NORTH CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21404, 21 February 1935, Page 4

NORTH CANTERBURY

__♦__— RANGIORA PERSONAL Mr T .A. Ambrose, of the Rangiora branch of the Union Bank of Australia, who has been spending his annual holidays in Australia, is expected to arrive back in Rangiora to-morrow. Tar-sealing Ashley Street The scarifying and, in some places, reforming of 44 chains of Ashley street from the borough boundary towards the Ashley river bridge preparatory to tar-sealing is being carried out by the Rangiora County Council's works staff. In several places along this section of the road the shingle base is less than six inches, the depth required by the Main Highways Board for tar-sealing purposes, and these parts will have to be reformed. The county council is working under a £3 for £1 subsidy with the Highways Board The remaining 45 chains of road to the bridge, the cost of maintenance of which is apportioned among the Rangiora borough and county councils and the Ashley County Council and is subsidised by the Highways Board, will be tar-sealed at the same time Tenders for the whole of the stretch of road, totalling 85 chains, will be called by the Main Highways Board shortly. Missionary Auxiliary The Methodist Women's Missionary Auxiliary met yesterday afternoon, Mrs M. A. Lane presiding. Letters were received from the sisters in the various mission fields in tl"> Solomon Islands and Home Mission stations, including one of more than usual interest from Mrs H. Hayman, of the China Inland Mission, whose husband was for some time a prisoner of the Chinese bandits. A welcome was extended to Mrs Miller, of Palmerston North. Afternoon tea was served. Cycling Races Postponed Because of the heavy showers of rain having affected the clay track the third of a series of races which was to have been held last evening by the Rangiora Amateur Cycling Club, were postponed. Athletic and Cycling Club The committee of the Rangiora Athletic and Cycling Club met last evening. Mr E. Williams presiding. It was decided to hold the club's annual field day on Easter Saturday, and to apply to the Canterbury Cycling Centre for permission to hold a series of road cycling races during March and April. It was agreed to hold a social on March 6, to present the Canterbury Club's championship certificate. It was resolved to hold the interclub athletic competition with the New Brighton Club at New Brighton on March 9. It was decided to make arrangements for the triangular contest among New Brighton, Kaiapoi. and the local club to be held at Kaiapoi. It was reported that the final evening meeting of the club should be held on Wednesday next, the programme to include hurdling, running, and cycling events.

CHEVIOT A meeting of the vestry of the Church of St. John, Cheviot, was held at the vicarage on Tuesday night, the vicar, the Rev. George Widdup, presiding. There were present Messrs W. A. Douglas, G. McDonald, C. F. Holton, C. England, D. G. H. Bush, J. N. Cottrell, E. C. Webb, W. J. Burnett, and G. Ridout. The treasurer presented a statement of the parish finances, which showed that the sum of £24 was required to balance the accounts for the year ending March 31. The members expressed their satisfaction with the sound state of the finances. It was decided to pay £5 as customary to the preservation fund. It was decided to devote the proceeds of the luncheon booth at the Cheviot Show if possible towards the liquidation of the old sustentation fund debt. It was decided to hold a special gift Sunday at an early date, and to ask the bishop to send a special preacher to take the services on that day. Parishioners will be invited to attend in force. The date was left in the hands of the vicar and the church wardens. The ladies will be asked to convene a meeting to assist with the proposal. The report of the recent meeting of delegates from the Cheviot, Amuri, and Hanmer Springs parishes, held at "Iona" recently to discuss the possibility of transferring these parishes to the Christchurch Diocese, was read. The opinion of the delegates was that these parishes were situated too far from Nelson to receive sufficient pastoral care. Christchurch was the business centre of North Canterbury, and it was considered that these parishes would be better served if they were placed in the Christchurch Diocese. A petition has been drawn up, to be signed by the parishioners, asking that the change be put into force. Arrangements were made to tidy up the church grounds and to trim round the ornamental trees. A letter from the diocesan secretary asking if some reduction could be made with the present grant to the parish from the home mission fund was discussed, but it was decided that the parish was not yet in a position to manage without the extra assistance. A vote of thanks to Mr and Mrs Widdup for their hospitality concl : led the meeting. The quarterly sumir.- : ed meeting of the Loyal Cheviot Lodge, No. 9604, Ashley District, M.tT., 1.0.0. F., was held in the Coronation Library on Monday night. The Noble Grand, Bro. W. J. Carson, presided, and there was a good attendance of members. The agenda for the annual district conference to be held at Rangiora on March 2 were received, and the N.G., Bro. W. J. Carson, and the treasurer, Bro. J. W. Abernethy, were appointed as delegates from the Cheviot Lodge. The lodge medical officer. Dr. L. H. Marshall, was present at the meeting to discuss the present medical agreement which has now been 12 months in force. Dr. Marshall presented figures which showed that the number of consultations for lodge patients during the 12 months was 219, medicine and other prescriptions totalled 99, and there were seven confinements. Dr. Marshall expressed his complete satisfaction with the present agreement. The agreement was discussed in detail and it was agreed that, as it appeared to be satisfactory to both the lodge and the medical officer, it was to be renewed. A vote of thanks was oassed to Dr. Marshall for his interest In the lodge, and members expressed their appreciation of his services. Three new members were ballotted for and accepted for membership to the order. The sick visitors reported that there were two members on the sick fund, and sick pay amounting to £4 lis 4d was passed for payment. The quarterly accounts, amounting to £34 7s 3d, were also passed for payment. The secretary reported that the benefit dance held on February 15 to raise funds to aid Bro. Bailey, who recently lost a leg as the result of a mill accident, had proved very successful. The net proceeds of the dance amounted to £26, and a further donation of 13s had been received, and there were still donations to come in. Past Grands Bros. E. Burgess and J. N. Cottrell were appointed trustees. The secretary was instructed to inform Bro. Bailey of what had been done.

