COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16488, 2 March 1914, Page 9

COUNTRY NEWS.

[From Our Correspondents.] RANGIORA. f *

There was another large gathering of ratepayers at tho Rangiora Institute Hall on Friday evening when the advocates for the adoption of the proposal to institute the system of rating on unimproved land values in Rangiora took the platform. The speakers were Mr H. G. Ell, M.P., and Mr A. AVithy, Land Values League. .Mr AVithy, had come from Wellington at the invitation of tho committee organised to influence the with the idea of addressing the meetratepayers to support the proposal ing and assisting with the canvass. The speakers . gave a clear and’ concise exposition of the principles of rating on unimproved land values and submitted .a quantity of figures showing the changes that would be made in the rates by abolishing the assessment on the capital values, chiefly to prove tho benefits that would accrue to the - working men having dwellings on small holdings. They were questioned at some lengih, and at the close of the meeting were, on tho motion of Mr C. W. Bell, accorded a very hearty vote of thanks for the information they had given. The poll on the question will be taken to-day. ' The monthly meeting of the AVo.men s Christian Temperance Union, held at Rangiora on Friday, was well attended, a strong contingent of the members nf the Kaiapoi branch being present asvisitors. Mrs Darling presided. The president, Mrs H. Cobden Cox, forwarded her resignation owing to illhealth, and it was accepted with regret. It was decided to forward a letter to Mrs A. Hadecke expressing deep sympathy with her at the accidental 'death of her son, Mr Frederick Hadecke. Miss Newton was appointed delegate to the annual dominion conference of the Union to be held at Gisborne.

The sudden and untimely death of Mr Frederick Hadecke, who had lived in tho town from Ill's boyhood, aroused a deep feeling of sympathy for His wife and young children, and for his parents, Mr and Mrs A. Hadecke, and sister, Miss Itlioda Hadecke. The funeral, which took place yesterday afternoon, was one of the largest seen in Rangiora for a long time past. In the procession preceding the hearse thero were about seventy members of the Loyal Rangiora Lodge of Oddfellows, to which institution Mr Hadecke belonged. The remains were interred in the Methodist Cometery, the burial service being conducted by the Revs A. Peters and T. Fee. The funerial ritual of tho Oddfellows’ Society was read by Brother E. Trollope, tho Lodge Lecture Master. Beautiful floral tributes of sympathy were received from the Masonic Lodge (Ashley), Tawira County Council, trustees of the Rarigiora Methodist Church, staff of the Rangiora branch of the Farmers’ Cooperative Association, Mr a’nd Mrs D. Lloyd, Misses Marjorie and Mabel Dorman, Mr and Mrs E. Dorman, Mr and Mrs F. B. Lane, B. J. and Mi A.

Strong, Mr and Mrs H.D. Bettyer, Mr and Mrs W. Cunningham, Mr and Mrs H. Winstolic, Mr ancl Mrs N. Dorman, son., Mr and Mrs J. Angus, Mr and; jun., Mr and Mrs J. Angus, Mr and Mrs J. B. Cresswell, Mr and Mrs F. Lovell, Mrs A. Thompson and family, Mr and Mrs E. Trollope, Mr and Mrs AV. D. Johnston, Mr and Mrs J. O. Josling and family, Mr J. Benjes, Miami Mrs T. Shankland, Misses B. Jordan and W. Smith, Mr and Mrs J. Skilling and family, Mr and Mrs It. Walker and family, Mr and Mrs J. B. Withers and family, Mrs J. Withers, sen., Mi- and Mrs C. Giftson, Mr and Mrs Ross, Mr R. Blackett, Miss F. Blackett, Mr ami Mrs A. B. Blackett, Mr and Mrs W. Balckett, Mr and Mrs C. R. Thwaites, Mr and Mrs T. R. Crosswell, Mrs J. Turner and family, Mr and Mrs H. Benjes, sen.,. Mr and Mrs AV. It. Manson, Mrs D. Melirtens arid family, Mr And Mrs C. Taylor, Mr and Mrs W. E. Barton, Mr and Mrs H. It. Taylor, M;- and .Mrs A. C. Benjes and Mr and Mrs J. Power; ASHBURTON. Tho adjourned monthly meeting of the Ashburton branch of tho Farmers’ Union was held on Saturday, when Milt. Gilmour presided. Correspondence was read from tho Provincial Executive- with. reference to the services of Mr A. J. Bell, tho Executive’s organiser, and stating that £4 per week was considered a reasonable remuneration, provided the organiser could he provided also with accommodation while, travelling. It was decided to-engage Mr Bell for a fortnight, tho local branch to guarantee the amount required. The- members present decided that the money should bo subscribed by the committee, instead of taking it from the funds of the branch. Mr W. T. Lill introduced tho subject of the prices of farm produce as paid by the consumer, and said he would like to 6ee something done to bring the farmer and consumer in closer touch than was the case at present. The matter was discussed, but no definite steps were taken. Bishop Julius arrived in Ashburton on Saturday evening. Ho officiated at Communion at 8 a.m. yesterday, in St Stephen’s Church, at which service there were sixty-five communicants. At 11 a.m. he conducted a confirmation service, when thirteen male and seventeen female candidates presented themselves. Tile monthly meeting of tho Church of England Men’s Society was hold in the afternoon. The Bishop gave a special address to men only. He preached again at the evening service. The Rev J. R. Burgin, vicar, assisted the Bishop at the several services, and there were large congregations.