THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17469, 1 June 1922, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

Jottings for Fanners. There has been quite a remarkable growth of grass during the past few weeks, and those farmers who were late in getting their spring feed in have been most fortunate in that the weather liaa remained to mild (says the Uremn correspondent of the "Taranaki Herald"). Most herds of cows are now being milked only once a day, and in a week or tivp a great number will have ->een dried, off for the season. As there is a fair nupply of hay and ensilaged together I with mangolds, etc., there should be no difficulty in getting through the winter safely and bringing in the stock in good j order for next spring. | KAIKOURA. The death occurred yesterday morning of Mrs Phillip Jacobs, of South Bay. Mr W. F. Massey has informed the Kaikoura Progress League that he will be unable to visit Kaikoura prior to the session. CHEVIOT. Th<> Gift Sale promoted to raise funds to renovate the Presbyterian Church was held in the Church Hall on Saturday. Pain set in prior to the opening of the function and continued to fall more or less heavily throughout the afternoon and this greatly militated against its success. Nothing daunted, however, the promoters "set a stout heart to a stiff brae'' and made the mo3t of their opportunity. TJnd'?r the circumstances the attendance was good, while the display of produce was at once a credit to the donors and to the rich fertility of the district. As was fitting "the clans" assembled for the opening to. the accompaniment of the bagpipes creditably played by Master .Tack Fleming. In opening the sale the minister, in humorous vein, reminded his audience that "some were born great and some had greatness thrust upon them" but (if they might pardon him a personal reference) he might truly claim that both statements applied to him that day. . Some had been created knights by their Sovereign, but it had been hit fortune to bo a knight born and bred. He had lived as a Knight in the past and he trusted he would never in the future do ought to stain his escutcheon, for a Knight he meant to die. Then, too, ho had had greatness' thrust upon him in having had the honour of being asked to declare the sale open. He then referred to the object for which it had been organised, and to the wellfilied stalls which bore ample evidence of the zealous efforts of the promoters and hoped all present would show their appreciation in a practical way by opening their purses wide and buying freely, so vhat their object might be fully attained. . . , The stall-holders then did a brisk trade—the lefreshment stall being espedally well patronised. Goods iert over were later submitted under the hammer, Mr England kindly acting as honorary auctioneer, but owing to the wet preventing many from being present, bidding was less spirited than otherwise would have been the case. A notable feature of the function was the willingness displayed by all, irrespective of denomination, to help. It is probable that a concert will follow later to supplement the proceeds of the sale which, despite adverse conditions, reached (including cash donations), the viciinity of £SO.

VIEW HILL. An ©n]oyable concert in aid of tlh© Vimv Hill piano fund was given in the schoolroom by Mr Francis's concert party from Ckristchurch. At the conclusion the- chairman, on behalf of tho audience, thanked tho performers, and ako Messrs H. Prichard, G. Hyde, and E. McGrath, who had lent tiuen- cars to convey the party from and to chiuch.MALVEKN. r £ he committee of the Malvern A. and J'. Association met last week, Mr G. Butler, president, presiding. A motion of sympathy to Mrs J. H. Jarman was passed An interim balance-sheet was presented showing receipts in the vicinity of £6OO, and expenditure £555. Prize-winners in the recent show were as follows: —Draught horses, H. E. Cook; light horses, R. M. I>. Johnson; Hardy Cup, most points in W. J. Jenkins; fat lambs. Jebson and Odgers; purebred sheep, R. and J. lleid; wheat, H„ McClelland; oats, Buhner Harnner, Raid, jun., and McGrath; potatoes, L. T. Wright; garden vegetables, F. Jones; Beath's trophy, D. Kane; fancy work, Miss I. Gunn; guessing competition, McMeeknn, R. G. Robinson, ». Miliar, H. Page, equal. The following appointments were made:—Delegate to Christchurch A and P. meetings, Mr G. Butler, president; delegate to A. and P. Conference, Mr H. Millar, vice-presi-dent; treasurer, Mr H. C. Townshend.

LOBURN. At tfhe school piano fund progressive euchre tournament for prizes presented by Miss Percy, the. winning competitors were Miss- Henry and Mr Kennedy, while the consolation prizes went to Miss J. Kennedy and Mr McLeod. At a publio meeting held in the Coronation Hall, Mr G. T. Croft presided. A deputation, 'consisting of Messrs Croft, T. Pulley, and J. McLeod, was appointed to wait upon the Ashley County Council at its next meeting and present the recommendations favouring a Service Board for the county. RAKAIA. After having been in existence for a period of sis yeans, the Rakaia Soldiers' Entertainment Committee, latteriy called the Rakaia Soldiers' Memorial Committee, held its last meeting on Monday evening. Mr B. McNamara was in tho chair. The balance-sheet showed a. credit balance of £2l 19s Bd. The contractor's price for the monument was £OOO. It was decided to vote the sum. of £3 3s to the funds of the Ashburton ■ Salvation Army Band, in recognition of their services at the unveiling ceremony. One pound was voted to tho Library funds for till© use of the Library. Alter all expenses were paid, it waa expected to nave the sum of £l7 in hand, and it was decided to place thn in the Post Office Savings Bank, with the Hon. C. A. C. Hardy and Mr C. Shannon as trustees, the money to bo used for the work of upkeep in tho future. In the event of one of the trustees ceasing to act, the Rond B -ard ia to bo asked to appoint a. successor. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Feniman for his donation of memorial cards and other work of a helpful nature. It was stated that the committee had procured a further supply of cards, and these could be obtained on application by those interested. Votes of thanks were passed to the memorial sub-committee, the chairman, and the Secretary. Mr B. McNamara was appointed to sign the minutes of the meeting. On tho Rakaia Domain, on Saturday, the Rakaia Third Grade team defeated tih© Celtic team by 11 points to 3. Tries were scored by O'Rieliy and Conroily brothers, and O'Rieliy converted one. For Celtic L. Cooper scored. The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Mark's Church was held on Monday evening, tho chair being taken by the Rev. E. N. Blakiston. The balance-sheet presented by the treastner (.Mr Geo. Pluck) showed a. credit balanes of £l9l 7s 3d. The sum of £49 os 4d, which did not appear on the balancesheet, had been raised and forwarded for various mission funds. It was decided to vote the sum of £"2o towards the expenses of the minister's car, and it was agreed to remit for consideration _ of the general vestry that the sum of £"0 should bo set aside for this purpose each veuu\ It was stated that the sum of £829 waa still owinc xm-tha jrizaraae.

and it was agreed to make a recommendation to the general vestry fchat as muck as possible of the debt*should bo paid off a« opportunity arose. It was also agrwed to recommend that all repairs and renewals required to church property should be undertaken as soon as ix>ssib!e. The following officers were elected: Vicar's warden, Mr H. Barlow ; peopie's warden, Mr G. Pluck: vestrv, Messrs W. Smith,.C. W. Wendelken, (i. H-islett, Geo. S. Hardy, G. Cowan, C. Os!x>rn, G. Bradburv. G. Edgitieton, Sirs Wendelken, and Miss limms, Votes of thanks were passed to tho teachers of the Simdav school, to the organist, Miss A. Hardy, to Mrs Holmas for nowers, and to Mr C. Evison, the layreader. ASHBURTON. Miss A. G. Davev, of Cromwell, has been appointed infant mistress at the Ashburton High School.