THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18230, 14 November 1924, Page 7

THE COUNTRY.

JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS.

A high tribute to the services which the late Sir Walter Buchanan rendered to the pastoralists of the Dominion over a long term of years was paid at the annual meeting of the "Wellington Meat Export Company by the acting-chair-man, Mr J. W. Marshall, of Marton. Sir Buchanan, said the speaker, had been the first man in New Zealand to recognise' the necessity for freezing ineafc in order to ensure its arrival in a. marketable state on the other side [of the world. Sir Walter had been the first man to set about forming a freez- | ing company, which he successfully j accomplished. His pioneer _comp<iny had merged with the Wellington Meat Export Company. Xo man had possessed the confidence in the frozen meat industry which Sir Walter Buchanan had.' His intimate knowledge cf live stock and wide experience of-the industry had been of oiilaMe value to the company. Sir W :t,l tßr Buchanan had also rendered signal service to the producers of this country bv 'the- reforms he had been instrumental in effecting' in the-hand-ling of New Zealand inesit at- Home. Mr Marshall then moved: —"Theshareholders of the Wellington Meat Export Company desire to record their high souse of the services of the late Sir Walt?r Buchanan-as.a director of the colnjxiuy for 3S years in developing the meat export trade, and in promoting the interests of the agricultural and iv;ustoral industries of New Zealand." The motion was passed in silence, the shareholders till standing. RANGIORA. Tlie siiver hand, under Conductor R. I. Simpson, gave a concert in the rotunda, Victoria Park, on Wednesday evening. At the.monthly meeting of the District School Committee Mr C. W. Tyler presided. The headmaster reported that tlie roll number was 401 ■ with an average attendance of 379. Miss L. R-odgers, infant mistress, had been granted leave of absence by the Board to undergo an operation, and the infant department had been placed in charge of Mrs F. Reynolds. The Board's drill instructors had visited' the school during the month, and were very pleased with the results. The sum of £5 Was voted towards the, school prize fund. The caretaker wrote complaining that the privilege of using the school tennis courts was being abused by young peonle. arid qv;ite a number had not paid the fee of ss. It was revived that the hours, for school children on . school days should bo from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. and outsiders before and after those hours, the fee of 5s to.be pais otherwise they would not be allowed to play. . It was decided to take a vote of the parents .as to where the next school picnic should lie held.. It was decided to send a letter of . sympathy to Miss Rodgers. LEITHFIELD. At the monthly meeting of the Leithfield School Swimming Club Committee held-on Wednesday evening,' there were present Mr D.. McLean (chairman), Misses A. Mander and /A. 0. Lloyd, Messrs C. W. Brown, J. Fitzpatrick, F. May, J. S" Russell,: W. Hobbs,. FStace, C. Hadley, H. May, and J. W • Sarich (secretary). An. apology ■ for absence was received from Dr; Thompson. Mr Trail was appointed' care*' taker of' the bath. ■ Votes of thanks - were passed to Messrs Wilson Bros, for their, donation of. swimming timetables to be distributed" among members; arid to Mr' H. May for'his sue-; cess .in securing funds for improvements to the bath. Mr L. Currie having gjven assistance: -with the pniflP during hiS'- ; -spare' 'timer-it- "was decided;, that he be iisked to'accept a- " season: ticket'.- " Hi© and TVlr' J.Fitz-r , Patrick were empowered* to int6rviei^ ; the 1 catetakef 6f'*a. towtl bath arid to" purchase any further life-saying' equip-, ment necessary. ' Arrangements for, the, cleaning of" the outlet drain were left in'the hands of the chairman. Since, the visitation .of the flood-waters,"which fount! their wav into the engine-room and into the bath, the'.apphances hat© been repaiifed, and the bath . cleaned and refilled so that swimmers may once arrain enjov their plunge and l , splash. '"Sliearing'is now general. Lorries laden with bales of wool-from the back stations may be seen on the* main roads daily.

