MID-CANTERBURY NEWS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22594, 27 December 1938, Page 4

MID-CANTERBURY NEWS

CHRISTMAS AT HOSPITAL

SPECIAL DECORATIONS

GIFTS GIVEN TO PATIENTS

Special preparations were made so that Christmas this year would be a happy one for a large number of inmates of the two largest institutions at Ashburton, the Ashburton Public Hospital and Tuarangi Old Men’s Home. The Christmas festivities at the Public Hospital began early in the week, when the Methodist choir, St. Stephen’s Anglican choir. Salvation Army Band, and Ashburton Imperial Harmonica Band visited the institution and gave items to the patients. In addition, pupils of Miss L. Lewis entertained the patients in Chalmers Ward and pupils of Mrs Alfred Smith entertained the/ children. The matron (Miss E. J, Watt) and staif made an excellent effort to create a bright atmosphere in the wards. A variety of effective colour schemes were employed to brighten the wards and dining-room. Red and green was the basis _ of the decorations, which were carried out with balloons, lampshades, and flowers in the Chalmers Ward and Ward 1, and a novel but unusual setting was used in the children’s ward. The decorations, many of which were prepared by the children, comprised Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, with water lilies, daffodils, and butterflies, the colour scheme being pale green and pale yellow. On Christmas Day Father Christmas visited every ward, leaving a gift at the bedside of each patient, and Christmas dinner, providing a special menu, was served throughout the hospital. The Rev. J. F. Feron and the Rev. R. S. Watson conducted short services in the wards in the morning. On' Thursday afternoon the nursing staff entertained their friends at the Nurses’ Home, and presented a Nativity play, the music for which was sung by the nurses, in the wards of the hospital on Saturday evening. Christmas dinner was served to the staff on Christmas Eve.

Gilts for Tuarangi Home

Special preparations 6n a comprehensive scale were made by the master and matron, Mr and -Mrs N. W. Corbett, and staff to provide a happy Christmas for inmates of Tuarangi Old Men’s Home. An attractive decorative scheme was employed to create an air of / festivity. The dining-room was decorated with pink and green streamers and the hospital ward' and restroom were decorated with orange, lemon, and green streamers, relieved with coloured balloons. After breakfast on Saturday morning the men were given a seasonal gift each- After Christmas dinner, which was prepared on Saturday, an impromptu concert was given by the old men. The principal contributors to the Christmas cheer fund were the Hyman Marks Trustees, St. Augustine Freemasons’ Empty Stocking Fund, Ashburton Club and Mutual School of Arts, Ashburton Trotting Club, Ashburton Rac-* ing Club, Ashburton Hospital Board, New Zealand Breweries, Ltd., Misses Cameron (Tinwald), and the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association, Ltd.

Members of the choir and Young People’s Society of the Ashburton Baptist Church visited the home on Saturday evening, entertaining the inmates with Christmas music and distributing fruit and sweets in the hospital Weird. A solo was sung by Mr E. Tilley and a Christmas message was given by Mr G. Blair. The Rev. L. P. Bryan presided. The choir was under the conductor, Mr E. J. Tucker.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

MANY PARTIES OUT AT ASHBURTON

Comprehensive programmes of carolling during the Christmas season have been carried out in the Ashburton County this year by the Ashburton Silver and Salvation Army Bands, and appreciation of their efforts has been shown by the marked response • made to their appeals. On Saturday evening two parties from the Ashburton Silver Band played carols _ in the streets of the southern portion of the borough east of the railway line, and five parties played on the west side of the borough, AUenton, Ashburton East, and Fairton on Christmas Day. The efforts of the band will be renewed on New Year’s Day, when three parties will visit Wakanui, Seafield, Pendarves, Lauriston, Lyndhurst. Rakaia, and Winchmore. The Ashburton Salvation Army Band began carolling in the country districts two weeks ago, and continued the effort on Saturday evening, when two parties visited Tinwald and the suburbs of Ashburton.

Three parties were active in the town area on Christmas Day. The proceeds are about equal to last year, showing a considerable improvement on the sum received for several years before then. The collection will be devoted to the work of the Ashburton Salvation Army Corps.

BUSINESS SITES SOLD

LAND CHANGES HANDS AT ASHBURTON

Valuable business sites in East and Tancred streets, Ashburton, which were offered for sale when the' Union Bank of Australia, Ltd., dismantled its old premises on the corner of East and Tancred streets for the erection of a new bank, have been sold. Mr L. S. Hopkins (Ashburton) purchased the section with a frontage of 20 feet between the new bank and Hallenstein Brothers on East street, and a section with a frontage- of 45 feet 6 inches on Tancred street.

The site where the bank’s temporary premises stand, with a frontage of 30 feet on Tancred street, has been purchased by the Ashburton Loan and Investment Society and Bank of Deposit

\ PERSONAL NOTES

ASHBURTON

Mr J. MacMillan, of the staff of Waitaki Boys’ High School, and formerly of Westerfield, is on a visit to Ashburton.

Mr H. E. Herring, of Wellington, and formerly member of Parliament tar Mid-Canterbury, visited Ashburton during the week-end. and left for Oamaru yesterday.

