Local and General

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LX, Issue 89, 9 November 1939, Page 3

Local and General

There were on display at the school on Tuesday evening, samples of handcraft work done by the pupils of the Southbridge school. These ranged from simple basketwork by the younger primary pupils to more complicated work including beaten metal work by the secondary children, but in all cases the articles were marked by care and neatness, while a high standard in craftsmanship was reached. Another work of interest was a carefully compiled history of Southbridge from 1853 to the' present time, prepared by the secondary pupils. Members, of the committee at their meeting afterwards spoke appreciatively of the class of work done and of the interest in it taken by the teachers.

The monthly meeting of the Leeston P.W.M.U. took the form of a social afternoon at which there was an excellent attendance of members and friends. A stall in the interest of missions was in the charge of Mrs E. Gilbert, assisted by Mesdames Cartwright and D. White. The Busy Bees also had a stall of their work done during the, year. The programme was interspersed with competitions and was contributed to by the following: Misses B. Winchester and\ A. Fisher (piano solos) Mrs Clausen (accordion solo), Christine Lyons and David White (recitations). A decorated cake competition was won by Miss Parkin. An invitation was received from the Methodist Guild to their garden party, to be held on November 17. Afternoon tea was served by the members.

On Thursday, December 7, the annual flower show held under the auspices of the Leeston Presbyterian Church will take place in the Leeston Town Hall. The schedule which is of a comprehensive nature, providing opportunities for exhibitors of all kinds, may be obtained at local stores or at the Guardian Office.

Old residents of the district are apparently reading with a good deal of interest the items of news of 45 years ago which the Guardian is publishing each week, taken from its early files. Last Friday one paragraph under the "Peeps into the Past" heading referred to a runaway horse at Irwell, attached to a trap. It was stated that the turnout i had last been seen going toward Brookside and that although bits of broken harness had been found the horse and trap had not been traced a week later. The sequel has been supplied by Mr William Henderson, an old resident- of the Irwell-Doyle-ston district, who states that he remembers the incident quite well. The conveyance was about to set out for Leeston, where the occupants of the trap were to attend a Catholic Church ball. It was about a month before the horse and trap were found and the horse was then dead, tightly jammed between two trees in the Selwyn riverbed on

the frontage of what is how known as Stapleton's farm. It had entered the riverbed at McGregor's ford, beyond Brookside and travelled down the river several miles until it met disaster at the point already mentioned.