COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17282, 25 September 1916, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS.

[From Oub OowiKsroNDENTS.] ASHBURTON. An Ashburton merchant stated on Saturday that the shortage oi seed potatoes was attributed to tho iact that owing to iho shortage last season and tne high pneo ruling many ot tho smaller potatoes which arc usuaiiy heid over for seed were sold as t«bio. potatoes. At the choir practice- at St Stephen's A/ag.icau Ohuich, Ashbunon, on Friday the vicar, the Rev .Nelson Wright, referred ia feeling terms to' tho death of tho lato Mr \V. H. Brooking, who had been one- oi the leading members of the choir. A resolution ot sympathy with Mrs Brooking was passed by the choir, and Mr Wright was asked to convey to Mrs Brooking the choir's high appreciation of the va.uable services Mr blocking had rendeied as a leading member for many years, his loyalty as a. member, and as a fai.hful and good . churchwarden, and to assure Mrs Brooking that tho choir sincerely sympathised with her in her bereavement. At the ruoruing and evening services in tho church yesterday tho orgauist played 'tho "Funeral March ' as a mark of respect to the late Mr Brooking-. LOWCLIFFE. A meeting of tho Lowcliffo branch of the Farmers Union was he.d on Monday, Ml John Brown presiding over an attendance of twenty members. Tho following were elected to tho executive committee:—Messrs F. Sargeant, J. J. JNcugesehwender, T. Evtans and a. Rogers. MrWilJam Harding was clecteu as auditor, and tho chairman was appointed delegate to the provincial conferonce. It was resolved to write to Mr A. W, Paterson, Government veterinary surgeon, thanking him for the lecture ho had delivered recently, and to ask him if he could got in touch with an agricultural lecturer to speak at Lowcliffo at an early date on the subject of " Tillage Operations." Mr Price gave notice to bring up tho question of local postal facilities for discussion at the nest meeting of the branch. RANGIORA. Tho anniversary of tbe Rangiora Methodist Sunday School was observed yesterday with sneciul services', which were largely attended. The preacher for tho day was the Rev J. Liversedge. In the afternoon prizes were distributed to the Sunday School scbo'ars, and some of tho children contributed musical aud elocu*onarv items. Special hymns were sung bv''tbe children, assisted by the choir, the organist being Mr J. T. Withers. v TEMPLETON. The monthly meetiufr of the Temploton ladies' committee of the Red Cross and Lady Livorpool Fund as hold on Tuesday. ' Mrs and Miss Voice forwarded their resignations, which were accepted. Arrangements were made, to hold a gift afternoon on September £6 in the Public Library tor Soldiers' Christmac parcels. It was decided to ask the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association's concert party to give a_ concert during the second week in October in aid of local funds. Mesdames Selbie,' Rowe, Pcttigrew, Fox. Williams and Miss Craighead offered to help in Christchurch on " Our Day," and also to send : av donation of 7s for refreshments. Tho- secretary acknowledges with thanks tho receipt of the monthly subscriptions and also a knitted scarf from Mrs Mulcock, and old linen from Mrs Hinton. It was stato.l thai during tho month two new workers had come forward. It was' reported that tho following goods had been sent to Christchurch since last meeting:—Two shirts, one suit pyjamas, thrco underpants, five bed jackets, four flannels, one scarf and five pair socks. TEMUKA. A concert and dance in aid of tho Red Cross. Funds was held en Friday evening in the Claudeboyo Public Hall. Mr Pemberton presided over a fair attendance. A concert party from Temuka entertained the audience. During the evening speeches were de.iverod by Dv Rugg, Mr T. Uunnion (chairman of the Temuka Patriotic Committee) and Mr Pemborton. < The sixth annual meeting of .shareholders of the Clandeboye Co-operative Dniry Com•oany was held in the Public Hall. Clandcbcye, on Thursday evening. Mr J. C. Barry, chairman, presided over a good attendance of shareholders. Tho report and balance-sheet showed that owing to the dryseason tho output was loos than formerly, but the good nrices obtained had somewhat compensated for this. The directors had installed a cool room and freezing plant and butter plant, and 1 tho equipment of tho fac- : torv had been brought right up-to-date. The ! int'titution of had boen a great success. Tho demand for tho whey butter bad far exceeded the supply, and' what had formerly gone to the pigs.wna now j<roducing nearly J&JOO a. year, besides giving suppliers a cheaper butter. The company was in tho fortunate position of holding good I stocks of ail trade requisites, especially ren- ' net, which had gone from 75s to £lO for a t:n gallon keg. Iho report and balancesheet were adopted. It was decided to leave tho matter of contribution to tbe Red Cross in the hands of tho directors. GEEALDINE. A young man named Knutsford had a narrow escape from severe injury on Friday. Ho was unable to stop a ruotor-cycio lie was riding and ran into tho side of a motor-car, smashing tha footplate and dashboard and piercing tho tyro of the back wheel. Knuts-

with a sliaking 1 . The motor-cycle was ruined. On Friday night Bishop Julius held a confirmation service at the parish church. Three adults wore confirmed and an address waa delivered by tho Bishop. LEITHFIELD. A meeting of tho Leithficld' ehareholdera in the Sei'ton Mutual Dairy Pioduce Association waa held ou Saturday evening to decide what shou.'d be done- with tho Leithfield creamery, which has bce:i closed lor eouvs months." Mr J. D. Wyll.e presided. After some discussion it was decided to sen the building and machinery and let the land. A motion of sympathv was passed with the family of the lato Mr V.'. J. Haruia, who had been one of the Leithfield directors of tho association for some years. The quarterly meeting of tho Loyal Leithfield Lodge oi'Oddieilows was heid on oaturday evening. Absence of members on military service was tho caiso of ,tho r,mall attendance. The Ashiov District officers, Prov. G.M. V. J Rhodes, D.P.G.M. D. Smith and Frov. C.S. C. 1. Jennings paid an official visit and took the chair for the evening. They were accompanied by P.G.M. J. Marshal], Brother Blackott, G.M., end Brother Lillv. of the Loyai Albion .bodge, Dunedin. Matters chiefly relating to the war and it 3 effect oil tbo society were discussed. During the.ovening past officers' certificates .of merit wero prefsiited to Lieutenant Brother Hayruan and Brother C. Johnston Tho visitors were accorded a very hearty vote of thanks, and at the close of the lodge were entertained at. supper.