SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17749, 28 April 1923, Page 8

SOUTH CANTERBURY.

TIMARU. j Social and Personal. I Mr O. E. Torlesse, manager of th* i Timaru Branch of the Union Bank of Australia, has returned to Timaru from I a holiday spent in the North Island. Archdoaeou Juliua and Mrs J. A. Julius, the Vicarage, who have been staying with Mrs Percy Biworthy, Gordon's Valley, returned to Timaru yesterday. Mr and Mrs L. Pnxley (Ealing), are spending the week-end at the Grovenor Hotel. " Mr and Mrs „H. LeOren and Miss E. LeCren are staying at the Grosvenor Hotel. , . Mr and Mrs Clapperton arrived in Timaru from the North yesterday and intend to return to Dunedin to-day. Civic Reception to Sir Andrew Russell. Yesterday morning Major-General Sir Andrew Russell was tendered a civic reception at the Municipal Chambers, Timaru. The Timaru Boys' High School I Cadets, under Captain Cockroft, formed a guard of honour, the school band playing the general salute. A large crowd assembled in the Council Chambers, his Worship the Mayor (Mr E. J. Rolleston, M.P.), presiding. 1 Mr Ivolletton said, in welcoming Sir Andrew, that he was pleased to see such a big ' attendance. They had gathered to extend the courtesy of the town to the leader of the Now Zealand Expeditionary Forces. Sir Andrew had commanded the New Zealand Eorces in the late war, and in that position lie had earned the greatest respect and admiration cf all his men. Sir lan Hamilton bad said at the Anzac memorial service in London on Wednesday that it would be hard indeed to Burpass Sir Andrew Russell of New Zealand for coolness and level-headedness. ne was a born leader in the field. Mr Belleston continued: "Not only as a soldier do we welcome Sir Andrew. His name has been connected with New Zealand from the early days. This visit principally concerns soldiers but Tiniaruviaixs generally claim the right to welcome such a man and extend the town's courtesy to him." He hoped that during the General's stay in Timaru he would find much to interest him. (near, hear.) He hoped it would be a pleasure to himself and a benefit to bis fellow soldiers. Much coidd vet be done in the way of assisting soldiers. The General was their tried and trusted friend not only in military but also in civilian life, (Hear, hear.) He ex-, tended to him the very best wishes of the townspeople." (Applause.) Major L. M. Inglis said that Sir Andrew Russell was there at the invitation of the South Canterbury R.S.A. He was their old leader in the field and they took the greatest pleasure in welcoming him to Timaru. Everyone felt that New Zealand had won a very proud name in the late war. This was due, to a great extent to Sir Andrew. Russell. But he had had material with which no General could fail. He had tempered the material that made the blade. One thing particularly that spoke volumes for Sir Andrew Russell's generalship had been the fact that throughout the campaign and afterwards there had not been a breath of criticism againßt him. (Applause,.) Sir Andrew Russell, in reply, thanked the speakers for their allusions to him and their appreciation of hi 3 services. He thanked them all for so showing that they had not forgotten what great things had been done by the forces. A Japanese General had once said that-for six months after a war at the most soldiers' services to a country were remembered. It waa not so in our countries. Their services were vivid in the memory for all time. He thought he had been a fortunate individual to have commanded the New Zealand forces at the front. It was Anzao Week; naturally the minds of the people were turned to thoughts of the late war. The state of the world to-day would cause apprehension to anyone who studied history. Western civilisation had received a terrific blow in the war. We could only survive it if we held steadfastly to those high Jdeals for which the war was fought. We must have discipline, self-control and the subordination of the part for the good of the whole if civilisation would survive. Then it was vitally necessary to increase New Zealand's copulation. There were too few people in this country. But meetings of this sort reminded them of their duties and obligations to the Empire to which they all belonged. He thanked them all for the reception that had been tendered to him on behalf of the men who had gone beyond the seas to fight. Mr Itolleston said that he was very pleased that his last act as Mayor of Timaru had been so pleasant as it was that morning. Sir Andrew Russell tnen spoke to the Guard of Honour. He congratulated them on their smart appearance and particularly on the steadiness on parade. Self control was the vital factor in the make-up of a soldier. The General then left for Waimate to inspect the Springwell Soldiers' Settlement. Timaru Sailors' Kest. At the monthly meeting of the W.C.T.U., Mr Woodward reported a very busy period, three overseas boats and one coaster having been in port over Easter. A social had been held during the week and a tea and service on the Sunday, when 32 men were present. On Easter Monday a picnic was held in the Park. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Woodward for organising the picnic as the men had a day off, and were grateful for the entertainment. It was decided that a social afternoon should be held at the Old People's Home on -May 3rd. • It was agreed to hold a combined meeting of the W.G.T.IT. and Y Branch in the Y.M.C.A. on May 7th. A Pretty Ceremony. There was an unusual ceremony yesterday afternoon in St. Mary's Anglican Church. Timaru. A baptismal service was held, nine children "oeing presented. Tlie Rev. H. W. Smith offiei- : ated. After the service about 60 wo- ! men and infants adjourned to St. Mary's Sunday School, where a unique and most pleasant little ceremony ■**■►•; performed. Sister Kate presided. The mothers were entertained at afternoon tea and a christening cake prettily mounted with a dainty cradle and surmoiinted with coloured candles and streamers, was cut by Sister Julia, of ! Christchurch. The cradle was finallypresented to the mother of the youngj est child? Port of Timaru. Shipping movements at the port of Timaru will be found in the snipping columns. South Canterbury Hunt. A meeting of the South Canterbury Hunt waa held in Timaru yesterday afternoon. Present: Messrs C. L. Orbell (chairman), J. Maze, A. G. MacDonald, F. H. Neale, K. Bissett, W. J. Bassett, W. Orbell, M. Maze, T. 0Guinness, J. S. Talbot, W. P. Sterio-

