MID-CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18551, 28 November 1925, Page 8

MID-CANTERBURY

ASHBURTON. GENERAL NEWS. A euchre tournament held in the St. Andrew's Parish Hal], Tinwald, for the purpose of augmenting the Hall fund, was attended by about 45 residents. The prizes were -won by Mrs W. Brady and Mr T. "White. X.G. Bro. D. Milne presided over a good attendance of members at the quarterly meeting of the Loyal Ashburton Lodge on Thursday. Three candidates "were initiated. The Friendly Societies' Association intimated that the dispensary would be an accomplished fact within the next few months. The following members were elected to the various chairs for the ensuing term: —N.G., Bro. A. Husband; V.G., Bro. G. Bushcll; E.S., Bro. H. D.onaldsou. It was decided to make the quarterly visit to Wakanui next month. It was agreed to adopt a recommendation by the Inspector of Friendly Societies regarding the appropriation of accumulated surpluses, to provide that contributions to sick and fuueral fund cease at the age of 55, instead of 60, and that the funeral benefit be increased by £lO. Sick pay. and other accounts, amounting to £l3l 16s sd, were passed for payment. Following the heavy hail and rainstorm of Thursday afternoon and evening, ten degrees of frost were recorded in Ashburton overnight, and considerably damaged marrow, potato, and loniato plants in various gardens; Shortly after 3 p.m. yesterday people in East street were startled by the sight of a runaway horse attached to a gig, galloping down over the Burnett street railway crossing. Fragments of the gig, which had overturned, were left strewn along the road. The frightened animal was brought to a standstill in East street. Both shafts and one wheel of the gig were completely broken. The horse was unharmed. The turnout belonged to Mr T. Kireher. Tinwald Terra Board. At the monthly meeting of the Tinwald Town Board, Mr H. B. Millichamp presided. A resolution of sympathy was passed with the relatives of the late Mr "W. 11. Bell, a member of the Board, and it was decided to place on record the Board's appreciation of Ms services. 1 The Treasury Department advised that the sum of £2 ss, representing fees and fines paid to September 20th, had been placed to the Board's credit. It was agreed to form a portion of Grove street. East Ashburton Carnival. Since 1014 the residents-of East Ashburton have totally eclipsed all other combined efforts in the county in raising funds to improve the locality of the to increase the playing area, to erect memorial buildings, and other improvements. By purely voluntary effort a sum between £4OOO and £SOOO lias been raised, in addition to which an immense amount of voluntary labour has been expended. A very handsome soldiers' Memorial Hall, gates, and swimming bath have been built, and now funds are being raised to provide for. a larger playing area for the school. "With this object in view, a Queen Carnival and salo of work was opened yesterday afternoon at the school in the presenco of a large assembly. The various classrooms liavo .been transformed into Veritable fairy bowers, with an immense variety of plain and fancy work, produce,, etc.

Tho chairman of the School Committee (Mr W. S. Kerr) thanked the committee and school staff for tho splendid manner in which, they had worked in an endeavour to make- the effort a success.

Mr "W. V. Lill said Id felt koto the venture would be the eueccss that the promoters deserved. Good playing grounds •were now an essential feature of all public schools. • The Mayor (Mr B. Galbraith), in officially, declaring the carnival open, congratulated. the residents of East Ashburtoa upon the work that they had done for the district in tho past. Ho hoped that, the carnival -would bo a success.

Good business was done during the afternoon and evening.

The stallholders are as follows:Work Stall; Mesdames J, Hunt; A. Thompson, and R. Bright; Spring Queen: Mesdames E. Vincent, O'Connor, Shierlaw; variety: Mesdames Ford, McKay, and'Ede; books: Mesdames Arthur, Money, Thompson, and Miss ■Money; sweets: Misses Lawrie, Cowan, Lewis, and Vesty; cakes: Mesdames Addis, Stigley,<Stoddart, Crum; afternoon tea: Mesdames W. Thompson, E. BLChilds, Leslie, G. Keelcy, Marsden, and Wannacott; ice-cream, Mr Crum; shooting gallery, Messrs H. J. Chapman, L. Marshall, C. Miller; Autumn Queen: Messrs M. Keeley, I. Baigent, Thompson, Mahoney; Christmas Tree: Miss D. Kuddock; toys: Mrs W. W. Garton, and Misses Faw'cett, Kerr, and Mouldey; surprise dip: Misses Brown and McLachlan; fruit salad, Mesdames Burrows, Flatman, and Misses Crum and Keen,

