MID-CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18367, 28 April 1925, Page 4

MID-CANTERBURY

—♦- ASHBURTON. GENERAL NEWS. The Anzae Day collections iaken up :it the Domain amounted to £32 lis 4d, which amount is to oe devoted to the erection of headstones on returned sol-

diers' graves at the cemetery. At the Ashburton Police Court yesterd:;y morning, before Mr .T. JJ. Chris linn, J.P.. :t first offender for drunkenni'rss was line.l in?.

Owing to the lafen<vs of the season, no trout were reported to have been taken from the county rivers during the week-end. and it is highly probable thai ther" will he tin further catches, a* the present season concludes on Thursday. One local .sportsman reported having- secured live quintiat salmon from the mouth of the Bakaia river during the last week-end, but no further catches have been reported. However, fishermen are permitted to tako this class of fish from the rivers until Mnv I.lth.

The 102-1 game season is almost, at hand, and <|iiito a number of sportsmen are looking forward with a great amount of keenness to the opening of the. season on Friday. Several licenses to shoot game have been taken out in the Ashburton district with the secretary of the Acclimatisation Society (Mr \. O. Pilbrow), and several more applications are expected. All the Ashburton public schools re opened yesterday morning with very satisfactory attendances. About. S»0 per cent, of a roll of 220 attended the Allcnton School, while at the Kast Ashbtitton School Hie number that answered the roll totalled -flu. Taking into consideration the fact that such short notice of the reopening wis given, the number that attended for the first day was highly satisfactory.

Women's Shakespeare Club. The 192.1 session of the Ashburton Women's Shakespeare Club was opened on Friday evening in the Haveloek street schoolroom. On behalf of the club, Mrs E. Ruddock, president, voiced the pleasure it gave the members to see Miss M. F. Arnott ■with them again, and assured her of a ■warm welcome any time she might be able to visit the club. Miss Arnott gave interesting sketches of what she had seen at Stratford-on-Avon, Rome, and Venice, illustrated by numerous snapshots and pictures of scenes most interesting to Shakespearean students.

Mail Notices. Mails close to-day: For Northern Ports, at 2.45 p.m.: laic fee letters, 3.10 p.m.; guard's van, 3.30 p.m. For Northern- Porta, at 5.15 p.m.; late fee letters, 5.40 p.m.; guard's van, 6 p.m. HINDS. There was a good attendance on Anzac Day in the Hinds Hall, when a special service was held. On the roll of honour was placed a beautiful wreath. Addresses were given by Rev. .7. Hav, of Hinds, and Rev. W. J. Enticott, of "Willowby. Special hymns were sung and the musical part was in the hands of Miss Cook (piano), Miss Hampton (violin), and Mr -lilhs (violin). STAVELEY. The united Anzac Day commemoration service was held in the hall on Saturday evening. The attendance was fair. The Rev. Robert Dickie (Presbyterian) conducted the service and the Rev. Paul Beresford (Anglican) gave an impressive address. Hymns were sung from special leaflets and music was played by Miss Johnstone. A collection "wa« taken uj> for the 11.8.A. funds. On Friday last there was a good response to the first Poppy Day appeal in the local districts. It is estimated that in the Springburn, Alford Forest, and Staveley districts there were 250 poppies sold.

RAKAIA. A close holiday was observed on Anzac Day at Rakaia. An early morning commemorative Communion service "was held in St. Mark's Church and was well attended. In the afternoon an impressive memorial service was held at the Cenotaph. There was a very large attendance. The service was conducted b" the ltev. E.-N. Blakiston, iof .the Anglican Ghurcli, Kev. A. S. Morrison', of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr W. J. Henderson, of the Methodist Church. Miss A. W. Hardy presided a"i the organ, and the hymns <! v3 &b'l, Our Help in Ages Past," "Brief Life is Hero Our Portion," "For Ever with tho Lord" and "God Save the King" were sung. A short address was given by Mr W. J. Henderson 1 . At the close of the service the "Last Post" was sounded by Mr Columbus. A large number of beautiful wreaths were placed on the steps of. the Cenotaph by relatives and friends of deceased soldiers. Conspicuous among them was the cross«of scarlet poppies from tho returned soldiers of Jlakaia in memory of their comrades who made tlio sunrcme sacrifice.

