LOOKING BACK

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 68, 2 January 1936, Page 4

LOOKING BACK

fifty years syne. (From the “Guardian,” Jan. 2, 1886.) New Year’s Eve.-—New- Year’s Eve passed off very quietly in Ashburton. Midnight services were held in several cf the churches, and at 12 o’clock precisely the bfjls of St. Stephen’s Church were joyously pealed. A number of juveniles who bad invested in fireworks fouitd theniselves in trouble, for that comprehensive enactment, the Police Offences Act, exactly met their case, and the result was that several of the more turbulent ones were “run in,” and the others* had their stock of fireworks confiscated. St. Stephen’s Picnic.—The annual picnic of the Sunday School teachers and choir of St. Stephen’s Church took place yesterday. About 60 persons met a,t the church at about 9 a.m., and, proceeded in seven vehicles, mainly supplied by Mr Dailey, to the Longbeach. homestead. The Ashburton Guards.—The firing for the silver medal presented by Mr J. R. Murray took place at the outts yesterday morning, and was won by Lieut. J. A. Clayton, Ashburton Guards. A number of company and private prizes were also competed for at the same time, the winners being— Rifles: Private Ashton, Captain W. St. G. Douglas, Sergeant McDonald, Private A. McDonald, and Bugler G. Savage. Guards: Lieutenant Clayton, Private R. Minnis, Colour-Sergeant E. B. Moss, and (Private Kerr. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO. (From the “Guardian,” Jan. 2, 1911.) The Coming Year. —It is idle, of course, to indulge in anything like prophecy, but close thinkers and observers of the times may be justified in telling us, as they have done, that 1911 seems to be big with great events. There is the race of th# maritime nations of the world for supremacy at sea. There is the previously unheard-of activity in military matters throughout the nations of the world. Then there is the revolution that is threatened in the systerii of transit by the entrance of the aviator upon a campaign for the conquest of the air. Let us hope that the answers given to these questions will be of a nature pointing to the more assured peace and the added prosperity of the world. The Johnson-Jeffries Fight. —McMahon Bros, wli'l present the much talked of Johnson-Jeffries fight pictures in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Ashburton, on Friday evening. Watch-Night Service.—A united watch-night service was held on Saturday night at the Primitive Methodist Church, commencing at 11.30. Pastor F. W. Greenwood presided, and an appropriate address was given by Rev. W. Burley, 8.A., Mr Arnold (of Dunedin) reading Psalm 90 by way of lesson. The attendance' was only moderate, and the solemnity of the service was sadly marred by the inconsiderate, if not deliberate, conduct of those in the immediate vicinity who created a noisy disturbance by letting off numerous crackers and other explosives:// ,