MID-CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19726, 17 September 1929, Page 7

MID-CANTERBURY

ASHBUETON. PERSONAL. Mr W. H. Robinson leaves this evening for Wellington to attend the annual conference of New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies. Warning to Public. The question of issuing a warning and instructions to people using electrical equipment in consequence of accidents that have happened recently in various parts of the Dominion was mentioned at the Power Board meeting by Mr H. J. Crothers yesterday. Mr H. G. Kemp said he would like to point out the risk that people were taking in handling wires which had been blown down. He instanced a case of a wire having been lifted and placed on a sticii by a private individual. Farmers in the country who were clearing up fallen trees took a great risk in touching electric wires which were on the ground. It was safer for people to keep well away from them.

The chairman: A line must be considered to be dangerous when it is on the ground. We would appreciate reports in cases of broken wires, but it would be safer if the wires were handled only by the Board's staff. Power Board. At the monthly meeting of the Power Board held yesterday there were present: —Messrs F, W. Watt (chairman), W. T. Lill, J. W. M. Dart, S. Smith, W. H. Rundle, W. H. Woods, A. Horsey, R. J. Mulligan, W. Bryant, H. J. Crothers. A resolution of sympathy was passed with Mr E. F. Nicoll in the death of his mother. The financial statement showed that the revenue for last month totalled £3Oll 7s Pd. Of the No. 2 loan authority, the su,.i of £7900 had been paid up. The engineer-secretary (Mr H. G. Kemp) reported that the heavy north west gale on September 2nd caused widespread damage, and service was not wholly restored until the end of the week. A total of 62 bluegum and 31 steel poles carrying high tension wires and 36 bluegum' poles carrying low tension wires came down. Most of the plantations considered dangerous in the Mayfield district caused considerable damage. The gale had emphasised the need of better control in the MethvenHighbank district. The arrangement of the high tension lines at Methven was not good in that the points of con- | trol were in most cases on the outskirts of the town. He recommended that the outdoor equipment at Methven be reconstructed, which would necessitate bringing the Highbank circuit into the sub-station; that the Cairnbrae line be looped with the main Highbank line, which would involve about miles of line, with sectionalising switches at suitable points. The loop would be useful in simplifying the replacement of bluegum poles in that area. He estimated the cost of the work at about £BOO. The chairman said the steel poles had stood up wonderfully well to the recent nor'-west gale and a number of those damaged could be reconditioned. The total damage so far as the Board was concerned was between £ 700 and £BOO, which was comparatively light. They had been negotiating with farmers with regard to the trimming or removal of trees that were likely to be a menace to power lines and he did not think that there would now be much difficulty in completing these negotiations throughout the district. He paid a tribute to the work of the staff during the gale. Appreciation of their efforts was recorded. The running engineer (Mr A. T. Saunders) reported that 481,466.3 units were supplied from Lake Coleridge and 226.3 from the Diesel plant. The maximum demand on the station was 1382 k.w. on August 27th, and 1296 kva. on Coleridge on the same date. The Diesel plant was running for two hours twenty-nine minutes for peak load production. Baptist Tennis Club. The annual meeting of the Baptist Tennis Club was held last evening, when Mr A W. Hopkins presided over a large attendance. The report opened with a reference to the loss sustained by the club by the removal of its president, the Rev. C. S. Matthews, who had left for Palmerston North at the end of last season. It was interesting to note that Mr Matthews had already commenced a club in con nexion with his church in Palmerston North. Last season was very successful. The membership was 69. The club had played seven matches, only one being lost. Early in the season the club was able to erect a building to form the nucleus of a pavilion. Thanks were due to Mr M. Keeley and his helpers for their services. The financial statement showed a credit balance of £2O 19s. The mortgage now stood at £65. The report and balance-sheet were adopted Officers were elected as follows: President, the Rev. D. C. Mitchell; vice-presidents: Messrs G. Lamb, W. McLean, F. A. Silcoek, G. W- Andrews, E. J. Tucker, G. Meddens, A. W. Hopkins; captain, Mr J. Lewis; vice-cap-tain, Mr D. Moodie; secretary, Mr R. H. Loy; treasurer, Mr W. Hammond; committee: Misses N. Brunton, I. Hodder, N. Lewis, M. McLenan, Messrs F. Strange, J- M. Willoughby, and G. Bowman. The committee was recommended to arrange for the opening day on October 12th. Twelve new members were elected, Rugby Union. At the meeting of the Management Committee of the Rugby Union last evening Mr F. Pritchard presided. Mr H. J. Chapman, manager of the senior A representative team which played South Canterbury at Timaru on Saturday, reported that although Ashburton was defeated the game was fast and interesting. His suggestion to the president of the South Canterbury Union that home and home matches be played annually was favourably received. Mr J. C. C. McLachlan reported upon the senior B match against Ellesmere on Saturday. The Southland Rugby Union wrote in appreciative terms of the manner in which the Ashburton team conducted itself during his recent visit to Inver cargill. The Otago Rugby Union forwarded a cheque for £3B 15s 6d, being Ashburton's share of the gate receipts in the representative match at Dunedin. The New Zealand Rugby Union wrote asking for nominations for the North Island v. South Island team and New Zealand team. The matter was referred to the selector with power to act. It was agreed thaj a presentation be made to Mr W. F. Watters, who has left to reside in Dunedin. It was reported that the art union would be drawn on September 28th.

The selector announced the following nominations for the South Island team: O. Whiting (Hampstead), wing-forward: G. Day (Hampstead), second eighth; C. Pawson (Old Boys), forward; A. McCormick (Methven), front rank; J. Muihern (Hampstead). forward.

