LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LVI, Issue 29, 12 April 1935, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The annual meeting of the Leeston Ladies' Hockey Club called for Wednesday evening- was not held, on account of the small attendance. A further meeting is to be arranged later.

On Anzac Day the memorial service for Springs County will be held at the Springston Hall in the morning, on the lines of previous services. The Rev. T. M. Curnow will give the address, and Mrs T. Foster, of Ladbrooks, will sing a solo.

As a wind-up of the Leeston School Queen Carnival, a united social will be held in the Town Hall to-morrow (Saturday) evening, at which all workers and helpers have been invited to be present. There will be cards and dancing, and the promoters are looking forward to an enjoyable evening.

Recently - passed legislation provides that in future municipal elections will be held every three years. This will mean that present members of the Leeston and Southbridge Town Boards will remain in office until May, 1938. Other town boards, the elections for which were usually held in September, will be similarly affected. The next date for municipal elections will be the second Wednesday in May, 1938,

A female escapee from the Sunnyside Mental Hospital, clad only in night attire, was observed on Tuesday evening wandering in the direction of Coe's Ford. Information was sent to the police, ( and Constable Moriarty had the woman conveyed back to the institution.

Dr. H. T. J. Thacker, of Christchurch, will give a talk on "Nature's Food" at the meeting of the Leeston Women's Institute next Tuesday. The roll call is "Something I would not like to do without," and the competitions, three baked apples and best bloom.

For the annual Easter Monday social organised by the Lakeside Memorial Hall Committee, the services of Wells's Orchestra have been engaged. Excellent arrangements have been made for the pleasure and comfort of patrons, and a good time is assured to all who attend.

It is expected that there will be a large attendance at the Sedgemere Hall next Tuesday, when a kitchen evening will be tendered to Miss E. Hannaford, whose marriage to MrT. Gordon takes place shortly. Mr Fred Smith's Orchestra is to supply the music for a dance in the main hall, and card players will be catered for in the anteroom.

In the course of a discussion on drainage work at the meeting of the Springs County Council yesterday, it was mentioned that approximately a third of the money spent on work was used in drainage work, which seemed to give point to a comment made by a representative of another local authority not far away that the council was little more than a drainage board.

"Poppy Day" was observed in Leeston to-day, this being the annual effort of the Ellesmere Plunket Society on behalf of the funds for the assistance of ex-servicemen. A shop day was held in a shop lent by Mr G. W. Purser, and so far as could be judged early this afternoon, the returns would be well up with those of previous years.

Some particulars regarding the financial results of the past financial year of the Springs County Council were given at the meeting of the council yesterday by the clerk (Mr E. L. Neale). The credit balance was £1019/8/6, from which would have to be deducted £250 for the 12J per cent, rebate on rates. This would reduce the credit to approximately £800. During the year £500 had been paid out of revenue towards the council's portion of the cost of paving the Main South road. Last year the credit balance was £1300,, so that the year's results were much the same as the previous year.

Comment was made by speakers at the annual meeting of the Ellesmere Brass Band on Wednesday evening upon the fact that of the 10 engagements of the year only one was a paid engagement. The speakers pointed out that the band had to meet certain expenses every year in order to retain its standard of efficiency, and that the year's operations had resulted in a loss. While the band was always ready to give its services freely, at public gatherings, members considered that there were other functions, where the purpose was to make money for some particular objective, when the band could at least expect a small donation for its assistance, as it was always a means of attracting the public to the function. Finally, it was agreed to leave the matter in the hands of the officers of the band.

According to present rules, brass bands in New Zealand, including country bands, are required to affiliate not only with the provincial organisations, but with the Dominion controlling body, that is, if they wish ; to compete in contests. This mattei was discussed at the annual meeting of the Ellesmere Band on Wednesday evening, when speakers expressed doubt as to any benefit which was to be derived from the affilia* tion with the Dominion organisation. They said that C grade bands were not catered for at ther Dominion contests, that they had little voice at the Dominion conference, and they doubted very much whether the country bands received any benefit whatever. Not only was the annual affiliation fee to be paid, but any band desirous of holding the provincial contest in its district had to obtain the permission of the Dominion authority, which cost five guineas. It was recognised that any band not paying its affiliation fee to both associations would not be eligible to take part in any contest, but speakers contended that there should be only one fee payable, and that to the provincial association, which in its turn should be responsible for the fee to cover all its members to the Dominion body. The analogy of the Rugby football organisations was quoted in support of this contention.

