NORTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18480, 7 September 1925, Page 3

NORTH CANTERBURY.

AMBF.RI.EY. The Amberley Towu Board meeting ■was held on Thursday, when there were present Mr W. Boyce (chairman) and Messrs W. IT. Hale, W. L. Redmayne, J. McDonald, J. A. Shaw, and W. A. Thompson. A special meeting was held on August 20th, when it was considered necessary to reduce the street lights, and the decision of that meeting was confirmed. The clerk was instructed to communicate with the Kowai County Council regarding the alterations made. The copy of the required contract in connexion with the sanitary scheme was received from the District Health Officer certified with the approval of the Department. A report was received from the Health Inspector as to satisfactory sleeping quarters of two T.B. patients.Mr F. H. Courage wrote complaining of the obstructed waterway on Courage's road in tho vicinity of the bridge, and the clerk \v;is instructed to write to the owners drawing their attention to the matter. A request from Mrs Wornall to have an opening made in the kerbing for the purpose of allowing a pipe to be connected to the channel was approved of. The clerk was instructed to. write the Kowai County Council thanking them, for the loan of their plant at the water deviation at Hadler's corner. Application having been made to the Highways Hoard for a subsidy on the maintenance and upkeep of the Main North road, the clerk was requested to ascertain from the chairmau the consideration of the Board. The Domain matters were taken after the Town Board meeting. Messrs I?. "Wilson and L. O'Malley were admitted as a. deputation from the Tennis Club, seeking the assistance of the Board in attending to the trees around the courts and the cleaning of Ihe drains. It was eventually decided to donate £5 to the club on the understanding that, they top the trees in'the vicinity of the courts, and that the drains would be attended to when the club removed the deposit of tun at their gateway. It was decided to roll the cricket ground in response to the club's .application. The Domai-i Conimitlee resolved to inspect the Domain with a view of ascertaining (lie necesKiiry work to protect the Domain from the Kowai river.

HAWARDEN. The weather during the past few months has been the wettest for the corresponding period for lnariv years. Farmers have been unable to get in their crops and with the season so advanced, the outlook, to say the least, is serious for the wheat-grower. The sheep farmer, also, is faced with a serious loss in young lambs and ewes, i'ho wet, cold weather has been disastrous for early' lambing. The committee of the Hawarden branch of the Plunket Society met at the residence, of the president.. . The Plunket nurse's report was very satisfactory. One resignation was received and. accepted, and.one leave of absence for six months was granted. Three new members were elected to the committee to till recent/ vacancies. It was reported that members were most enthusiastic. and working hard to secure contributions for the Society's Violet J>ay, efforts. - Good results were ass 11 rod: The v president, reported that ~slrs IT. T. .Li-tle, of ' Woodgrove, was '''undertaking to organise jjlain and fancy dress dunces in aid of the . : funds of the Soeictr.- -

KIRWEE. Members of the Presbyterian Wpmen's Missionary Union, in connexion Tritii the Halkett parish, assembled in tho Kirwee Presbyterian Ghurch last Monday afternoon, for the purpose of meeting Miss McKee, tho organising secretary of the Union. There were eighteen members present. The Rev. T. Paterson presided, aiid introduced Miss McKee to the members. Miss McKee gave a very interesting address oil mission work in China and India, and also on the Maori Missions. A hearty rote of thanks was accorded to the speaker for. her very interesting and instructive address. The Kirwee ladies served afternoon te-a. Miss McKee left for Gyeymouth on Tuesday morning.

SCARGILL. A general meeting of the local ratepayers was held in the hall, Scargill, on Thursday evening, tho object being l-o discuss the administration and maintenance of the county. Mr N. I>» Campbell, chairman of the Waipara Count-v Council, presided. -bud with, him were Messrs T. Allan (member for the Waikari riding) and .T. Lmdsav (County Clerk). _ In addressing the meeting, the chairman dealt with the ~ nßlt, e™"® "7 crease in the general and hospital rates in the county lor the current rear, and explained the reasons for tho increases. He save dete ct the up-to-date road-making plant tbat was b£ug ordered by fhe and explained the proposed to be adopted by tne Gwincil in dealing -with road-making and maintenance throughout the county in the near future. He gave some particulars, in answer to various questions on fanancial and other matters of general interest to ratepayers. At the conclusio of his address, Mr Lindsay explaining the delay in the distribution of the balance-sheet to the ratepayers, which was caused through uo lauit of the Council or its staff. A vote of thanks was accorded the speakers, on the motion of -Mr £>• Gardner.

