THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17984, 30 January 1924, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

KAIKOURA. At the first meeting of the nc'wiy-con-stituted Kiver Board on Saturday the following rnembers were preseni..— — Messrs A. Keer.au, V>". Ch.-tpni.in. J. • Boyd, J. Peoples, ami C. Mor.-m. - Slr --A- Kcenaa was unanimously eiectid chairman. Plans for river involving an expenditure of £4ooo, were approved bv the Public 'Works Department. Mr "\V\ R. Leader was authorised to prepare sections of the work for immediate tender- Lxtensn e groyne work will be carried out on tie Kowhai river, at Sehoolhouse road. 1 low Point, and the Bluff. A number of Cheviot tennis players visited Kaikoura on Saturday l 0 P j l * matches with the Kaikoura and huna Tennis Clubs, Kaikoura proving easy winners. _ n A. dance was !leld £i Subuvsca *"■? ok Prf&y fev -v<k3 of t&s v n fiin4 ci tie Consent school. -ner was a large attencrjnce. The was supplied bv Messrs E. and - • Mackle. X. Burlan.l, Wareliam iliss Mackle (violin), and Mr O. jiams (piano). Mr S. Goodwin parr, out the duties of M.C. THE PEAKS. A hngelv-attended meeting of ers of The" Peaks and districts was held in 'J be Peaks to discuss the rabbit question, i A. Hoilo was elected chairman, chairman explained the object o meeting. He said the present method of dealing with the rabbits had P rOV "J a complete failure. Much disci followed 011 other ways and meal destroying the pests. A rePJ ese "% tive deputation was formed to w on the Hurr.mii Kabbit 15oard at their next meeting, to go fu'Jv lntn „ matter. The secretary, Mr Jas. *? eas " lev. was instructed to c : ommurncat with the secretary of the ■ Ral \ Board and arrange with him for ' Board to receive the deputation. WAIK ARI. At a public meeting lie id in the Waipara Council Chambers on Saturday evening to consider the question or <i War Memorial, there was a very iair attendance. Mr H. Saundercock, who took tlie cliaiv, said the object of tup meeting was to push forward immecMntolv some form of memorial to tne fallen soldiers. Mr Bryson, represent- , inf the Hawarden Committee, said they wished to know definitely whether Waikari would link up with Hawarden or not. Mr T. Allan moved, seconded by Mr Archer: "That Waikari have a memorial of its own.'' The motion was carried unanimously. Mr ltobinson, president of the Hawarden Returned Soldiers' Association, said he hoped that months would not elapse before the object of the meeting was pushed forward. The following committee was appointed:—Messrs "V\■ Earl, McCrae, H. Saundercock, T. Allan. Archer, AV. _Honeybone, Blunden, and Chas. Cotterm (secretary) It was decided to ask Mr A. Cameron (Waipara) to attend the next meeting. RANGIORA. On Monday night the members of the Silver Band tendered a complimentary smoke concert to Messrs H. Oates and j. Mcßride. The jiresident, Mr W. A. Ilowse, presided, and there was a good muster of bandsmen and friends. Ors. li. Mcintosh, AV. L. Murray, and AV. 11. Pike were also present. The chairman explained that the gathering had a double purpose, first to recognise in a small way the services rendered to the Band by their conductor, Mr H. Oates, and secondly, to bid farewell to Mr Mcßride, who is leaving the. district. Since coming to liangiora, Mr Oates had taker a great interest in the Band, especially the younger members. and as a, slight token of appreciation he jiresented him with a silver entree dish, suitably engraved. The case with Mr Mcßride was different. He was leaving the district and his departure would be a loss to the Band. He had been connected with them for a number of years, and had given valued assistance, and as a slight memento from his comrades, the cliairman presented him with a silver cigarette case, matchbox, and holder. Both recipients suitably replied. During the evening quite a long list of toasts was honoured. Musical items were given by Messrs G. Sturgess, Dawson, and R. J. Thompson, Mr A. G. Hunnibell presiding at the piano. BELFAST. On Monday a very pleasant evening was held in St. David's Sunday School as a welcome to tho Rev. G. B. Nan Son, who has recently been appointed vicar of the parish. There was a good attendance, and Mr and Sirs Nanson and family were given a hearty welcome to the district. Mr T. Morton, people's warden, gave Mr Nanson an official welcome, and a liumber of other speakers, including Messrs Moore, Lawn, and Rountroe, added their words of welcome. Mr Nanson, in replying, thanked the speakers, and said lie would do his best for the parish, and paid a tribute to the late vicar, the l<ev. H.N.Roberts. Mr A. Johnson was responsible for arranging a very nice programme, every item being much appreciated. Those who contributed to the programme were Mesdames AV. P. Anderson, Berry, A. Clarke, 11. Hall, and P. Thomas, Miss J. Staff, and Master B. Goodland. Miss Gutiirie, who is leaving Belfast, was entertained by members of the 'Belfast Tennis wiub. Mr Barnes, cliairman of the committee, in presenting her with a Douiton bowl, expressed a Jiope that she would visit Belfast irequently. Supper was dispensed by the ladies, and games and competitions went to make up a most enjoyable evening. Mrs AV. Rogers received the first prize for the most points in TTio competitions, -and Mrs A. Clarke second. The club lias in view the matter of putting down two more .courts and advantage was taken of the occasion to form committees for the purpose of raising funds. Mr 'Barnes gave an outline of the work to date, which consisted of getting permission to put down the courts in Sheldon park and arranging for a picture benefit to be held 111 the Town Hall on Monday next. He alio reported that an evening carnival would be held in Sheldon park early in March, and for this purpose committees were elected. RAKAIA. Yesterday the schools in the Rakaia district reopened after the term holidays. The weather on the opening day was oppressively hot, with a warm nor'wester blowing.

