NORTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19709, 28 August 1929, Page 3

NORTH CANTERBURY.

RANGIORA. Mrs J. W. Stanton was hostess at a card afternoon held at the home of Mrs H. Samuels iu aid of the funds of the ! croquet section of the Rangiora Bowling, Tennis, and Croquet Ciub. The card prize was won by Mrs W. Gardiner, and Mr M. A. Goulding wefn the consolation prize. The monthly meeting of the Bowling, Tennis, and Croquet Club was held on Monday, Mr R. H. Bailey presiding. It was decided to" affiliate with the North Canterbury Association. The financial statement showed a credit balance of £45 2s. A statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure for the current year, prepared by the Finance Committee, was adopted. It was decided to abolish the entrance fee of 10s 6d. Orders for advertiiements and for delivery of The Press may be telo phoned to or left at our local office, High street, Rangiora. Telephone j 65M. -2 HANMER SPRINGS. The weather cleared on Sunday. Monday was a bright sunny day with 17 degrees of frost. There are no reports yet from the back country regarding the snowfall. A sharp shock of earthquake was experienced at 3.40 a.m. on Monday, followed by another in the afternoon at about 3.48. SEFTON. The Library Committee met on Monday, Mr P. J. Thom presiding. The librarian reported that there had been 390 issues of books during the past month and 12 new books had been placed on the shelves. The income for the month from subscriptions, newspapers, and old magazines sold amounted to £1 18s 6d. Twelve new books were authorised for purchase. At the annual meeting of the cricket club Mr F. H. Ford presided. The balance-sheet showed a. credit balance of £2 3s. The following officers were elected:—Patron, Hon. Mr Forbes; president, Mr H. Jamieson; vice-presi-dents, Messrs I. Champion, A. Johnstone, A. and S. Ash worth, F. and G. James, and Les Hales; secretary, Mr C. Petrie; club captain, Mr F. H. Ford. The opening day was fixed for September 14th A vote of thanks was passed to the ladies for assisting with the afternoon tea during the season. It was decided to enter a junior team in the competition. OXFORD. Very wintry conditions haVe prevailed for a week. At Cooper's Creek and Viewhill there was snow on the fiat, but it was not so in Oxford, though the hills had a heavy coating. On Sunday night* the weather cleared, and there was the hardest frost of the season. Though the rainy weather was hard on the lambs, there was the greatest mortality in the frost of Sunday night, the newly-born lambs perishing in the rigorous cold. Stock have fared badly, and are showing the effects of the week of hard conditions. At a meeting of the genera] committee of the Oxford A. and P. Association, Mr H. G. Cross presided. Feeling reference was made to the death of Mr S. Gibbs, "who had been elosely identified with the farmers of the district, and with the Association, having on several occasions acted as judge of fat sheep. A resolution of sympathy was passed to the widow and family. It was decided to hold the annua] meeting on October sth, and to receive nominations, for the general committee up to September 19th. The coming year will see the silver jubilee of the Association. It is expected that the Agricultural lectures to be given in the Town Hall on Friday will be well attended. LEESTON. The showery weather of last week was not welcomed by the farmers occui pying heavy land, 'for, as a result* of the long spell of rain in July, the w»rk of preparing the land for the sowing i of spring crops is in a backward state. There are many pools of water in the paddocks, and it will require a good deal more fine weather to dry the ground sufficiently for tilling and sowing to be resumed. Unfortunately ; for the Lake Ellesmere settlers, the Selwyn river was in flood last week, and there was still a considerable body ot water over the week-end. This, with the water from the creeks discharging into the lake, will mean the flooding of more land at an inopportune time. Having been appointed to take charge of the Rakaia-Methven Home Mission district, Mr P. B. Birkett, who has served as a lay preacher in the Methodist circuit during the last fifteen months, was farewelled at the Leeston Church on Sunday evening. The Rev. G. P. Hunt acknowledged having received valued and willing assistance from Mr Birkett, to whom the circuit owed a debt of gratitude. Eager to render assistance, he had always been ready to give his best when called upon, both as a preacher and as a worker in other activities of the church. He congratulated him upon his new appointment. The sentiments expressed by the minister were endorsed by Mr A. Tong, senior circuit steward, who asked Mr Birkett'a acceptance of a cheque. In responding, Mr Birkett said he would take up his new duties feeling that he had the interest and prayers of those with whom he had been associated at Leeston. On (another occasion Mr Birkett was entertained by the memliers of the Young Men's Bible Class and other friends. Mr S. Pocklington, on behalf of the class presented him with a travelling case. The members of_ th© Leeston Wesley Guild also made him a presentation of a fountain pen. SOUTHBRIDGE. The second annual football match between teams representing the Ellesmere Druids' Lodge, Doyleston, and the' Old Oak Lodge, Southbridge, was played on the Southbridge recreation ground on. Saturday. As it was a friendly game, all club players were suspended and the teams were composed largely' of old-timers. After an interesting game the home team emerged victorious by 12 points to three. Mr L. Ebert refereed. A considerable quantity of fine shingle from the Ellesmere County Council's screen and hopper at Ridge road has been carted on to the main streets of the Southbridge township. The fine gravel makes an ideal topdressing. The same class of shingle » being used on a number of footpaths. BROOMFIELD. Owing to the inclement weather, tee attendance was small at the social eveaing held by the Sehool Committee on Friday. Music was supplied by Miss and Mr Hall, of Omihi, and Mr J. W. Streeter was M.C. Influenza is still very prevalent ia the district.

