THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17437, 24 April 1922, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

EANOIOEA. A general meeting of the Ashley branch. N.Z.E.I. was held in the Rangiora School on Saturday, Mr H. Thornton presiding. Mr C. G. Boyce was appointed delegate to the W.E.A., and was associated with the executive m matters of urgency. Mr H Thomson was elected president, and Mr >i. »• Pavitt vice-president for the current year. Mr E. L. Breach waa appointed to act as correspondent for the Executive Council at the third International Moral Education Congress meetiug at Geneva next July. It was decjded t<> ask two typical country teachers to nu in the circular regarding cost of living, and to postpone discussion on the reduction of salaries till the June meeting. Tlie delegate to the meeting of the N.Z.E.I. next month at Wellington was instructed to vote against the abolition of education boards, but with reference to other remits was given a free hand. Members of the Rangiora Methodist Church .assembled in force in the church schoolroom on Friday night to bid tarewell to Miss B. Avers, who is to be married shortly, and who is removing io the North Island. Miss Ayers has been » most active member in all brandies or church work, especially in connexion with the choir. She has acted as assistant organist, and as a teacher m theSunday school. The Rev. A. J» • Scatter presided, and on behalf of tne church members, the choir, and the Sunday school, presented her with a silver teapot, suitably inscribed, and an entree dish. The chairman'expressed, the general regret at Miss Avers s departure, and wished her every 'happiness. Miss Ayers suitably replied. JJurin<r the evening musical items were given by" Mesdames I. T. Withers and &• Withers, and Misses Hamilton and If. Withers On Friday afternoon Miss Ayers was presented with a silver sugar basin by the members of the Bible Ch'ss. Messrs T. B. Vincent, W. A. Banks, W. E. Barton, and F. Sharp, members of the Rangiora Bowling Club, paid a visit to Akaroa during Easter week, and played a series of bowling matches against the local club'.. Four matches were played as a team —three or which they won, the fourth being lost by one point. The party played m all ton games, some of which were pairs, played in a progressive tournament. On Easter-JMonday, they also took part in a two rink match against two rinks from th« Lyttelton Club, and. won. Special services were held- m the Knox Presbyterian Church, Rangiora, yesterday, the occasion being the installation of a handsome new manual or<*an. The services were conducted by the Rev. W. Howes. There were large congregations at both services. In the morning the choir" sang 'O, How Amiable," by Faunder, ami Mr J IX Keir sang the solo "Les Marameaux," by Faure. In the evening.the anthem, "Lead, Kindly Light;*' (Pugh) was given by the choir, and Miss Webster sang as a solo Handel's Angels Ever Bright and Fair." An organ solo Guilman's "Prayer and Cradle Song (Easthope Martin) was also played by the organist, Mr GibbsJordan.

LEESTON. j After the annual meeting of . the. Xeeston Weslev Guild on Thursday night, a social evening was held in Wesley Hall to welcome the new minister of the Leeston Methodist circuit, tfhe Rev. A. 0. Harris, and Mrs Harris. Ihe function was of an informal nature, and a pleasant evening was spent, there beinw a representative attendance. Banjo solos were given by Mr Heyder, -Miss Mabel Ende contributed a song, and Mr L. Eade recited. Words of welcome were spoken by Mrs Harte and Messrs L. W. Hewitt," J. Oliver, G. H. Jones, and A. \V. Green, who expressed th© : hope that. Mr and Mrs. Harris would: spend a, liappv time in the Leeston district. Mr Harris, in acknowledging the welcome, said he looked forward to. a period of useful service at Leeston ;> . and hoped to have the .jjo-operation or* the people in carrying- out his work. He had been much impressed- by the cordial manner in .which, they had welcomed Mrs Harris and himself.

AKAKOA. The annual picnic of the members oi? the Roman Catholic Church and the pupils of the Convent School, postponed from St. Patrick's Day on acoount or ; the inclement weather, was held on Friday. The conditions jvere ideal, and the location, Mr Brocherie's piddorks at French Farm, admirably adapted for the purpose. There was a large attendance, many residents from the nearer bays being present among the merrymakers. A long sports programme wan carried out with energy and enthusiasm. The more important events resulted aa under:—Single Indies', race: Misa Rona Kotlowski 1, Miss Kotlowski 2, Married ladies' race: Mrs Shepherd 1, Mrs Hammond 2. Married men's race: Walter Hammond 1, Charles Wilkin 2. Thread-tlie-need.o rate (for ladies): Miss Nellie Fahey 1, Miss Etihel Le Lievre 2. Thread-thff-needle race (for man): Lance Jewell 1, L. Brrccherie 2. Returned soldiers' race: Tom MoGuire 1, L. Hunt 2. Stepping competition (ladies): Miss Ethel Le Lievre. Quoits (ladies): Miss R. Kotlowski 1, Miss N. Lo Lievre 2. Quoits (men): C. Wilkin 1, C. Kotlowski 2. Before leaving, three hearty cheers were given for Mr Brocherie, 6en., for his hospitality.

IADBROOKS. The weather during the past week was very suitable for farm w. rk. A few showers of rain are badly needed, the dry winds having caused the grass to bear a parched appearance. The land is very Sard for ploughing. Mr D. Mcyerhuff, who has been seriously ill, lias so far recovered as to be able to leave his bed and get about. Mrs J. J. McCnrthc-y, who recently underwent an operation, is making.rapid progress towards recovery. The fortnightly euchre tournament and dance were well attended. The winners of the euchre prizes were Mr 1. Nimmo and Misa O. Wat-on. The music for the dancing was supplied by Mrs Schultz, and the M.C.'b were Messrs Q. Pickering and P. McDrury.

HANMEB SPRINGS. A very successful fete, under tZ:o auspices of the Presbyterian Churcn, was held last week.on the golf Units. After a few introductory remarks by the Key. Jas. Gemmell, Mrs Rutherford (Leslie Hills)'declared the fete open. The sum of £l2O was realised. The stall-holders were as follows:—Work, Mesdames Morrison, Geffltnell, Hay, and Miss McPherson, takings £44 13s 7d; produce stall. Mesdames Willis, Ghappeil, ana Ashton, £1!) 10s; tea. booth, Mesdames Phillips, Pater-on, Frederkken, Mrlvay, and Miss Lahmert, £8 15s; sweats, Mesdames C. Lalhmert and Graves, £ll lbs 8d; houp-la, Mesdames Dodds, Anderson, and Wmstone, £35 13s 8d; eheepweight guessing competition, Mr p. Manson; shooting gallery, Mr A. McKay. Other helpers were Mrs Murdoch, Miss Stewart, Messrs Willis, Lalimert, Wright, and Aitken.