To-morrow evening the Doyleston Athletic Club will hold the second of a series of socials, and the Lakeside Tennis Club the third of its series.

Particulars of train arrangements for the Easter holidays and Anzac Day are advertised to-day by the Railway Department.

It was reported at the meeting of the Springs. County Council yesterday that there were 13 men on unemployment relief, and others were re-registering.

This evening, in the Ellesmere County Council Chambers, a further meeting of local bodies and district organisations will be held to consider making arrangements for the celebration of the King's Jubilee in the Ellesmere district.

Rain commenced to fall throughout the Ellesmere district yesterday afternoon and continued steadily for several hours. The absence of wind and the mild nature of the temperature and the warm conditions which followed to-day should ensure that the rain will be beneficial to the whole district. Mr A. McLaughlin, of Taumutu, recorded 32 points for the fall, Mr A. J. Inwood, Southbridge, 35 points, and Mr J. Moorhead, 33 points. The rain was slightly heavier in Leeston and the inland districts.

After the business had been completed at the annual meeting of the Ellesmere Brass Band on Wednesday evening, a social hour around the festive board was enjoyed. The president, Mr G. A. H. Atkinson, presided, and a short toast list was honoured. After the loyal toast had been honoured, Mr H. J. Griffiths proposed that of the Patrons. Mr T. P. Owens proposed the toast of the Vice-Presi-dents, which was responded to by Mr T. Ramsay. To Mr R. Barnett was entrusted the toast of the Conductor and the Drum-major, to which Mr L. C. Vicary replied.' The president proposed that of the Minor Officers, which was responded to by the officers present, and the toast of the President was proposed by Mr Vicary.

The fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Leeston Lodge of Oddfellows was held in the Oddfellows' Hall on Monday, the acting N.G., Bro. W. G. Mcllraith, presiding over a fair attendance. A letter was received from the District Secretary, extending an invitation to the installation of the New Zealand Grand Master at the Radiant Hall, Christefiureh, on April 22* A suggestion was received from a member present, to the effect that the Loyal Leeston Lodge should hold a ball this year. After being discussed, the subject was left over until next meeting, when it is hoped that there will be a more representative gathering of members to form a committee. It was decided that the next meeting should be held on Tuesday, April 23, or, if that day should be a holiday, on Wednesday, April 24.

Speaking at the Gospel Marquee,, Leeston, Evangelist W. J. Richards drew the attention of his hearers to the many attempts that have been made to unite the kingdoms of Europe. He said Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo, not because of Bluch.er or Wellington, but on account of God; and Kaiser Wilhelm was not victorious at the Marne because God twenty-five hundred years before had decreed otherwise. In supporting his contention that any effort to form a world empire would meet with failure, he referred to the wonderful prophecy of the second chapter of Daniel, and declared that the course of this world's history for the last 2500 years had been in exact accordance with the prophetic outline given in that chapter. He mentioned the great image shown to Nebuchadnezzar in his dream, made of four metals. These he said symbolised four great world Powers which were to arise one after the other. The first was that of Babylon, the second that of Medo-Persia; then followed Alexander's world empire; and finally the Roman empire. There was not to be a fifth—successive attempts to form one had failed, until Jesus should set up His kingdom. "The Bible declares that after all this has come to pass as pointed out, then the God of Heaven will set up His everlasting kingdom and all worldly kingdoms will be destroyed," Evangelist Richards declared. "The outcome of all this war and turmoil, conflict and bloodshed, will be the establishment of everlasting righteousness and perfect peace in the renewed earth under the reign of earth's rightfril King, even Jesus Christ." As is advertised elsewhere in this issue, on Sunday night at eight o'clock Evangelist Richards will speak on the subject: "The Great World War Armageddon— Russia in Bible Prophecy."