MID-CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18625, 25 February 1926, Page 6

MID-CANTERBURY.

ASHBURTO*;. PERSONAL. Mr .F. Frauipfon left for Dunedin yesterday morning, to represent the Ashburton Methodist Circuit at the Methodist Church annual conference. Mr J. G. N. Grigg, of Longbeach, returned to Ashburton from the north by yesterday morning's express. Dedication Service. A quiet but deeply impressive dedication service was eondueted in St. Stephen's Anglican Church, yesterday morning, by the Vicar, the Ecv. J. F. Wiseman, in the presence of a small congregation, including Mrs Brooks and Miss Allen, of Christchurch, who recently had installed in the north west transept, a beautifully designed memorial stained glass window, in memory of their late father and mother, two Ashburton pioneers. Mrs Brooks and Miss Allen, have not only had erected a' lasting tribute to the memory of their parents, but they have also added further to the beauty of the interior of the church. Swimming. The Ashburton Amateur (Swimming Club has been particularly fortunate in receiving a large number of entries for its annual carnival to be held in the Borough School baths this* evening and competitors will be present from Christchurch find Timaru, as well as from the various Clubs in the Ashburton County. All the arrangements in connexion with the meeting are well in hand and the programme of 15 events includes: the Ashburton County Schoolgirls' 100 yards Championship, for which there are 5 entries, and the County Schoolboys' 150 yards Championship in there will be 6 competitors. The 100 yards Relay Eace for the De Beer Cup will be contested by 17 teams of three men each, and the 66 2-3 yards Inter-Club Handicap, has attracted 35 entries. (Some interesting swimming should result.

Assessing Damage. An inspection of the Ashburton County Council plantations damaged by the recent grass fires, will bo made to-day by the Assistant Railway Engineer (Mr it. Lusty), Mr J. Co\y, and the Inspector of Reserves for the County (Mr E. N. Johnson), for the purpose of assessing the damage. Notifiable Diseases. Recent notifications of diseaseu in Ashburton County to the County Health Inspector (Mr E. N. Johnson) are one case of diphtheria from Fairfield, and a ease of erysipelas from Dromore. Sports Postponed. As a result of the heavy rain which fell in Ashburton on Tuesday after'noon and evening, 25 points were recorded at the Domain Weather Station. Yesterday morning broke fine, but the sky became clouded about 3 p.m., and further rain in tho nature, of heavy showers, at timos accompanied by hail, fell from 4 o'clock on throughout the evening. ~

Owing to the wet weather conditions which prevailed in Ashburton last evening, a meeting of the Ashburton Amateur Cycling and Athletic Club, and further races for the Curtis Cup under the auspices of the East Ashburton Amateur Swimming Club, had tp bo postponed.

St. Stephen's Cricket Club. A meeting of the St. Stephen's Cricket Club was held on Tuesday evening when Mr G. V. Furby presided. A financial statement presented showed the finances of tho Club to be in a very satisfactory position, iu spite of the heavy expenditure during the early part of tho 6cason. Tho purchase of a new bat to complete the season's play was authorised. It was agreed to arrange for better storage of the' Club's equipment. Mail Notices. Mails close to-day for northern ports at 2.45 p.m., late feo letters 3.10 p.m., guard's van 3.32 p.m.; and at 5 p.m., late fee letters 5.25 p.m., guard's van 5.43 p.m. Mails for Great Britain, Ireland, Continent of Europe, U.S.A., Canada, South America, Mexico," West Indies, Cook Island (Earotonga, Aitutaki, Mauke, Atiu, Manahiki, Mangaia, and Penrhyn), also Tahiti, close on Monday March Ist. METHVEN.

The Loyal Sloth veil Lodge, M.U., 1.0.0. F., has concluded another very successful year, according to their annual report and balance-sheet. The credit balances standing to the various funds are as follows:—Sick and funeral fund £73 llslOd, medical fuud £64 9s lOd, management fund £32 4s lOd, entertainment fund £6 16s, hospital fund 1 £l3 12s. The unappropriated surplus funds amount to £1039 5s 3d. The assets of the branch amount to £122!) 19s lid. The total members initiated during the year were: male 16, female = 12, aud one member was admitted by clearance. Total financial members at the end of the year 126. The total amount of sickness among the members amounted to only fifty-nine weeks. The Grand Master of New Zealand, Bro. A. G. Shrimpton, is paying an official visit to the district this week. Tho committee of the Methvcn Golf Club met in the Parish Hall on Tuesday evening, Mr Stanley Smith presided, and tiiere were also present Messrs G. Waddington, P. Cookaon, E. D. Thomas, A. D. Harris, A. White, A. Baxter, and W. A. Haden (hou. secretary). Apologies for absence were received from Messrs D. M. Christie, G. Heney, and J. F. Stone. The balance-sheet, as audited, was passed for presentation at the annual meeting. 'Mr A. Baxter tabled a draft of rules suitable for governing the working of tho club. The draft was accepted for presentation at the annual meeting.

RUAPUNA. • The Swimming Club intends to bring its season to a close on Saturday next, when six events will l>e contested ia tho evening. At present the cup points are:—J. Stephenson 14 1, J. Sewell 12, Dellow 101. A. Sinclair 8, D. Glassey 7. It is therefore still uncertain as to who will be winner. The races for Saturday include "syds and 50yds free style, 33 l-3yds breast, and 33 l-3yds backstroke. Springboard and Corfa. dicing are abo events for which points will count. Entries close at .12 noon on. Saturday. As many of the swimmers ■ are enable to be present in the afternoon, the meeting is timed to start it 7 p.m. Lanterns of all sizes, makes, and ean&le-powers, will be used to illuminate the enclosure, although it is hoped that the moon will do her fair share as a lighting factor. A very large number enjoyed the song service in the Hall on Sunday. The public proved quite willing to indulge in what was really a sacred community sing. The Rev. Mr Johnston, who organised the meeting, is to be congratulated upon its unqualified success,

MOUNT SOMERS. A fair number of store sheep have been disposed of by Others are fattening off on rape and grass crops. It is reported that several runholflers are likely to club together and hold a local sheep sale. * After several weeks' vacation, the Anglican .Sunday school has resumed under the supervision of Miss L. Wood.

