COUNTY CENTRES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 165, 26 April 1935, Page 8

COUNTY CENTRES

(Prom Our Own Correspondent), METHVEN. At a special meeting of the Methven District High School Committee, Mr Stanley Smith (chairman) presided. The chairman explained that tlie meeting was called to discuss the King's jubilee celebrations in. Methven. It was decided to hold the school celebration on May 10 at 1.30 p.m. on the Methven showgrounds, if they were available. The headmaster was asked to arrange that an explanation of the jubilee be made to all classes. It was also agreed to plant a commemorative lime tree In the school- grounds. At the Methodist Church on Sunday the Rev. G. Mills, the newly-appointed minister for the Methven-Rakaia circuit, conducted the services both morning and evening, when there were good congregations. Miss Thelina Ayers (Pvangiora) sang a solo. On Tuesday evening a welcome was extended to Mr Mills by the congregation, when there was again a' good attendance. Also present were the Rev. R. Morgan .(Presbyterian) and the Rev. E. A. Osmers (Anglican). Mr H. G. Ayers welcomed Mr Mills on behalf of the Methven members of the congregation and wished him a successful ministry. Games and competitions were held during the evening, and Miss Thelina Ayers and Mr Mills sang songs. Mrs H. G. Ayers acted as accompaniste. Supper was provided l by the ladies of the congregation. The annua! reunion of tho Mount Hutt District Returned Soldiers' Club was held on Wednesday evening, when there was an attendance of about 70. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr G. Waddington; vice-president, Mr A. C. Gadd; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr A. G. Foreman; committee, Messrs S. H. Anderson, W. K. Wilson, F. Thompson, P. Cookson, J. Temple, A. Menown, A. S. Kennedy, G. Johns, L. L. Richards, and the past presidents, Messrs H. Fryer, H. J. Freeman and L. Burrows. A hearty vote of thanks for his services during the last five years was accorded Mr S. Hawkhcad, who has resigned the position. The balancesheet, showing a small credit balance, was adopted. Thereafter a very enjoyable social evening was spent. The toast of "The New Zealand Expeditionary Forces and Kindred Forces" was proposed by Mr M. P. W. Blathwayt and responded to by' Messrs A. S. Kennedy, W. K. Wilson and A. G. Foreman." Songs were contributed by Messrs A. C. Wilson, 0. Brand and W. Denley; a pianoforte solo by Mr Trevor Brown; a violin solo by Mr P. McLauchlan; humorous items bv Messrs A. Gadd, B. Cotterill, Stewart and A. Lawrence; and a bagpipe selection by Mr <D: G. McKay. A" most enjoyable evening ended with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne."

MOUNTSOMERS To raise funds for additional interior furnishings for the Church of the Little Flower, a Catholic ball was held in the Memorial Hall on Easter Monday night. There was a large attendance, and the arrangements wore ably supervised by an energetic committee, with Miss T. Morgan as hon. secretary. The ballroom and stage were tastefully decorated with flowers and evergreens. Music Avas supplied by Cook's Band (Lyndhurst), and extras were played by Mrs M. L. Goodrich, Misses T. Morgan and G. McDonnell. Messrs S. Johnstone and W. Morgan were joint M.C.'s. A lucky spot waltz was won by Miss A. Stephen and Mr H. Graham, and a Monte Carlo waltz by Miss E. Lamb and Mr Lisle Hood. The supper arrangements were capably supervised by Mrs J. Gorrie, the supper tables being gaily decorated with flowers and autumn foliages.

HIGHBANK. The Rev. E. A. Osmers presided at a meeting of the parishioners of St. Saviour's Church, Highbank. The question of suitably celebrating the silver jubilee of the church was discussed, and it was decided that the celebrations should take place on May 24 (the jubilee date), and take the form of a welcome to parishioners old and new in the afternoon in the Highbank School, followed by a high tea. A service in the evening would be conducted by the vicar, and the preacher would be probably a former incumbent of the district. .A social reunion of parishioners would follow the service in the schoolroom, and Messrs E. A. Bland and &. Callaghan were appointed to assist in organising this iuue--tion. The obtaining of further funds to add to the £164 at present in hand for the building of a Sunday school room was commended to parishioners as a worthy object to suitably mark the jubilee. Miss Olive Smith was appointed honorary secretary of a committee to organise the celebrations. The vicar also announced that a memorial service to the late Mi' George Vaughan would be held at .evensong in St. Saviour's on Sunday.