MID-CANTERBURY NEWS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21975, 26 December 1936, Page 4

MID-CANTERBURY NEWS

WET CHRISTMAS EYE BRISK TRADING REPORTED THREE MINOR COLLISIONS What promised to be a record Christmas Eve for Ashburton was marred on Thursday by heavy rain which set in shortly before 9 p.m, and continued until the early hours of yesterday. Early in the day of Christmas Eve it was apparent that the public was in the mood for spending, and all local retailers report a brisk turnover in trade. One firm which has been m business for 40 years reported that its receipts for the day were a record. With a better spirit of optimism than has existed for seven years, most retailers made extensive preparations for Christmas trade, and a feature of the shops as a whole was the attractive array and variety of goods suitable for Christmas presents. In every case retailers, made considerable increases in staff to cope with the custom. Early in the evening every parking area in the town was full, and the whole of the business area was lined with cars, while many motorists took advantage of the- temporary parking allowed in West street by the Ashburton Borough Council. There was a festive air about Tancred street, where enterprising retailers erected varicoloured electric light streamers across the street at regular intervals, while other retailers in the town decorated their shop frontages with greenery. There were many country residents in town, and in spite of the congestion of pedestrian traffic c;i the footpaths to shelter from the rain, the crowd was very orderly. 1 Three minor motor collisions occurred in the streets, but the damage waj slight. A cyclist rode into the back of a large motor-lorry in East street and was thrown from his machine, but suffered nothing worse than a severe shaking and was able to ride away. CHRISTMAS SERVICES CHURCHES WELL ATTENDED A number of special church services were held at Ashburton yesterday. A united service was held in the Baring Square Methodist Church at 7.30 a.m. There was a good attendance of worshippers and the Rev. R. S. Watson conducted the service. The Rev. L. P. Bryan read the scripture lesson and the address was given by the Rev. Angus Mcßean. During the service Christmas hymns were sung and a solo was sung by Mr N. J. Hosking. Miss R. Porter played the organ accompaniments. There were five celebrations of Holy Communion at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church early in the morning, followed by matins at H a.m., when the Yen. Archdeacon A. J. Petrie preached an appropriate sermon, followed by communion. The number of communicants was 366, the largest total for five years. Last year there were 349. Archdeacon Petrie also held a service at. St. Paul’s Church, Fairton, last evening. He was assisted during the day by the Rev. Duncan Rankin (Tauranga). CONCERT AT HOSPITAL AND TUARANGI HOME A programme of carols was given at the Ashburton Public Hospital and Tuarangi Home by the choir from the Salvation Army, under the conductorship of Mr C. E. Hopwood on Thursday evening. Those assisting were Adjutant and Mrs I. Argyle, Bandsman H. Hayward, Bandsman I. Collins Bandsman Allan Frew, and Miss j’ Rattray.

CAR AND GOODS STOLEN THEFTS AT ASHBURTON Several daring thefts were perpetrated on the car stand in Cass street on Wednesday evening while the owners of the vehicles were attending a theatre. A three-seater roadster, belonging to Mr S. J. Miller, garage keeper, of Hinds, was stolen from the parking area, but was recovered at the corner Of Chalmers avenue and South street on Thursday with all the contents intact. Two other cars also received the attention of the thieves, and a suitcase containing Christmas presents, belonging to Miss Margaret Howden, a school teacher of Thames, on a visit to her parents at Mayfield, and a saxophone, valued at £2l, the property of Mr L. J. Keane, fanner. Rakaia, were stolen. The saxophone was found in the Ashburton riverbed, where it had apparently been -thrown from the Ashburton traffic bridge. It was enclosed in a case and was not damaged. Miss Howden’s property |as not yet been recovered. i, MAGISTRATE’S COURT MAN CHARGED WITH THEFT A charge of stealing a watch, valued at 30s, the property of Keith Edgar Newton, on September 22, was nreferred against Albert Marquis Coflett. aged 49, a cook, of no fixed abode, -in the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court, before Mr A. H. Fenn, J.P., on Thursday morning. In asking for a remand until Monday, Sergeant J. F. Cleary said thatj there would possibly be another charge against the accused. Collett had been arrested on warrant. The remand was granted. CHRISTMAS CAROLS Several parties from the Ashburton Silver Band and Salvation Army Band played Christmas carols in various parts of the town yesterday morningFour parties from the Silver Band went to Allenton, Hampstead and Tinwakt and their efforts will be continued tomorrow at Wakanui, Chertsey, ana Hskdis The Salvation Army confined it* activities to the borough and Allenton yesterday and will visit Ruapuna ana Longbeach to-morrow. ASHBURTON PERSONAL IT®® Mr and Mrs A. Prentice have left to spend their annual holiday at Stewan Island. , Mr Hector Macdonald, who has new living in Australia for the last tnr« years, arrived in Ashburton on Tbu day morning on a visit to his P®^® n , Mr Macdonald, who is accompanied ny an Australian friend, Mr Lewis of Brisbane, expects to be in AsnWir* ton for two months. , Mr R. Johnston, who has retire® from the Ashburton Borough Councu outside staff after 25 years’ send™* was met on Thursday morning by n fellow employees, on whose behalf T. Gibson (foreman) presented b® with a silver-mounted walking she*Adjutant N. E. Bicknell, who b® been in charge of the Ashburton &*** vation Army corps for nearly WJ* years, will leave on transfer about tn* middle of January. Adjutant who was recently promoted from Jb rank of captain, came to Ashburto from Dovonport, Auckland. . A motion of sympathy with Bro. Kelleher in his recent bereavemen was carried in silence at the cf Hakatere Lodge, 1.0.0.F.. on Woonesday evening.