COUNTY CENTRES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10164, 19 July 1924, Page 2

COUNTY CENTRES

(From Our Own Correspondents.) METHVEN. ~«,.~% A basket ball match was played at the Methven schoolgrounds on Thursday afternoon between a team from Ly'ndhur'st and a team selected from the local school. The game was brisk and full of interest, resulting in the Methven team winning by 42 to ml. Miss Hayes was referee. The Lynd" hurst team were in charge of Miss Rudd. , __ iU ' A general meeting of the Methven Croquet Club was held on Thursday afternoon. Present: Mesdames Nickolls (in the chair), Duff, Ayers, Carleton, Newman, Aitken, McKee, W. Carleton Cookson, G. H. Nicholls, lu-yer, and the secretary (Mrs H. Reid). The question of putting down a new lawn was discussed, and it was decided to have the ground prepared and to lay the lawn next autumn. The work will be commenced as soon as the bowling pavilion has been moved to a new site. It was decided that steps bo taken to erect a pavilion for the Croquet Club, lenders are to be called, and Mrs Ayers kindly consented to have plans prepared and submitted at a future meeting. As a, wind-up to the recent gala held at Lyndhurst, the committee have decided to give a dance in the hall on Friday next as a compliment to all who had assisted to make the function the success it undoubtedly was. The final net proceeds of the gala amounted to £321. At the dance opportunity will be taken to present several prizes in connection with gala competitions. The Methven Ladies' Hockey Club have decided to enter the six-a-side tournament which is being held under the auspices of the Ashburton Ladies Hockey Association. The following members have been notified to attend special practice matches (teams will be selected at the conclusion of the nractice matches):—Misses M. Duff, E. Johnston, J. Burrows, J. Cooper, L. Davidson, I. Dalton, M. Dalton, M. Hewson, D. Ireland, M. Crooks, D. Williams, I. Watson, C. Dore, and Mesdames McKendry, Anderson, and Middleton. Mr H. F. Clarke, of the Coalgate post office, who has received notice of his transfer to Methven, was entertained at a social on Tuesday evening. Mr Clarke has been at Coalgate for the past two years, and during that time he has become very popular through his unfailing courtesy. The evening was spent in dancing, and during an interval Mr C. Stuart, on behalf of the residents, presented the guest with a leather suit-case, suitably inscribed. Messrs R. Willis and W. B. Willsteed (stationmaster) also snoke of the guest's good qualities. Mr Clarke suitably responded.

RAKAIA. The tender of Messrs Russell and Co., Ashburton, has been accepted by the Ashburton Power Board for the installation of electric light under the block system. The price is 29s per point. The work begins on Monday. A meeting of the Rakaia, Football Club was held in the library on Thin-s----day evening, Mr O. Evison presiding over a good attendance. A donation of £1 Is was received from Mr AY. Boag. A motion regarding the allocation of dance funds was rescinded, and it"' was decided to devote the whole of the proceeds to the accident fund. It was resolved to ask the Ashburton SubUnion to re-grade three senior players, and to ask referees to enforce the rule that spectators must stand outside the wire fence on the Domain grounds. It was decided to take up a special collection in aid of the accident fund at the Rakaia v. Methven third-grade match. It was agreed to enter teams for the seven-a-side tournament at Ashburton, and to lend a football to the Rakaia School for the remainder of the season.

The monthly meeting of the Rakaia Mothers' Union was held in St. Mark's schoolroom on Thursday. Mrs Blakiston presided over a large attendance of members and friends. The occasion was a "pound" day in aid of St. Anne's Home, Christchurch, and a large number of parcels was received for this object. The speaker for the afternoon was Mrs Tooley, of Methven, who gave a very interesting address on "The Influence of Home." At the close a hearty vote of thanks to Mrs Tooley .was earned by acclamation. Afternoon-tea was served.

Mr L. Paynter, Government expert, gave a demonstration of pruning on Thursday afternoon. There was a good attendance. The pruning at Mr Hardy's was on old trees, and at the Rev. E. N. Blakiston's "on young trees. Afternoon-tea. was provided by Mrs Hardy. In the library in the evening there was a very poor attendance, when Mr Paynter spoke on domestic orchards. Several questions Mere asked, and a vote or thanks passed to Mr Paynter. The practical utility of one phase of the instruction given in primary schools is to be seen at the local .school, where pinus insignis trees, raised in the school garden, are now being taken home by the children to be planted at their own homesteads. Some have also been planted in the school grounds to fill up gaps made in the bluegums by the ravages of the blue-gum blight. The Rakaia Ploughing Match Association has had donated to it silver cups 'for competition in the following' classes:—Class A, high cut; Class B, double-furrow (open); Class C, dou-ble-furrow (district) ; Ciass I), threefurrow (district); Class Ey three-fur-row (open) ; Best six-horse team ; utility team; best four-horse team ; best three-horse team. Besides these cups and the cash prizes, there are many other special prizes. In Canterbury only the Rangiora and the Rakaia Associations cater for what is known as the "high cut." Points will'be awarded as follow:—Ploughing 50, feorimr 10, finish 10, straightest ploughing 10.