leithfield. After four days of "bright" sunshine, the weather reverted to stormy, wintry conditions on Friday morning, when a somewhat prolonged sunshower ended in a regular downpour, .465 inches of rain falling from 11.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. About 3 p.m. the sun struggled through • the clouds for a, short interval. Showers, more or less heavyj fell well on into tho night. At present the farming outlook is not good.. Those who bad hoped to recommence tillage arc forced to wait until the latest downpour has evaporated. It is growing late lor sowing cereals, and tbc outlook is.becoming serious. , It is reported that one farmer* when shepherding his sheep, found two ewes each povessing three lambs. Diiriu, the week, a farm formerly owned b\ 'one of the oldest Leithfield settlers, c.Ynged owucrs at a satisfactory figure. The farm was the homestead block owned by the late Mr McAdam. For several years the land has been fanned by the MoAdam Bros-, and has now been purchased by Mr H. "Mar, whose father in the early davs owned the farm adjacent to that of'Mi-Adam Bros., which is now owned bv Mr F. May.

WAIKUKU. The Waikuku Methodist Cfcurch Ladies' Guild met on Wednesday afternoon, Mrs Morgan presiding. Jt was decided to hold a variety afternoon shortly. Mrs C. Morriss and Mrs Maddison were authorised to buy, jrjore material. Amongst those presenti were Mrs Griffiths, Mrs Judson, Mrs Maddison. Mrs M<£ausland, sen., Mrs K. McCausland, Airs McQuillan, Mrs Morgan (president), Mrs C. Morriss, Mrs J. Morriss (secretary), Miss Orchard and Mrs Rout. l'he Waikuku lSutiial Improvement Society held its weekly . meeting on Thursday evening. The chair was taken by Mr J>. Robinson. Greetings were received from the cx-prcsident, Rev. F. E. Foot (Maori Hill, Dunedtn).. Au invitation was .received from Rev. W. B. .and Mrs Cuming to spend a social erciting at their residence, the Parsonage. Woodend. The invitation was accepted. Miss M. Sloane was elected 'convener for the next meeting. Miss H. Bunting read a paper written by Mr D. Morriss, who was unable to-be present. -The secretary was asked to .thank Mr Morriss. Amongst those present were: Mrs D. Morgan, Mrs J. Mo rriss. Miss H. Bunting, Miss T. Ellis. Miss H.' Judson, Miss M. Orchard, Miss M. Sloane, Rev. W. B. Cuming, Mr J. Robb, a,nd Mr D. Robinson.

SALTWATER CREEK. There was a record attendance at the fortnightly cuchre tournament held in the schoolroom on Friday. Prizewinners were Mrs Armstrong and Mr G. Lang. A dainty supper was served by the ladies, and a dance followed. The Misses Eder (3) provided the music, and Mr Eoy Eder was M.C.

little river. A smoke concert was held in the Town Sallj Little Jiiver, in honour of Mr Stan. Frame, who his been aetingdriver on the locaJ engine for some five or six years, and who has been transferred to Christehurch on promotion. Mr Steve Lc Comte acted as chairman, and made a presentation to the guest of a handsome silver watch, suitably inscribed. The preseatation 'was made on behalf of the local railway staff and the members of the Little River Football Club. Songs were contributed by several of the guests. At a meeting of the Flower Committee there were present Mesdames .T: O. Coop, W. Aitken, F. W. Crockett, and Miss H. Chapman. Apologies for absence "were received from Mesdamcs "F. Coop, T. Thompson, E. Birdling, S. McPherson, J. G. Humphries, and A. V. Hutchinson. New classes were added as follows:—Collection of 12 full-blown roses, and bowl of full-blown roses, and collection of Iceland poppies in bowL It was decided to reeommond to the Ground Committee that wider tables be provided in the flower tent. A committee meeting of the Banks Peninsula A. and P. Association was held in the Coronation Library on Saturday. Present: Mr Frank Coop (president), Messrs 11. T. Chapman, A. K. Birdling, F. Crockett, D. W. McLean, W. Fairweather, W. H. Montgomery, J. O. Coop. J. F. Buchanan. A. V. Hutchinson, and W, Letbwaite. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs John Parkiason, T. Thompson, H. Lewthwaite. a-id J. R. Waite. Alterations and additions made as follows:—Class for three hoggets to be ewe hoggets: three sheep suitable for freezing purposes, weight not to exceed 601b: three fat ewes, suitable for butchers' purposes; geldings, three years and over, arid dry mares, three years and over, respectively;'mare or gelding, suitable for packing, height not to exceed I*ko hands; best pair of hacks, ridden by lady and gentleman riders, not necessarily the property of o»ie owner; class for two-year-old milking Shorthorn: three calves, bred and owned by exhibitor, born after August Ist; alt cows and heifers in milk to be stripped out ou ground"; before judging; team of six bullocks, to be shown in waggon, not necessarily the property of one owner. An additional special prize was given by Mr ,f. "Watson (Ataahua).

