COUNTY CENTRES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVII, Issue 10808, 31 December 1926, Page 8

COUNTY CENTRES

(From Our Own Correspondent). METHVEN. The fortnightly, meeting of the tation to. the annual picnic gMcL?u nan's Bush on New Year s Day, and offering a quantity of toys, etc, as pKlor the children. The offer was Accepted with thanks. The Loyal Hinds Lodge wrote accepting the inyiSS to the picnic. Fraternal good wishes and Christinas were received from the Grand Mastei (Bio 1. Aitken) and the district officers. Bio. h. Vaughan (hen. secretary ot the Picnic Committee) reported in detail in connection with the arrangements. It was decided that I.P.N.G. Bro. E J Bladder's name be placed on the •merit board, that he receive a 1 ast Grand's certificate, and be recommended for the Purple Degree. The usua social hour was spent at the close ot the lodge. '-:•■• STAVELEY. Some of the events of the passing year have now become so much a part of the life of the locality that it is somewhat difficult to connect them with such a recent date. Although a few premises were connected up witn the Lake Coleridge electric power before the end of 1925, the majority were not connected until the first quarter of this year, and the official switching--on at Staveley took place on Januarv 8 I Since then the use of electricity for both lighting and power has become fairly general, and there is every indication of even more extensive use being made of the power in the future. Another improvement during the year is the renovation of and additional accommodation built on to the Staveley Hall, and since the erection of a fire-proof cinematograph operating box the hall is being well patronised by picture companies, who, it must be said, have put on seme good programmes. The hall was re-opened, after the additions, with a ball on August 20. , ,-, , \ The jubilee of the Alford Forest and Springburn schools was fittingly celebrated on October 8 by a large reunion of old scholars and residents. It was a strange irony that in the following month a meeting of householders sounded wha: was virtually the deathknell of the two schools m giving its sanction to consolidate those two schwls, together with tha Bushside schools, at Bushside. In many ways this was the most significant event of 1926," "and as the) chairman of the, meeting (Mr G. W. Armitage) said, the decision will in future years be looked on as important. The Athletic Club's second sports meeting, held recently, was very successful from the viewpoint of sport, and the meeting being sports day in the locality, it is to be hoped that it will be held for many more / years By removal the district* lost some valued residents, among whom must be specially mentioned Mr and Mrs J. T. Hooper, Mr Hooper having devoted much time to local affairs. By death the locality lost three very old residents and pioneers. In August a very old resident of Alford Forest (Mr Allan Mcßae) died, while the two best known and oldest pioneers of the local districts (Mrs W. T. Smith, of Staveley, and Mr Andrew McFarlane, of Alford Forest) passed away toward the end of the year. MOUNT SOWERS, A dance in aid of the Anglican Sunday school prize and picnic funds was held in the Memorial Hall last night, and despite the .inclemency of the weather there was a large gathering, including many visitors now in the district. High-class music was gratuitously supplied by Mrs E. C. Ward and Miss L. Wood; the many encores being a striking testimony of appreciation. Extras supplied by visitors were also greatly appreciated. The duties of M.C. were carried out by Messrs E. Stevens and jST. Beckley. It was announced that the and picnic would be held on New Year's Day in the Domain, with a dance in the evening. A vjgry liberal supper was provided by the ladies. The weather faired yesterday afternoon, but became misty at night, and continued foggy and misty this morning.