COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16558, 23 May 1914, Page 12

COUNTRY NEWS.

[From Our Correspondents, ] RANGIORA.

On Thursday evening Archdeacon Noild gave an address in the parish room on the Melanesian Mission. Owing to the inclement weather the attendance was small.

The brass band being prevented by unfavourable weather from playing in Victoria Park last Sunday as arranged, the programme will be given tomorrow afternoon, commencing at three o’clock. The classes at the Technical School will reassemble next week. Special attention is being given to the woolsorting classes which will be resumed on Friday and Saturday. The Board of Governors has been fortunate in securing as instructor Mr .T. Riley, who has had extensive experience in woolclassing in Bradford, Australia and New Zealand. The Board being alive to the importance to the farmers of a knowledge of wool-sorting is prepared to establish classes in any part of the district where sufficient inducement offers. WAIKARI. A meeting was held on Wednesday evening concerning the tennis club. The Rev A. Kirkland presided. The balance-sheet of the recent bazaar was submitted, showing a credit balance of £ll9 8s 2sd, the receipts having been £136 8s and expenditure £l6 19s lid. The club’s general fund receipts towards the new courts made up of donations, subscriptions and proceeds of concerts, amounted to £llß 2s 9d, and the expenditure on labour, deposit of purchase money of ground and incidental expenses amounted to £9B 18s 4xl, leaving a credit balance of £l9 4s sd, which, added to the net proceeds of the bazaar, made a total credit balance of £l3B 12s 7sd. It was resolved to pay £3O owing on the land, to invite tenders for laying down two asphalt courts, and to reserve £25 for the bowling green. Messrs G. W. Forbes, M.P., G. Rutherford and W. W. M’Rae wrote apologising for not being present at the bazaar, and wishing the club every success. Votes of thanks were pas.sed to Sir George Clifford for his. kindness in opening the bazaar, to Messrs H'. Matson and Co. and Mr R. R. Furze for assistance at the gift auction, to Mr F. H. .Davie for surveying and preparing a plan of the section, and to all who assisted at and gave towards the bazaar. WAIMATE. The Rugby football season was opened at Waimate on Thursday under most unfavourable weather conditions. A fair number of spectators assembled in the Park, and in spite of hail and snow showers, saw the game through. Hiwiroa defeated Waimate by nine to nil. I St Patrick’s Club held a social on Thursday evening, when the attendance was as large as the inclemency of the weather would allow. Supper was dispensed by the ladies, and Messrs Noster (piano) and Jacobs (violin) provided the music, while Mr R. Sullivan was M.C.

This week’s meeting of St Augustine’s'Young Men’s Society was held in the cookery room of tlie * Technical School, owing tb the schoolroom being en route to a now site. The syllabug called for a debate on the comparative values of iron and gold in the world’s commerce. Mr L. Wills supported iron and Mr C. Heney gold. Several others spoke. Mr Thomas Russell was judge, and the points totalled fortyfour for gold and forty-one for iron. A heavy coating of snow is on the Waimate hills. The rain gauge at eight o’clock this morning in Waimate registered twenty-nine points, to which should be added twelve points from Thursday morning. The fact of there being no snow on the Waimate hills till the third week of May is generally regarded as the sign of a fairly mild winter.

