SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18309, 17 February 1925, Page 12

SOUTH CANTERBURY.

TIMARU.

Social and Personal

Miss Ethel le Cren (Maori Hill), accompanied by lier guest, Miss Betty Beadel, left yesterday for Christchurch.

The Ven; Archdeacon A. Innes Jones and Miss Beryl Innes Jones (Wellington) arrived from Dunedin yesterday, and are the guests of Mrs H. A. Innes Jones (Sefton 6treet). Dr. J. L. Wicken, formerly of Fairlie, left for Christchurch yesterday, en route for Eeefton.

• Mr C. G. Curtis, who spent the'weekend in Timaru, returned to Christchurch yesterday.

Mr and Mrs Arthur Elworthy (Holme Station), Mr and Mrs Herbert Elworthy (Craigmore), Mr and Mrs J. C. Miller (Orari), and Mr C. L. Orbell (Pentlow) went to Christchurch yesterday for the polo matches.

Mr Justice Alpe'rs and Mrs Alpers, who arrived in Timaru. from Cbristchurch on Saturday, went on to Dunedin yesterday. The Misses O'Brien Hodge, who were the guests of Mrs Melville Jameson ("Otumarama"), have returned to Mrs Guyon Mac Donald (Orari). Miss Denniston left yesterday for Wellington, after visits to Mrs Gladstone Robinson ("Oakwood,V Gleniti) and Mrs P. R. Woodhouse (Bluecliffs). The Most Rev. Dr. Redwood, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wellington and Metropolitan, who has been visiting Christchurch, arrived in Timaru yesterday. His Grace will spend a few days in South Canterbury.

Mr and Mrs Ellis (North Island) and Miss Sapsford (Christchurch) are the guests of Mrs J. F. K. Jamieson ("Kinnoul," Tyclio). Mrs Ronald Hill (Christchurch), who was with Mrs W. Helm'ore (Wai-iti road), left yesterday on a visit to Mrs Temple (Geraldine).

The Weather. Overcast skies, followed by several heavy showers of rain yesterday morning, added to the broken weather which has been experienced in Timaru for the last few weeks, and lent colour to the expressed conviction of a Timaru man that the new sunshine recorder' had proved a Jonah. , However, the sky cleared in the afternoon, and the sun shone strongly. The Mayoralty. ' The present Mayor of Timaru (Mr G. J.. Wallace). has decided to accept nomination for a second term of office. Mr John Hole, head of the-deputation which waited upon the Mayor recently with that -end' in. view, -yesterday : received a letter from Mr Wallace recording his appreciation Of tihe confidence expressed by the deputation, and stating that after careful/consideration- he had decided to agree to nomination. ' '. " '■ . . . Power Supply. ... Following .the decision o,f 'the Timaru Borough, Council and the South Canter-' bury Electric Power "Board .to act as a joint deputation to" the Minister, of Public Works (Hon.. J. G. Coates); drawing his attention ;to': the .continued unsatisfactory electric supply, Mr'_F. J. Rol-, leston, M.P., communicated with the Minister, to endeavour to . arrange a date'for the deputation. It was known that the Minister. wojl]d be passing through Timaru on Friday next, and Mr Rolleston,'in 'his telegram"to the Minister, pointed out-the. futility of a few minutes' deputation at ttyo train, and asked if the Minister ~could see' his way clear to arrive by the first express and depart by the second. 'Mr' Rolles-. ton has received the following reply:— "I am leaving Dunedin by>the first, express' Friday, and'very much regret I. cannot break- the jouyney. on .this occasion, as I will probably have a large deputation waiting in Christchurch. that evening. • Possibly an opportunity will present-itself about "April to visit I Will be pleased to see you. at Timaru on Friday, when -passing through-."

High Schools' Board.

The'monthly, meeting of the. Timaru High Schools' Board of Governors was held yesterday. Present: Mr J. Bitchener, M.P., Mrs B. 'H. Low, Messrs B. OrWiny W. F. Cheverton, H. H. Fraser, W. D. Kevell, T. Lyon, and Dr. L.~ S. Talbot.

