NORTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20087, 17 November 1930, Page 3

NORTH CANTERBURY.

RANGIORA. A specie) meeting of the Waikuku i" 1 .. Improvement Association was ir °? Satur( iay evening, Mr l l '. . eyer Lcmg in the chair. There were also nresent Messrs L. Harper, FlYrv«, l , nSOn /. C- Ta y lor - A. G. HunnibeU, h i!- - y nmuels, A. Hawkins, .it '\!PP (, nber»er. W. A. Kowse, '\ n • ; Harley. Arrangements t« r t.io annual gala, on Boxing Day, were S 5 . A • plan tor tlle various stalls, as submitted by the chairman, was approved. Stallholders were appointed and various details were arranged. It \v as decided to ask the Kangiora County Council to prohibit cars parking on the road on Gala Day. It. was also decided to ask the Domain lsonrd to allow the Association to charge Is entrance for adults on that day, children and cars to be allowed into the grounds free. Arrangements were made to hold a dance on the evening of Gala Dav. Yesterday afternoon the Christchurcli Municipal jL.and. under their cubMr J. Noble, at the invitation of the Itangiora Baud, visited Hangiora and played a of music in y ictoria Park. Before going to the park the visiting hand was met by the llangiora Hand at the hand room and both combined and played marches through the main streets to tne park. There was n very good attendance of the public, who gave liberally to a collection taken up in aid of the Municipal Hand's expenses to the contest in Wellington. Tim amount collected was just over £5. Last evening the Municipal Band stopped at Kaiapoi and played " programme of music in the rotunda there. KAIKOURA. Mr James )Vyd leaves on a ten days' trip into the interior to-day in connexion with land settlement. The death occurred at the Kaikoura Hospital on Friday evening of one of the early settlers of Marlborough, Mr Thomas Francis, ax the age ot 89 years. He was born in Suffolk, in 1841, was educated at Chilton House Academy, and was for throe years in the merchant .service. In 1867, he emigrated to Australia, and the following year came to New Zealand. Ho was engaged uith Air Beaumont, at Kaikoura. in ISO!), on the Tip Tree homestead (now Ludstone). Later, with .Mr Chuytor, bo acted as boundary keeper lor Mr Beaumont at Siarhorough. until this estate was cut up, when he t<v>k uj> 518 acres of it. He returned to Kaikoura ten venrs ago. Mr Francis possessed a most kindly deposition, and was highly respected l>v all with whom he eamo in contact. He was a keen gardener, and his little plot in Torquay ftreet was admired by many people. His wife predeceased him h.v M>:ue years. He is survived by three sons -Bicsby Thomas (Hni Kails'), Kdward Arthur (Ward), and Frederick William (Ward) and four daughters—Mrs S. A. Callan (Kaikoura) Mr* W. Jeffries (Wellington), Mrs C Grav (NVl*on), and Mrs J. J. Boyd (CJreonbum). OXFORD. The annual meeting of St. Columba Presbyterian Church was held, when the llev. A. Simmonds presided over a fair attendance. Reports given of the work of the various church organisations were very encouraging, a special tribute being paid to tfie members of the Ladies' Guild, who, by functions during the year, had raised £'t<3 for church funds. The balancesheet showed the finances to be in a healthy condition, th« treasurer complimenting the people on their gonerous giving A resolution, moved by Mr A. Bath, and seconded by Mr I). Bell, expressing appreciation of the work of Mr fc>immonds, was unanimously approved AKAROA. After several postponements, the Akaroa Bowling Club held their opening on Saturday afternoon. Owing to a heavy nor'-wester, which lasted until mid-day, n number of club member* who intended being present from Christchurcli did not arrive. However, there were a number of members from other clubs present. Before declaring the eeasou open the president (Mr G. Armstrong) presented the following trophies won last year:— Handicap Singles Cup—A. H. Williams. President's Medal—A. E. Kingston. Set of Bowls—S. W. Hayward. In his remarks, the president welcomed all visitors to the green, and said that he hoped the 26th year of the club would be even more successful than the previous ones. He announced that Mr C. W. Aldridge was presenting a cup for novice players, and said ho was certain that this competition would prove beneficial to the younger players. He then called upon ins daughter (Mrs A. Shuttleworth) to piay the first bowl. Afternoon tea was dispensed. A number of novel and amusing; competions were held.