MID-CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21729, 11 March 1936, Page 6

MID-CANTERBURY

ASHBURTON

UNEMPLOYMENT REGISTRATIONS INCREASE With the finish of harvesting operations in most districts, many men who went off unemployed relief to undertake seasonal work are now out of em-si ployment again, and the applications for unemployed relief are increasing daily. -As scheme No. 5 has been suspended in the Ashburton district, all unemployed men are placed on sustenance. Ashburton Presbytery The Ashburton Preabytery met yesterday, with the moderator (the Rev. D. D. MacLachlan) presiding. A motion of sympathy Was passed with Mrs Bickerstaff, of Clutha, in the death of her husband, the Rev. J. B. Bickerstaff. Messrs J. G. Lilley (Rakaia) and W. G. McDonald (Ashburton), who took their seats on the Presbytery for the first time, were extended a welcome by the moderator. An elder's commission in favour of Mr S. J. Webb, home missionary at Wakanui, was sustained. Mr Victor French (secretary of the Presbyterian Social Service Association) wrote asking for the Presbytery's approval of a proposal to give gymnastic displays by boys from the Christchurch Presbyterian Orphanage, at Rakaia, Methven, and other places in the Presbytery. The proposal was approved. About the visit of the Rt. Rev. H. H. Barton (Moderator of the ueneral Assembly) to the Ashburton Presbytery, it was decided to submit the following itinerary for his approval:—Sunday, May 3: Methven, 11 a.m., Rakaia, 7 p.m.; Tuesday, May 5: Methven; Wednesday, May 6: Hinds; Thursday, May 7: Mayfield; Friday, May 8: Springburn; Sunday, May 10: St. Andrew's Church, Ashburton, 11 a.m., Ashburton South, 7 p.m. On Tuesday, May 12, the moderator will meet the Ashburton Presbytery in the morning, and the Presbyterial Association in the afternoon. In the evening he will give a lantern lecture in St. Andrew's Hall. Arrangements were made for triennial visits during 1936 to Wakanui, Mayfield. and Ashburton South. Mr MacLachlan reported that- the new hall at Ashburton South would probably be opened on Thursday, April 2. The youth committee was asked to consider the group circles for the study of social questions and report to the next meeting. Gratification was expressed that under the will of Miss J. Chalmers there was a bequest of £SOOO for Presbyterian social service work in Canterbury. c Longbeach Road Board A meeting of the Longbeach Road . Board was held yesterday afternoon, * when there were present Messrs J. P. t McQuilkin (chairman), J. H. Grlgg, L. % Maginness, and H. Watts. The Department of Labour advised * that Thursdav had been fixed as the a statutory half-holiday in the board's s district. j The overseer reported that the flood f had done a cfood deal of damage in v the board's district. Any dangerous washout had been remedied, but a lot * of metalling work would be held up as c the shingle pits were full of water. t The bank passbook showed a credit t balance of £3ll 5s 3d. f Motor-cyclist Injured d

Ralph John, aged 18 years, a farm labourer, who was struck by a motorcar driven by his employer, Mr Albert Amos, Wakanui, at 7.45 on Monday evening, is in a serious condition in the Ashburtor* Public Hospital. The lad, who was returning along Wakanui road to Mr Amos's farm, was wheeling his motor-cycle, which had broken down. He was walking along the righthand side of the road in the shelter of a plantation when the motor-car, which was travelling to Ashburton, struck him. There was a heavy southwest rain falling at the time and visibility was bad. John was admitted to hospital in a serious condition with a broken right leg. abrasions, and concussion. Last evening his condition was reported to be unchanged. High School Barracks <

The pupils of the Ashburton High School will go into barracks from this morning until the end of the week for their annual: instruction in physical drill and military training. The boys will undertake a course of military training, including musketry and physical drill under Lieutenants E. J. Wood, R. M. McGregor, D. A. Smith, T. Phillips, N. J. Hosking, and Ser-geant-Major W. Edmonds, W. 0.1. The activities of the girls under the control of the women teachers will be confined to physical drill and their annual athletic sports to-morrow. The boys' annual swimming sports will be held next week. Druids' Lodge The fortnightly meeting of the Star of Ashburton Druids' Lodge was held on Monday evening, the A.D. (Bro. T. H. Pennall) presiding. The grand secretary forwarded ticulars of the jubilee celebrations to be held in May, and also asked what support would be forthcoming in the event of a church parade being held for the function. It was decided to ask for further particulars as to the date and time of the parade. One candidate was initiated. An invitation to attend the next meeting of the Success of Ashburton Lodge, when a bring and buy evening will be held, was accepted. The secretary (Bro. G. V. Furby) reported on the annual meeting of the United Friendly Societies' Association, and Bro. C. Ives on the social, committee meeting.. It was left to the secretary to arrange for the annual meeting of the R.A. chapter.

The attention of readers is directed to the Ashburton advertisements appearing on this page.