NORTH LOBURN

On Saturday evening a large and representative gathering met in the North Loburn Hall to say good-bye to Mr and Mrs A. Bradley, who have left the district to reside in Christchurch. Mr Bradley has been in charge of the North Loburn School for the last five years. During his stay Mr Bradley took an active interest in the affairs of the district, being a member of the library and hall committees, and also a warden of the Anglican Church. Mrs Bradley was a keen member of the Women's Institute, and held a class for folk dancing for institute members, while both Mr and Mrs Bradley were members of the local tennis club. During the evening, songs were sung by Misses Jean Hanna and Minta Hutchison, and a violin solo was played by Mr T. Joyce, the accompanist being Miss N. Fitzgibbon. Mr H. T. Metherell, chairman of the North Loburn School Committer;, on behalf of those present, spoke of the regret that would be felt at Mr and Mrs Bradley's departure from the district, and in presenting them with a wallet of notes, wished them every success in their new sphere. Violet Crooks, one of the senior scholars, on behalf of past and present pupils, asked Mr Bradley to accept a fountain pen. Mrs Macleod, president of the Loburn Women's Institute, and Archdeacon A. C. Purchas, for the Anglican Church, also spoke. Mr Bradley responded on behalf of himself and Mrs Bradley. A delightful supper was served, and music for the dancing was played by a number of those present. Mr J. Spicer was master of ceremonies.

ELLESMERE As a result of steps taken by the Ellesmere Gun Club and other sportsmen, orders were cabled to England during last week-end for about 20,000 shotgun cartridges to je landed before May 1. These orders, which are to be followed by others at intervals, are the outcome of a belief amongst shooting, men that the prices charged for cartridges made in New Zealand are much higher than they should be. A great deal of dissatisfaction exists among shooting men over the Government's action in maintaining a high duty on cartridge imports in view of the high rate of exchange, freight, and other landing costs, amounting in the cost of British cartridges to 67 per cent., and in the case of American more than 100 per cent. It is claimed that the cost of ammunition has prevented many gun clubs from holding matches, and that the destruction of rabbits and other pests by farmers has also been seriously checked. The Rev. and Mrs G. P. Hunt, of Wanganui, who formerly resided at Leeston, have been visiting the district during the last two days before leaving for Dunedin, where Mr Hunt will attend the Methodist conference. The Rev. and Mrs F. B. Lawrence, of Leeston, accompanied by Mr A. E. Haynes, manager of the Methodist Orphanage at Papanui, and Mrs Haynes, have gone to Dunedin for the Methodist conference. A bowling match between Linwood and Leeston, played on the latter club's green, was won by Linwood by 88 points to 65. LEESTON At a well-attended meeting of householders of the Leeston school district. over which Mr R. Grant, chairman of the school committee, presided, it was decided to hold a queen carnival, to conclude with a fair and sale of work. The school district is to be divided into four sub-districts, for each of which a queen candidate will be selected, the contest to close on March 29. on which day a fair will be held at the Town Hall. The object is to raise funds for various school purposes, the chairman stating that the incidental allowances received by school committees generally were far from being adequate. Messrs W. H. Cartwright and A. McMillan were elected joint secretaries. Messrs Ridden, Ford, Reid, and Bongard were appointed a committee to define the districts and make other preliminary arrangements. The following were elected a women's executive: Mesdames Ridden, Cartwright (convener), and Free, and Misses Wellwood. Farquhar. and Shearer.

