‘COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17280, 22 September 1916, Page 6

‘COUNTRY NEWS.

v [From Ocb Correspondents.] f XGMUKA. ; , The Tomuka Patriotic Entertainment Committee decided to charge for admissiou to the send-off to the recruits of the Twentyfirst Reinforcements. Over £2O was collected, and will be handed -over to the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund. At the farewell to the recruits of tho Twenty-first Reinforcements, Mr T. Gunman, chairman of tho Temuka Patriotic Entertainment Committee said that one of the men going away deserved special mention. Ho referred to Mr H. M’Gillam. His in’other was making a great- sacrifice in letting her son •re. Mrs M’Gil am is a widow with _ three sons. One has returned from Gallipoli badly wounded, another is now in h ranee, and the third is just leaving for camp. The Mavor called for three cheers _ for Mrs M Gillam, which were given' lustily.

'BELFAST. The Men’s Committee of the Belfast Red Cress Branch held its monthly meeting on Wednesday evening. Mr E. J. Wotton presided. If was decided that as the coriimittee had hold office for twelve months, an election should take place, and the date was fixed for October 11: The matter of raising funds for the " Our Day ” appeal was brought up by tho chairman. Mr J. Johns reported having made arrangements with the Belfast Social and Athletic Club to play a cricket match with a teem of Christchurch auctioneers and wool brokers n Saturday at Belfast. It was decided that the proceeds of the match should go towards the Belfast brancli’s contribution for “ Our Day." AMBERLKY. 5

' The quarterly meeting -of the Oddfellows’ Lodge was held on Wednesday evening. Owing to so many of the younger members having gone to' the front, the attendance was small. The Ashley district officers, Prov. G.M. V. J. Rhodes, D.P.G.M,,W. Smith and Prov. C.S. C. I. Jennings and P.P.G.M. C. it. Golding, paid an official visit, accompanied by P.G.M. J. Marshall end G.M. Brother Blackett, of fho Rangiora Lodge. The visitors were cordially received. In addresses given by the officers, special reference was .made to the new “ War Members’ Fund/’ established for th* purpose of spreading the liability for soldier members’ sick benefit over the whole of the lodges in the New Zealand Branch. It was pointed out that the advantages of the fund were such aS > to be a strong argument in favour of the consolidation oi the sick funds of the whole of the lodges in the branch. Without the “ War Members Fund,” which provides for a levy being made by the centre! body on all the lodge sick funds as required to meet demands for sick benefit some of tho smaller lodges would inovitably have had their funds depleted. Reference was also made to the fact Of the difficulty being experienced of holding lodge meetings owing to such a. largo proportion of thoso who took an active interest in the society being on military service. During tho evening the Prov. G.M., on behnlf of the lodge, presented a framed Past Grand Master's certificate to Brother H. B. Dalzicl. After the business bad been disposed of, the visitors were entertained at supper. / LYNNFORI). On Monday evening last the'residents of Lynnford met to bid good-bye to Messrs A. D. Buttcrick and E. E. Haines, of tho Twen-ty-first Reinforcements. Mr A. Mioore presided, and presented each of the recruits with a silver wristlet watch suitably inscribed A short programme was submitted. OXFORD. On Monday night, in tho Oxford Town ,E«11, «• social was tendered to Messrs Edward Pavelka, John D-alley and John J. Kelly, oi the Twonty-first Reinforcements. Mr D. Hawke, president of the Patriotic Committee, presided, and there was a good attendance. Each, of tho departing soldiers, was presented with a safety razor. s • i ,