MID-CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18675, 26 April 1926, Page 4

MID-CANTERBURY

. ASHBURTON. i Ashburton Elver. j Owing to there being very little snow on the hills, the north branch of the Ashburton river has reached a fairly low level, consequently, it is difficult to obtain a good flush of water for the race which supplies Wakanui and Seafield, and the farmers in these districts have experienced a slight shortage. To obviate the difficulty, the County Council has diverted a supply of water from the south branch through o'Shea's creek, which connects the two branches and the normal quantity should now b« flowing down the race. Balloon Chasers' Club. The opening of the Balloon Chasers' Club, which was celebrated with a Palais De Danse, in the Tancred street Hall on Saturday evening, attracted an attendance of over 70 couples. The hall was prettily decorated, and a multicoloured spot light was effectively played npon the gathering at frequent intervals throughout the night. A feature of the evening was the confetti, streamer, and twilight dances. The music was supplied by Mrs A. Mitchell's orchestra. Friendly Societies' Excursion. Probably on no other occasion has there been such a large number of motor-cars lined along the front of the Ashburton railway station than on Saturday morning, where they began to assemble shortly after 5 o'clock, with passengers for the Friendly Societies' excursion to the Dunedin Exhibition. | Many .country and town residents were astir shortly after 4 a.m., and at 5.45 a.m., when the train pulled out, it consisted of 19 carriages, seating 1000 exj cursionists. The train arrived in Dunj edin about noon, and left on the return journey at 11.30 p.m., arriving in Ashburton at about 5.30 a.m. yesterday. Hare Drive. Owing to the prevalence of hares in the Anama and Valctta districts, the residents intend to extend an invitation to the members of the Springburn and Ashburton Gun Clubs to join them in a hare drive in the near future. Football Postponed. Owing to the Ashburton County Trotting Club's Autumn meeting. being held on Saturday, the Ashburton County Rugby Sub-Union's competitions were postponed, and the next series of matches will be held on Saturday. Rifle Shooting. Arrangements for the Mid-Cantcrbury Championships, to be conducted under the auspices of the Ashburton Miniature Riflo Club, on the local rango on Thursday, June 3rd, are at present being made. The principal event on the programme is the champion teams' match for the Ashburton Citizens' Shield. Each team Will consist of five men, and in addition to tho winners holding the shield, each member will be presented with a miniature silver cup, while trophies will also bo awarded to each member of the second and third teams. In place of tho individual championship, which was held last year, there will be an Ashburton Match for which prize money amounting to over £3O is offered. The Grand Aggregate Championship will be decided from the scores in the Ashburton match and the champion teams' match. There has been a considerable increase in the number of prizes this year, thus giving more competitors an opportunity of recovering their entry fee. Women's Shakespeare Club. The fifth annual meeting of the Ashburton Women's Shakespeare Club was held on Friday when the president, Mrs M.- E. Ruddock, presided. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Miss E. Harries; vice-presidents: Mesdames G. V. Furby, and E. M. Ruddock; committee: Misses N. Doyle, L. Watt, and A. Nicoll; secrotary and treasurer, Miss-M. Dent: It was agreed to have a social on the opening night, which was set down for May 7th. "Julius Caesar" was decided upon for the fiTst study. School Burnt Down. < The Huntingdon School was totally destroyed by fire on Saturday night. The cause of the outbreak is not known. St. John Ambulance Association. The annual meeting of the Ashburton Sub-Centre of the St. John Am- [ bulanee Association, was held last evening. The retiring President (Mr H. M. .Tones) occupied the chair. I The nnnual report