ASHBURTON.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18180, 17 September 1924, Page 5

ASHBURTON.

PERSONAL. Mr John Stndholmc has been appointed to represent the Canterbury Agricultural College Board of Governors on the Ashburton A. and P. Association. Mr P. L. Porter, late manager of the Ashburton branch of the Bank of Xcw Zealand, who is leaving for Invcrcargill, was the recipient from the staff of a caso of pipes as a mark of esteem. Buapuna. The Guild concluded this session's activities bv a speech competition and eoeial. Mr'J. Early won the competition and generously requested that the trophy money be diverted to the Guild funds. Most of the speakers dealt wuh the Asiatic question. Mr It. W. -Holland adiudicated. Votes of thanks were passed to the judge and the speakers, and a special vote of thanks to the ladies for their keen interest and tireless work. Tinwald Lodge. The fortnightly meeting of the Tinwald Lodge, M.U., LO.OX, was held on Monday evening, when there was a large attendance of members. JN.br. Bro. C. V. Hulme presided, and referred to the loss the Lodge had sustained through the death of the late Bro. Percy Clark, and a motion of sympathy to the relatives was passed. A letter of condolence was received from the Loyal Hinds Lodge sympathising with the Tinwald Lodge in the loss of the late Bro. Schneider. An invitation from the sisters of the Ash Lodge to attend their return ball was received. Correspondence from the District Lodge was received, giving a ruling in connexion with the election to fill the V.G.'s chair, which had been rendered vacant. Three candidates were nominated to fill the vacancy and Bro. E. W. Thompson was successful. Two candidates were nominated for the ofiice of elective secretary, and the election will take place next lodge meeting. _ The Ash brethren assisted with the initiation of a candidate into the Order. It was agreed that a challenge be sent to the Ash Lodge to a debate, the subject and date to be arranged later. High School Board. At the monthly meeting of the High School Board of Governors, held yesterday morning, there were present: Messrs J. W. Bowden (chairman), C. Reid, John Brown, E. Galbraith, W. T. Lill, F. Frampton, E. Kennedy, and A. Lane. The financial statement showed a credit balance in the general account of £969 13s sd, and a debit balance in the loan account of £5500.

Tho chairman explained that in the credit balance in the general account, there was a sum of £.450 as a grant for tho football ground. Eents would be coming in after November Ist, and a sum of £SOO could profitably be transferred to reduce the bank overdraft. Tho suggestion Avas adopted. The County Council thanked the Board for its offer to sell one aero of reserve. Messrs Lill and Bcid were appointed to chooso tho most suitable site for disposal. As a result of a letter from tho Education Department, tho headmaster (Mr W. F. Watters) said that the school had more or less adhered to the Department's suggestions with regard to holidays. He recommended tho following dates for terms: —First term from February 2nd to May Bth; second, May 2oth to August 21st; third, September 14th to December 11th. This would allow for a longer first term, while the third term would be shortened by one week, to end at the time that the matriculation and University examinations closed. The suggestions were approved. The Department forwarded £SOO towards the cost of extending the school site.

A letter was received from the Technical School Board, stating that it eould not see its way to assist in tho formation of a Basket-ball Association, but suggested a meeting of club delegates to consider the matter. It was decided that tho headmaster arrange a meeting of secondary and primary school delegates for tho formation of an Association. A. and P. Association. The monthly meeting of tho Ashburton A. and P. Association was held yesterday afternoon, Mr A. Brown presiding over a fair attendance of members. The Hon. W. Nosworthy acknowledged receipt of a resolution passed at a meeting of farmers supporting the Ashburton Power Board's proposed North Branch scheme, and stated that he could not see his way to support the scheme, for he did not consider it to bo in the best interests of the district and Dominion.

Correspondence upon the same . subject was also received from tho Hon. Sir B. Heaton Rhodes, who said that ho woxild lose no time in conferring with his colleagues and the Minister of Public Works, intimating that he had noted tho recommendations made.

Tho Council of Agriculture asked the committee to support the following resolution in respect of the annual re vision of tho judge's list:—"That each Association affiliated to tho Agricultural Conference be asked to revise annually the lists of judges sent in to the Agricultural Conference, with object of eliminating the names of those who arc not availablo or not competent to act." . The chairman considered that it was too late for tho present committee to do anything in the matter. The request was referred to the new committee.

