COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16487, 28 February 1914, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS.

ASHBURTON. Tlio weekly meeting of the Ashburton Good Templars’ Lodge was held on Wednesday evening, when Brother A Moore, C.T., presided. The evening took the form of an open social, various members contributing items. The quarterly convention of the Ashburton Sunday School Workers’ Association was held on Monday evening in St Andrew’s Schoolroom. There were about fifty teachers present and Mr F. 11. Broom presided, while the Revs G. Miller and 0. F. Saunders wore also in attendance. The president (Mr E. Buchanan) read a paper on “ The Importance of Sunday School Work,” which was freely discussed. Mr C. Dixon spoke on the Sunday School as the greatest asset of the Church and nation. The ladies of St Andrew’s Presbyterian Sunday School provided refreshments and the members engaged in a friendly conversazione. The quarterly meeting of the Star of Ashburton Lodge of Druids was held on Monday evening, when A.D. Brother M. Morcan presided. P.D.P. Brother Steel was appointed the Lodge’s representative to attend a complimentary banquet at Timaru. The M’Pherson Benefit Fund Committee reported that £ll3 8s 8d had been received, £ICO had been paid off the mortgage, while £lO 19s 2d had been absorbed in legal expenses, borough rates and minor repairs to the house. The, lodge trustees had lent £4O on mortgage, so that the widow and family were practically in a free house. A vote of thanks was passed to the secretary and committee of the Benefit Fund. The business sheet for the coming D. G. Lodge meeting 'was discussed, and the delegates, P.D.P. Brother Gobbo and P.D.P.. Brother Harris, were directed as to the feeling of the members on the various proposals to be brought forward. Mr J. R. H. Thorpe, of the Lands and Survey Department, Hokitika, has been appointed cadet at the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court, and will take up his duties on Monday next. AKAROA. The Akaroa Borough Council met on Wednesday; present—the Mayor (Mr G. Armstrong) and Councillors Lewitt, Fyfe, Vangioni, Walker, Newton, Cantrell, Munro and Leete. The Borough engineer reported, advising a first progress payment of £3OO to the contractor for replacing Daly’s Wharf. The report was adopted. Six applications for electric light and one for electric power were granted. Councillor Walker submitted a plan for additions to the dressing-room accommodation at the Baths, and. also for increasing the area of the Baths. The matter was referred to the Baths Committee. The financial statement showed the receipts since last meeting to have been £235 2s. Accounts presented for payment totalled £343 6s' 2d.

After quite a long spoil of hot dry weather, welcome rain fell on Wednesday night, which will bo of great benefit to the pastures. Dairy factories report that the milk supply was falling rapidly owing to the dry weather, and two or three days’ rain now would be of immense value. The cocksfoot harvest, except in one or two isolated cases, is now finished. LEESTON. On .Thursday evening Mr C. H. Opie, chairman of the Technical Committee of the North Canterbury Board of Education, and Mr J. H. Howell, director of the Christchurch Technical College, visited Leeston to address a public meeting of residents on the value of technical training. The meeting. was not well but the addresses were listened to with great .interest and the speakers were;thanked. It was decided that the school committees in the district should be communicated with, and that efforts should be made to have classes re-started in Leeston in the near future. OXFORD. St Mary’s Church, which for over forty years has been a landmark at the Terrace, West Oxford, is being removed to Woodside where it will better suit _ the convenience of those who attend it. WOODEND. The respect entertained for the late Mr Joseph Stalker was evidenced by a very large and representative attendance at his funeral yesterday. - The Rangiora* County Council was represented by the chairman, Mr F. Horrell and some of the members, and Mr A. S. Clarkson, president of the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association represented that body. The remains were interred in the Methodist cemetery, the service being conducted by the Rev J. H. Martin. _ There was a large number of floral tributes of sympathy on the coffin, including a wreath from the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association. MARSHLAND. .The district of Marshland will be very busy during the next two months as the harvesting of the onion crop will be in full swing. The crop will not be a good one, the season being unfavourable for a heavy yield. The weather from October to Christmas was wet and cold, which retarded the growth of the crop considerably. The weather since, however, has been favourable except that insufficient rain has caused the crop to ripen prematurely, resulting in small-sized onions. The yield consequently will be light averaging fully five tons per acre ■ less than last year. The growers expect by the deficiency in crop to receive much higher prices than those of last year, especially when the shortage of the supply of onions in Australia and the increased demand are taken into account. The farmers here aro complaining of the low prices offered by buyers, namely, £4 to £4 10s per ton for present delivery. In Sydney £ll per ton is being realised and large consignments are being sent to Vancouver at prices' which would warrant hovers giving higher prices than now offered. " The merchants are very eager to secure all they possibly can. but growers are disposed to sell small quantities only as they recognise that thero is every indication of much higher prices being obtained shortly.