stated that early in the year a First Aid class was formed, but owing to insufficient members, a mixed class, consisting of 16 members, had to be held, but only 13 sat for the examination and 11 qualified. i Later a Ladies' Home Nursing Class was formed. Gratitude was expressed to the lecturers and examiners, Drs. G. J. S. Fisher, J. Connor, and J. R. Wells for the interest they had shown in the work of the Association, also tc- those members of the Ambulanco and Nursing Divisions for their assistance at the class, and their work at the various public gatherings in the County. During the year, 9 labels, 8 medallions, 12 First Aid, and 2 Home Nursing certificates had been afoarded members of the classes. The number of cases atj tended by members of both divisions, i on and off duty, were 27 and 19 respeeI tively. Donations had been received from Dr. Fisher £5, and the Ashburton Rugby Union £2 2s. The, balancesheet showed a loss on the year's working of £l2 os 4d, but there was a balance of assets over liabilities of £(i3 Ss 9d. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. The following officers were elected: President, Mr H. M. Jones; vice-presi-dents. Messrs R. Galbraith, S. Madden, and H. R. C. McElrea; secretary, Mr W. C. J. Osman; committee: Mesdames F. Smallbone, R. Totty, M. E. Fitzgerald, T. Thompson, Misses H. Lochwood, E. Aitlcen, D. Brunton, N. Watson, Messrs C. S. Hawkey, G. V. Furby, A. T. Smith, and H. Hefford; auditor, Mr G. V. Furby. The secretary, Mr Osman was voted an honorarium. During t(ic evening certificates awarded for the year were presented to the following: First Aid: Mesdames E. Fitzgerald, P. R. Thomson, Misses I. Chapman, C. M. lieenan, A. H. Loach, C. M. MeCormiek, D. M. McEachen, M. J. Money, W. L. Porter, A. D. Stephens, Messrs J. E. Mora, and H. B. Hefford; home nursing: Mrs P. R. Thomson and Miss C. M. MeCormiek; label: Mrs P. Totty, Misses L. Lochwood, N. Watson, Messrs H. M. Jones, P. Butler, G. V. Furby, H. R. C. McElrea, C. R. Hawkey, and W. C. J. Osman; medr.l----lion: Mesdames R. Sawle, M. L. Smallbone, Misses D. Brunton, A. M. Cambridge, J. Gourdie, R. Hopkins, Messrs A. T. Smith, and D. Wilkinson. SPRINGBURN. A gang of telegraph linesmen has been repairing rh e district telephone lines, which had fallen into a bad state of disrepair. For weeks past the district has been enjoying a spell of beautiful warm weather, which has enabled farmers to push on their team work. If sufficient support is forthcoming the Mount Somers Plunket Society will probably extend its work to the Springbarn and Stayoley districts.. .With this

object in view at tho annual meeting several local ladies were nominated for committee work at Mount Somers and locfliiy* The Springburn Sheep Dipping Company has jufit closed its dip after puttins through about 6000 sheep. Some V eaYs ago over 24.000 were dippea annually. The decline is attributed to the erection of private dips, and in many cases to the change over from sheep to cows. The committee of managers of the Presbvterian Church met last Friday, the Rev. R. Dickie presiding. There were also present: Messrs A. Horsey, J McFarlane, D. A. Syme, R. Lamb, C. Totty and T. Rutherford. A motion of welcome was passed to Mr and Mrs Horsey on their return from the Old Countrv. It was decided to hold a sale of work in aid of the stipend fund about the end of May. A donation of £2O towards this was handed in at the meeting. METHVEN. A pleasant time was spent by members of the Methven Croquet Club on the local green, the occasion being a "farewell afternoon" to Mrs H. A. Nickolls, who is shortly leaving the district. Practically every member of the club was present, and all took part, in a competition for a trophy given bv MrS G. Nicholls. This was won&y Mrs J. Allen after a play-off with Mrs S. Smith and Mrs J. Owen. A consolation prize was presented to Mrs W. H. D. McKee. During the afternoon tea interval, opportunity was taken by Mrs G. Nicholls, president, on behalf of the members, to present to Mrs H. A. Nickolls a croquet mallet suitably mounted and