THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17117, 12 April 1921, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

Jottings for Farmers.

On the suggestion of Mr A. Sileock it has been decided to recommend the committee of the Ashburtori A. and P. Association that at the next, show a section for-working draught horses be included in the schedule,; 'so 'that they should not have to compete with, those specially got up for show, purposes,. The question of awarding the Shorthorn Association's .shield has.been referred to the Cattle Committee, owing to a Suestion having arisen that r Mr Stod 7 art, who had the best bull inthe yard, had not paid a ; special entry, fee through a misunderstanding. . HORNiBYSsLINGTON. The annual ball of the Hornby Rugby League Football Club was held on Friday evening in the Orange Hall, which was tastefully decorated with"flowers, evergreens, aid the clubs colours; Mr Reg. Weods -supplied the music, extras being played ■•by Miss Hampton, and Miss Fuller. Mr H. McGregor, acted as M>C. An excellent supper, was. provided, and an enjoyable. ; evening.spent by all. ■;■.''.. ■;■-., , LEESTON.. : Mr A. J. Inwood presided over the annual meeting of the Ellesmere Cemetery Board, and presented a report. upon the work of* tho Board. for' the past year, for which .he was thanked. The balance-sheet showed a'; credit of £3>2B 3s lOd, (including* £2OO. in war bonds), as against £323 2s 2d, at tho end of the previous year. Mr A. J. Inwood Was re-elected. secretary, and Mr A. J. - McPKersqn' trea;surer. . .Appreciative 1 references - 'wer<S; made ,to the conscientiousi .manner.in which the caretaker (Mr W. .McVinnie) Had carried but his .duties, oyer ;a"penod of 17 years,. and he .was vpted: a "bonus of £ 7 10s.. The chairman, and Mr Mastertori Twere appointed a Ground' Committee' to"arrange .for the planting of 'trees at 'the propfer '.time. After the meeting >member3 • inspected the grounds. j :•: Last andi.Saturdayia-'Te»*y. -successful was'held^by;.the/'Leeston Bowling, Tennis, arid Club, with .the object; of .raising ; money' to reduce the debt on the club's'propfcrty;, upon whicht about r <£l4oohas jbeen -spent since the section was acquired. a few years ago. Tho -function was, opened bv Mr W. O. Rennie, deputy-chairman of ■ the .■ Ellesmere County Council, -who apologised for the absence of, the Hon). Sir Heaton Rhodes. Tho gross', amount to .over £400.:' :Ther/stallholders were: Home produce,.Mesdames Robertson :and Hanby; variety, MrS Lloyd; plain worky Mesdames AVoodard arid Watson; sweets,. Mrs Fissie and Miss A. Chamberlain;' fancy, Mrs Purser . and assistants.; flowers, Mrs-and* Miss Harford; fish 'pond ; Mrs B. Brown and Miss McVinnie; hoop-la!, Messrs . F, E. Kesteven ' and. -F. B. Clansen; -farm produce,' Messrs H. Neave and S. Johnston; quoits, Mrfc R., L. B. Poore; spinning jenny, Mr J. Purser; doodlum buck, Messrs Tombs and Eccleton; refreshments, Mesdames Johnston and Eccleton and assistants': Musical selections were • given by. the combined Ellesmere" * and Southibridgo Brass Bands',. and the* Ellesmere Pipe ■Band/' .-.- .-v:; ■■' '.-' .■•■.; ■;' CHERTSEY. ; , i : :■■ 'About six months ago there, was erected just opposite the. Qhertsey railway station a neatly-designed memorial in' dove marble;' .to the soldiers who left the.Chertsey district.to take part in the war. In front of the memorial itself are inscribed the names of those who had rfallenj as under: W. Croy, L. Dickson, P. W. Doig, G. P. Ellen, G, Hagerty, T. S.: Hampton, W. . P,. Keller, J. S. .McKee, T. McMinn; JSteele, G. E. ! Smith. On the gate posts is a roll.of honour, with the full list of the names; of those who left, the district, as under: T. 3. Alexander P., Barry, R. H. Baxter, W., Croy, W. G. Copeland, H. Cook, A. Campbell, L. Dickson. P. W. Doig, T. I>unlee, G. Ellen, J: Fahey, C. E.£ilL G. Hagerty, F S* Hamuton', P. Baydock, W. P. Kellock, J.* Keller, C. Kellec, D. Lynch, J- S. McKee, T. MoMmn, P. McOann, J. McGingan, T. W. McKee, P Murphy; A. A. Price, J. Steel, G. E.' Smith, G. Smith, J.;Smith,/ A. Stewart-, R. A. Stewart, T. W. Wilkinson The memorial was unveiled on [ Saturday by the Mayor, of Askburtqn (Mr R- Galbraith), iu the presence of a large gathering. Subsequently,,afternoon tea was served in.the public -hall,, when several addresses were delivered, special interest being'taken eloquent address given by; Madame Strathearn,' who had been ..on a. visit to Ashbu'rtbn'giving an entertainment on behalf of the poor of West Ham, London. ; \ SOUTHBEIDGE. : I Mr W. J. McEvedy presided over ; a meeting of the. Southbridsje and district branch of the Potato Growers Association. The president, secretary, and Messrs. J. Adams and 0. Iteylo were apiwinted delegates, .to the Central Council. .It .was .decided to..send a telegram to Sir Heaton Rhodes; asking him-to use his best endeavours -o get the Minister of Agriculture to acquire from the -Education-Department, a section -of 3* acres adjoining . the •schoolmaster's residence at Soutnbnuge as an exoerimerital plot for potatoes. The chairman remarked that one or the largest yields of potatoes, on record had been grown - ' oh, land, adjoining the section referred to. Three new member were elected. - . WILLOWBY. . At a largely-attended public meeting held in the Willowby Methodist Church, . the Rev. S. Bailey, who has been appointed to the Lyttelton circuit, was presented with a travelling rug, slight recognition of the good work he had done while he had been m charge of the Willowby circuit. Presentations made to Mr and Mrs. U. \Y. Har&ng. both zealous church workers in the Willowby circuit, who are about to take up their residence at PrebbJe-