I ALBURY. i . A very successful function was held I 111 . , le Public Hall, Albury, when a j social and presentation was tendered to Air and Mrs A'igers on the eve of their departure for Christchurcb, where Mr A igers goes to well-earned promotion. Mr T. Slowey presided over the largest gathering seen at Albury, and eryone present entered into the spirit of the occasion, thoroughly enjoving themselves. During the course of the evening the chairman referred to the capable and I efficient manner in which Mr A r igers i had carried out the duties of station I and post-master, with credit to those j departments, and satisfaction to the j genera] public. His courtesy had made I for him a host of friends, as evidenced | by the large attendance that evening, i In these days of officialdom and red tape it was quite a. pleasure to <Bssl with men like Mr A'igers. He had xaucli j)leasure in handing Mr A r igers a wellfilled waSfet as a siaitSt of the respect and approbation in which he was held hy the Albury people and in doing so he wished Mr and Airs Vipers the success and happiness they deserved. Air Rowlands spoke of the valuable work Airs A T igers had done in connexion with the local library which she had put on a successful footing from tho state of chaos in which she had found it. He also referred to her many acts of kindness to those sick or in trouble, and made special mention of her work in connexion with the Plunket Society of which she was an ardent worker. Air A r igers, in reply, spoke feelingly of their appreciation of Mrs A'igers, and said that whatever assistance she had rendered had been purely out of goodness of heart. As for himself while doing his duties to his departments he had always tried by strict impartiality to all to meet the wishes of those with whom he was dealing, and he hoped that as far as Albury was concerned ho had succeeded in some measure. LAKESIDE. Mr G. Mackenzie, late headmaster of Lakeside school. Airs Mackenzie, and family, left recently for their home at WillowbridgjO, after visiting friends at Lakeside. LEESTON. Under the auspices of the Ellesmere Technical Association, a well-attended and successful Scottish concert was held m the Leeston Town Hall. Songs were given by Messrs A. McDonald, Bracey AA'ilson, and Bishop; recitations by Mr Campbell Brown, and Scotch dances by Misses Pocock (2), McCall, and Turner. -After tho concert a vote of thanks was passed to the perform-, ers. Supper was served, and the entertainment concluded with a dance. SOUTHBRIDGE. At the monthly meeting of the Southbridge District High School Committeej held on Monday, there were present: Messrs R. Rowe (chairman), A. McPherson (secretary), J. Stringer, W. J. AVoods, A. Tong, and R. J. Parkin. In reply to a letter from the committee, the Canterbury Education Board wrote stating that the architect had been asked to report or arrange for the renovation of two rooms in the school. The secretary reported that a new tank for the use of the school had been received from the j Education Board's workshop. The committee had, at its last meeting, acceptj ed the nomination of Mr F. A. Stack for the position of assistant teacher, but the Boardj in a further letter, regretted that owing to the new scale introduced bv the Department adversely affecting tre salary, Mr Stack had been unable to take up the appointment. The position had been re-adver-rtised, and it was understood that a relieving' teacher would be sent in the meantime. It was decided to hold a "'gift' auction and concert on March 13th; to raise funds for the' improvement of the school and grounds. The secretary was deputed to interview the headmaster to obtain permission for the pupils to be trained to take part in the concert. It was resolved to make further arrangements at a special meeting on February 11th. CHERTSEY. Mr AV. T. Anderson, of the local railway staff, received an unpleasant surprise on returning home from his annual leave. On entering his house he found that a burglar had been at work, the thief obtaining admission by breaking open one of the pantry windows. His principal quest appears to have been for articles of wearing ap- ■ parel, a suit being amongst the missing goods. Although a gold watch and several articles of jewellery had been left in the house, these were not taken. Mr and Mrs Anderson had been away from home for a month, so it is rather difficult to fix the date of the robbery. The police have now the matter in hand.

Mr A. Stiithri.dge, of the local postal department, who has been absent on holiday, has now resumed duty.