' The chairman said that'there was little to report' since; last > meeting. It. was hard to say when the schools would be able to resume work owing to the infantile paralysis 'epidemic, but' it "was to be hoped that they would be able to do so before long, as the time lost would be : a" to' both' teaclTers and-pupils. Before, vacating the chair, he wished to thank the-members of, the Board, for the support they had given him during his term of office as chairman; particularly in view- of his long absences from the Board's meetings. He wished also to thank the teaching staffs for the excellent work they had done. The Timaru High Schools were recognised as being of a very high standard, and reflected great- credit upon those who presided over their destinies. With regard to finance, they sailed, like most local 'bodies, fairly clode' to the wind, but. the money they expended was going in what would be permanent improvements to the schools, and it was money well spent. Dr. Talbot, in proposing that Mr Bitchener should, be „ reelected : chairman, said that he had been for a very long time under the chairmanship of Mr Bitchener, and he was quite sure that they could not have a better chairman.

Mr Eevell seconded the motion. Mr Bitchener, >n addition to having the Board's affairs very much at heart, was an exceedingly useful officer in view of the position he held in the .House of Representatives. - Mr Bitchener -was unanimously reelected chairman, and-Mr W. :D. Campbell vice-chairman.

decided that a letter should be sent to Mr Campbell congratulating Hbn upon the hqnour conferred upon him by his appointment to. the position of Crown Prosecutor at Timaru, and expressing the hope'that it would be a stepping-stone to still higher, honours at the Bar. ' 1

A circular letter .was ..received from the Director, of Education stating that, with, a view to minimising the -dislocation caused by the compulsory postponement of the re-opening of schools, the Department . was' requesting the staffs of all primary, secondary, and technical schools to reassemble on Monday, February 23rd. It was suggested that the week commencing-, on that date mighjt profitably be spent in staff conferences on-matters Of general "interest,"~and the preparation and .discussion ;, of schemes of work, in ■ the ' thorough overhaul -of laboratories, libraries, and workshops, in preparing the various record, books, and, to a cetain extent, in mteifviewirig new pupils; individually and ascertaining which of the old pupils bad ,left. Those were intended ' as ' suggestions, only, as the. Department recognisd that some .principals had already ' Under taken similar and even more extensive preparations. ' ; ,

The Finance Committee.reported that the matter of commencing a preparatory department in connoxion with the girls' schoor had been considered at* a

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special meeting, and those present had been unanimously in favour of cojnmenoing such a department. The classes would be conducted in a avtable building adjoining the present girls' school, and; judging - from - present• enquiries,should prove-very successful t>nd supply a long-felt want. A qualified teacher had" been' appointed' to - act-as- headmistress. . The- additions to the boys' school were not very much ..advanced, trouble haviifg been experienced with drains when laying ' the - foundations. The additions would not be ready at the Earliest until the beginning of the second term. " 1

WAIMATE. The president (Bro, T. Twomey).presided at a meeting .of the' Friendly Societies'; Council, held on Friday. Mr J. D. Forbes wrote accepting the position of handicapper for the -meeting. Mr D. D.- McDonald (Timaru) and-Mr J. J. O'Hara (Morven) were appointed judge's of pipe music and Highland and Irish dancing. The secretary reported -that owing to a prior engagement th© Olympia Hall, was not available for the dance proposed to be held after the sports. Bros. A. and L. McLauchlan. Eddy and the secretary were appointed a sub-committee to prepare a programme- for an 'open-air entertainment, to be held in'plaee of the dance. ! That harvesters cannot be too careful this year when smoking in the "paddock was * learned"by an At no - farmer, on whoso farm a-fire was evidently started by a cigarette or. match carelessly thrown down during lunch-time. When work was resumed, the : fire" had a considerable hold, and made a clean sweep of the paddock, destroying a. stack of wheat and two or three stacks of oats. At. the* annual meeting of the Waimate Fire Brigade, the balance-sheet showed a credit of £8 15s 6dt The annual report stat.ed. that the total damage done by fire' in' the year amounted to £7O. Five ' years' service medals had been presented to ■ Firfemen -Higgins and Hoskins. The usual card matches and billiards tournament had been'held, the -prizes beihg wbn by F. -Pollock and A. Barford. l3ie new extension-ladder had proved a- great success.- The following officers were re-elected Captain, Mr Willetts;' lieutenant, Mr Granger; senior; foreman, Mr 'Higgins; junior ' foreman, Mr Dnnstan; . .hon. secretary; and • treasurer, Mr F.. Nash. Two.years' service:bars-were.presented to Captain Willetts,;Lieutenant Granger, Foreman-' Dnnstan, and Fireman Thompson. - . ; - ' '