Good progress is being made with the erection, of the- new Catholic Church, and the opening ceremony is expected to take place soon after faster.

The annual competitions, both elocutionary and musical)- have been postponed until early in N April on account of delays in receiving the book of words and in selecting items. The book of words covers 51 classes, outlining a two days' programme. Generous special prizes are offered in nearly every section in addition to the society's prizes.

On Monday night a special meeting of the School Committee was held to ararnge tho picnic at the end of the week. There were present Messrs" L. King (chairman), E. C. Wood, G. L. Hood, 11. Todd, G. Green, and P. H. Jones (headmaster). It was decided to. distribute the prizes on the picnic ground. Arangements were made to convey the" children by motor lorry, by which adults may also arrange to go. The School .Committee adopted the suggestion of the Canterbury Automobile Association to erect "Go Slow" boards near the school.

Tho late Mrs 0. Beckley, whose death occurred recently at the residence of her son, Mr C. Beckley, Ruapuna, was well known in Mount Somers. The deceased lady was born in Islip, Oxfordshire, England, in 1844, and came to New Zeaand, with her husband and five chidren, in the sailing ship,_ Stone House, landing at Lyttelton in 1874. She lived in Governor's Bay for a short period, removing to Pleasant Valley, Geraldyie, in 1873, where she lived for 17 years. Removing to Mount Somers, she lived there for over 24 years. Since the death of her husband, who_ predeceased her in 1916, she has lived alternately at Mount Somers, Ealing, and Ruapuna. The late Mrs Beckley was by temperament well suited for pioneering life in New Zeaand. Strong, cheerful and sacrificing, she gave her life whole-heartedly to the country she had adopted. Her good sense, her kindly nature and her unfailing optimism made her many-friends who will learn with regret of the death of ono who had been an ispiration to all wixh whom she had been associated. Tho warm regard in which deceased was helu was home out by the large gathering-of friends from Ealing and Ruapuna who followed her remains to the Mount Somers Cemeterv, where a ili e S ,°° nt ™ Bent of friends had gathered for the burial service, which was conducted by the Rev. F. A. ?ft- (Anglican) 0 f Methven. The ?SS S ""¥**** four grandsons, and w a TT a rl. J Keen ' K Beckley i?', I **' T} >« deceased learos a grownmp family of five i n „ft s , *»* four eons' also 46 Sren a " d S^»»d-

RAKAIA. , The fortnightly meeting of tlie Edith Cave,! (Eebekah) Lodge, 1.0.0.F, was held m the Town Ha]], Sister Stevenson, c£rJl»f mg ° Vcr a & ood attendance wti SfV n re e aid t0 a Home for £f* Oddfellows and for children of OdofeUorrs. Two members were initiated._ it was decided-to hold a social l evemng for members and their friends ■"-jst Lodge night,

STAVELEY. | The Ladies' Bazaar Committee r,i&. holding meetings every Wednesday lor the purpose of forwarding work in connexion with the stalls. "With th« 'bazaar only a fortnight away, it is good to be able to report 'that ■everything is satisfactorily in hand, and 1 indications are for a most successful function, There was a good attendance at the dance organised by the Misses Chapman in aid of their fruit salad stall at the forthcoming bazaar, i Good musio was provided by, Chapman's Orchestra, generally assisted and relieved by Messrs E. Wolfrey, D. Syme, and E. Naumaun. Mr JR. Grieve was M.C., and the supper, which.was laid on a table decorated with pink sweet peas and gladioli was supervised by Mesdames C. Timpsori* A. It. Andrews, R. Griev«, and W. Grieve. .A. lucky spofc waltz ivas won hy Mrs E. Abridge and Mr J/. U. Syme. On behdf of the.Misses Chapman, Mr G. L. Bufton, chairman of the Hall Committee, thanked all those who made mad© the evening a success, especially those ladies who had helped with the supper. From whatever place of origin, smoke has been in evidence several times lately. No reports of local fires of any consequence have come, to hand, so it has been questioned if the- smoke came from Australia. Last Thursday it was most noticeable, beginning to gather after midday, and as the day wore on the haze became thicker. In the late afternoon the whole countryside was iluminated by a ruddy light, and about 6 p.m. so murky became the way that the sun was throwing only faint shadows, and, for the last few degrees of its setting over the hills, it was completely hidden behind thick smoke and a few nor'-west clouds in which occasionally appeared gaps of fiery light. ' The moon in its turn shone with a fiery light.and only a few stars were visible. Nest' morning" the sky was clear, but on Monday last there was a distinct smoke haze in the air.

SPRINGBURN. Miss Dickie, the Manse, left on Monday for a holiday to bo £pent in Dunedin. Much-needed repair work has been effected to the traffic bridges in the locality. The White, Roxburgh, aivi Todd's bridges have all been re-deckcd and generally repaired. Last wreck a bad accident happened to a workman engaged, in repairing the railway bridge between Springburn and Buccleugh.. He fell from the top of the bridge on to the river bed below, sustaining injuries which necessitated his removal to Asliburton3 -' DROMORE. At a special meeting of the I>romore School Committee it was unanimously agreed to hold a concert about the middle of March in aid of the W. Page Memorial Fund.