COUNTY CENTRES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 35, 20 November 1937, Page 12

COUNTY CENTRES

(From Our Own Correspondent*.) RAKAIA. THE MOTHERS’ UNION. The annual meeting of the Rakaia sub-branch of the Mothers’ Union was preceded by a short service held in St. Mark’s Church, on Thursday afternoon .The service was conducted by Captain Kee, of the Church Army Mission. The election of officers resulted,: — Secretary, Mrs A. Crossley; treasurer, Mrs C. McKegney; committee, Mesdames French, Combs, Mead, sen., Colombus, Behrns, and Sargent. Mesdames Barlow, Street, and Breach were elected life members. ANAMA. WEATHER AND THE CROPS. There was a welcome rain on Tliursl- - 97 points being recorded. This was followed by a north-west wind, which veered to the south on Thursday, when a further 42 points fell. The rain will be a great benefit to crops and pastures, which were affected by the hot dry weather, and also to the root crops which are now being sown. Both branches of the Hinds river were dry m far up as Surrey Hills. An occasional shower from now on will assure the district of plenty of feed for all stock. Shearing has been delayed a few days, it being a little further advanced than usual this year on account of the continued fine weather. RUAPUNA. TENNIS CLUB WANTS NEW COURT Mr J. H. Patterson presided at a meeting of the committee of the Ruapuna Tennis Club. The advisability of putting down a concrete court was dicsussed, and it was decided to approach the Domain Board for some financial help. Welcome Rain. The welcome rain on Wednesday totalled 99 points. Crops and pastures were becoming dry, but the position was not as serious as in other districts. STAVE LEY. THE WOMEN’S INSTITUTE. Owing to the rough weather the attendance at the monthly meeting of the Staveley Women’s Institute was smaller than usual. Mrs W. Norman presided. One new member was elected. _ It was decided to try to establish a link with the institute at Staveley in England. Mrs A. W. Russell gave a report on the half-yearly meeting of the federation. It was decided to hold the annual picnic in Gundry’s /bush. Introducing the monthly golden thread, Mrs N. Oliver gave a short talk on “Staveley,” and the roll call was, “I know a cure for —Christmas cards to the value of 15s were sold. Mrs L. Hood gave a demonstr Rich on cane tray-making. The competitions resulted as fellows :—Collection of cakes from one foundation recipe: Mrs A. Wright 1. Dress, costing not more than ss: Mrs A. Wright 1. Bloom: Mrs S. Goldsmith, 1, Mrs Goldsmith, sen., 2, Mrs G. Durran 3. The hostesses were Mes dames C. Jessep, L. and G. McFarlane and McLean. EALING. - THE WOMEN’S INSTITUTE. The monthly meeting of the Ealing Women’s Institute was held in the hall when Mrs Mackenzie presided over a large attendance. Arrangements were made for a rose show in December and a mock banquet was also discussed. An interesting talk on her recent visit to the Coronation was given by Sister Adams, of Timaru, who was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks. Brisk .business was done at the sales table. The competitions resulted as follow: —Single bloom, Mesdames Dorward and Donaldson (equal); truss, Mrs Dorward ; shrub, Mrs Mackenzie; bowl of flowers, Mrs Dorward; matchbox, Mrs Dorward 1, Mrs South 2. The' hostesses were Mrs Donaldson and Misses M. and I. Jones. CHERTSEY. CHILDREN’S FANCY DRESS BALL. The Chertsey branch of the Women’s Institute held* a fancy dress social m the hall last evening for the children of the district. Father Christmas distributed, toys from the Christmas tree. Prize-winners were: Lloyd Doig (Indian), Arthur Wilkinson (Chinaman), Jack Ward (“Creamoata”), Robin Richards '(Wee Willie Winkie). May Ede (Ice Cream), Dorothy Copland (Hawaiian), Dorothy Ward (Edmonds Baking Powder), Yalerie Hampton (Norwegian Peasant), Betty Taylor (Sailor Boy), Margaret Campbell (Rose), lan and Reg Newburn (twins) (Little Boy Blue), Rex Hampton; Joy Haliday, girls’ best fancy dress (Doll); Roy McLachlan, boys’ best fancy dress (Robin Hood); Dorothy Chambers (Egyptian Princess), Shirley Kerr

(Spring Salad}, Mrs Watt Copland (most children"" in fancy dress). Musical items were given as follow:—Rae W r ilson and May Ede, pianoforte solos; Eileen Moore ant Margaret Moore, songs; Joy Halliday, tap dances (to music by Mr W. Johnston, bagpipes). Mrs Henry Copland (president of the Women’s Institute) presided. Church Army Mission. Captain Kee, of the Church Army, held three days’ mission in Chertsey. He showed some beautiful lantern slides. ASHTON-WATERTON. THE WOMEN’S INSTITUTE. At the monthly meeting of the Ash-ton-Waterton Women’s Institute Mrs Shimmin presided over a small attendance. Arrangements for the Christmas party to be held in December were made. It was decided that a letter of cheer be sent to Miss Wootten in her illness. A competition was won by Mrs Thompson. The monthly competitions resulted as follow: —Article from two skeins of wool, Mrs Shimmin 1, Miss E. Read 2; most artistic bowl of flowers, Mrs Shimmin 1, Miss E. Read 2; cream puffs, Miss E. Read 1, Miss W. Blee 2, Mrs Shimmin 3. The meeting closed with the singing of the National Anthem. SEAFIELD. THE IRRIGATION OF CLOVER. Mr E. C.,D. Withell, of the Irrigation Farm, is irrigating clover and grass and lucerne and says lie is getting very good results.