Messrs Sims, Cooper and Company (Christehurch) intimated that it would give a prize of £2 2s for the best pen of fat wethers at the forthcoming show. The question of weights would be left with the committee. It was decided that the wethers wero not to exceed 1201b live weight. With regard to the trucking of stock from the show, the chairman said ho had interviewed tho stationmaster, when ho learned that, provided the trucks were ordered before 10 a.m., stock could be trucked up to 4.30 p.m. at tho showgrounds siding on the day of the show.

The chairman appealed to members for their assistance in removing the sheep pens at the showgrounds- The work was being done by the Association, in conjunction with the Rugby Union under the direction of Mr W. Tucker.

A "working bee" was organised for Saturday week. Show dates were announced as follows:—Temuka and Geraldine, April 2nd, 1925; Hawke's Bay, October 22nd and 23rd; Methven, March 26th, 1925Waimate, November 13th (horse parade Oetober 1st); Southland, December 9th and 10th; Mayfield, March 21st, 1925.

The following special prizc3 vrcro received: —Vice-president (Mr J. H. Grigg), £lO 10s; Ashburton Trotting Club, £2l; J. Studholme, £5 ss; Ashbarton Dairy Compary, £4 2b 6d; jNTew Zealand Fricsian Association (Canterbury Branch), £4 4s; R- Houston, £3 ss; Nicoll Bros., £3 3s; Canterbury Flour Mills, £2 10s; Mrs J. H. Grigg, £2 2s; A. Horsey, £2 2s; J. P. McLeod, £2 2a (gold medal); W. T. IM, £2 2s; E. Kennedy, £1 Is; B. Oakley, £1 J S ; Wilding, Acland, and North, £1 Is; Mrs A. Horsey, 103 Od. Regarding the gold medal for the Fricsian classes, the New Zealand,

Fricsian Association wrote stating that the medal was not available when unregistered animals were allowed to competo with registered animals. The president said that according to the rules both registered and unregistered animals were eligible to compete. Lecture. A lecture upon the "Economic Effect of Borrowing" was delivered by Professor J. B. Condliffe, of Canterbury College, under the auspices of tho Ashburton Chamber of Commerce, in the A. and P. rooms last night. There was a large attendance, and the president of the Ashburton Chamber, Mr F. W. Scldon, presided. School Committee. The monthly meeting of tho Ashburton Borough School Committee was held last night, the chairman, Mr J. Watson, extending a welcome to tho new headmaster, Mr C. G. M. Boyce, and a new member of tho' committoc, Mr E. W. G. Coker. Regarding a fence for tho school grounds, the Education Board advised that a special meeting of the Board would be held shortly to consider the report and recommendations of* the Board members who recently visited Ashburton. The Education Board also wrote stating that the Board's architect had promised to go carefully into the matter of sewerago for the school and prepare estimates for submission to the Department with an application for a grant. The chairman reported a credit balance at the bank of £ll 9s. The improvement fund was in credit £lO3 6s lid.

The headmaster reported that the present roll-number was 243 boys and 241 girls. Tho averago attendance for tho past week was 444.6, or 91.8 per cent. He suggested that before the coming swimming season opeued simple life-saving appliances be supplied. The purchase of life-saving apparatus was left in the hands of the headmaster and chairman.

After a full discussion upon the conditions of Bible reading in the school it was decided to ask the Ministers' Association to give the matter their serious consideration, with a view to placing it on a more satisfactory basis; failing a solution of tho difficulty before the next eommitteo meeting, the religious classes would be deleted. Messrs W. Page and J. W. Bowden were appointed visitors for the ensuing month.

The chairman stated that the committee set up to consider the liquidation of the debt on the baths had conferred with tho teachers, and it had practically been decided to hold a bazaar in December, before Ihc school broke up. The committee's action was approved, and it was decided to call a householders' meeting to discuss the matter before the next committee meeting. Mail Notices. Mails close to-day: For northern ports, at 2.4.5 p.m.; lute fc; letters, 3 pjn.; guard's van. 0.30 p.m. Maiis for Karatonga and Tahiti, per Ngakuta, at Auckland, close at Ashburton on September I9th, at 2.13 p.m. Mails for Australian States, South Africa, and tho East, per Ulimaroa, at Wellington,close at Ashburton on September 16th, at 5.15 p.m.