MID-CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19851, 12 February 1930, Page 8

MID-CANTERBURY

ASHBURTON. TRANSFORMATION AT RIVER MOUTH. Remarkably rapid transformation of the river-bed and seafront is noticeable, even during tho past week, at Hakatere, the mouth of the Ashburton river. What a few weeks ago was a river-fed lagoon about a quarter of a mile long and 50 yards wide, immediately in front of the huts, is now a dry shingle bed, which is gradually being filled in by the action of the sea. The river, since the reeeut heavy flood, goes straight out to sea, whereas before it had to pass through the lagoon, the mouth being then at the northern end. Where this mouth was is now a swimming pool about 75 yards long and half that distance across. The water is replenished by the sea coming over the shingle bank at each high tide. It is hard to say whether the river will revert to its old channel and again form a lagoon before the sea's action raises a bank of shingle sufficient to hold the former out. At tho present rate of transmutation only a few weeks will be necessary before this occurs. Erosion of the cliff face, which was causing so much anxiety among the hutholders, has ceased, and if the sea successfully blocks the river's old course, it seems as though the danger of further serious erosion along the cliff will bo minimised •to a great extent. One hut near the edge of the cliff has been removed to a safer locality.

Ashburton Presbytery. The first meeting this year of the Ashburton Presbytery w;is held yesterday, when the Moderator, the Rev. B. Morgan (Methven), presided. Beference was made to tho death of the late Rev. W. T. Todd, of Chrisfcchurch, and a motion of sympathy was passed to his relatives. It was decided to place on record appreciation of his services. It was resolved to extend the Moderator's term of office until the next meeting of the Presbytery. The Moderator reported that the ordination of Mr N. Rogers as home missionary at Wakanui had been carried out. The financial and statistical statement was presented, and showed that there were 14 churches and 18 other preaching places in the Presbytery's district. The number of persons under pastoral care totalled 3797, while the membership was 1045. The total ordinary income for tho year'ending October 31st, 1929, was £4122/ The amount raised for building purposes was £914, and for various church schemes £921, making a grand total of £5957.

It was agreed to nominate the Rev. H, H. Barton (Lawrence) as Moderatorelect to the General Assembly in 1931.

Tho Be vs. A. G. It vine and W. Marshall were appointed tho Presbytery's representatives on the General Assembly's Standing and Records Committees, respectively.

It was resolved that Messrs N. Rogers and H. Lock represent St. Andrew's (Ashburton) and Methven, respectively, at the Assembly. Loyal Tinwald Lodge. The Loyal Tinwald Lodge, M.U.. 1.0.0. F., held its fortnightly meeting on Monday night, .the N.G., Bro. J. W. Lowery, presiding.' An invitation was extended to the Loyal Ashburton Lodge to attend the meeting on March loth on the occasion of the visit of the North Canterbury Past Grands' Lodge. Advice was received that the P.G.'s Lodge would be held on February 25th, when a purple degree lecture would be given. Bros. E. E. Soal and S. J. Samuels were recommended for this degree. Nominations for District Officers wcro as follows:—D.G.M., Bro. A. T. Soal; D.D.G.M., Bro. H. D. Gunn; D.S., Bro. A. C. Hardy; District Treasurer, Bro. F. W. Watt; auditors and book-examiners, Bros. S. Culverhouse, G. Currie, and H. D. Gunn; Management Committee, Bros. R. A. Downie, A. E. Frew, and H. D. Gunn; relieving officer, Bro. T. Norgan; delegates to 8.M.C., to be held on April 28th at Palmerston North, Bros. H. D. Gunn, F. G. Mangin, and A. T. Soal. Longbeach Road Board. The monthly meeting of tho Longbeach Road Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs J. P. McQuilkin (chairman), H. Watts, W. 3. Anderson, and A. Moore. i

The clerk reported that the total amount of rates struck for tho 1929-30 year was-£1137, and only £l3 Cs lid was outstanding, which amount would incur the 10 per cent, penalty. It was decided to inspect Terrace road, which had been damaged by the flood, with the view to having it remetalled. The bank pass-book showed a credit of £lO5 0s 7d. HINDS. School reopened with a roll number of 87, as against 81 for tho commencement of 1929. The Tennis Club's fortnightly tournament was played on Saturday afternoon, the winners being Mr Currie and Mrs Hall. Mr and Mrs W. Lynch, of Dunedm, have been the guests of Mrs Morrin. RAKAIA. At the fortnightly meeting of the Rakaia Lodge, 1.0.0. F., held on Monday evening, Bro. M. V. Brown, N.G., presided over a good attendance. After the business meeting was over, Bro. Brown referred to the valuable services rendered to the Lodge by Bro. the Rev. J. C. Hawksworth, who is leaving shortly for England. On behalf of the members, Bro. Brown presented Bro. Hawksworth with a set of Loewe pipes, and wished him happiness and success in his future career. Bro. Hawksworth suitably returned thanks. During the early hours of Tuesday morning, a shop, with dwelling attached, was discovered to be on fire. As the fire had a good hold, and a strong nor'-west wind was blowing, nothing could be done to save the building, which was burned to the ground. The building, which was the property of Mr A. Santy, had been unoccupied for some time, and the cause of the fire is not known.