Allenton Sports Club. For the purpose of organising a carnival to augment the funds of the Allenton Sports Club, a meeting of members was held last evening, the president, Mr E. C. Bathorst, pr#siding. It was decided to Hold the function in May, 1930. The following conveners of stalls were appointed:—Fancy, Mr# F. Hocking; cakes, Mrs E. C. Bathurst; sweets, Miss E. Knox; refreshments, Mrs W. Acton; produce, Mr J. Kennedy; bran tub, Miss E. Meeking; sideshows, Mr J. Stevenson; home delicacies, Mrs JStevenson. It was decided to hold a copper trail competition, women versus men. At a subsequent meeting of the executive, the chairman reported that Mr C. E. Norrish had been appointed caretaker. The grounds committee reported that | the croquet greens and tennis courts were in good order, and that several rinks of the bowling green would be available for play for the opening on October 19th. It was reported that members of the bowling section had promised donations for the purchase of sixteen new mats. The application for the erection of a volley-board was granted. STAVELEY. Two old residents of the district died last week. At Tauranga Mr George F. Nell died on Wednesday, at the age of 72. The late Mr Nell was born in England and bearing the stamp of some of the best English schools, he came to New Zealand at an early age. After working at Oxford, where he married, he came to Staveley as secretary to the Sharplin sawmill. Later he became clerk to the Mount Somers Road Board. After living for a short while in Ashburton he then shifted to Tauranga, there again working with Mr H, H. Sharplm. Later he entered into business at Tauranga on his own account. He is survived by Mrs Nell, two sons, Mr Lt. Nell (Mount Somers) and Mr L. Nell (Tauranga), and one daughter, Mrs A. J. Pritchard (Ohakune). Mr John Stevenson died at Christchurch on Thursday, at the advanced age of 86. The late Mr Stevenson migrated to New Zealand from Scotland, and was one of the first settlers in the Spricgburn district, having taken up land there about 1870, For a good number of years he had lived in Christchurch. He is survived by a widow and a large family. The fortnightly meeting of the Preßbyterian Ladies' Guild was held on Thursday afternoon at the residence of Mrs Alex. Robertson, the Rev. G. Wood presiding. One new member ,was welcomed by the chairman. Mr and Mrs Colin [Xrquhart having kindly offered their grounds, it was decided to hold a garden party there on November 23r8. It was agreed to have the following stalls:—Work, cake, sweets, ice-cream, and fruit salad. A small admission will be charged, but afternoon-tea will he free. It teas decided to hold a cooking competition and a work competition. The committee of the Tennis Club met recently to discuss ways and means of raising funds for laying down a court and a number of schemes are in hand. Unfortunately the help that was at first promised free is not forthcoming, and so the scheme is going to prove more costly than was expected. Beautifully fine weather again prevailed over the week-end and on Sunday brought out a large number of motorists. Feed is now becoming more abundant, but one does sot have to penetrate far up the Ashburton Gorge to see the tail-end of a hard winter still in evidence.

MAYFIELD. The annual ball of the Football Club proved to be one of the best functions of its kind held this season. The club was successful in winning the Ashburton Rugby Union junior competition thiß season, and a number of members of the Rughy Union were present to present the Junior Banner, and the seven-a-side medals, which the club also won. Over fifty couples danced to music supplied by Mrs Chapman's orchestra, extras being supplied by Miss Allan and Mr E. Beckley. Mr H- Sarney a member of the Rugby Union, who made tlie presentation of the banner to the president of the club, Mr J. D. Murdoch, apologised for the absence of the president, of the Union, Mr Watters, who recently left Ashburton for Dunedin. Mr Sarney, on behaif of tue Union, congratulated the club on its success in winning the junior competition for the second consecutive year, and for the third time since 1922. He hoped that tho club would see its way clear to enter a senior team in the competitions next year. Mr Murdoch thanked members of the Union for coming out from Ashburton to present the banner, which the club was v£ry proud to have won. Tho club was also successful in winning the seven-a-side tournament at Ashburton and Mr H. Chapman, of the Rugby Union, who presented the medals to the winning seven congratulated the players on their fine per formaiice. Mr E. Burgess, chairman of the club committee, thanked the public for their strong support. The patron, Mr J. Riley, presented medals given by Mr J. Toner and Mr W. Edis, for the most consistent forward, and most consistent back to G, Blunden and L. Murdoch respectively. The opportunity was also taken to present medals given by Mrs Lilley and Mrs E. Burgess for the most improved back and best forward in the ladies' hockey team and to Misses Mona Riley, and O. Beckley respectively.

MOUNT SOMERS. A Paddy's Market held by the Plunket Society netted over £23. The stallholders were:—Cake and pie stall: Mrs R. Nosworthy and L. Prebble; jumble: Mesdames J. Gorrie and W. Turton; children's: Mrs W. B. Pope and Miss Joyce Smith; produce: Mrs H. J. Jewel); competitions: Miss M. Jewei ; ; afternoon tea: Mesdames G, A. Bland, G. L. Nell, Misses M. and K. Bland, anJ A. Webster. At a largely attended meeting over which Mr H. Morgan presided, it was decided to hold a "welcome home" and presentation to Mr and Mrs J. T. Bull, and a committee of nine, with Mr W. A. H. Sharpe, as hon. secretary, was formed to organise the function. Mr A. B. Lockhead presided over a meeting of benedicts, when it was decided to hold the second annual ball early in October. Mr W. A. H. Sharpe was elected hon. secretary. The Mt. Somers Miniature Rifle Club fired its third shoot for the club's final trophy on Saturday. Top seorers were: Seniors: B. Hood 77; juniors, W. Morgan 78. Top scores in the first two shoots were:—No. 1, seniors: Hugh Morgan 77; No. 2: B. Hood 79; juniors, No. 1: W. Morgan 70; No. 2: W. Morgan 75.