MID-CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19027, 15 June 1927, Page 9

MID-CANTERBURY

ASHBURTON,

PERSONAL.

Senior-Sergeant L H. Mathieson is at present on a few. days' leave, and he is being reUeyed by Sergeant McGregor, of Christchurch.

Preparation of Objections.

The work of the committee representing the Borough and '"unty Councils, which'was set up to attend to arrangements in connexion with lodging objection's to the merging of the Ashburton electorate in the Ellesniere nd Temuka electorates, has been considerably hampered through the committee being unable to obtain figures relating to the population of certain areas, electorates, and counties. . The Government Statistician (Mr Malcolm Fraser) has replied to a communication stating that the population of the proposed new electoral districts is not compiled by or known to--the Census and Statistics Office. It was compiled by the Eepresentation Commission frpm maps, etc, which were loaned by his office and which the Commission'.retained until the.final - •vtoral boundaries were gazetted. The populations of the pro- >d new districts were not given out by the Commissions on account, he understood, of the confidential nature of the quota. It was obvious that if the population of all the South Island districts were, given out, the quota would be disclosed automatically. It was considered that the quotas referred to would be published m the near future. , . The preparation of objections is at present receiving the attention of the committee as it is necessary that they be lodged with tho Commission by June 28th. •, JV „ Owing to the decision ot the Commission that only written objections will be received, the deputation, as suggested at the indignation meeting recently, will not now go before the Commission in support of its claims.

Baring Square Church Choir.

The Baring squar? Methodist Church choir held its annual meeting at the residence of Mr J. W. Bsker, when the Kev R B. Tinsley presided. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. Six new members were elected and a number of junior members we're promoted to the senio- ranks. Officers were elected as follows: Choirmaster, Mr H. A. Humphreys; secretary and treasurer, Mr C Bishop; fommTttee, Miss Mesdames And R. Featherston, Messrs 5° WishS D. F. Keir, "and R. S" +„„. Social Committee, MesBuxton; „»*£' B i ack) MisS€S GaTrder F Chapman. MessVs F. PorG .r J Corbett. L. Halls, and B. orPffl- librarian. Mr W.Corbett j assistant lihUrian Mr B. Homll. T voto of thanks was passed to all retirino office-- A social hour was spent with music and games -ter which sup™,r was handed round. Mr and Mrs Baker were accorded a vo te of thanks for their hospitality. St. Stephen's Girls' Club.

For the purpose of celebrating its > r;,-]<!' Club and friends on Monday Sgltf when C Mrs C G. M. Boyce pre-

sided. A nicely-decorated birthday cake containing a candle for each year the club had been in existence, was presented by Mrs W. Osniau. Singing and games were indulged in during the evening. Allenton School Committee.

Mr E. Houston (chairman) presided over the monthly meeting of the Allenton School Commi I tee on Monday night. The headmaster (Mr "' S. Pratt) reported that the roll number was 266, and owing to the increased number in the infant department it had been necessary to rearrange the classes. Mr Cox had been appointed relieving teacher to succeed Mr McPherson, who resigned on account of ill-health. Mr E. C. Bathursfc was appointed to represent the committee on the Dental Clinic Committee. A grant of three guineas was. forwarded by the Allenton Sports Club. For the purpose' of augmenting the funds, it was agreed to hold a series of dances and card evenings during the winter, commencing on June 24th.

Interesting Address.

An interesting address on the work of the China Inland Mission was given in St. Andrew's Hall yesterday afternoon, to women, by Mrs Howard Taylor, the missionary and authoress. She dealt largely with the cruelty and heathenism of inland China.

Ladies' Golf.

The draw for tho Barnett vase stroke match to be played among members of the Ashburton Ladies' Gotf Club, is as follows: Seniors—Mrs J. T. Smith and Mrs F. M. Brodie, Mrs G. J. S. Fisher and M"3s E. Stewart, Mrs E. Nicoll, and Mrs J. Mcßae, Mrs R. It. Kennedy and Miss D. Keith. Juniors—Mrs V. P. Boot and Mrs E. H. Orr, Mrs J. Lane Mrs J. T. Thomas, Miss M. Hunter and Miss Hoskens, Mrs H. J. Fraser and Miss H. Laing, Mrs F. Watt and Mrs F. Seldon, Mrs C M. Innes and Mrs A. Bushell, Mrs W. Thomas and Miss R. Cuff, Mrs S Thomas and Miss H. Hunter, Mrs Wardell and Mrs Mulligan, Mrs W. W. Garton'and Mrs H. G. Kemp, Miss J. Dunlop and scorer.

STAVELEY.

The Hall Society's fortnightly euchre tournaments were continued in the hall on Saturday evening. The night threatened to be very stormy, and this" militated against a large attendance, but even so a very sociable evening was spent. Mrs E. Aldand Miss E. C. Lamb each «;itn a score of 13 tied for the ladies' prize, which eventually went to Mrs aldridge. Mrs W. Gundry received tho consolation prize. The men's prize was won bv Mr A. J. Wright with a score of 20, and Mi- E. Burgess and Mr F. Lorgelly tied for the men s consolation prize. After supper a few danres were held before dispersing. The play somewhat changed the positions of contestants for the aggregate prizes and the leaders now are: Mrs E. Aldridge (49), Miss Ada Aldridge (49). Miss E. Lamb (44), and Mr C. Mcßae (57). Mr T. Burgess (53), and Mr D. Lamb (52). The first ball of the season has been organised by a strong committee of ladies in aid of tbp funds of the Mount Somers and Sprinpbiini Competitions Society and will be held locallv on Fridnv evemnc. Several ladies have promised prizes for noveltv dances. The hall is to beelaboratelv decorated and an Ashburton orchestra has been engaged The ladies concerned hart-e gone to special trouble and the ball promises to be a notable success. „„^-—• A cold, wintry week-end was experienced and the ground has now receiv-

Ed a thorough soaking, while thick snow lies on the mountains. 1-ollow-ing scattering showers on Saturday, rain fell heavily all Sunday, and at times flakes of snow mingled with the rain, but melted immediately they fell. During Sunday night the rain stopped and Monday, though fine, was ono of the coldest days of.this winter, being damp underfoot, and for the greater part of the day cloudy overhead, while all day a cold nor'-west wind blew off the snowy ranges.

ASHBURTON FORKS.

At Ashburton Forks 109 points of rain fell on Sunday. The fortnightly euchre tournament was held in the schoolroom on Friday evening, but the attendance was not as large as previously owing to a farewell social being -held the same evening at Staveley, and owing to the local school being under rennovation. However a most enjoyable time was spent. Mrs 6. Randall and Mr J. Simpson (Christchurch) were respectively the winners of the ladies' and men's prize. The consolation prizes went to Miss H. Butterick and Mr S. Tilley, both of Greenstreet.