SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17990, 6 February 1924, Page 4

SOUTH CANTERBURY.

TIMARU. Social and PersonaL Mrs E. T. Mirams returned to Timara from Christchurch yesterday. Mrs J. M..Tripp and family (Silverton) arc spending a holiday in Timaru. Miss M. Bowcn has returned to '"Christchurch.

Mrs Parsons left yesterday for Melbourne, after a few months' visit to Timaru. Mr and Mrs Pilling (Fiji) arc visiting Timaru. Mr and Mrs Percy Elworthy (Gordon's Valley) will leave on Thursday to join the Rotorua, en route for England. The Schools Re-open. Yesterday saw the re-opening of the Timaru High Schools and some of the primary schools for the new year, which promises to be a very prosperous and successful one. The number of new pupils at the various schools is well up to last year, and in several cases is considerably exceeded. There have also been changes and additions to the staffs at some of the schools. The Timaru Boys' High School reopened this morning with the time-hon-oured eeremony of ducking the new boys—an event looked forward to by tho old boys with pleasurable anticipation, and by the new chums with not a little trepidation. The Rector (Mr W. Thomas,'M.A., LL.B.) told a reporter yesterday morning that the enrolment had been considerably heavier than last year, and although all the boys had not yet returned from their holidays, there had been 300 pupils present at tho school yesterday in tho secondarv department. By the timo all the boys had returned to the school there would be considerably over 300 on the secondary roll—a record for tho school. The number of new boys totalled about 120. The boarding establishment had its full quota of 100 boys, and the accommodation would bo taxed to its utmost. Tho number of pupils in tho preparatory school was about tho same as last year, v The Girls' High School was also ' reopened yesterday morning, and there was a largo muster of old and new pupils. Tho number on tho roll this year is not yet available but the new pupils total about SO. The new lady principal (Miss J. It. Ban.-, M.A., late of lona College), and a new mistress (Miss Oldridge) werd introduced to the staff and pupils. The number of pupils has increased to such an extent as to warrant tho appointment of yet another mistress to tho staff, and it is expected that the vacancy will bo filled shortly. Timaru South and West Schools, and Waiuiataitai School, also commenced a now chapter in their history yesterday ■morning, with an increased number of pupils, and in the case of tho West School, improvements to the playing grounds, which add considerably to their appearance. The Main School will not open until next Monday, tho repairs and renovations which were commenced during; tho holidays being still uncompleted. General Hews. A magpio camo to rest on a telegraph pole at Orari at 5.15 p.m. on Monday, and by some means caused a contact which cut off the supply of Coleridge power to all consumers' south of that township. Tho Borough Council's plant was brought into operation, and supplied the town's requirements till 9.5. In the meantime patrols of linesmen had gone out from Timaru and Ashburton in search of tho defect, meeting at the Rangitata bridge, after tho Timaru patrol had discovered the charred body of a magpio at tho top of a pole at Orari, Coleridge power was again available in Timaru at 8.30 p.m., but was not switched on until 9.5 p,m. This is only tho second mishap of its kind sinco tho Lake Coleridge scheme was launched, Port of Timsrri. Shipping movements at tho Port of Timaru will bo found in tho shipping columns. YfAIMATE. The annual conference of tho JS ? ew Zealand s'iro Brigades' Association will bo held, at Rotorua this year, and Mr J. Mines is the delegate appointed to represent tho Wainrato Fire Brigade. Ho will leave Waimato on tho 7th in3t.

Supplies of cream to the Waimato Co-operativo Dairy Company's factory are well maintained, but it ia certain they would have been considerably largor btit for tlte effects of drought. For the month of January the output from the factory was somewhero between fifty and sixty tons of butter. Tho company's now offlcos have been completed, and tho staff have taken up their quarters therein. A motor-cyclo and side-car collided with tho Makikihi bridge on the Main South road at an early honr yesterday morning. Tho driver of tho cyclo escaped serious injury, but the occupant of • tho side-chair was not so fortunate. He suffered a fractured leg, and was conveyed to a private hospital in Waimato, where lator it was found necessary to amputate the injured member. At the Magistrate's Court yestorday morning, before Mr 33. D. Mosley, S.M., Charles It. Dunn and James Weir wero each fined 5s and costs for cycling on a footpath. Margaret Patterson and W. H. Mullan were each fined 10s and costs for driving vehicles without lights. Bay Turnbull was fined 5s for driving a car at a high speed round a corner. Adams was convicted and discharged for using tho Waimate water supply for gardening purposes when such was prohibited. For similar offences, Michael J. O'Meara and Laura Wills was each fined 5s and costs.

(William John Ncwinan, charged with trespassing on the Wainiatc racecourse, was convicted and fined £3 and costs. '' There is too much of this sort of thing going on in Waimate, and it will have to be put down," said Mr Mosley when imposing fines on offenders found on licensed premises after hours. TEMUKA. The Tcmuka District High School reopened on Monday after the holidays. The attendance was a good average one, among the number being many infants just commencing school life. Word has been received that the Mayor and Mayoress of Temuka and Mr and Mrs G. B. Cartwright, who have been on a visit to the North Island, are expected to reach home to-day. They arrived at Wellington on Sundayevening. Anglers had good sport in the Eangitata Bivor during the wcok-end. Several good bugs were reported, ranging up to 101b and 121b. One angler secured «igut, topped by a 14A-pounder. About hait-a-dozeu large quinuat salmon were seen. There was very little fishing activity at the Ashburton River mouth. The Kangitata is stated to bo in good order. ° A danco was given the friends of Miss Ircno Cuttle on the occasion oi!

(CojittauGd at foot of nest column,)

her departure from TemuJsa. - The hall was artistically decorated with coloured streamers, Chinese lanterns, :ind greenery, and the suppcr-tablc with palo pink sweet peas, which made a very pretty picture. During the evening songs were given by Misses A. Smith, L. Radford, and V. Sugrue, the accompaniments being played by Miss Lillian McDonald and Miss Dwan. A quartette, which was very much applauded, was given bv Messrs A. McDonald, T. Sheen, A. Hally, and A. Harris. A banjo selection by Mr A. Harris, assisted by Mr A. Hally, was greatly appreciated. IDxeellont music for the dancing was supplied by Misses L. McDonald, M. Dwan, G. Manning, and" Mr A. Hally. During the supper interval Mr A. McDonald spoke of the niany good qualities of Miss Cuttle, and wished her every success, and called up Miss Sugrue to present their guest with a beautifully-bound and illustrated volume of Longfellow's poems. In doing so Mits Sugrue hoped that Miss Cuttle would accept it as a memento of the happy days she liad spent in Tcmuka. Miss Cuttle Suitably replied. Miss T?cg Connell apologised for the absence of Mrs Cuttle who, through illness, was unable to attend, and on her behalf said that from tho bottom of her heart she wished to extend her warmest thanks to all those who in any way had helped with the evoning'a amusement, and how sho truly appreciated tho kindness which prompted them to do what they did for her daughter. Mr T. Sheen, in a neat speech, said how he regretted the absence of Mrs Cuttle, and wished her a speedy recovery. Great credit is duo to Miss 31. Dwan and Miss Phyllis Sugrue, who organised the function and endeavoured in every way to make tho evening a success.