COUNTY CENTRES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 14, 27 October 1932, Page 8

COUNTY CENTRES

(From Our Own Correspondents.)

. METHVEN. The final of the series of card evenings promoted by the Metiiv.en subbranch of the Plunket Society was held in the Town Hall on Tuesday, when there was a*targe attendance. The winners were Mesciames Fagan, J. Stephen, and Pyles Ist, 2nd and 3id ladies, and Messrs YV. 0. Lowery, J. Fagan, and £l. Hands Ist, 2nd and 3rd men's. Consolation prizes were awarded to Miss E. Cleeve and Mr A. Lowery. An enjoyable supper was provided by the ladies of the committee of the sub-branch. Aggregate prizes are to be awarded and will be presented at an “evening” to be held on Nov. 4. The monthly meeting of the Methven District High School Committee was held on Tuesday evening, the chairman (Mi - Stanley Smith) presiding. It was decided to write to the headmaster expressing appreciation of the satisfactory results obtained by pupils at the recent tournaments at Christchurch. The headmtaster’s report for the past month was as follows: —The annual sports are to take place on Friday and.the assistance of the committee is requested. The roll number is as follows '.Primary department, boys 122, girls 118; total 240. Secondary - department —Boys 22, girls 24; total 46. The attendances were: Primary 226, 225, 229, 227; secondary 45, 44, 44, 43. . , The District High School held its annual concert in the Town Hall last evening, when, in spite of the adverse weather, there was an overflowing attendance. The programme was an enjoyable one and the efforts of the children reflected much credit on the headmaster and his staff. At an interval, Mr Stanley Smith (chairman of the School Committee) expressed appreciation of the work of Mr Kennedy and his staff in training the pupils in their various parts. The programme was as follows School anthem, High School pupils; riddle play, Standards I. and 11., Spring song, infants; sea songs, Standards 111. and IV., singing game, P 4; butterfly, Standards V. and VI., “Merchant of Venice,” Form , 111., sailor boy, Standards I. and II.; My Party, Infants; Sandman and FarmP4; eurhythmies, High School; smallpox cure, Standards 111. and IV.; Oh no, John! Standards 111. and IV.; “Ambitions of Emily, Form V.; Old English Scene Standards V. and VI.,

MAYFIELD. The. fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Mayfield Lodge, M.U. 1.0.0.fF., was held in the Band Hall last evening, the N.G. (Sister Elms) presiding over a large attendance. The district officers were present on their official visits. The D.G.M. (Bro. H. D. Gunn) was accompanied by the D.D.G-.M. (Bro. C. M. Innes) afid the D.G. (Bro. A. C. Hardy) and several members of the district committee of management. The sentiments for tlie evening were given bv N.G. Sister Elms, P.G. Bro. Elms, P.G. Bro. McDowell, P.G. Bro. D. M. pellow and P.G. Bro. J. H. Stevens (Ashburton). Nominations for_ officers for the ensuing term were declared open. Sick pay amounting to £2 10s in favour of two members was passed for payment. After the meeting closed supper was served.

EUSHSIDE. The final meeting of the committee responsible for the district schools’ sports meeting, recently held at Springburn, was held in the Bushside Schooihouse on Tuesday evening. The chairman (Mr S. T. Goldsmith) presided. The balance-sheet, showing a surplus of £lO 10s, was considered very satisfactory. It was decided that the surplus - from the dance account, £5 10s, should be divided in the ratios of 3-3-2-2 among the Mount Somers, Springburn, Bushside and Alford Forest Schools respectively,- and that the surplus from the sports account, after buying a shield, should be put into a trust account for future meetings. It was decided that the chairman, the secretary (at. present Mr K. I. Robertson), and tlie chairman of the Springburn School Committee (at present Mr E. Perrin) should form an executive for the purpose of getting the sports under w r ay next year. It .was decided to write thanking Mr J. H. Burgess for the use of his paddock. The committee expressed appreciation for the work of the dance sub-committee and votes or thanks were nassed to the chairman and the secretary, and to Mr F. Cutler for his hospitality. Up to last evening, when the rain became lighter, four and a-half inches had fallen since the storm broke at the end of last week.