inscribed as a small expression of the esteem and appreciation of her services to the club. The president spoke in eulogistic terms of the good work done in the past by Mrs Nickolls. Sirs F. A. Tooley also spoke, expressing regret ' at the departure of Mrs Nickolls, and thanking her for her many services to the district. Mrs Jas. Duff, captain of the club,'presented Mrs Nickolls witb a beautiful bouquet of roses, and in doing so endorsed the remarks cf ,f l ,e previous speakers. Mrs Nickolls, win was greeted with musical honours, replied and thrtnked the donors for their 'fhe annual wheat and oat stacking competition, held under the auspices of tho A. and P. ' Association, has been concluded. A fairly large entry was received, and taken *ll round, some good work was exhibited, particularly in the wheat section, in which Mr LL. Anderson gained full marks, i_-W judge was Mr D. Fraser, stacking instructor at Lincoln Agricultural College. Tho results are as follows: —Oat Stacks, C. A. Campion (Barrhill) 78, 1; TMph Chambers (Lyndhurst) 6-5, 2; Ralph Chambers (Lvndhurst) 60. 3; W. J. Going (Methven) 52. 4. Wheat stacks, L. CI Anderson (Lyndhurst) 100, 1; Ralph Chambers (Lyndhurst) 89, 2; Ralph Chambers (Lyndhurst), 82, 3. RAKAIA. At the bazaar held recently under the auspices of St. Andrew's Church, the sheep-guessing competition was won by Mr J. Langley with 1271b. The correct weight of the sheep was 12741b. In conexion with the official visit of Bro. D. 11. hooper, New Zealand Grand Master of the 1.0.0. F., a social was held in the Town Hall oil Friday evening. There was a good attendance of members of the local lodges and a number of visitors froin Ashburton, Chertsey, and Wakanui. After an address by the G.M., the evening was spent in dancing. Music was supplied by Mrs O'Rkllv, Misses C. Shannon, and Jean McDonald, and Mr H. McDonald. Mr L. Cox was M.C. . . The Canterbury Central District or the Independent Order of Oddfellows received an. official visit from the Grand Master of New Zealand, Bro. D. R. Cooper, of Auckland, when a series of meetings was held in the Town Hall. Rakaia. _ The proceedings opened with a meeting' of the Edith Cavell (Rebekah) Lodge presided over by Sister J*. Stevenson, N.G. The officers and members of Daphne (Rebekah) Lodge, Ashburton, were also present. The G-.M. iwas introduced by Bro. R. W. Croy, D.D.G.M., of Canterbury Central, and received with full honours. A hearty welcome to the district was extended by the N.G. and acknowledged by Bro. Cooper, who conveyed greetings from the Auckland and Wellington districts, and addressed those present on the progress of. tho Order. Afterwards a meeting of Lodge Rakaia, No. 80, was held, visiting brethren being present from Ashburton Wakanui, and Chertsey. The G.M.. was welcomed by Bros C. Burns (Rakaia), A. Garland. P.D.D.M. ("Chertsey), and A. Smith (Hakatere Lodge (Ashburton). Later in the evening: G.M. Bro. Cooper spoke of the early history of the Order and traced its growth until the present time when it possessed a world membership of 2,(>00,000, with accumulated funds of £20,000,000. In New Zealand the Consolidated Benefit Fund now amounted to over £200,000. and the membership to 14,000. In 1925 there was an increase in the benefit fund of over £12,000, in spite of an abnormal period of sickness, when the sick fund had been called upon to pay over £IOOO, and the general fund £BOO more than in 1924. The Grand Master also referred to several cases of distress when considerable relief had; been given by the benevolent funds of lodges, and 6pke of the value of the fraternal union. During the term 1923-25 some 2o new lodges had been opened by the I.P.G.M>, and during the past 13 months 10* new branches had been formed, 11 male and eight Rebekah lodges. Bro. Cooper also referred to the good work being performed by friendly societies, where each worked for the common good and for.the uplifting of mankind. He conveyed fraternal greetings from the Grand Lodjre of New Zealand, and hoped that the Canterbury Ccntial District would continue to prosper.