Club, at a eudire tournament, jn the Masonic Hall. During tho evening tho , v * J- O'Donnell, on behalf of tho subscribers, presented tho guests, in honour of their recent marriage, with a silver twa service, and in doing so referred to the valuable services rendered by Mr Lennou to both societies. iho Hon. AV. D. S. MaeDonald arrived ill Ash burton on Saturday morning, and received a deputation of ifaylieJd residents in regard to immovements m tho mail service from Ashbnr■tan to MavfieW. Mr W. J. Dickie, i 1I ) troduc «l the deputation, and f, tu tod til at ZUay/ieid had not received a iair deal from the Postal Depart* mem, tlie service* vow being tho same as was conducted many y oart; ago. Under the present arrangement tne evening mail whien goes up from Ashburton is oveiveamed to Mount Soniors and !«'°uglit back and delivered next morn. iug. Mr Dickie then presented a petition asking ior tho restoration of tho I former service, tlio mailman boinc willing to fall in with the wishes of tho people After the Mavfield deputation retrod; Mr Nosworthy brought uufcr tlio notice of the Minister tho proecnt unsatisfactory state of tho Loivelitfo service. The Minister promised to 100 I; into tbo matter on his return to Wellington. Mr MaeDonald also received a deputation from the C'auterburv I'etro le.mi and l-rospecting Company, askin-" ror fc -subsidy of, say, .£IOOO, to assist m carrying on the boring operation at the company's well at Chertsev. Messrs .\oswortliy and Dickie spoko m favour vr i°t & 0 7 e «"»ent granting a subsidy, i Mat-Donald said ho had a renort from ihe Director of Geological Survey and he was favourably disposod toward the matter. If the project proved sucit would bo a national benefit and ho would certainly go fully into the matter on his return to Wellington.

It is not often that one's potato patch is dug, and the crop picked up and bagged rree of charge," but this v/as tne happy experience of Mr A. Cruden. of Derby street, Eltham (says the Argus"). Mr Cruden, in common with many other people, ia response to tho appeids made during the war period to grow foodstuffs, rented a section on Conway road to grow potatoes. The crop mado fjood progress, and recently tho owner proceeded to j the section with the intention of com- : mencing to dig them. To his surprise and gratification ho foopd that someone had kindly completed this work for him. The tubers had been dut; and neatly bagged, whiJa lying boaoe tho bags was a new spade. Mr Cruden annexed tho potatoes and spade with; heartfelt if silent thanks to too "kind- ] ly" person who had laboured so hard in | ths garden plot for fcis (Mr Cruden'e; ! benefit, sad, furtJuer, he states that the oivno.;- of the spado may have it on ap- i plication, but we cjo not thwt it v/ill be claimed.

ellesmere. following a beaatiful summer's day on £ riday, the weather in the EUesmer© district, was showery again on Satura v~- . January -was the wettest month experienced for many years. At SedgeMr Howsori's gauge registered •-•°o • inches for the month, and 267 inches from last "Monday night to FriS' a -' n^ c ™ing. 31 rA. J. Inwood (near registered 3.10 inches for ron up to Friday morning, and o._o inches for the month, while at fef-athbridge, Mr TV. Scott's figures o 'io 0 . iuuhes for the month, and •j.43 inches for last week, up to Friday. i 1 armers are_ very anxious to sec fine weather during xho next few weeks, as a large portion of the cereal crop is now ready to reap.