METHVEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7864, 20 May 1886, Page 2

METHVEN.

[from our own correspondent.] ■ During the last month there have « some very heavy falls of rain, and I hills have been covered with snowl several occasions, but it soon disappen under the influence of the mild weatl that intervened. Since Thursday afl noon we have been favoured with wB old Colonists call “an old-fashioned si wester.” However much we like to chel the memories of the past, I think the A wind and pelting rain of the last five dB is a shade too severe for the most entl siaatic to appreciate, even in memoryfl the “ good old times.” ■ Most of the grain in the district! threshed, and consigned to some marl the yield and quality, in many instanl having exceeded the producers’ expel but the prices realised have I proved so satisfactory. The quantityl land set apart for cereals for next seal will be about the same as last year, but I late wet weather has greatly retail ploughing and sowing operations. Thl are a few paddocks of wheat quite grl already, but generally throughout the I trict the sowing is rather late. I The anniversary of the Sunday schl was celebrated with a soiree, which I largely attended by both scholars I parents. The tables were bountifully si plied by Mr Grainger, the energl superintendent of the Sunday school,! whose untiring zeal the school is prid pally indebted for its present flourish! condition. After tea the children w! addressed by two rev gentlemen frfl Ashburton and others, and prizes cons! ing of a nice assortment of books were I tributed. A vote of thanks was passed! the superintendent and the teachers. I Last February the master of our distrl school (Mr Seay) resigned his appointmeil and shortly afterwards the mistress (Ml Oonnel) also resigned. Since then t| school has been under the temporal charge of Mr J. Voss, and the local Col mittee have been using their best el deavours to secure suitable successors thl would meet with the approval of the £oal of Education. After many annoying dl appointments, they have' succeeled I securing the services of Mr Hook (late I Greendale) as master, and Miss Andrei (of Ashburton) as mistress, both of whd entered upon their duties last week, ml Mr Voss secured the vacant mastership I the Greendale school. It will be within the memory of mad of your readers that about four years aJ a gentleman, who was very highly respect! in this district, was lost at Pudding Hi hunting. In consideration of the diligej search the residents made to find hu although without success, his friends V sented a sum of money to the township be devqted to some local institution.' was decided to form the nucleus of a fun for building a Public Library, and wil other contributions and subsidies a vej substantial brick building has been buil In memory of the lost gentleman t| Libiary Committee decided to get an ei larged picture of him, which was hung i the Library last week. The Ashburton hounds met here lai Tuesday. The weather was all that coni be desired, and between forty and fifl local sportsmen turned out for the chas Our fair sex do not appear to appredal field sports, only one representative (M) Bowse) attending this meet. In the al sence of the master, Mr Upton discharge the duties of the office in his usual genii style, to tihe satisfaction of all.