AXABOA. His Lordship Bishop Julius visited Akaroa over the week-end. On Sunday morning he conducted•' a confirmation service in St. Peter's, the vicar, the Rev. A; H. Julius, presenting twelve candidates. In the evening the Bishop preached to a very large congregation. Instead of delivering the customary sermon, he gave a most interesting resume of the doings of the recent Lambeth Conference. A boisterous nor'-wester raged throughout Saturday, and raised such a heavy sea in the harbour-that the afternoon launch from Akaroa to Duvauchelle was unable to make the wharf, and had to return with its passengers, who found other means of transport home. Exposed orchards, with late*' apples and peaches, still on the trees, .suffered rather, severely, while here and. there an uprooted pinus insignia bears testimony to the force of the gale.' On Saturday afternoon the local committee of the St. Saviour's Orphanage, appealed to the public for help. By means of; well-laden stall's set out on the Recreation Ground, while the. .football sports and match were in progress, and ; a plentiful, supply of afternoon j tea, not to'. speak of the inevitable "raffles," .the ladies supervising the of-1 fort managed to raise nearly £25. ! 1 BALCAIRN. On Friday afternoon last there was a large gathering of parents and friends of the school cnildren, at the school grounds, ,on the occasion of the annual prize-giving. The weather was all that could be desired, so everything took place outside, ' the chief attractions being a cricket match,, East v. West, and a rounder match, Schoolgirls v. All-comers. The cricket match, which was won by East "by 132 runs to 76, afforded /untold amusement, -as-small boys : slogged the men's b'owling-to the boundary and the headmaster was clean bowled by a Standard V. boy. For the winners, Douglas Beer did some exceptionally good bowling, while for West Jack Scott, did some good batting. The rounder match proved an easy win for the schoolgirls by 143 points to 87. In presenting the prizes, the .chairman,. Mr Fitz'patrick, took the opportunity to thank.the ladies and the teachers for the assistance they had; given the committee. The principal prize-winners were:—Regular attendance, Marion Jamieson and Harry Jamieson; technical work, J. Scott," J. Deinmocks, and Leslie Patterson, Esma Jones and Betty Scott; best "sport" in the playground (decided by popular vote); Arthur-Hen-derson, Mabel Henderson, ■ Noel Habgood. and Hetta Beer. After afternoon tea had been dispensed a number of races were held, the star event being a. race for all hands, in which fifty odd children participated. gathering closed with, cheers for the committee, the ladies, the teachers,, the visitors, the' King, and the New Zealand flag, which was flying above the assembly. On.Saturday a gloom was cast over Balcairn when the news arrived from Sefton of the-death .of the Rev. T. McDonald, Presbyterian clergyman for the district. Mr. McDonald was greatly re-! spected in Balcairn by people of all denominations. baeiThill. The annual treat of St. John's Sunday School was held at the residence of Mrs A. .Richards, Mitcham. , The day was fine,' and as Mrs Richards, and the young ladies spared no pains to make the treat, a pleasant one the children heartily enjoyed themselves. . Afternoon tea. was served in the gardens, and each.child received a fancy paper .basket.filled, with sweets. A treasure hunt'planned.: by Mrs Richards was mlich'. enjoyed, also potato; 'and"•-•sack races.- Games and races for toys were indulged• in, and-then the prizes were given but. Each child redeived a book or a and then Mrs Richard presented each child with a prize from herself. Ringing cheers were given for Mr 'and/Mrs Richards and the young ladies.; '."•. -i ■ ■•*':;.■' - '■' At r tne-Anniversary services' -in con;- ! nexion with St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church,: the' v ßev: Dr.; J.' Gibtfy of Wellington; preached'to large congregations both morning and evening. The offertories. foE„the day were to help in reducing 'the deH : on the manse, and for-some years it: has ; been; the aim of the 'congregation to pay off' £100: at each anniversary '. . This has been done till, now, < and : the debt, has been reduced 1 to £4OO. .The collections,on. Sunday amounted'to £B2, and it is expected that this will be made up .to £IOO in j the course of a'few days. The bazaar held in connexion with St. Stephen's-Church, was brought to a. close on Saturday night, and .it is expected, that it; will result in a sum of •<■ £2OO or more being, handed over towards - the general ■ expenses.' of the church. .'■..: . •.; ; -_.. WAOTATE. ";■"■■: i Tlie'committee of tho Waimate. A. and P. Association resolved unanimously'; to adopt a "progressive policy in regard' to .'show-ground buildings and appointed Messrs- R. Sinclair, J. Faulkner, W:. Oath; W. C'heverton, J. Hayman ,ahd J. Andrew, a sub-committee to lexamirie plans of a grand stand and kitchen,' and report when the time is opportune to go ahead. ' " ■... . jMr L.VHart, wlio is from, farming to live in Timaru, was given a send-off at the Morven Public Hall. Among the speakers were Messrs J. Bitehener, M'.P;, and W. E...,. Evans (Mayor of Waimate). The settlers presented Mr Hart-with an illuminated address. Mr Hart is chairman of the County. Council.