METHVEN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9652, 8 July 1919, Page 6

METHVEN.

The annual general meeting of the Methven Bowling Club was held in the A. and P. Rooms on Saturday evening. The retiring president, Mr John Stewart, took the chair, and there was a large attendance of members-.

The report of the committee showed that the club had completed a most successful year, the active membership of the club having risen to 58. The balance sheet showed a small credit and considering the expenditure incurred by the club in connection with the now green and other matters, this was deemed to be very satisfactory. The following new members were elected: Messrs A. 'McLeod, W. F. Richards, A. M. Bremner, and A. Bremer.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:— Patron, Mr W. Morgan; president, Mr W. T. P. Lock; vice-president, Dr. H. W. D. McKee; treasurer, Mr E. Grover; secretary, 31r W. J. Owen, auditor, Mr B. Roll; committee, Messrs Wilson, Robins, Smith, Stewart and Pearce. ■

Mr Green raised the question, of the removal of the turf from the old cricket pitch to turf the new bowling green, and a. motion was carried that the committee of the Bowling Club approach the Domain Board and ask it to put the cricket ground in order. A member moved that the selection of all sub-committees, including the Green Committee and Selection Committee 'should be made by the general meeting, but after considerable discussion the meeting by, a large majority affirmed the principle that the selection of all sub-committees should be made by the general committee and. from among the members of that committee.

A vote of thanks to the retiring officers was enthusiastically carried, and the president welcomed Dr. McKee, who has just returned from two years of service in France.

When the .business was completed the retiring president (Mr Stewart) entertained members to supper. Toasts were honoured and a few musical items passed a pleasant hour, which terminated with'Auld Lang Syne. The fortnightly meeting of the Literary and Social Club on Thursday lasttook the form of a mock trial. The proceedings opened with the summary arrest and conviction of numerous wellknown ladies and gentlemen for a variety of "offences." Both the charges and the punishments meted out provoked roars of laughter from a large audience. The principal trial of the evening was the indictment of Methven's oldest citizen on charges of (1) furiously driving a motor car, (2) being on .licensed premises during prohibited hours, and (3) boing a fit subject for the issue of a prohibition order.

The personnel of the Court was as follows:—Judge, Mr Justice Jawe (I. '\V. M. Dart); Crown Prosecutor, Mr Stan. Jailem, K.C. (S. Smith); his junior, Mr Stonewall Jester (Jesse Stone); Counsel for the Defence, Mr T. Gettemoff, K.C. (T. Doherty); his junior, Mr Will Flock (Wilf. Lock); officer of police, Constable Emporium, V.C., D.C.M., M.C. (H. D. Tomlinspn); the prisoner, Marmaduke Claude Gaylad, alias Bill Flighty, (W. Morgan). Mr J F Stone was foreman of a mixed (very* mixed) jury, which disagreed on the first charge, found the prisoner not guilty on the second and on the third recommended the issue of a prohibition order for a period of 25 years. The next meeting of the bociety will be a ladies' evening, when we are promised something good.