TEMPLETON. A' very interesting interview vas given to a representative ot lne "Press" veste'rday by Mr J. V. Chatterton an *old pioneer of Canterbury; who has'returned to New . Zealand jin picrht months' tour of Lngland, Mr Chatterton, who at present lives at "Flaxtonia,". Templeton; . has been a resident of Canterbury for over oJ, years.. One of his principal;reasons tor visiting the. Homeland' was to see t&e Exhibition at Wembley. He said he ,vas very proud of the New Zealand sec-. tion there. _ _ ■ : "When first . I went' to Wembley w the month of June,"- said Mr Chatterton. "I was highly pleased and proud of New Zealand's section. It. must have cost a lot, of money, but it was worth it all; it was an eye-opener to n'sny , and a fine advertisement-for the Dominion.' A subsequent visit in tlie same month 'more than confirmed the abrr.'e impression.' -The whole section had been excallently planned. It compared with any of the others when one took into consideration the fact that our population is so much smaller than any of the other colonies. It was certainly small, but then New Zealand is smali. In front of the huge white pavilion are beautiful lawns tastefully laid out with flowers of all descriptions. In my opinion one .of the best means ~ot advertising New Zealand at the Exhibition was the- cinema. There were sc?ne3 from all parts of. the. North and South Islands besides films dealing with the various products and industries. Speaking of the Maori section, Mr Chatterton' said that what he saw of it was good. He did not study it much, and he tl'crefore could ■ not talk it with 'in.<? same confidence as he cou'lu of other sections.

"I am confident," said Mr Chatterton in conclusion, "that I learned iroie of New Zcr'and in my visits" to Wemb'ev than 1 have in all my 52 yoars here."

AKAROA. At a public meeting .of citizens held in the Council. Chambers on Wednesday evening, the Mayor (Mr Geo. Armstrong) presiding, arrangements were made . for a- complimentary farewell social gathering .to bo tendered to Mr and M,rs Thos. Lewitt, who are. leaving be-fore the end' of the month to take up their residence in /\\ oodend. The function will take place next Wednesday evening in the Akaroa Boating Club's Social Hall. . c , Following tlieordmary business of the monthly meeting, of the Akaroa branc of the P.W.M.U. on Wednesday evening, an interesting and profitable hour was spent by members and fnends present in listening to Mr G1 anviHe of the China Inland Mission, now on furlough m New Zealand, wlw - addressed .them on various phases of mission work in that land, dealing more particularly with its influences upon the women there At the close, Mr Glanville was warmly thanked for his interesting address Opportunity was taken to bid Sal farewell and God-speed to Mrs 1 ■ Lewitt a prominent member of the ;lion 'since P its inception who will be leaving the district, shortly.

GREENDALE. At the annual parade and Churek service in connexion with L.O.L. Unity, No. 83, Greendale, about 50 members of various lodges took part. D.G.M. Bro. C. H. Ellis presided, and 'with him on the platform were Wor. Bros. Middleton (P.P. Council), McKenzie, Ross, Haxell, D.D.M., District Grand Lodge Officers, and the Rev*. J. J. Bates. Primary Lodges represented were:—Ladies, Nos. 1 and 3; men's, Nos. la, 3, oa, 24a, 32a, 33, 52, 108, and the local lodge, No. 83. Wor. Bro. Haxell recited the Qualifications of an Orangeman. Miss Bates sang a solo, Mrs J. W. "Warren being the accompaniste. The Rev. J. J. Bates gave an address based on the "Qualifications of an Orangeman." A collection was taken up for the Orphans' Fund. Special hymns were sung, Mrs Warren acting as organist. At the conclusion of "the service afternoon tea was served to the vistors.

At a meeting of the School Committee the Rev. W. H. A. Vickery was in the chair. Th© chairman reported that a letter leceiyed from the Education Board regarding the installation of eleotrio light in the school house made an offer of one-third by' the Department, one-third' by 1 the Board, thu •other third to be-provided locally. It was decided that, the light-be installed. A vote of the parents on the place of picnic thi9 year resulted in favour of the Gardens, Christehurch. The school concert was fixed for the first week in December.