AKAROA. The death occurred at Christehurth on Sataraay of Mr A. W. Orme, of Robinson's Bay. Born in Tasmania oS years ago. he came to New Z«aland with his parents a* a small hoy and settled at Brouch's Bay. After ins marriage he acquired a farm at Robinson's Bay. where he resided until his death. He took a leading part in all matters for the welfare of the Bay aud will be sadly missed bv bis neighbours. He was a member of the Board of of the Akaroa Presbyterian Church years. A widow and family of tßree are left to mourn thenloss. " The funeral took place at the Bromley Cemetery yesterday. On Monday afternoon the members of the P.M.W.U. entertained Mrs T. H. Fraser at the Kowhai Tea Rooms. The Rev. J. C. McCaw said he regretted that the Fraser family were leaving the district and spoke of the good work thev had done in the interests of the church. On behalf o£_ those assembled he presented Mrs Fraser with a suitable parting gift. The following team has been selected to represent the Peninsula against \orth Canterbury for the Southbridge Shield at Little River on Saturday: H. Hadfield, L. Dore, C. J. Mcintosh, E. Weir, C. Williams. E. A. Mickle, L. Harrington, L. M. Fahev (wing), T. S. Craw, L. Blomquist, W. B Ramsay, Tom and G. Robinson, J. Mackav, R. C. Keegnn ; reserves, forwards : W. R. More, O Giibert, and G. Richfield; backs. C. Priest,'C Giddens, and D. R, Gilbert. HORORATA. Playing at Sheffield in the Malvern seven-a-sid© tournament. Hororata was the winning team in the under 17 years' contest. Presentations of medals will take place at a social at Glentunnel next Friday. The fortnightly dance held under the auspices of the School and Hall Committee was well attended. The committees are busy making final arrangements for a grand fete in aid of school and hall funds. * - At the residence of Mrs S. Thwaites, "Longridge," Glenroy, a social is being tendered the junior members of the Hororata and Glenroy G.F.S., nest month. In the evening the children will be entertained at tea in the Glenroy Hall bv the members of the Glenroy Ladies' Sewing Guild, after which the Glenroy junior members will contribute a concert in aid of the Glenroy Cot at St. Saviour's Orphanage. It is hoped to have one of the inmates of the orphanage present. Mr M. McMahon, of Stratford, is visiting relatives here. Mrs Topp and son, who have been staying with Mr and Mrs F. Locker, returned to Little River on Monday. Miss Morland is spending the school holidays in Christchurch. SPRINGFIELD. The mountains and surrounding hills received a very heavy covering of snow last week and the station hands on Brooksdale and Benmore.are out snowraking. On Porter's Pass the snow is five or six feet deep in places, and an employee from Castle Hill Station took eight hours to get through to Springfield, a distance of 18 miles. A party of opossum trappers at Thirteen Mile Bush are unable to leave,'as their car is practically buried in snow. Quite a number of people motored through to Kowai Bush on Sunday to enjoy tobogganning and ski-ing on the snowy slopes. PREBBLETON. A dance, organised by the Church Social Committee, was held in the Public Hall. There was a large attendance. In the waltzing competition judged by Mr Arthur Hays the successful couple were Mr and Mrs Gren. Downey. The prizes were given by Mrs G. Walker and Mrs W. Downey, sen. Much amusement was caused by the ankle competition, the voting proclaiming Miss Lowe the winner in Jthe class for single women and Mrs Morris in "that for married women. Music was supplied by Mrs Ken. Hammond, while extras were contributed by Miss Jean Hammond, Messrs A. Gallagher, R. Longstaffe, and J. Longstaffe. Mr H. Prebble was M.C BROOKSIDE. The Brookside School bore a festive appearance in its decorations for the first ball held by the Women's Hockey Club. The colours of the club, red and black, were displayed lavishly in the form of streamers and balloons. The attendance was large and all the space available for dancing was occupied. Messrs Mercer and Hamilton provided the music, relieved by Misses Brooks and McGregor Mr L. Buckley was M.C. The Ball Committee comprised Mesdames Croy and Tavlor and Misses J. Heslop, N. Lawrence, M. Doak, E. Merriman, A. Hall, N. Hleslop", N. Brooks, and J. Candy, the lasi two being joint secretaries.^