COUNTY CENTRES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10350, 13 March 1925, Page 7

COUNTY CENTRES

(From Our Own Correspondents.)

METHVEN. A match has been arranged between the Methven and Lauriston senior cricket clubs, to be played at Methven to-morrow. The Methven team has been out of action this season owing to various reasons, and this will be its first game. it is hoped that other games will be arranged later. At the annual St. Patrick’s night concert, the best Ashburton talent will be present and will be assisted by the best local performers. A dance will be held after the concert, for which first-class music has been engaged. At the fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Metliyen Lodge, M.U., 1.0.0. F., No. 7620, 8r0..R. Compton, N.G., presided. Correspondence was received from the United Friendly Societies’ Council, Ashburton, asking the lodge to appoint- a delegate to attend a meeting to draw up rules and regulations for the purposed frietfdly societies’ dispensary in Ashburton. Bio. G. Currie, D.G.M., was appointed delegate. One member was initiated. The secretary advised that the Loyal Ashburton Lodge was paying a fraternal visit to Loyal Addington Lodge on March 21, and asked the brethren of Methven to accompany them. Bros. Compton, H. Noble. H. Fryer, E. A. Mangin, A. L. Mangin, and R. Duff, and Sisters L. Davidson, D. Ireland, and D. Beaton were appointed a sub*-committee to draw up a syllabus and report to the lodge.

MAYFIELD.

Mr W. G. Gallagher, chairman of the Ashburton County Council, visited Mayfield on Wednesday morning to discuss with a deputation of local ratepayers—Messrs D. J. Morrow, A, V. Barratt, D. Duff and D. J. Mollraith —the projected installation in the near future by the Ashburton Power Board of public lights in tlio Mayfield township. Mr Gallagher suggested the installation of four lights as a beginning, a more extensive scheme, to include the lighting of the Valetta bridge, to be carried out later. The approaches to the township .via the Lismore, Valetta, and Mt. Somers roads will be lighted, and ai powerful light placed at the main intersection. The lights will be 'automatically controlled. Other improvements in the centre- of the township, and considered necessary in the interests of public safety, were urged by the deputation. The main intersection is a busy one, and . motorists run considerable risk when nearing the township at a high speed because the trees obscure the approach at right angles of other cars; The work of demolishing certain of the offending trees has begun, and in time the township proper will be almost entirely deni av Tduiojfu U V - JoqmiT jo popnu probably be made to broaden the main intersection by the elimination of the corner at the junction of the Mt. Somers and Valetta. roads. At present the corner constitutes a very sharp and dangerous angle, and should the owner ifligreo to the* widening of tlio yfield will then possess something m the nature of a square. There is shortly to be a. poll of the Ashburton County ratepayers, with a. view to the abolition of the several Road Boards, and placing the roads and highways of the county under the control of the Council. Mr A. Beeson, of the Mayfield -Methodist Church, has received word of his appointment to Featherston, and will be succeeded early in April by Mr J. Belsliaw, of Waddington. Mr Belshaw’s family is well known in educational circles. One son, who is at present studying at the University of Oxford, was formerly a prominent- \\ .Ei.A. lecturer. It is expected that the Anglican congregations of Anama and Mayfield will merge into one- when the. new church at Mayfield is built. The latter scheme is being pushed rapidly ahead, and the fact that only £250 is required to complete the building fund is regarded as proof that the project has many practical The vic-ar, the Rev. Paul Beresford, hopes to dedicate the new church before the end of the year.

RAKAIA.

Mr L. G. Marsh, who has been in charge of the local branch of the Farmers' Co-operative Association, has received notice of transfer to Christchurch. Mr Marsh will leave on Saturday. He will be succeeded m Rakaia by Mr J. Anderson, of LeesMrs Hopwood, who has been elected as the Rakaia delegate to the annual convention of the W.C.T.U. to be he in Dunedin, will leave Rakaia on r The 7 annual meeting of the Rakaia Ladies’ Hockey Club was hdd in tlie library on Tuesday. Air H. Butteis presided over a good attendance. The balance-sheet showed that the club was in a sound position having a credit balance of £26 10s Receipts for the year had amounted to £o7, and the expenditure to £3O 10s. The report stated that the A team had played nine matches, of which seven had been won, one drawn, and ° ne 7 , loe kj 11 ™ Gala Cup points totalled 7f. Ine ts team had played nine matches, of which three had been won and six lost; the Gala Cup points totalled three. The thanks of the club were due to Mr Magson (president), All Butters (coach), and Air Tatteison. The report and balance-sheet ueie adopted. The following officers were elected: —Patron, Air L. White; president, Air A. J. Magson; vice-presi-dents, Messrs S. Connelly, J. Connellv E. Dovle, E. Fox, W. S. Glasse, G. Pluck, H. Aluclde, J. Pye. »■ Brown J. Stubbs, C. Shannon, A. Shannon, E. Jamieson C. Evison, AL P. Cooke, J. Cronin, G. S. Hardy, J. O’Connor, G. Cromio, AV. Laraman. L. Cordner. G. Tatterson B McNamara, J. Allan, W. Black, AY. Lee,

H Butters, A. ■ Stewart, and the Itcv. E. N. Blakiston; club captain, I<. Cornelius; field captain, C. Shannon, coach, G. S. Hardy; selectors, G. b. Hardy, G. Tatterson, and the field captain; treasurer, B. Stewart; delegates to the Ashburton Association, F. Cornelius and C. Shannon; committee, J. Smith, D. Stubbs, H. Stewart, H. Shannon, D. Kennett, and M. Evison; dance committee, I<. Cornelius, B. Stewart, C. Shannon, D. Kennett, L. Newman, and M. Newt man. It was resolved that the £Z left over from the B team’s social should t be placed toward the new dress func., i the dresses to be sateen and the style i to be selected by the committee, i At a meeting of the Ancient Order of Foresters, Bro. G. Pluck presided over a. good attendance. An apology , for absence was received from Bro. Kerslake. An account was passed for ’ payment. Three members were initiated and four were proposed. Receipts totalled £8 13s, and the expenditure £1 3s. ~ , . The monthly meeting ol the Kakaia branch of the W.C.T.U. was held m St. Andrew’s Schoolroom. Mrs Boag presided over a good attendance of members. The treasurer, Mrs A. Lee, reported a credit balance of 12s 4d. The secretary was instructed to write letters of sympathy to the Rev. A. Begg and Mrs Begg, Highfield, Timaru, in the death of their daughter ; to Mrs Street in the severe illness of her husband; and to Mesdames Breach, Blakiston. and Oliver, who are ill. Parcels of clothing were received from members for the Willard Orphanage, Palmerston North, and it was decided to pack and forward them at once. Mrs Boag gave some interesting details of the coming Prohibition campaign. An article on The Menace of Wine” was read by Mrs Boag. Mrs Hopwood read letters from Mrs Don and Miss Henderson descriptive of Prohibition and social work m some of the large cities of America. It was decided that the president should send a greeting from the Rakaia branch to the W.C.T.U. Convention to be held in Dunedin this month. One new member was initiated. , Interest is being taken m the proposed formation of n_ branch of the Farmers’ Union, and it is anticipated that there will he a large gathering of farmers at the meeting to be addressed by representatives of the union.