Prizewinners and officials at Downpatrick Bowling Club’s annual presentation evening in 1959. Back (from left): Sadie Hamilton, George McClurg, Tommy ?, Martha McMullan, Jim Taylor, Annie Neill, Meta Taylo and, Rosemary Pentland. Front (from left): Johnny McBride, Johnny McCartan, Mr. Johnston?and Dr. John Ritchie.

DOWNPATRICK — Mrs. N. P. Harrison, outgoing chairman, presided at the annual general meeting of No. 5 Division Care and After Care Commit-tee, Downpatrick.
The chairman, after welcoming a large number of visitors, gave a brief outline of the aims and composition of the committee, saying that the members were all drawn from all voluntary and charitable societies in the area. She also referred to the good work by the hon. treasurer, Dr. P. J. Moore, who, owing to pressure of business, was not seeking re-election.
Mr. C. O’Hare, hon. secretary, gave a detailed account of the work during the year. The Downpatrick rural area that is served, he said, had a population of 35,000. Number of cases helped, 135. Equipment supplied to patients comprised one bed and mattress, eight wheelchairs, 33 bed-rests, six air beds, eight bed tables, 55 air rings, 44 rubber sheeting, 65 miscellaneous articles; also, 154lbs of gluten-free flour, supplied to children suffering from coeliac disease and not able to eat food made with ordinary flour. Thirty-one gastric and duodenal patients were provided with diets of fresh fruit, milk and eggs.
Dr. Moore stated that owing to the generosity of the Downpatrick Nursing Association in handing over their funds of £430, and the £87 collected at the recent flag day, he was able to present a more cheerful financial report than he had anticipated. he also accorded thanks to Killinchy Nursing Association, Downpatrick Women’s Institute, Ballynahinch, Dundrum, Crossgar and Ardglass sub-committees for the donations received.

ARDGLASS — It was on Tuesday morning. We had driven from Downpatrick along the twisty road to Ardglass to see the building by local workmen of the new £50,000 fishmeal factory, which should be completed by the summer.
The hills, covered with gorse, were of soft gold; the harbour, all blue and green. And there we met a captain, an ex-captain at any rate, in the course of his duties. “It is hoped to get the factory to produce all year,” he told us. “Twenty operatives will make for home consumption fifty tons of meal a day, apart from fish oil, which is to be exported. Just the thing for the labour problem.
“And come to think of it,” he added, “with the industry offering £2 10s per cran for herring, it would solve the fishermen’s problems too. But it’s difficult to get young men for this job. The days of the tough, weather-beaten men whose families were attached to the sea for generations have gone. They don’t feel like chasing the herring. They don’t want open-air jobs.”
We walked with him out to the quayside. There was the Marie McClements, lifting gently by the wall. A clean fresh boat, sails neatly furled, and the crew, from Portavogie, deftly stitching nets. “She brought in this morning the first of the herring,” said our ex-captain friend. “Of course, the main body of the fleet doesn’t arrive until July.”

NEWCASTLE — Mr. G. F. Annesley presided on Monday evening at Newcastle Glee Singers’ annual meeting, one of the best attended yet. Mr. R. E. McCready, secretary, detailed the year’s activities, particularly the competitions, cup being won at Portadown and Newry, and in Belfast a certificate for second place. A guest tea had been promoted, as well as dances, which were increasingly popular.
Mr. F. Johnston, treasurer, spoke of the financial position as satisfactory after the purchase of equipment for the hall. Mrs. McGrath, accompanist, thanked Mr. J. Scullion, conductor, and all who had helped to ensure the success of the concert. They were a fine co-operative body, she said, and should have a bright future.
Then, tokens of appreciation were presented to Mr. Scullion and Mrs. McGrath; and Mr. Annesley complimented the singers on the signal honours which they had brought to Newcastle. Mr. Scullion thanked Mr. Annesley for his kind words and in the letting of the hall to them. Mr. Annesley said he was glad to have them as tenants, and was pleased to see the hall look so well.
Appointments: president, Mr. G. F. Annesley; chairman, Mr. T. G. McCurdy; hon. secretary, Mr. R. E. McCready; hon. treasurer, Mr. F. Johnston; librarian, Mrs. T. McKenna; producers, Mrs. A. McGrath; conductor, Mr. J. Scullion. Committee: Miss M. McBennett, Miss R. Tiernan, Mr. S. Jones, Mr. H. Thompson, Mr. D. McMullan, Mr. P. Rogers.

BALLYNAHINCH — Mr. Stephen Walshe, solicitor, of Ballynahinch, who were married at Malone Presbyterian Church last Saturday, left on Tuesday for Zanzibar, where Mr. Walshe, has been appointed Assistant Administrator General. Of late he has been a clerk, first class, in the bankruptcy department of the High Court. He was presented with a silver salver by his colleagues.

KILLYLEAGH — Owing to the low level of the water in Shane’s Lough, the public supply has had to be turned off nightly, to the inconvenience of the residents. It is to be hoped that the new scheme to tap the Mourne supply to feed Crossgar and Killyleagh will not be overlong delayed.

TECONNAUGHT — Pioneers from Killyleagh, Saintfield, Downpatrick, Loughinisland, Saul, Ballycruttle and Kilclief combined on Wednes-day evening at Crossgar-Teconnaught’s rally in St. Columba’s Hall. At devotions the preacher was Rev. P. Murphy, C.C., Downpatrick. Tea was served. Then came a ceilidhe, with Mr. S. Cahill, M.C., to the music of the Dundrum ceilidhe band.

TULLYNASKEAGH — A member of the well-known Tullynaskeagh family in Lecale, Mr. R. M. Chambers, market research officer to Massey-Harris Ferguson, Coventry, and former Y.F.C. organiser, has been appointed a member of the Council of the Institution of British Agricultural Engineers. Mr. John McMaster, skipper of the May Mimaster, Portavogie fishing fleet, has been appointed a member of the Herring Industry Advisory Council until May 1958.

BALLYKINLAR — Travelling from Ballykinlar, Miss Eva McGuire, C.B.E., now well over the 80 mark,. was one of the speakers in Belfast on Thursday at the annual meeting of the Sandes’ soldiers’ homes, of which she has been hon. superintendent since 1934. Many men, today scattered all over the world, have been befriended at the homes.

CASTLEWELLAN — That the police co-operate in averting the danger of forest fires was shown at Castle-wellan Petty Sessions, The Ministry of Agricul-ture say that practically every outbreak that does occur starts on heather and other scrub adjacent to the plantation.

BALLO0 — The thatched cottage belonging to Mr. J. C. Stewart, of Balloo, was destroyed by fire yesterday, the furniture and effects being saved, however. Newtownards fire brigade fought the blaze. It is thought that in the high winds a spark from the chimney set the thatch alight.

STRANGFORD — At Downpatrick Petty Sessions on Thursday, Matthew Bell, 56 years of age, married with a family was accused of intoxication at Strangford on April 11. Mr. M. J. Johnston, defending, said this was race day at Downpatrick and Bell probably imbibed more than he should have done. At Strangford, on his way home to Portaferry, the last boat had gone, round about 9 or 9.30, and there might have been more refreshment.
The R.M.: “I hope he did not get it at a public house.”
Mr. Johnston: “Oh no. Constable Connor, who found him, knows that that sort of thing could not go on in Strangford.”