SOUTHBRIDGE One of the first quinnit salmon to be taken from the Rakaia river this season was a good sized tish landed during the week-end by Mr J. Adams. It is expects that the run of salmon may begin any day now, and anglers are hoping that there will be an absence of nor'-westers, which would bring down a flood in the river and cause the water to be too dirty for fishing. * At a harvest festival service the vicar of the Southbridge parish stated that, apart from the pipe organ, which had already been secured, it was estimated that furnishing for the new St. James's Church at Southbridge, now in course of erection, would cost £545. Already furnishings to the value of £456 were assured, leaving £B9 to be raised. In a croquet match between a junior team from St. Albans and Southbridge, played on the Southbridge green, the home team won by five games (196 points) to four (163 points.). Vai'ious matters of interest were discussed when the first farm visit for this year of the District High School farm course boys was made to "Willisden," Mr J. Moorhead's estate. The boys had the opportunity of seeing the drilling of turnips and ryegrass seed and the mixing of the seed and manure. Other topics discussed were the best means of covering grain while it was waiting to be removed from the paddock, the topping of stacks which were to be cut during the winter, the rnaking of fire-breaks, ploughing, and the opening up of a paddock, and the construction of trolleys used in the harvesting of peas.

SHEFFIELD The fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Malvern Lodge, No. 6247 1.0.0. F., M.U., was held in the Oddfellows' chambers, when the acting N.G., Bro. A. T. Wilson, presided over a large attendance of officers and members. One proposition for membership was received. Several matters for the forthcoming conference were dealt with, and after a long discussion, delegates were instructed to adhere to the decisions of the meeting. Sick pay £l7 18s 6d and vouchers £24 14s 7d were passed for paynjent. Mr and Mrs L. D. Adams, "Parenga." Sheffield, will leave by this morning's express for a holiday visit to Mr and Mrs A. F. Clark, Wataroa, South Westland. iKAROA At a meeting of the Takamatua Beach Sports Committee there was a good attendance, Mr T. Masefield presiding. The secretary presented an interim balance-sheet, showing that the recent sports resulted in a profit of £lO 3s 9d. Prize money and accounts amounting to £49 9s lid were passed for payment. The annual meeting was arranged for October 12. A number of recommendations were discussed for the next sports day, and they were noted for the annual meeting for decision. The cricket fixtures for next Saturday are as follows:—Te Kotahitanga v. Little River; Le Bons v. Akaroa B; Akaroa A v. Wainui. The Mayor and Mayoress, Mr and Mrs F. R. E. Davis, left Akaroa on Tuesday, to spend a fortnight in Dunedin. Mr T. Masefield is at present at Masterton, where he will'judge the light horse section at the Masterton Show.

Superintendent A. MacFarlane will represent the Akaroa Fire Brigade at the conference at Blenheim next week. Mr Colin Stewart will also make the trip. Great interest is being taken in the crews, senior four, maiden, and youths' four, that are competing at the South Island Rowing Championship at Port Chalmers next Saturday. The public have subscribed very liberally towards the rowers' expenses. LITTLE RIVER The cricket match between Little River and Akaroa was postponed because of the death of Mr W. Tini. The Loyal Wairewa Lodge No. 7453 held its fortnightly meeting in the lodge rooms, Little River, last Thursday evening, Bro. J. Patterson presided. Accounts amounting to £3 were passed for payment. Three candidates were admitted for initiation. The trucking at Little River for last week was as follows:—Sheep, 122 trucks; cattle eight; cheese, two; cocksfoot, 24.