Mr P. F. Baigent, formerly of Ashburton, who has been on the staff of fee Government Treasury at Christeftnlrch for two years, has been transferred back to Wellington, and >lll (ike over bis new duties this week.

PINE IMPOSED

DRIVER’S LICENCE CANCELLED

INTOXICATED MOTORIST PENALISED

A fine of £25, in default one month’s imprisonment, cancellation of his driver’s licence for the current year, and prohibition from obtaining a new licence for 12 months, were the penalties imposed on John Foster Johnston, a drover of Tinvvald, when he appeared in the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court on Saturday morning charged with being intoxicated in charge of a motor-car on the Ashburton traffic bridge on the previous evening. He pleaded guilty. Messrs W. H. Rundle and R. Kerr, Justices of the Peace, were on the bench.

Sergeant J. F. Cleary said that accused was driving a heavy car north on the Ashburton Traffic bridge about 10 o’clock on Friday evening when he collided with a motor-truck driven by James Keith, a farmer, ot Willowby. The doctor’s examination showed that Johnston was intoxicated. Mr V. W, Russell, who appeared frr Johnston, said it was admitted that accused was to some extent drunk, but he considered that had the driver had more room in which to manoeuvre, the accident would not have occurred. Johnston had six beers between 7.30 and 9 p.m. Considering that such a celebration was common at this season of the year the case, might be treated leniently, said Mr Russell.

Mr Rundle said that the plea for leniency could not be considered. “Accused should not have been driving in that state when there were so many cars about,” he added

CHRISTMAS EVE

ORDERLY CROWD AT ASHBURTON

BRISK TURNOVER IN BUSINESS

Christmas trade generally was brighter at Ashburton this year than last, particularly on Christmas Eve, which was observed on Friday, the late shopping night. Encouraged by the fine weather a large representation of town and country people visited Ashburton, the pedestrian traffic being so dense that it overflowed on to the streets. Early in the day it was apparent that the public was in the mood for spending, and all retailers reported a brisk turnover. The returns in most cases were in excess of last year’s figures, some of which approached a record.

Many retailers made special 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 most cases, 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 lined with cars. The crowd in the streets was very orderly and the evening passed off without a mishap in the town area.

ATHLETES’ TRAINING SCHOOL

ASHBURTON RUNNERS CAMPED AT TIMARU

About 12 members of the Ashburton Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club left yesterday to enter the national training school for athletes which is being held at Timaru. A comprehensive course of instruction will be given under the direction of Mr A. L. Fitch, the American coach. The school has been organised by the South Canterbury Sub-Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. Sportsmen from all the main centres will attend, including Empire games representatives. A full programme of coaching in physical exercises, track work, and field events will be followed, and several sports meetings contested. The athletes are camped at the Waimataitai School. Extensive use will be made of the new cinder track at Ashbury Park.

CAMPAIGN AGAINST HYDATIDS

REMEDY AVAILABLE NEXT MONTH

Opening a campaign for the extermination and prevention of hydatids in dogs, pills will be distributed to all owners registering dogs after January 1. which will mark the beginning of the new licensing year. The Ashburton County Council has obtained supplies of 'the remedy, which will be distributed at a cost of is, and should be administered every three months.

The prescribed remedy is arecoline hydro-bromide. The campaign for the extermination of the disease is being carried out in accordance with the act recently passed by the Government.

FALSE ALARM OF FIRE

A false alarm was received by the Ashburton Fire Brigade about 10.30 p.m. on Friday. A message was received at the fire station that a fire had started in Madden’s tea rooms in East street, but when the arrived everything was found to be in order. The fall was traced to the telephone at the taxi stand opposite the tearooms. This is the second false alarm. the brigade has received since it obtained its new fire engine.

HARMONY IN ASHBURTON COURT

GREETINGS EXTENDED BY OFFICERS

“There has been harmony between Bench, Bar, and Police,” said Mr H. Morgan, S.M., when reciprocating seasonal greetings at the final sitting for the year of the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court. Mr Morgan spoke of the cooperation given by the police, and mentioned the good feeling which had existed between all officials in the Court. Mr W. H. Woods and Sergeant J. F. Cleary extended greetings to the Magistrate for the Bar and Police respectively. Both thanked Mr Morgan lor the courtesy shown during the year.

COLLECTION* OF RATES

SUM OF £3467 RECEIVED AT ASHBURTON

Rates totalling £3467 13s 3d have been collected to date for the 1938-39 year, by the Ashburton Borough Council, and as the total amount struck is about £12,500, there is still a considerable sum outstanding. Arrears of rates for other years totalled £1216 12s lid. at the beginning of this year, and of that amount £427 0s 7d has been collected.

CARS DAMAGED AT ASHBURTON

A motor-car owned by A. R. Spence, of Lower Hutt, which was parked on an angle near the Ashburton Borough Council Chambers in Havelock street on Saturday evening, was struck by a car driven by R. Kerr, Ashburton. The parked car was swung-round on to the footpath' and both vehicles were dainaged. ‘ '