MOUNT SOMERS. A public meeting was held in the library yesterday, afternoon, for the purpose of nominating members for the Mt. Somers Domain Board. Mr E. C. Wood presided. The chairman gave a resume of the Board’s activities, stating that an up-to-date operating box had been installed in the Memorial Hall for pictures and “talkies.” The road on the western boundary of Res. 1633,-in the towns!-' which was overgrown with gorse, broom, etc., had been closed and added to the Domain property; half had been cleared and grubbed by contract, and the balance bv unemployed labour under the No. ‘ -s" Scheme arid the whole road ploughed and planted in Douglas firs and pinus insignis. A. hgw boundary fence . li«id been erected between Mr L. King’s property and the closed road. The water channel through the north paddock had been closed, and the water diverted along the closed road, down the south paddock, connecting with the old water channel at the east end. The racecourse reserye below the Mt. Somers railway station had been re-let by tender for" seven years, to Mrs C. Johnstone, and the domain reserve m the township to Mr J. R. Loch hard. On the abolition of the Mount Somers Road Board, the Domain Board was appointed trustee for the Mount Somers Cemetery, at the request of the Ashburton Countv Council. The shelter belt on the west boundary of jthe racecourse reserve, which was badly blown and damaged in a recent gale, was being cleared of timber and fences erected, and when this was completed the belt would be replanted in trees. Part of reserve 1633 had been levelled and sown down for a football field, which

it was hoped would be available next winter. Mentals for the hall and library had shown a heavy shrinkage. The tennis courts >vere in a good state of repair and the grounds around the hall and library were well attended to. Thirteen men were working in the domain and cemetery reserves, under the No. 5 unemployment scheme. On the motion of Mr J. R. Lockhard, seconded by Mr J. T. Bull, the board was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for the able manner in which it had discharged its duties. The retiring members were renominated, unopposed, as follows: Messrs J. McGlimont, E. 0. Wood, H. H. Wood, W. J. Comyns and A. N. Grigg. Mr McClimont has been a member continuously for 34 years, and Mr E. Wood 25 years. The monthly meeting of the Mount Somers sub-branch of the iPlunket Society was held in the library on Wednesday afternoon, Mrs A. N. Grigg (president) Others present were Mesdames W. J. Comyns, J. Foreman, G. Robinson and Miss K. Bland (lion, secretary). The Plunket Nurse, in her monthly report, stated that the health of the babies was excellent. 'lt was reoorted that over £22 had been netted from the recent “Paddy’s Market.” A hearty vote of thanks was passed to non-members who gave willing assistance at the market. The rain which began on Friday and has fallen almost continuously since, gave little promise of ceasing late last night, when just on three inches had been recorded, making a total of over five inches since the weather broke about a fortnight ago. Fortunately, lambing is well advanced, nevertheless, some heavy losses are reported. The sub-soil has been well soaked and water, is oozing out of the ground in many places.

RAKAIA. There was a good attendance at - a social held in St. Mark’s Schoolroom by the Ladies’ Guild. Competitions were won by Mrs Tatterson and Mr L. Babbage. Music for the dancing was supplied by Miss F. Cornelius, and extras were played by Miss 0. Smith. The monthly meeting of the Rakaia Mothers’ Union was held in St. Mark’s Schoolroom on Tuesday afternoon, Mrs Barnett presiding over a good attendance. A motion of sympathy with the Rev. A. H. Barnett in the death of liis mother was passed. An interesting address on the work being done at St. Anne’s Home was given by Mrs Turner, of Christchurch. It was decided to hold a pound day for St. Anne’s Home at the next meeting.