COUNTRY NEWS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 370, 17 June 1911, Page 5

COUNTRY NEWS.

Own Correspondents. Aria. The directors and shareholders of the Aria Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd., are to be congratulated on securving the services of a thoroughly competent manager for the coining season. Mr .1. McDonald comes with high credentials from other companies. He has had eight years' experience as assistant and as manager, including thive years with home-separated cream. A cool room has been added to the factory, and a considerable amount of new machinery is in course. of erection, including machinery for the cool chamber a pasteuriser, Simplex churn ar.d butter worker, the addition ot which brings the plant thoroughly up to date. The directors deserve great credit in acquiring the factory, and their evident intsntion to spare no pains to make it a success. Owing to pressure of other work, Mr Collins has found it necessary to resign the secretaryship, which office he has very creditably filled since the inauguration of the company. Mr T. Ward has been appointed as his SUCCCS3. v

Otorohanga. A very successful progressive euchre arid social was held in Turner's Hall, Otorohanga, on Wednesday last. It was inaugurated in aid uf the fund for building a Roman Catholic Church. At the last Board sale of sections a good site was procured, and several energetic members have collected a fair sized sum as a nucleus for the building. To augment this fund a strong committee was formed, and they decided to hold the abovementioned social. Valuable prizes were donated by Father Brennan and Mr Neary. Fortunately the weather cleared in the evening, and the committee were rewarded with a splendid attendance. The whole of the nineteen tables were occupied and a number looked on. Mr Worthington announced the conditions of the tournament,and Mr F. Forster as timekeeper gave the players seven minutes for each game. Fourteen games were played altogether. Mr Mankelow had the largest number of wins with twelve to his credit, and so won the gentleman's prize, which was a fine hand-sewn riding bridle presented by Mr Neary. Mrs Gardiner and Miss Hamilton came next with ten wins each. They "cut" to decide, and Mrs Gardiner received the lady's prize, a handsome silver-backed hair brush donated by Father Brennan. Miss Moonev found herself the possessor of the lady's booby prize—a china cream jug, and Mr G. Cutfield wus awarded a many-coloured spinning top for his efforts with the cards. Father Brennan, when presenting the prizes, thanked them for the large attendance and trusted they would all enjoy themselves at the social to follow. A bounteous supper was provided by the ladies' committee, and the floor being prepared dancing was freely indulged in. Mesdames Gardiner and Holden provided the music, and Mr Worthington made an efficient M.C. The takings at the door amounted to £7 14s, and after the hall expenses were deducted the fund would benefit to the extent of about £t>. Several very pretty dresses were worn, some that were partciularly attractive being: Mrs Worthington. lavender ' blouse, black skirt; Mrs F. Forster, cream; Mrs Burke, black; Mrs Gardiner, hlac'k; Miss Nau t ghtori. prettily shaded cream' blue belt; Miss Reardon, pale blue silk; Miss M«?oney, black; Miss Ena Moonev, cream; Mrs Roigard, soft grey ; Mrs Cumpstone black silk ; Mrs Johnson, blafik silk; Miss Johnson pale blue rmjslin; Mrs Kidson. white muslin; Mrs.'Whyte, cream net; Mrs Millar, blacki and white; Mrs Gregg solf cream d\ress; Mrs Young, russet'brown; Mrs W.atkin, pale pink; Mrs Bankier, white muslin; Mrs Hcaking, dove grey; Miss Vicary, cream; MrH G. Reynolds, dark green; Miss 80/ard, soft white silk; Mrs Holden, black wirnmed with jet; Miss Furbur, jred and white; Mies Larsend, cream./

I Kio Kio. A concert was held at Kio Kio last Tuesday evening, under the auspices of the local branch of the New Zeaand Farmers' Union, to celebrate the first year of the branch's existence. A large number of people from surrounding districts attended, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. At the close of the musical programme supper was served and an informal dance terminated a very pleasant function. It is hoped that similar gatherings may be arranged in the variousdistricts during the winter, as bv this means social intercourse is much promoted. The following programme was given:—Part 1. —Addresses by Chairman and Vice-chair-man of the branch; Pianoforte duet, Misses Budge; song, "The Valley [ where the Bluebirds Sing," Mr Owen j Rogers; recitation "The Pound of Butter," Mr Rankin; song, "Bonny Jean," Mr Danks; song, "The King's Own," Miss Ross; recitation, "When Grandma Was a Girl,' Miss Cooper; song, "When the Hawthorn Blooms Again,',' Mr Strahan; song, "Where j the Swanee River Flows," Mrs Gardi-ine-r; recitation, "Down by the Rio ! Grande," Mr W. Ogle. Part 2. j Violin duet, "I Dreamt That I Dwelt j in Marble Halls," Messrs Danks and I Archibald; recitation, "Making the j Pudding," Miss Forster; song, "The I Pipers," Mr Owen Rogers; duet, i "Will the Circle be Unbroken," Mrs ! Rogers and Misa Ross; recitation "East and West," Mr Hudson; song, "The Little Rustic Church beside the Hill," Miss Blocxsome; recitation, "What the Kettle says," Master C. Rogers; song, "Queen of the Earth," Mr Archibald; song comic, "The Weddin' o' Lauchie McGrau," Mr Danks. Honikiwi. The weather for the last week has been very unsettled indeed, and the present heavy rains have played havoc with the roads. Slips have occurred, and where the water channel was formerly in existence, now there remains a bank of mud. The roadmen have all their work cut out in doing a few chains, let alone the whole road. There appears to be now every prospect .of abundance uf feed for the winter. Turnips have done well in some places, and the grass seed has taken excellently on the burns. Mr Carter has taken up a farm in the district, and is building a fine house on his section. This is being pushed on rapidly in order to enable Mr Carter to bring his family from Otorohanga. Many of the farmers have let the contracts for the felling of'their bush, and the bushfellers have commenced operations in some places. After this year most of the bush in the older farms will be cut down,and the money now spent on the work will be more profitably spent on farm stock.