COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16568, 4 June 1914, Page 9

COUNTRY NEWS.

[From Our Correspondents.] RANGIORA. ; 9 n Tuesday evening Mr J. 13. Wilson, who has been a resident of tho district for titty-seven years, was entertained by his family and friends on his eightieth birthday, at tho Rangiora , liowling, Tenma and Croquet Club s social room. All the family, and over fifty friends were present. Progressive euchre was played, and the winners of the principal prizes wero Mrs C. E. Bell aud An- R. H. Walker. During the evening Mr 11. Boyd, on behaJf of friends, made Mr Wilson a birthday present of a gold-mounted fountain pen and a silk handkerchief. Mr Wilson, who enjoys good health and is wonderfully active for his ago, was in' the early days a representative Canterbury cricketer. Of recent years he has turned his attention to bowl- : ing as a_recreation, and,can hold nis ! own against the majority of the ' players on tho Rangiora green. The D Squadron of the ■0.Y.0. paraded at Rangiora yesterday afternoon. There was a muster of twenty-three rank and file, Lieutenant Bailey heing in command. Although the weather turned very wet, an hour nr*d a half was devoted to mounted and dismounted drill. • ■ WAINUL Tho annual tea and'public meeting of the Wainui Presbyterian Church was hold on Friday, May 29. There was a large attendance of members and friends. The Rev J. Hay ward gave,an interesting and instructive address relating to church matters. Some musical items were given during i the. evening, Miss Roxburgh contributing a solo. Mr Conway thanked the ' Indies for the refreshments supplied, and a pleasant evening Avas brought ! to a close by singing a hymn. • ASHBURTON. Tho member for Ashburton, Mr W. Nosworthy, has received word from the Minister of Education to tho effect that tho Education Board has been advised of a grant for the enlargment I of tho Hamnstcad school. I Tho Canterbury Methodist Young . Women's Bible-class Union held a rally I in tho Baring Square Methodist Church I schoolroom,. Ashburton, yesterday. j About, sixty members were present, I representative of Christchurch, LyttelI ton, Kaiapoi, Leeston, Timaru, Gerali dine, Temuka and Ashburton. Sister j Ruth occupied the chair in the absence lof the president of the Union. Two I sessions wero held, one in the forenoon and one in the afternoon. At the former Sister Catherine- gave an ad- ' dress on ".:'* Impressions of Auckland," I and; iu the afternoon Sister Grace | Crump, lady superintendent of the Methodist Deaconess House in Ghrist- | church, gave an address on "Women's Work in the Church." The visitors l were entertained during the day by the Ashburton senior and junior Bible Classes. The •Mount Seniors coalmine, which has beeu struggling for an 'existence for some time and for the past eighteen months lias been in liquidation, has stopped operations. Tin's will be a groat loss to the county, as a fairly large quantity of this coal has used in the Ashburton district. The company, which was formed about twelyo years ago, during-its existence 'passed, through, many phases of. commercial lifo. It started first as a private company. Tho tramline which was laid down at a great expense is being taken up. Tho following nominations have been received in connection with tho annual election of committee and stewards for the Ashburton County Racing Club:Committee, Messrs W. B. Denshire. J. Davison, H. Friedlander, E. F. J. G'r'ig'g, J. R. Hart, D. Montgomery and J. D. Stewart; stewards, Messrs J. R. Brown, W. B. Denshire, H. Friedlander, J. C. N. Grigg, E. F. J. Grigs, J. Hampton, D. Montgomery, C. W. Nicoll, H. F. Nicoll, J. D. Stewart-. T. E.. Upton, G.H. Buchanan, E, B. Newton and J. R. Hart. As the ■ nominations do not exceed tho number of vacancies no election will bo held, SCARGILL. A meeting was held in the Scargill Schoolroom on Tuesday evening for the purpose of forming a card club. Mr C. M'Lelland was voted to the chair. It was decided unanimously to form a club J' to be named the Scargill Card Club, its meetings to bo held fortnightly, in tho schoolroom, commencing on June 9 with a progressive euchre party. Tho following were elected as a committee, Messrs 0. M'Lelland (chairman), G. A. Grieg (honorary secretary and treasurer), F. Carpenter. M. Flernming and 0. Dallard.