COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16569, 5 June 1914, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS.

[From Our Correspondents.] HORNBY. The second meeting of the Hornby Progressive Euchre Club was held on Tuesday, and there was a very large attendance. The ladies’ prizes wc.ro won by Mrs Palmer and Mrs Kerr, and the men’s prizes by Mr N. Freeman and Mr Macfarlane. The booby prizes were awarded to Miss M. O’Connor and Mr C. Crequer. Tho evening concluded with a dance. SOUTHBRIDGE. The Rev H. G. Hawkins presided at the monthly meeting of the Southbridge District High School Committee, ar.d there were also present— Messrs E A Inwood, R. Rowe, H. Sutton, M, Curran and R. B. B. Willis (secretary). The headmaster reported that the average weekly roll in the primary department was 156.7 and in the secondary department 30.2. Eleven scholars of the primary department had been withdrawn owing to the departure front the district of three families, while in the secondary department there had been one withdrawal Six fresh pupils had been admitted in the primary department. The technical dressmaking classes had opened with pleasing prospects and the master considered that cookery classes could also be run successfully. The proposal to form a young men’s club in Southbridge has been taken up very enthusiastically and over sixty young men hare announced their intention of joining tho organisation. It is expected that this number will be still further augmented. A sub-com-mittee has been set up to go into the question of procuring literature and suitable parlour games, and it has been suggested that tho club should meet on threo evenings in each week. Several residents have promised to assist the proposed club by providing games. LEESTON.. The Leeston School Committee met on Monday evening; present —Mr F. B. Clausen (chairman), Revs W. Grigg (secretary), and R. H. Blair, Messrs T. ,J. Gilbert, T. J. Ramsay and E. Lloyd. The headmaster reported that the number of children on the roll on May 30 was 94 (forty-one boys and fiftythree girls), and that the average attendance for the month was eighty. The medical inspector. Dr Baker, had ■visited the school on May 27. The caretaker sent in his resignation owing to departure from the district and it was decided to invite applications for the position Tho prize and piano funds of the Leeston Public School have been swelled to the extent of about £5 by the proceeds from an entertainment given by the State Express Picture Company. HALSWELL, The scholars attending the Halswcll School met at nine o’clock on Wednesday morning. The headmaster addressed them as to their duties to the King and Empire. One of the Fifth Standard girls attending the school played '‘ The British Grenadiers’’ and “ Rule Britannia ” while the flag was being unfurled. The children saluted, an dsang “ Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue,” and gave three cheers for the King. They then were marched into school and sang “ Rule Britannia ” and other patriotic songs. Tho chairman of the School Committee addressed them, pointing out tho reasons why Empire Day should he observed. The ceremony concluded with the singing of “ God Save the King.” KIR WEE. The rainfall for the month of May at Kinveo was 4in. Rain fell on eleven days, the maximum fall being .92in on May 21. The fall for May this year is tho heaviest recorded during the last eight years. .Monday was a bitterly cold day, with showers front tho north-west in the morning. Tuesday was a. fine day, but on Wednesday morning it was apparent that a change was coming from the south-west, and at noon rain commenced "to fail. In the evening this changed to snow, tho ground receiving a light covering, but it soon disappeared. There has been very little wheat drilled up to tho present, tlio weather during May having been so unfavourable. Potato digging is also being proceeded with very slowly, owing to the wet state of the fields. ASHBURTON. At the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr W. H. Rundle, J.P., a first olfender for drunkenness was fined os, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. Tho heavy rain which commenced to fall at Ashburton on Wednesday afternoon continued until about seven o’clock in the evening, 22 points having been registered. After that the weather cleared, and KB degrees of frost was recorded. Yesterday was beautiful and fine. The meteorological observations taken at the Ashburton Weather Station for the month of May are as follow:—Highest reading of the barometer, 30.18 on the 28th, lowest 29.28 on the 31st; highest reading of tho maximum thermometer, 04 degrees on the 4th, lowest 42 degrees on tho 24th; highest vending minimum thermometer, 48 degrees on the loth, lowest 27.5 degrees on the 28th. Frost was recorded on 22 days, ranging from 124 degrees downwards. Rain fell on 12 days, totalling 3.40 inches. During the month 128 hours 15 minutes or sunshine was recorded, only two days passing without making a record. _ The meteorological observations by Mr ,T. Carr at “Eudstone,” Methven, for the month of May, show that rain fell on 12 days, totalling 4.30 inches. Frosts were recorded on 20 days, the heaviest, being 8 degrees. The highest reading of the barometer was 29.98 on the sth and 7th.