COUNTY CENTRES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 127, 11 March 1936, Page 8

COUNTY CENTRES

(From Our Own Correspondents.) METHVEN. The annual meeting of the Methven branch of the Mothers’ Union was largely attended. The vicar (the Rev. ti. S. Hamilton) conducted the usual service in All Saints’ Church and afterwards in the Sunday School. The report stated that 10 meetings had, been held during the year, and addresses had been given by Archdeacon A. J. Petrie, the Rev. H. S. Hamilton and the Rev. N. S. Watkins, Sister North and Mesdames E. A. Osmers and ID 1 . R. Ashford. Owing to th.e office of enrolling member becoming vacant through the removal of Mrs Osmers to Papanui, the meetings had been taken by Mrs S. Smith up till the return of Dickie (vice-president). At the enrolment service in July the Rev. E. A. Osmers had admitted three new members. The annual festival had been celebrated in September, and representatives from neighbouring branches were present, and the function had been very successful. A continued, effort had been made by members to supply sewing for the Presbyterian and Anglican orphanages. The December meeting took the form of a garden party, and thanks are due to Mrs Smith for the use of her home and grounds. Thanks are also due to Messrs Cookson Bros., Masonic Lodge and others for assistance, also to Mrs Walker, who continues to do good work as magazine secretary. The election of officials resulted: Enrolling member, Mrs K. Dickie; vice-president, Mrs Stanley Smith;; hon. secretary, Mrs D. Chambers (reelected) ; magazine secretary, Mrs \V. H. Walker; committee, Mesdames Dickie, G. Cleeve, E. M. Watson, A. Cookson, E. A. Bland, T. W. Cleeve, S. Smith, A. C. Gadd, W. H. \\ alker and Chambers, with power to add. The sewing committee was re-elected, with the addition of'Mrs J. Watson. Arrangements were made" to the continuance of sewing for both the Presbyterian and St. Saviour’s orphanages. An offer of tea and sugar for the afterneon tea at meetings by Mesdames Stone and Dickie was gratefully accepted. Afternoon tea was provided by members at the meeting, which was brought to; a. close by the Benediction pronounced by the vicar. RcturnecS Soldiers’ Club. A well-attended meeting of the committee of the Mount Hutt District Returned Soldiers’ Club was held in the 'Road Board’s offices, Mr G. Waddington presiding. It was decided to hold the annual reunion social in the Town Hall on April 24, and various sub-oommittees were appointed to arrange details. The question of entertainers was left to Mr A. G. Foreman to arrange. It was decided to invite returned soldier ex-members now resident elsewhere. Arrangements for the Anzac Day parade and service were discussed. The parade is to leave the Square and march to the Town Hall, where the usual service is to be held. Members to parade with mufti. It was also decided to ask the Methven Pipe Band to give its services. The matter of appointing a speaker was left in Mr Foreman’s hands, and it was suggested that the Rev. H. S. Hamilton be approached. Women’s Institute.

3\jrs L. L. Richards (president) presided over a small attendance at the monthly meeting of the Methven Women’s Institute. Members stood, fn silence as a mark of respect to the late Ring George V., and the National Anthem was played. The president stated that the annual meeting of the Mid-Canterbury Federation would be held in Ashburton on April 3, the competitions arranged for this function being (a) A written story of the pioneer tales of the County; (2) A howl of flowers and foliage staged for effect. It was decided that the institute contribute a levy of 2d per member, to he paid from the fund, to help defray the cost of a delegate from New Zealand to the conference at Washington in J une. Advice was received that a school for two or three days would be hold in Dunedin in April by the drama tutor (Miss Lowe). Mrs Stone stated that it was proposed to hold a two-days’ drama school in Ashburton, provided sufficient support was forthcoming. The annual drama festival would he held in J une and July, and. that each group would share the profits of the drama trials held in its centre among the competing institutes. The proceeds would go to the funds of the federation. There would he two classes in the drama festivals, viz., institute members only, and mixed. During the social half-hour the following contributed items: Mesdames Richards, Sgiithi and; Miss J. Aitkcn, pianoforte solos; Mrs R. Ireland and Miss G. Fryer, songs; and Mrs L. L. Richards%nd, J. F. Stone, duets. The competitions resulted: —Two varieties of biscuits: Mrs Little 1, Mrs R. Ireland 2. Flowering shrubs: Miss Hampton 1, Mrs R. Ireland 2. Thrift article made from tin or wood: Mrs Chambers 1, Mrs W. J. Woods 2. The hostesses were. Mesdames Graham, F. Suckling, Wailis, A. E. Wilson, J. Wootton, Vaughan and Woods. RAKAIA. The Rakaia. United Friendly Society held; its annual picnic at Timaru in excellent weather. More than 270 persons attended, and a sports programme was carried out. Swimming was enjoyed by some of the picnickers. The results of the races were as follow : Single women: C. Mclntosh 1, I. Brown 2, J. Burns 3. Single men: S. Shellock 1, H. Sumden 2, G. Chalmers 3. Married women: • Mrs D. Banks 1, Mrs McKendry 2, Mrs A. Shannon 3. Married men : T. Gaylor 1, P. Pluck 2j G. Gemmell 3. GirlsUnder six years: B. McKendry 1, F. Shannon 2. Under nine years: NMorrison 1, A. Berry 2, N. Brown 3. Boys—Eleven and 12 years: R. Banks 1, A. Ward 2, N. Tuffin 3. Girls— Eleven and 12, years: E. Brown 1, J. Clemens 2, I. McKendry 3. Under nine years: N. Morrison 1, A. Berry 2, N. Brown 3. Boys—Nine and under: A. Banks 1, C. Townsend: 2, L. Stevenson 3. Three-legged races—-Girls: N. Morrison and D. Houston 1, A. Shannon aim D l . Hurst 2, E. Brown and I. McKendry 3. Boys: N. Tuffin and W. Green 1, B. Graham and N. Anderson 2. Girls’ pick-a-back race: E. Brown and J. Middleton 1, D. McKendry and

D. Anderson 2, D. and N. Pluck 3. Hopping races —Girls: E. Scoon 1, ID. Houston 2, A. Berry 3. Thirteen years: I. Brown I, I. McKendry 2. E. Brown and D. Hurst (equal) 3. Boys: B. Graham 1, A. Ward 2, N. Tuffin 3. Wheelbamnv races —Girls; D. and F. Houston 1, N. Morrison and A. Shannon 2, K. Morrison and D. Pluck 3. Boys: E. Hurst and G. Hayward 1, L. McGolly and Clements 2, W. Green and, N. Tuffin 3. For the 48 hours ended at 9 a.m. yesterday, 4.87 inches of rain were recorded in Rakaia. WILLOWBY. Over three inches of rain were registered during the latest storm. The countryside was afloat in many instances, and the water rushed across the roads. The Boundary Road Avas particularly dangerous, as the Avaterraces and, natural Avater-channels Avere unable to cope Avith the storm-Avater, and the narrow side bridges Avere covered for several hours. As there are no; distinguishing Avliite posts at these bridges, it Avas extremely difficult for travellers to locate their exact position. Most of the grain is in stack, but a feAV paddocks of Avheat Avere again flooded.