After being closed for four months, the Ualcaia Public School and the Con>vmt School reopened on Monday morning. In spite of the shortness of the notice received, t!he attendance was very good at both schools. Tho few absentees were children who live some distance away, and had probably not heard of the reopening of tho schools. The weather, which lias been dull and cloudy since the recent heavy rains, became much warmer on Satnrdap and Sunday, and Monday was a sunny day with s. hot nor'-wester blowing. The, warm weather quickly dried up the surface and made ploughed land ready for cultivation. It also melted the snow on the high country and so helped to retard the winter frosts. Late yesterday afternoon the wind changed to tho south-west with a considerable drop' in the temperature.

METHVEN. The annual harvest thanksgiving service wag conducted at Alford Foreit on Sunday afternoon. Then! was u largo attendance, and the fichoolhouso was prettily decorated with evergreens and flowers in autumn shades. There was a large offertory of fruit and vegetables, which were forwarded to St. Saviour's Orphanage, Timaru. The Rev. Paul Beresford officiated, and Mr M. P. W. Blathwayt presided nt the organ. Suitable hymns were hung by the congregation. Anzac Day was fittingly observed in Methvcn on Saturday. Flags were rlown from all public buildings and from many private residences. _ A memorial service was held in All Saints' Church, and was well attended. The service took the form of a memorial and Holy Communion combined. The Rev. Trancie A. Tooley officiated. The service .commenced with the singing of ''o God. Our Help in Ages Past," during which a procession of returned soldiers filed up the aisle and placed wreaths on the altar. A large wreath of laurel leaves, scarlet geraniums, and autumn leaves was placed on the roll of honour. The Rev. Tooley preached a very inspiring sermon, taking as his text Revelations 21, 7. The lessons were read by Lieutenant A. S. Kennedy. Miss Crump presided at the organ. At the conclusion of the service the National Anthem was tiling. A procession was I hen formed, and proceeded to the cemetery, where a short open-air scrvic was held and wreaths placed on soldiers' graves. Among the. wreaths was one which was composed of flowers grown from seed collected by Mr \Ym. Morgan from Fynecot. Cemetery in France. Wreaths were deposited by Mr and Mrs Pol ton and family, Mr and Mrs Cranfiehl and family, Rev. and Mrs Tooley, Mr and Mrs Win. Morgan, Mrs Dickie, Miss Brendn arid Master Walter Ttaden. The ceremony concluded with the singing of "Abide with Me." The returned soldiers in Methvcn have had a very successful Poppy Day. Close on 500 poppies were sold by them on behalf of the Disabled and Unemployed Fund for Soldiers. In completing the new lighting scheme for the railway premises, the Department have erected a 200 candlepower lamp in the new sheep-trucking yards. In spite of tho splendid job the Department have carried out with the latest ideas for handling sheep traffic, the; crowning effort of lighting spoils the whole work. In designing the yards the Engineers' Department co-operated with local sheepmen in laying out tho work, and under tho lighting scheme now adopted the authorities responsible,seem have no conception that the light jb anywhere but the place required. Loading stock for early morning trains necessitates practically fill night-work. In the original plans ftir lighting the old yards with electricity the same scheme as at present in use was adopted, and on the advice of stockmen the uselessness of tho arrangement was pointed out, and the official concerned scrapped the idea, and the two old lights by acetylene gas were retained. Two lights of a lesser candle-power, and placed at each of the loading races, so as to bo operated together or separately at will, would bo preferable.

Owing to a slight misunderstanding on the part of some members as to tho date of closing of nominations for the Mt. Hutt Eoad Board, several nominations from present members of the Board and others were shut out. This will now mean an extraordinary vacancy election as provided for by' Statute. Those nominated are Mcsßrs T. S. Harrison, F. W. Buddenkluu, and John Watson, sitting members of the Board, who are duly elected. The total number required is fivo members,

CHERTSEY. The annual meeting of the Chertsoy O&rd Club wnu hold on April 22nd. Mr A, Garland occupied tho chair, The secretary, Mr F. Ironside, brought forward tho report and balance-sheet, which allowed a crodit balance of £8 11b 7(1, The following committee was elected; —Chairman, Mr A. Garland; secretary, Mr F, Ironside; committee, Mosdames Murchie, Garland, McLauchhn, and Lynch, Messrs W. Wilkinson, W, McKee, A, McLauchlan, F. Newsome, J. Eichardson, 0. Lloyd, and A. '.Doig, It was proposed to hold euchre tournaments fortnightly. Amongst a number of new rules drawn up was one to the effect that all winners be penalised five points first prize, It was arranged also that two prizes for ladies and two for men be given each evening, and aggregate prizes be given at ■the end of the season. Mr W, Wilkinson has recently returned from a holiday spent at Te Aroha, North Island. Miss P. Martin and Miss E, Hughes (Christchurch) have been spending «, few days with Mrs Guy Struthers.

