LYTTELTON NEWS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19199, 4 January 1928, Page 12

LYTTELTON NEWS.

+ The Scouts. $ The party of 240 scouts who have been in camp at Charteris Bay during the holidays struck camp yesterday morning and returned to Lyttelton and Christchurch about midday. The very heavy rain in the early hours of yesterday morning washed practically right through the camp, and all received a soaking. Cornwell Cap Crew. G. Brassell and R. Forsyth have been selected to represent Lyttelton in the Cornwell Cup contest to be held at Auckland towards the end of this month. Mr .F. Collins will accompany the boys, and will be the Lyttelton delegate to the Cornwell Cup conference. Harbour Light Theatre. "The Stolen Bride," starring Lloyd Hughes and Billie Dove, and "Don Mike," featuring Fred Thompson and Silver King, will be repeated at the Harbour Light Theatre tonight, together with a comedy and gazette. To-morrow "The Night of Love," a United Artists' special production, starring Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky, will be screened. The reserve plan is at King and Cousins. Heavy Rainfall. Eain which commenced to fall at Lyttelton on Monday evening increased during the night until in the early hours of. yesterday morning it had reached the severity of a tropical downpour. Between 1.15 and 2 a.m. s' heavy thunderstorm occurred, the most severe in Lyttelton for very many years. Brilliant discharges of lightning lit the whole town repeatedly, and "the noise of the thunder and the rain was almost deafening. The rain continued heavy until well on in the morning when it settled into a light south-west drizzle. Magistrate's Court.

Messrs P. Knights, J.P., and F. G. Norton, J.P., presided at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Thomas Gantley Dagg, o member of the crew of the steamer Waikouaiti, pleaded guilty to having stolon 21 gramophone records, valued at £4 7s, the property of Edith Cameron.

Sergeant J. W. McHolm said that at about 1.30 on New Year's morning accused and another man wandered into the Mitre Hotel and went into the lounge. They found a number of records in the room and stole 21 of them, taking them out and leaving them in the street. They afterwards returned and tried to get a drink, but were unsuccessful. They were ejected from the hotel. Accused then took the records to his ship, where they were found by the police. Accused at once admitted the theft. Accused was fined £3, in default ono month's imprisonment, and the records were ordered to be returned to Mrs Cameron. Seamen's Institute. The Christmas festivities in connexion with the Lyttelton branch of the British Sailors' Society were carried out under ideal weather conditions. On Christmas evening the usual service was held, the Rev. A. J. Petrie being tho speaker. Christmas carols were sung, about 30 men being present. An invitation having been oxtended to ail the men in the ships' to the social evening'on Monday, over 60 responded, and a very pleasant evening was spent. The hall was prettily decorated with paper' streamers and flowers. Tho floral decorations were given by Mesdamcs Trelcaven, T. Blunt, and T. M. Curnow. Tho Rev. Dr. Irwin acted as chairman, and after offering prayer extended a hearty welcome to the men. The Rev. A. J. Petrie, the Rev. B. Dudley, Captain R. Hatchwell (secretary), and Mr J. T. Norton (president) also welcomed the men. Games and competitions wcro indulged in, and vocal and instrumental items were given by Misseß Hatchwell, Yidulich, Nystram, Messrs J. Nelson, and Wintle. Refreshments given by the ladies were handed round, and Christmas cakes given by Mrs Orbell and the Ashburton Guild were'cut by Mrs 11. T. Thacker (president Christchnrch Ladies' Guild), and afterwards distributed. The ditty bags and prizes were afterwards handed to the men by the ladies of the Lyttelton Guild. Hearty thanks were accorded all for their assistance. On Boxing Day a' party of about 40 journeyed to Diamond Harbour, where a picnic was held. A free and easy time was spent until dinner, and during the afternoon, sports and games were organised. Ladies' and men's races, tug-of-war, and throwing the cricket ball were held, much amusement being created by some of the races. Afterwards a cricket match was played. An impromptu concert wasgiven at the Institute in the evening, and the prizes won at the sports were distributed by Captain K Hatchwell. Hearty thanks were accorded to all who had helped to make the gatherings so successful. The Superintendent expressed thanks for all the personal kindnesses shown, and tho help given during the Christmas season, and a seaman moved a vote of thanks for the good time which they had spent, the motion being carried unanimously. "