IRWELL. Tlie light traffic bridge over the Sel■wj"n river at Coo's Ford, which was damaged by the recent flood', has been re-erected, but the approaches still need building up.. The ford-is not in a fit condition for motor traffic, there :being over two feet of loose shingle on the track. There are many pools of water and much mud absut, which will spoil the ford for picnicking parties this. week-end. LEESTON. The monthly meeting of the Leeston Town Board was held on Tuesday evening. ' Present: Commissioners A. J. Gray (chairman), B. Volckman, F. Townshend, W. Johnston; G. and R. J. McConnell. ,The Health De--1 partment requested the Board to serve notice upon a resident requiring him to have improvements made in the sanitary plumbing at his residence. A tendee of £73 7s for laying 7 l-3rd chains of channelling arid kerbing in I Market street was accepted. A motion was passed that a loan of £IOOO should be-applied for, to be uplifted by December Ist, for the purchase of a shingle ;pit -and the laying of chan-nelling-and kerbing, and that £I6OO for offices, fire station and fire engine i be uplifted about, March 3lst. The i advisability of having sumps constructed in High street to hold water for fire-fighting purposes, was discussed, and it was decided to investigate more fully before expending any of the loan money on sumps. It was decided to ask the Government inspector of fire brigades to the Board regarding the water supply and fire plant. Dr. Volckman, who represented the Board at the conference of local bodies' delegate's in Christehurch to discuss ■ hospital matters, presented his-report.. It was decided to haye an artesian bore., sunk in the centre of Memorial Square. Instructions were given:-the clerk-;to serve notices upon a numbervof property owner's to clear gorse from their' l frontages, and to request the owner of the property known as Sandrey's to cut down the bluq-r gum trees overhanging the" - street. Complaints were received about horses .being turned oh the' streets at night, and about the excessive speed at'which, motors oftcnXpassed through the town., ,It,iwas decided to seek-the" assistance •of the Jjolico k in - these niatters. ; SOIITHBRIDGE. I

On account of the measles epidemic Which has hindered competitors in preparing their work, tho annual musical and elocutionary have, been 'postponed. The ' dates originally fixed' were' November , 20th and 21st. ' The: competitions ' will now probably be held on' December 11th and 12tli. kirwee. Mr -Bovd Stanley, .stationina-ster at Kirwee, is at present spending a holiday in the North Jsland. Mr A. Watson is acting as relieving stationmaster. " : . , ' Mr Geo. who was operated "on in the Christchurcli Hospital some weeks ago; has now' returned to his home and is improving slwirly. ■ ■ When the news reached Kirwee ot the death of Mrs Cassidy, wife of Mr J. P. Cassidy,' at .one time stationmaster *at Kirwee, very keen-regret was felt. The-, late Mrs G'.ssidy was; well known and loved by all for her kindly and genial nature.. Much sympaitliy is extended .to Mr Cassidy in his. bereavement. The weather for the past week has been cold, changeable, and boisterous, with heavy rain at: times.. Farmers are now hoping, ior fine weather for the shearing, which has already commenced at the Kirwee Shearing Shed.,

At present a .gang of seventeen men are busily engaged relaying the rail-, way lilies through Kirwee. .. The work is being proceeded ' with • between S-pringfifeld and Rollestori. A very nleasnnt afternoon ivas_ spent ftt the residence of Mrs J.. McJvie, the occasion being the birthday of her daughter, Jean. As the day was fine, cames. were indwlged- in out of'.tToors. The children were served a,,very dainty', tea,. Amongst those present were Ruth Frizzell, Molly Coffey,. Ida Ball, Nancy Lawrey, Jean Burleigh,. and Irene Hall. HORORATA. At a gift evening held in the parish room in aid of the Church Fair, it was' decided to alter the date of the fair. The stallholders will be as follows: Afternoon tea and luncheon, Mrs G. C. Derrett;* needlework, the Ladies' Sev, ing Guild; sweets, the Girls' Friendly. Society; produce, Glentunnel ladies; fruit salad, Mesdames S. R. Wright and W. S. Pratt; hoop-la, Mr A. Harris; variety, Mesdames A* Pickering and' Kellaway ;■ competitions, Messrs Jekylland Pratt; bran-tub, Mesdames ,T. B. Jones and B. Maffey; coconut shies, Messrs W. Kellaway- and Collings; flower stall, Missea- Clucas; sheaf-toss-ing, Mr R. Pickering; weight of sheep, Mr H. Maffey. During the evening a competition was won .by Mrs. Weastell (Glentunnel). There was a very good attendance at the euchre tournament .organised by Mrs G. C. Derrett in aid of the Church Fair. The prize-winners-' were: Mrs R. Gray, and Mr E. Murfitt, consolation prizes going to Mrs M. Thorne and Mr J. Keltie. HINDS. The contractors for, - housewiring in Hinds have finished their -work' and' have left for a new district. During the day the Pbwer Board officials were very busy fixing meters and testing the work done. Altogether upwards of twenty-five residences had the pleasure of electric light instead of the kerosene lamp.' The Railway Station and Post Office have not yet had the 'light installed; but it is hoped that their departments will acquiesce in the near future.