MOUNT SOMERS. Last Sunday, a harvest thanksgiving service was held at tho Anglican Church, when there was a display of garden and farm products, intersporsod with decorations of flowers and overgreens. Tho Kev. P. Eeresford officiated, and Miss L. Wood played tho organ.

The mild weather of tho last few days has been much enjoyed after the cold snap of a week ago. The snow has been rapidly thawing in the back country, which should give less severity to the winter frosts. Present indications are for strong nor'-westers. Pood is fair, but many farmers feel somewhat anxious as to tho future, and arc hoping for a mild winter, as tho turnip crops in most cases have not come up to expectations.

An Anzae commemorative service was taken in tho Memorial Hall on Saturday by the Ecvs. Bcresford and Dickie. There was it good attendance, especially from the surrounding districts. The instrumentalist was Miss L. Wood. Numbers of wreaths were placed at the foot of the memorial slabs in front of xho hall.

HIGHBANK. On Anzac Day a memorial service was held in St. Saviour's Church, which was well attended. The altar was draped with the Union Jack and decorated with white flowers. Kev. 1\ A. Tooley officiated. Mrs F. Horspool presided at the organ. Wreaths were placed on the altar and over tho roll of honour board. Kev. Tooley gave an appropriate address. At the conclusion of the service the National Anthem was sung. A procession was then formed, and proceeded to the school building, where a wreath was placed over the roll of honour board and a short service was held. -

DOME. Although no service, was held at Dorie on Anzac Day, a number of wreaths were placed on the steps of the monument in St. Patrick's Churchyard by Doric residents, in memory of tho men of the district who died in the Great War. The weokly shoot of tho Doric Miniature Rifle Club was held in the Arda.mine Hall on Friday evening. The prize was a sweepstake. The following tied for first place:—D. Banks (2) 35; H. Harrison (2) 33; R. Shanks (2) 33. ]n the first s'hnot off H. Harrison won with 33 off the rifle, D. Ban'ks and R. Shanks putting on 32 each. lu

the shoot-off for second place Banks won with 33. Other good scores were: F. Alexander 34; It. Turnbull 34; L. Kingsbury 33; J. Beard 33; S. Smith, R. Harrison, E. Kingsbury and D. McKie 32 each.

SEAFIELD. The annual meeting of the Seafield branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was held in the Seafield School last week. There was a fair attendance of members, including several from the Dorie branch. Mr F. Johnson occupied the chair. Tho balance-sheet showed the substantial credit balance of about £3O on the year's working. The chairman's report gave an account of the year's work, reference being mado to the advantages of organised, effort in gathering knowledge of prices for produce, and in combined buying in bulk of farmers' requisites at reduced prices. The election of officers was as follows: Chairman, Mr F. Johnson; vice-chair-man, Mr A. P. Bruce; secretary and treasurer, Mr H. Driscoll; delcgato to conference, Mr J. Bruce; auditor, Mr A. F. Bruce.

As a wind-up of the season, the Seafield Tennis Club held a concert and dance on Friday evening. ■ The schoolroom was tastefully decorated, and the attendance was good. Pianoforte solos were played by Misses E. Gregory and 0. Beck; and songs were given by Miss K. Braco and Messrs M. Bruce, F. Johnson, J. K. Thorpe, A. Bonnison, and W. Bankin. At the conclusion of the concert, tho captain of the club, Mr A. P. Bruce, apologised for the absence of the secretary, Mr E. Hight, who was absent on holiday, and he then called upon tho prosident,. Mr Jas. Bruce, to present several trophies won by members during the season. The remainder of the evening was spent in dancing, the music being supplied by Mr W. Eankin, and extras being played _ by Messrs C. Johnson (piano), A. Bennison (violin), and A. Eankin (violin). Mr A. P'. Bruce acted as M.C.