LE BON'S BAY. The directors of the l>airv Factory met on Wednesday, there being present Messrs P. Barnett (chairman), T. Mcintosh, W. McKay, B. Barker, W. Elliott, R. O'Connor, aaid A. .Williams (secretary). The applications for the position of assistant were opened, and Mr C. Barnett was appointed for the coming season! . The factory has been open for a week and the present supply points to a good season.

AKAROA. Following a week's fairly fine weather, though unseasonably cold, another change came late on Friday night, when a southerly squall blew up with sudden violence,. bringing heavy rain and hail. When morning dawned the storm had subsided, leaving the upper part of the ranges well coated with a' fresh mantle of snow. The Sudden changes and the prolonged sjpells of col 1 and wet weather, are playing havoc with th<? ewes and the, lambs, especially in the more exposed localities. Reports Btate ; generally that' the losses so far arc tnuch in excess of the average of recent years. At the last meeting of the committee of the Akaroa District High School, Mr W. E. Ja'cobson presiding, satisfactory reports were received o from the headmaster as to attendance and work. The resignation of Miss Dorothy Prince, infant mistress, was received and accepted with regTet. The chairman said that as a result of the efforts of Mt J. MeCombs. M.P., the Minister of Education had sanctioned the grant of another £IOO towards ground improvement purposes, provided ,thc committee would raise a similar amount. It was .reported that £7O of that sum was already in hand. Two members' of the Education Board, Messrs Banks and Spencer, had recently visited the school, in company with the Board's architect, and.had conferred with the committee regarding proposfcd further improvements. The Board wrote regarding local tTee-plant-ing. The committee ivarmly approved the propdsal, and decided to utilise one acre of the grounds for. the purpose, and undertook to find one-third of the cost of necessary fencing. With the . object of bringing the claims of Akaroa as a health and tourist resort more prominently before the people of the Dominion, aDd generally of making the tow.r more progressive, a large number of interested citizen? have recently formed themselves into a society known as the "Akaroa Ad-j vancement Association." The following are the executive officers:-+-"President, Mr I'\ E. Davis; vice-president, Mr H. J. Barnham; hon. secretary, Mr A. Ingold; hon. treasurer, Mr Geo. Armstrong.

BROADFIELD. . A very pleasant evening was spent at the residence of Mr and Mrs J. T. Gallagher, Bi'oadiield, on Thursday evening last when a large number of iriends paid them a surprise visit. Cards, dancing, games, and musical items were indulged in. The prizes lor the lucky spot 'waltz were won by Mr M. Cunneen and Miss Inez Jackwan. Among those present were : Me6damesGallagher, Smith. andTrask, Misses Gallagher (2), Jackroan (2), Smith (2), Cunneen, Carpenter (2), and E. Smith,; Messrs Gallagher (3), .. a > Guilford, Cunneen (3), Smith (2), Carpenter, Walker, T. Smith, Woodward. Mr Daniel Butcher, the eldest son of Mr H. Butcher, of Broadfield, who underwent an operation recently, is now said to be progressing well. Heavy rain again set in on Saturday putting a. stop to all farm work, rota to digging was again in full swing, also chaff cutting, and this work will DO -n i U P for a few days. The outl6ok for the coming season is serious.

KOWAI BUSH. There was a small attendance at tLe fortnightly euchre .tournament, owing probably to the fact that the bridge repairs are not completed. The prizes were won by Mrs Guest and Mr Gibf > and .tiie coneolafcion prizes by fcStotford and Mr Guest. Mrs ; , P res ented her prize to the club, m? for at the next match. f«». if i• j C oo V- which has been closed hdjd ays, resumes to-day.