ker, A. S. Elworthy, H. Elworthy, G. Lamb and H. H. Eraser (secretary). Messrs W. Bourn and T. Guinness were elected members. It waa decided to attend to various repairs necessary at the stables. Mi Ba6sett moved, and Mr Maze seconded that two tanks be purchased for use at the Kennels. —Carried. It was also decided to paint tne kennels. Mrs A. E. G. Rhodes wrot> thanking the oomiiiittee for electing her to life membership. The St. John Ambulance Associationwrote asking the Hunt towards procuring uniforms fof Brigade members. Mr H. Elworfchy said that hunting was a sport that called for the services of the Ambulance more than any other sport Mr Bassett was of the same opinion. It was decided to vote £2 2s. Tlio chairman said that a sub-com-mittee had considered the arrangements for the Point to Point Steeplechase to be held on June 24th and had decided to cut out the portion of conditions providing that the name of the rider should be sent hy. The action of the sub-commifctee was approved and the programme as submitted was agreed to. The sub-committee had made certain alterations to the programme for the July Steeplechase Meeting, and those were approved. It was agreed that Mr E. Butcher be appointed field secretary. Tlie following new members were fleeted:—Misses B. Elworthy, B. Trotter and D, Waddell; Messrs ji. Murrav, S. Bussell, S. Dobson, J. Wade, R. Cowan, G. Adams, J. Turner, I). MoKenzie, H. Guild, J. Murphy and J. Mahoney. The chairman said that they should breed more pups. It would take the hounds at present in use all their time to get through the season. The Dunedin Hunt had written to the committee asking the B.C. Hunt to breed two litters for them, and the secretary was instructed to reply that the club would accede to tjie request.

WAIMATE. On Wednesday afternoon there was a largo gathering of residents of Waimatc and district at Victoria Park, the occasion being the unveiling, by Lieutenant-Colonel N. E. Wilson, D.5.0., M.0., of the memorial arch erected to the memory of the boys of Waimate who fell in the Great War. Others present on the platform were his Worship the Mayor (Mr F. Nash), Dr. Wylie, M.C., Rev..J. D. Wilson, and Captain Mcllugh, M.C. (representing the ofiicer commanding the Southern district). An apology was received from Mr J. Bitchener, M.P., who was performing a similar ceremony elsewhere. The Mayor, in explaining tho reason for tlie gathering, said they wished to perpetuate the memory of those brave men and women who had fought and died for us. He related the history leading up to the arch. He introduced Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson, whom he described as a Waimate boy, and one of whom they wore very proud. Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson, in ■the course of his address, said it was a matter for congratulation to all that such a lasting and impressive memorial had been erected. It was the outward expression of the high regard and appreciation they felt for the men and women from the district who had done their job. It was the least they could do to erect the memorial to these men and women who had given up their lives that Prussian militarism might not be triumphant. Anzae Day would be kept as a holy day by the genera Jons to come. No reminder was needed to-day' of Anzac Day, but they must pass it on and toll their children of the terrible menace of 1914-18. Before drawing aside the Union Jacks covering the tablets bearing the names of 149 men and three nurses who lost their lives during the war, the speaker quoted Kipling's Eecessional, "Lest We Forget." He then withdrew the flags veiling the memorial, on which was the inscription: "To the glory of God and the honourable memory of the brave souls of Waimate and district who gave their all for us and freedom." Three volleys were fired, and Bugler Brenton sounded the "Last Post." A prayer of dedication was uttered by Rev. J. D. Wilson, and the wreath-bearers came forward and laid their tributes at the foot of the arch.

GERALDINE. A garden fete in aid of the local schools' prize fund was to have been held in the Domain on Thursday, but owing to weather conditions and the wet state of the ground, it was resolved to hold the fete in the Drill Hall, where various dances, etc., were gone through by the children in the presence of a large number of the parents and friends. Sales of produce, etc., and afternoon tea increased the receipts. About £6O was realised by this effort.

The municipal election called forth a good deal of interest. Mr J. Kennedy had been elected Mayor unopposed, but there were eight .candidates for the six seats on the Council, and the day on which the weekly half-holi-day is to be observed had to be decided by vote. By more than a two-to-one majority, Thursday was favoured for the weekly half-holiday. The following candidates were elected to the Council in the order given:—Messrs G. Sherratt, A. South, E. Logan, A. Bell, Davison, and Dr. Patorson. Messrs Creemer and Loach were the defeated candidates.