COUNTY CENTRES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 133, 18 March 1931, Page 8

COUNTY CENTRES

(From Our Own Correspondents.)

METHVEN. The annual St. Patrick's night concert, under-the auspices oi the Catholic Church, was held in the Methven Town Hall last evening. The attendance, as usual on this occasion, was .very large, and those present were most appreciative of the programme presented. Hie Rev. Father T. H. Price thanked all for their attendance and also those performers who had journeyed from Christchurch and Ashburton to assist them. Afterwards the hall was cleared and a. dance was held, music henig supplied by Maedonald's orchestra. (Ashburton). The programme was: Opening chorus, the singing class: violin duet, Misses Miller and Simpson; soprano solo, -'When they ask you what your name is," Mrs G. Anderson; action song, "Little Kittens," junior boys; xvlophone solo, Mr Hector Macdonaldfa comedy, ' ; The Little Pickle, ' by Masters Arthur Jones, John Berry, Hugh Poff, Joseph Kelleher and Misses Phyllis McGirr, Mary Nordquist, and Mollv Dowling; tin whistle band, the boys: humorous item, "More Odds and Eiids," Mr Jack Lockhart■; violins, "Irish Airs," Misses Simpson and Miller; soprano solo, "Toast to Dear Old Erin," Mrs 0. Anderson; song in character, "Grace Darling," Convent pupils; saxophone solo, Mr Hector Maedonald; a comedy, "Five O'Clock Tea," by Misses Katie Kelleher, Jose Mcintosh, Nora Kelleher, Eileen Rouse, Patty McClog and Rubine Goodwin. A meeting of the committee of the Methven. Junior Ladies' Hockey Club was held in the Anglican Hall last evening, Mrs H. Reid presiding. It was reported that the prospects for the coming season were good, several new players being available. It was decided 'to hold the annual meeting next Tuesday. The monthly meeting of the Methven District High School Committee was held on Monday evening. Mr H. E. A. Lock presided, and there were , also present Messrs T. S. Harrison, W. T.* P. Lock and J. Osborne and the. Rev. R. Morgan (secretary). A motion of sympathy to Miss Wade in the recent death of her father was carried in silence. The headmaster's report showed that there were on the roll in the primary department 120 boys and 127 girls, a total of 247, and in the secondary department 21 boys and 25 girls, total 46, a grand total of 293. Mr Harrison, of Napier, had taken un the duties lately carried out by Mr W. Marsh. The drill and agricultural instructors had recently paid their periodical visits. The Education Board s workmen were painting the school buildings. It was decided to hold a sale of produce on April 2, to be followed by a concert in the evening, with a view to raising funds to pay off liabilities. A sub-committee consisting of the chairman, secretary and Mr A. S. Kennedy was appointed to finalise the arrangements. It was also agreed to ask the wives of members of the Committer to form a committee to undertake the afternoon tea arrangements. RAKAIA. A meeting of the Rakaia Horticultural Society was held on Monday evening, Mr C. Shannon presiding over a good attendance. The .secretary (Mr H. C. Nelson) presented a balancesheet showing a debit balance of £l7 9s 4d on the year's working, and a credit balance 'in the Post Office Savings Bank of £47 4s. It was decided that the prize-money, amounting to £25, be paid in full. A vote of thanks was passed to the ladies who had assisted in the tearooms. ALFORD FOREST. A meeting of householders to consider the question of consolidating the Alford Forest School with Methven, as suggested by the Education Board, was held in the School on Monday evening. The chairman of the school committee (Mr E. Grig") presided over an attendance of about 20. Mr S. Smith (Methven) outlined a scheme with a view to consolidating at Methven, and he dealt with the question of conveying the children. The opinion was exprssed that consolidation at Bushside (as previously suggested) was undesirable, as there the children could not get a secondary education. A motion that the school committee go into the matter of cost of conveyances with the Board was defeated. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr Smith.