NORTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20463, 5 February 1932, Page 3

NORTH CANTERBURY.

. ♦ ' i ■ ' i RANGIORA. The Rev. A. C. Purchase, who has been appointed vicar of the parish of ! Rangiora, was instituted to his new office at a special service held in St. John's Church on Wednesday evening, conducted by Bishop West-Watson, assisted by the clergy of the rural deanery. There was a large congregation. The service was a very impressive one, and after the institution ceremony the Bishop urged the parishioners to give the same loyal support to the Rev. Mr Purchase as they had given to the former vicar. The Bishop also referred to tho unrest in the world, making special reference to the trouble between China and Japan, and urged all members of the congregation to become honorary members of the Disarmament League. At the close of the service a welcome social was held in the Parish Hall, the minister's warden, Mr C. W- Tyler, presiding. Addresses were given by the Bishop, the Rev. C. L. Sparrow (Kaiapoi) and the Rev. W. R. Hutchison (Presbyterian), who weloomed the new vicar on behalf of the churches of the town. Mr C. W. Tyler and Mr T. Leech also spoke. Mr Purchase thanked the wardens for the cordial welcome accorded to himself and Mrs Pin-chase. During the evening vocal solos were given by Miss R. Horrell, Miss N. Shankland, Mr G. March, and a violin solo by 'Mr J. C. Hancock. Miss J. Croft, of Ashley, threshed a ten acre paddock of solid straw Tuscan wheat, returning 4G bushels per acre, and also a 10$ acre paddock, whicn returned 33 bushels per acre. St. John's branch of the Mothers' Union met on Wednesday afternoon, when there was an attendance of about 60 members. The Rev. A. C. Purchase conducted an admission service in the church, four new members being admitted. In the parish hall a welcome was extended to Mrs Purchase, who was elected president of the branch.

CHEVIOT. A. moeti'rts °f the committee of the Cheviot Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on Tuesday night, the president, Mr J. D. E. Winskill, occupying the chair. The following viembers were present: .Messrs G. Teller, W. A. Douglas, A. M. Hyde, J. Beckett, A. H. Gibson, J. T. Read, C. Holton, D. McLaren, J. B. Stevenson I£. A. Harrison, and J. N. Cottrell. Coirespondence was received from the Canterbury Agricultural College in reference to ewe mortality and asking for a donation. It was decided to give £2 2s. Marshal-j and stewards for the various sections of the show were appointed. Arrangements were made for the canvassing of the various districts for entries. The monthly meeting of the Cheviot School Committee was held on Monday night. Tlmre were present Messrs A. M. Hyde (chairman), F. T. Pool, H. N. Buttle, N. R. Wilkinson, C. G. Abbott, and the headmaster (Mr C. S. Gordon"). The committee congratulated the teaching staff on the satisfactory report received from the inspector. and Mr Gordon suitably replied on behalf of the staff. It was decided to protest to the Education Board that the one-year term of appointment for probationers imposed a hardship on the stall, and to request that the term of appointment be increased. _lt was decided to ■mproach the Education Board regardin'' the removal of the Spots wood School shelter shed to Cheviot. The headmaster's report stated that the school reopened on February Ist with a roll of 168 and an attendance of IGO. Mr E. Huston had taken up his duties on the teaching staff, replacing Mr JA. Forde, being appointed for one term. . Miss A. Y. Robertson will sever her connexion with the Cheviot School at the end of the month as she has received another appointment. Good yields of wheat and oats have been reported this harvest in spite or the dry season. A crop of five acres of Garton oats on Mr D. McLaren s property threshed 90 bushels to the acre. Tuscan wheat in the Spotswood district is threshing nearly 60 bushels to the acre on some farms.

HpRORATA. i The " following. . are the meteorological . > observations for the month of- - January as ' recorded by Mr G. L. Right, Hororata: Rain fell on * ten the' iriaximuni fall for any on© day being 51 points on the 18th. The total 'for the month was 1.53 inches, as compared with 2.49 inches for January, 1931, 7.30 m for 1930, 3.01 in for. January/1929, and 84' points for 1928. , Two frosts of three and four degrees were recorded during the month. Although 1.53 in of rain fell during January, much -of the benent was checked by the prevailing winds (nor'-west ' winds having . been experienced here almost every other day m January), ' Feed continues to become scarcer, causing much concern- to the farmers. Autumn tints are already showing on many trees, which is very much earlier "than usual. Harvest operations are now nearer completion and the threshing mills-are busy in the district.. . In many instances 'U-ops are better than _ were expected. Some work in the district has been done by the header harvester, ltain is needed badly for root crops and pastures. BURWOOD. The annual meeting of the Burwood Library was held on Wednesday evening, there being H moderate attendance.' Mr H. llow'se, was voted to the chair. Mr Eeroyd presented a statement of the accounts of the general fund it lid the social fund, - disclosing credit balances of £lO 6s 2d and '-£8 19s 3d respectively. / The chairman -was pleased to report satisfactory progress during the year, the membership having increased, and he thanked the members of the committee for their support during his

term of office as president He spoke of the loss the library had suffered by the death of Mr T, Wilson, who was a vice-president and an active supporter. The balance-sheets being adopted, the following were elected as officers for the year Patron. Mr R. W. Hawke, 11.P. ; president. Mr H. Rowse; vice-presidents, Messrs Freeman. J. Liggins, and J. \V. Waiter, and the .Rev. C. A. I'obin; librarian, Mr H. Uowso; assistant librarian, Mr J. T. Small: secretary and treasurer, Mr 11. J. Jfcroyd : committee, Messrs J. i'. Small, I<\ S. Palmer, and J. Baxter, and Mesdames Freeman, Rowse, licroyd. and Delaney.

A social was held during the week, when there was a good attendance, and euchre games were played. Mesdames Rowse and Freeman gave prizes, which were won by Mr T. S. Palmer and Mrs Robinson. Mr and Mrs Freeman were winners of the Aggregate prizes for the season's euchre parties, which were presented to them during the evening.

The Burwood School Committee held its monthly meeting during the week, the following members being present: Messrs G. F. Robinson (chair). F. Ilea by, J. Petei-s, A. C. Rowlands. H. Reaby, and T. Walker (headmaster). Mr. F. Rcaby was appointed secretarial place of Mr F. Cusack (resigned). It was decided to hold the, annual school picnic on Friday, Februarv 12th. at Kairaki Beach. Accounts amounting to £3 15s were passed for payment. ■ '