A special meeting of the School Committee has been-called for Monday night, to consider the High School Board’s offer to purchase the land desired for playground extension. VIEW HILL. A large number of residents of View Hill and tho surrounding districts assembled in the local schoolroom on May 16, to bid farewell to Mr and Mrs T. Harle and Messrs W. and J. Harle, who have resided in that district for over thirty-two years. An excellent programme of songs and other items was given by tho Misses Heavysides, Ryde, Meyer, Smith, Harle and Messrs Foster, Ride, Tritt, Matthews and several school children. The chairman, Mr Fantham, on behalf of the View Hill residents, presented Mrs T. Harle with an afternoon tea-set and silver teaspoons ; Mr T. Harlo with a travellingrug; Mr W. Harle with a gladstone bag, and Mr J. Harle with a Kaiapoi rug. Mr Fantham spoke of the high esteem in which the Harle brothers were held, and expressed regret at their impending departure. ASHBURTON. The annual meeting of the Ashburton No-license Council was held on Thursday afternoon when Mr J. W. Brown, the retiring president, occupied the chair. The chairman extended a welcome to the Revs G. Miller, J. D. M’Arthur and J. Blair, and to Mr D. C. Cameron, dominion organiser of the Rechabito Order. Mr J. M. Innes, the secretary, presented the annual report, and Mr F. Ferriman, treasurer, the balance-sheet, both being adopted. It was decided to engage an organiser, the appointment being left in the hands of a committee, with power to act. The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr J. M. Innes; secretary. Rev J. D. M’Arthur; joint treasurers, Messrs. F. Ferriman and W. T. Lill. A number of vice-presidents and ail executive committee were, also appointed. Before closing Mr IX C. Cameron briefly addressed the meeting, and Mr A. Toombes, provincial organiser, gave a brief address. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the retiring officers. A concert under, the auspices of the Ashburton Baring Square Methodist Church took place in the Theatre Royal, Ashburton, on Thursday evening, and, despite the most unfavourable weather conditions, there was a good attendance. The greater portion of the programme was supplied by Christchurch performers. Mr V. H. Papakura, who was successful at the recent musical competitions, also gave several items and the Baring Square choir rendered part songs under the direction of Mr H. A. Humphries. Mrs Pethick and Miss G. Eaton played tho accompaniments. I The weekly meeting of the Ashburton Catholic Club was held oil Thursday evening when Mr T. Purcell (vicepresident) presided. A progressive euchre match was. played and a musical programme was carried out. During the evening the Rev Father O Donnell, on behalf of tho members of the clut>, presented Mr T. Lloyd with a- marble clock to mark tho occasion of his mairiage. . ~ The Wakamii Good Templars held an open lodge in tho schoolrooni on 1 • " day evening, when Brother C. Frampton presided. Addresses were 2 , by Mr J. M. Innes, of Ashburton , aml Brother D. C. Cameron, of *£s A short programme was'cair and diming tlfe evening Brothel i±. Butterick was made a preseii the occasion of J" s iimies at Boisterous weather stm co one Ashburton and Thursday nI >= considof the roughest known % ®{f an d sleet ernble time, ram, snow, ha , , „ falling at intervals, F9 OU % 0 rainfall terrifio south-west wind.

was very heavy and for the twenty-four hours preceding nine o’clock yesterday morning 1.09 inches was recorded at the Domain weather station. There is a largo quantity of surface water lying about. Yesterday morning broke fine, but towards midday a thick drizzling rain commenced to fall, which continued in showers during the afternoon, but cleared towards evening. At the conclusion of the Ashburton Baring Square Methodist concert on Thursday evening, Mrs Elliott, who had formally opened the new pipe organ purchased from Messrs Begg and Co., was presented on behalf of Mr Lupton, local agent for the firm, with a silver key. Master Len Elliott responded on behalf of his mother. RAKAIA. On Sunday Bishop Julius paid an official pastoral visit to the Rakaia district, and in the evening, at St Mark’s Church, Rakaia, administered confirmation to twenty-six candidates (sixteen boys, seven girls and three adults), who had been prepared and instructed bv the vicar, the Rev H. N. Wright. Bishop Julius delivered all appropriate address and special music was given by the choir. 'Die Bishop also preached at the morning service, and there were large congregations all day.

The petition which was largely signed by the ratepayers of Rakaia to form a Town Board was forwarded a few months ago to the Hon F. H. D. Bell, Minister of Internal Affairs. Word has now been received that a commission consisting of Mr C. R. Pollen (Commissioner of Crown Lands) and Air Frank Stowell (district valuer of Dmnru) has been appointed to inquire into the matter and report as to the advisability or otherwise of the proposal.