NORTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19189, 21 December 1927, Page 9

NORTH CANTERBURY.

♦ (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3.) OXFORD. The Town Hall was taxed to its utmost capacity on the occasion of. tbe annual concert of tho Oxford Consolidated School. Tho first part of the programme # consisted of a fairy play, in which almost 70 infants took part. Their performance was charming nnd roused the audience to tho highest pitch of enthusiasm. Tho second part was_,givem by the •tandard classes and consisted of •ketches, dialogues, and elocutionary items, those taking part being: Thelma Foster, Mavis Olorenshaw, jtowona Youngman, Eileen Hall, Dorothy Eliott, Elaine McCahon, Ber»ice Bpencer, Daphne Wright, Jean M. McCormick, and Kay Marff. Tho Welsh choir gave a series 'f songs, including tho school song. |?cnl items were given by Miss Joyce Vwoent and Mr A. J. Gainsford, and * P'anoforte duct was. given by two •'o pupils, Misses M. Roi and 1. winjford. The secondary department included tho programme by a one-act m, "The Old Bull," of which tho following is tho cast:—Tom Bones, Mr ?• C D. Somerset; Charles Elmitt, & Walker; James Elmitt, Jack "right; AVilliam Smithson. Joe •Nana; Sarah Tinsley, Miriam Watson. J he presentation of this play was Wperb. During the interval tho chairman Ji the School Committee, Mr W. H. Bowles, presented the school service **}»! to William Ward (secondary department). This is the first year the ««coiidary department has been inin this. He ,also presented the S™* medals to Colin Moore and Maggie who tied for first place. 2 T A- H. Dennc, headmaster, acted as jnairaian and announced the results 'ho proficiency examination. i CUST. *t the annual prize-giving at St. lues's Church of England, the Vicar jjkr. H. O. Hanby) presided, and in r* presentation ivas assisted by Mrs £, Forsyth and Miss F. Pawscy. The W-uicipal awards were-.—Church atjNauce: Arthur Amyes 1, Vera father 2, Thelma and Myrtle Fea3°Si Leslie and Robin Forsyth (equal) School attendance: Thelma, ,' ra . and Myrtle Feather, Arthur "ffi? (equal) 1, Gladvs Feather and *?Mileen Tallott (equal) 2. Special J™fs were given bv Mr and Mrs For- £*) Mrs S. Wood, Mrs M. Dixon, ;* Vicar and Mrs Hanby, Mrs Alh--5". Mrs Crvsell, Mrs Feather, nr.d U *L^ Sue > * uo balance being given y g the . Ladies' Guild. h°Pecial services were held at St. ■JS? 1 «. Presbyterian Church, there £3 "good congreaitions. I" tho Mr Simmonds gave an ad"The Young Child, Jesus." At ttu^ 08 * the P"** for Sabbath Schoo : «f4i anoe were distributed. Several &3« children have attended every j*?% during tho year- In the evenmusical service was held. ''*tfrn?°. lr » led b y M™ Simmonds, sang carols in a very pleasing iGS??» and tho congregation joined mS33'$ m singing familiar Christmas BS.: An appropriate address was Mr Simmonds.

HANMER SPRINGS. Mr D. D. Dunn, officer in charge of the Balmoral State • Forest, has been transferred to Beaumont, Central Otago, for 12 months. On his departure, he was presented with a handsome rug by the plantation and nursery stafF. Mr Dunn was formerly an officer in.tho Haniner forest service, and the staff there met one evening at tho residence of Mr W. Montgomery for the purpose of bidding Mr and Mrs Djinn farewell. A very pleasant evening was spent, during which Mr and Mrs Dunn and the children were presented with Christmas gifts from the staff. It is understood that Mr Dunnes temporary position is to make the necessary preparations for, and to supervise the planting of, 7000 acres of trees in scrub country. During the past season, 5000 acres were planted at Balmoral under his supervision. FERNSIDE. The Fernside School held its annual picnic at Governor's Bay. A large crowd journeyed thither and all spent a very enjoyable outing. A sports programme was carried out. At tho annual prize-giving a concert party from Rangiora gave an excellent programme. Members of the party were:—Misses I*. ttanby an(l J - *oJward, Messrs E. D. R. Smith and G. McAlpine. A pianoforte solo was contributed by Miss M. M. Sutherland, who also accompanied tho singers. At the conclusion of tho concert prizes were distributed by Mr E. D. 11. Smith. After supper dancing was kept up until tho early hours, Miss Sutherland playin<* appropriate music, with Mr fc>. CHewitt as M.C. A lucky spot waltz was won by Miss D. Smith and Mr D. Milue. Special prizes were awarded as tollows (evcrv child who passed into a higher class was also presented with a book):—Silver medal presented by Mr S. Hewitt. L. Carpenter (Dux); silver medal presented by Mr W. Smith, Mabel Mitchell (Dux); sewing prizes— Std VI. (Mr E. D. R. Smith) Lily Hido; Std. V. (Mrs Clark) Ina Sutherland; Std. IV. (Mrs Guy) Daphne Catchpole; Std. 111. (.Mrs W. Smith Margaret Hide; St. 11. (Mrs Hewitt Florence Bowler: St. I. (Mrs Hewitt) Hazel Miles. Championship running prizes (Mr V. Guy)— Boys: G. Armstrong 1 and C. Lindsay 2; girls: Kvelvn Carpenter 1 and Mabel Mitchell 2- walking race (Mr M. Evans)—Boys: Colin Milne 1 and Douglas Lindsay 2: oirN: Evelvn Carpenter 1 and Rhona Smith 2. HORORATA. At the annual breaking-up ceremony of the school, a varied programme was presented by the children, who acquitted themselves most creditably, Father Christmas arrived by motorcar and presented every child in tho district under school age with toys, balloons, sweets, and nuts Mr A J. Harris, chairman ot the School Committee, then presented each pupil with a book. Allan Oliver was awarded a special prize for dux of the school wliich was given by Mr Cartwngl.t (the Mr Harris took the opportunity to thank and congratulate the teachers and pupils of the school | who had had a successful year :n ; sport, as well as study He thanked , all those who had helped to make the evening the success it was, also Miss , Nelson for training tho children and arranging the programme. , I The following were awarded swimming certificates:—Merit: Dons Oliver/Rao Boyle. Rewa Barrett; proficiency: Leslie Wells Allan Oliver; learners: Stanley Maffey, Joan Barrett, Alice Chapman, Mary Swanson,

Muriel Hunt, Ella Chapman, Gwladys .Locker, Edna Gray, Donald Munro, Anna Bruce, Gordon Bruce.' Attendance certificates: Bernie McKenzie, Dorothy Thomas, Allan Oliver, Harold Stevenson, Raymond Oliver, Iris Hore, Edna Gray, Rewa Barrett, Joan Barrett, Ella Chapman. LINCOLN. Two successful performances of "A Christmas Carol," a drama in two acts from Charles Dickens's celebrated work, were given last week by the Presbyterian Bible Class in the Sunday School Hall. The ghost scenes, especially, had thoir effect enhanced by tho use ol coloured lighting. Musical, scenic, and general stage "effects," along with the costumes of the period, were also of great assistance to the story of the play. On Sunday, the Boys' Fife Baud held a Church parade to the Presbyterian Church. Tho boys looked smart with their new white haversacks, and played selections during the service. Special hymns were sung by the Sunday School children and the prizes were distributed at the close of the service.