COUNTRY NEWS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 272, 21 December 1914, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

(From Our Special Correspondents.) ANNAT. i The euchre tournament, and dance promoted by the leading residents of Annat in siid of the Poor of Great Britain and Belgium Fund was held in the Orange Hall on Thursday evening, and proved an immense success. Visitors were present from all parts of the district, and one and all agreed in pronouncing the function.well worthwhile. Competition for the prizes was keen, and resulted in Miss K. MeCurdy winning first prize (a bag of sugar, donated by Mr D. Coleman), Miss .1. Mcllraith second prize (a glass dish, donated by Mrs R.. Andrews),while 11 Mir A. E. Gill was successful in gaining the men's first prize (a hand of bacon, donated by Mr W. 11. Ferguson), and Mr J. Cullen carried off the second prize (a framed poem, presented by Mr R. Andrews). Mr Cullen put his prize up for Dutch auction, the winner putting it up again, and so.on;-it was sold and resold, until Mr A. Atkinson finally se- | cured it for £1 7/6 to present to the Kowai Bush School. * During the evening, button-holes were sold, not one of those present refusing to buy. Altogether, it is expected that there will be quite £l7 t0,., be sent to swell the fund, quite a creditable effort for a small place like Annat. There were no' expenses whatever connected with the affair, the hall being provided free by the Orange Lodge; the refreshments, which wore on the usual lavish scale, were all provided free by the ladies; and the music for the dance by the popular orchestra, Miss I. Mcllraith (piano), Mr S. Quaife (cornet), and Mr H. Millar (violin) also contributing their services gratis.- To all those, including the donors of the valuable pri-zes for the euchre tournament, the thanks of the community are due. Dancing was kept up with spirit until 3 a.m., at, the conclusion of which the National Anthem was sung. AMBERLEY. On Wednesday a very handsome stained-glass window, recently placed in the east, of the Church of Holy Innocents, was dedicated to the memory of the late Mrs Botnao. The service was conducted by the Rev. C. Tobiu, of Bur wood 1

Oa Thursday the breaking up of the public school took place, when a number of the parents assembled. Mr W. A. Nieholls, chairman of the committee, in distributing the prizes, made sonie pertinent remarks to the children. Mrs Anderson distributed the sewing prizes. The following is the prize-list:—Dux of the school, Flora Mason; cookery, Nellie ■ Winski 11 j military drill, Howard Arthur; drawing, L. Hadler, O. Hadler, G. South, and E. Feathery. Handsome prizes for sewing were given by the ladies of the district. Thirteen goodattendance certificates were won. After the distribution of lollies, hearty cheers were given for the staff, the committee, and donors to the prize fund. On the same evening a surprise party met at the house of Miss McNaught to bid farewell to Miss Brownlie, her niece, who is leaving for the Waikato district. As a mark of appreciation of her services as organist and Sunday School teacher, the Rev. Mr Watt presented her, on behalf of the congregation of the Presbyterian Church, with a handsome silver-mounted manicure set. The gift was suitably acknowledged. The annual picnic of the Presbyterian Sunday School was held at the Do-

main on Saturday 1 . Games'and races were indulged in, and toys distributed. The prize-books will be given on Sunday next.

-The'camp of the C.Y.C. will break up■ to-morrow, after a week's training. Military sports were held, with an excellent programme. A large number of ladies partook of afternoon tea, catered for by Mr Marsh. An accilent to one valuable troop-horse rendered its destruction imperative. On the whole, the weather was favourable. HALSWELL. A meeting of the Halswell School Committee was held on Monday evening. Present: Messrs E. Paterson (chairman), P. Watson, J. McDrury, A. Clements, and W. Gardiner. Correspondence was received, from the Board of Education, stating an examination of pupils in Standard Vl."would be held in the Spreydon School'on Thursday, December 17. Miss Thornton, of Te JJepo, offered to provide a prize each to the dux (boy and girl), which was thankfully accepted by the Committee. It was resolved to close the school for Christmas holida3 r s on December 2.'!, and opeii again on February 1, the children to be given the opportunity to decide whether to have a picnic or give the money to the Belgium Fund.