KILLINCHI.. The Education Department has made a - grant k for the rebuilding' of the Killinchy. School. . '

bush; '"-f '■ The School Committee is,, making arrangements for a -School . picnic . o Otira on December 3rd; A-special j»k> liifc train will be. passing ; through «t----about. 9 a.m., and if possible, will ( b« chartered to. stop at Kowai Bush. V The little community will r.eel very much the departure of Major, and Mrs Johnson from the district. Mrs Jcilmson has for four years acted" as. organist for the church, services held jnthe school, and hor place will be. hard to fill. She has also been, president of the Plunket Society of Sprragfieid, Russell's' Flat, and Kowai Buslv since it was formed six years ago, and many residents well Remember her unbounded energy in connexion with Red Cross work throughout the war. .Major Johnson has taken a most generous interest, in all'public and social affairs, particularly in connexion with the children, ■ as past teachers arid .coriimittees could War witness to. " t On Wednesday practically the.whole of the population - of Kowai ;Bush assembled in the schoolroom to bid farewell to Maior and Mrs Johnson. Th 6 chairman. Mr A. Russell, speaking from thirty years' acquaintance, eulogised the work and character •rf the guest, and read an apology from the Iley. C. L. Sparrow, who, though .unavoidably absent, joined: with all present in wishing them God-speed.... Mr Russell asked Major 'Johnson to accept, a case of pipea. and Mrs Johnson a pewter' fruit stand and bowl as a niark of esteem from' all. Mr Russell also took the opportunity to welcome home Mr and Mrs R. M. Johnson, who will in future reside at Mt. Torlesse * homestead. Mr Hodund, of Springfield, also presented' to the guests tokens of affection from Miss Hoglund and himself. Major andl Mrs R. M. Johnson feelingly replied. 'After refreshments were partaken of. the gathering broke up with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne. methven. The funeral of the late Mrs Vaughan, of Hi<rhbank, took plaoo on Tuesday afternoon at the Methven. Cemetery,, and was largely attended. The ae-> ceased lady was a very highly respected resident of Highbank, and with her husband was one of;-the original, settiers when Highbank Estate was cut- up. A very pleasant evening was spent in the Anglican Hall on Monday evenin"- when Mr and Mrs A. Thompson entertained about 40 friends, the- occasion being the celebration of the ; lHtn, birthday of their daughter. The'-, hall was tastefully decorated with streamers of black and: gold. The evening was spent in dancing to music supplied _ by Messrs L. Allred (piano), and Nau r man (violin). Master . Coinpton cave a recitation and the Misses Svbil and Beryl Reid contributed Irish Jigs. A "lucky-spot" waltz was won by Mrs Compton and her partner, and a balloon waltz bv Miss P. Grieve and Mr Lawrence. 'The toast of the evening was proposed by Mr G. Petrie, and was drunk with musical honours. Mrs.. Thompson received the guests, in a handsome dress: of striped fugi.- Others present included: Mrs /A. Lajvrence, who wore a pretty dress of moonlight blue trimmed'with silver beads;. Miss Davidson, jade green shantung relieved with lemon : Miss Freda -McKay, ! black with gold trimmings; MrsAllred, white satin; Mrs A. Street, fawn maromain; - Mrs - Painter, black" silk; • Miss Bell> jersey silk: Miss. Street, lemon silk; Miss D. Kilworth r pink satin; Miss Petrie, white eilk; Miss Allred, fngi- silk; Miss Thompson, ■ blue >crepe de chineMrsßlam, pink maroeairi; Miss "-P; >Grievei -browns-jersey silk; Mrs Compton. black CEejpe de chine; and Messrs ' Lawrence, Stephen, Davis, Scoon. Dore, Petrie" (2), Painter, Blain (2), Thomnson (3). Wilson, Allred. Nauman, Wright, Gordon,'- and Dobson.