Memorial Service. *■■■ • ■'. A combined citizens' memorial service, under tho auspices of tho Ashbnrton Ministers' Association, to the late Queen Alexandra was held at the Band Eotunda, Baring square, "West, yesterday morning. Flags were flown at half-mast throughout the town, and all business places were closed from 11 a.m. till noon. There was a large gathering. The members of tho Ist Canterbury Mounted Eifles' Band wore present, and accompanied the singing. Tho Mayor (Mr E. Galbraith) presided. The proceedings commenced with the Bineing of the hymn "O God, Our Help in Ages Past.". The Eev. T. W. Vealie then read the 91st Psalm, which was followed by a prayer, offered up by Pastor C. S. Matthews. Tho hymn "EOck of Ages" was then sung. The only speaker was the Eev. J. F. Wiseman,-vicar of St. Stephen's Anglican Church. In a Bomewhat brief, but most learned and eloquent address, Mr Wiseman referred to the loss tho people of the British Empire had suffered through the death of Queen Alexandra. Tho British flag bad been flown at halfmast on many occasions, but never before out of regard to the memory of a greater or more beautiful woman in every respect than that of the late Queen Mother. He then gave a brief and graphic account of the late Queen's life. On arriving in England from Denmark she had immediately won her way into the hearts of all people by her outstanding gifts of true sympathy and true Godliness, and her deep love for all her fellow-beings. She had not only won the loyal' esteem of all, but had contained to hold it The hymn "Abide With Me" was then sung. After the Eer. A. G. Irvine had pronounced the Benediction, the Band played the Dead March in "Saal, M and i a verse of the National Anthem was sung.i The Mayor warmly thanked the large 1 gathering for their attendance, and the school ehildren for their presence in such .great force. He apologised for the unavoidable absence «of Mr W, G. ' *>£M£he) County Council. At the teonclnsioit of the service fit mufflecL_i>eal of

bells at St. Stephen's Chord -was-nrng for five minutes. Hail Notices. j Mails close to-day for northern -ports j at 2.45 p.m., late fee letters 3J.0 pjn., guard's van 3.32 p.m.; and at 5 pjn., late fee letters 5.25 p.m., guard's -ran 5.43 p.m. METHVEN. Heavy rain, accompanied by hail, fell at Methven on "Wednesday night, and again on Thursday. Sixty points were registered for "4S hours. Tho rain will do an immense amount of good, as the nor-wosfc winds had a Tory drying i effect. Tho rain -was followed by a sharp frost yesterday morning. The monthly meeting of the Methven Branch of the Plunkefc Society was held on Thursday afternoon. Mrs H. Reid presided and there were also present Mesdames K. Aitken, A. Baxter, C. T. Jessep. It. N*. Elliott, E. A. 'rtland, T. Fairbairn, F. A. Tooley, J. "Watson, (j. Kelly, C-. Oallaghan, J. 31. Dalton, and Miss M. Stephen (secretary). Apologies for absence were received from Mesdames Ruddenklau and Shearer. A motion of sympathy with "the Royal Family in the death of the) Queen Mother was passed. Votes of svmpathy were also passed toMesd&mes H. Reid, J. Callaghan, and D. Chambers, who have recently suffered bereavfraents. A letter was received from. Mr W. A. Hadeo. tendering his resignation as treasurer owing to pressure cf other work. The resignation was accepted with regret. Mrs Haden also wrote resigning membership of the committee owing to inability to attend meetings. This was also accepted and resrret expressed at the loss of her services to the branch. Mr A. Baxter was unanimously appointed to the position of treasurer. The report of tho children's fancy dress ball was presented and showed a net profit of £27. Tho following, who had assisted at the ball and helped materially to make it at success, were accorded l a vote of thanks: —Mesdaines "Wiseley. Lawrence, Jessep, Elliott, Baxter, Nicholls, J. "Watson., Misses McKay and Richards, Messrs J. D'art, R. Duff, J. Wiseley, K. N. Elliott, and Mesdames O'Connors and Stankke, of Ra-kaia, Mr \V. P. Cosariff, and the Miniature Rifle dub. Mrs. J. "Wiseley was appointed to the committee and Miss McKay was elected a. member of tho society. A letter -was received from the Ashburton Branch! asking Methven to postpone its annual meeting until March. 1930, and pointing out that it would bo an advantage for ia.ll branches to hold their annual rneetings at tho same time. The month1v report of the nurse was read and showed that 113 visits had been paid to the rooms — o7 adults amd 56 children —while there were two new cases.

FAIRTON. At the fortnightly euchre tournament held at the residence of Mr and Mrs Drake in aid of tho school prize fund, there was a fair attendance. The prizes were won by Mrs Evans and Mr C. Connelly. Both' prizes were given by Mr and Mrs Coote. A very pleasant afternoon and evening; ; (were recently spent at the residence of Mr and Mrs Drake, the occasion being a party for their daughter, Isabel. A large number of the -children of the district attended, and an enjoyable time was spent in playing games. After dinner in the prettily decorated dining-room, the evening was devoted to music, songs being contributed by Misses Alison Coote and Molly Dreunan. and pianoforte solos by Misses Isabel Drake, Molly Ferris, and M. Dunn (Ashburton).

MOUNT SOMERS. Tho local club has entered one tennis team in the Mid-Canterbury A grade. Te Mara© No. 3 play the first match of the season to-day. Tho following will represent Mt. Somers:— Messrs L. Hood, Jones, R. Hood, and R. Webster, Miss "W. Morgan, Mrs Williams, Miss E. Wood, and Miss la. Wood. Though violent elsewhere Wodnes* day night's sou'-wester came up almost imperceptibly and gave ,the parched land a fair sprinkling of rain. Snow. fell on the hills. RUAPUNA. Showery weather has been the rule Lately, and glimpses of summer and winter follow each other almost daily. On Wednesday night the sky clouded ominously, and a severe hailstorm swept the district. In a few minutes tho ground was white; to a depth of nearly .an inch. Following' tho hail came thunder, lightning, and heavy rain, which turned Jatcr tot snow. During tho night tho sky cleared once more and a sharp frost was experienced. Thursday morning showed a mantle of slushy snow over the ground. A great deal of harm has been done to orchards and gardens by 6now, and frost this month.