COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17263, 2 September 1916, Page 11

COUNTRY NEWS.

[B’bOM OUS CORBESPONDENTS.] ' ' : ASHBURTON. A lecture, illustrated by lantern slides, was . given 'in* the Theatre . Royal; Ashburton, on Thursday! evening by tho Rev Frank Oldrievc, on "India and its Lepers.’’ There was a fairly, good attendance oncl the loeliire was, listened to with, tho, greatest interest throughout. Mr Oldrieve having been in charge of one. of tho leper stations in India, was able to, give first-hand information. During the evening so; «_v wero contributed by Miss Stephenson, and 'Mr 11. Soyera, and Miss Lucy Kershaw gave a recitation. .'llie proceeds from tho Iccluro amounted to £8 3s -lei. There Whs a ■ good attendance at the Masonic Hull, Ashburton, on Thursday evening', .'when ,Mr Robert Bell,' under the auspices or tho Ashburton Scottish Society, delivered tui address on his impressions of America during his visit to the Slates last year. Mr R. M. Dunlop presided, and stated that the proceeds ' were to bo devoted to the Red .Crocs • Fund. TJie - chairman said that the operations of tlio society had been somewhat restricted owing to the war, but nevertheless it had arranged various entertainments to help along patriotic funds, ono concert had realised £l2O, while another gathering had resulted in £lO being collected, and in addition various sums had been donated out of tho society’s funds. Mr Bell dealt exhaustively with hi 3 subject, which was illustrated by means of a cliart, and tho address v.-as much appreciated by his audioncc. The lecturo was interspersed bv selections of American national songs and marches on a gramophone., and Mr B. Craighead sang n song and the Pipe Band contributed an item. At the close a vote of thanks was accorded Mr Bell for his instructive address.

As sorno misapprehension appears to exist in regard to the proposed Carnegie Library for Ashburton the Mayor and town clerk have explained that plans for a library were drawn up and forwarded to tho Carnegie Corporftlion . for approval. They were not • approved and wero amended arid again sent to ' Few York. This time they wero approved, and tenders wero called for the erection of the building. The tenders were all much above tho grant (£1750), tho lowest being £IB4O. It was then decided to amend the specifications and call for fresh tenders and this timo the lowest tender was £1738. To ’this sum there had to bo added the architect’s fees and oxpenscs, approximately £100; clerk of works, say, £SO; and extras £IOO, which meant that the building would cost £258 above ' the sum granted by Mr Carnegie, and this £258 would havo h».fl to be drawn from the general fund, which the council did not feel justified in doing, so it. was decided to hold tho matter over till when it was thought labour and material would not bo so dear. It was pointed out that tho Carnegie .Corporation when making grants stipulates that the local bodies shall find the site and guarantee a certain sum for; maintenance, and tho council thought that by guaranteeing £125 for maintenance it would get a grant of £2500, but it was subsequently ascertained that tho corporation would only grant £1750 for Ashburton. It was then pointed out to the corporation that the cost of labour and material had greatly; increased and tho corporation was asked whether in tbe event of tho cost of the building exceeding the grant by £2OO or £3OO tho extra money would be granted. To this a negative reply was received. The position now is that tho building, according 10 the plans approved oi by tho corporation, could not bo built without tho council • drawing on tho general fund to tho extent of £258. Tho council did not foci justified in doing this, and WBS of opinion that it might got tho library built, Tor the £1750 if it held off till tho prices oi labour and material returned to normal. LISMORE . Tho R.angitata Ilbad Board ' met at Lisin ere on Monday last, the chairman (Mr A. M'Kanrie) presiding The tender of Mr T. Sugrue for shingling Stud hoi mo's Road was accepted, but there being no tenders received for reforming Fountame’s Road it was . decided to rnadvertise. The clerk reported that a good deal of repairing required to be done both to river fords and roads, owing to the heavy rains. A rate of three-eighths of o. penny was made. Mr T. Bennett. Offered t-.> crush metal, at a reasonable rate it the board provided a crusher, but: tho matter was held over for inquiry to be made as to the cost. A petitionasking for. the shingling of Haoktborno Road from Anderson’s Corner to W. W. Reid s, two, miles, was received, and tho clerk was instructed to reply that tho matter would bo kept iu view for early consideration. . The clerk was instructed to request tho Ashburton County Council to liUvo old wator-rnco fords filled in, and to inform the council also that the board is of the opinion that no engiuo haulage, other than ordinary chaffeutUng plante should be. permitted on the roads during July and August. The offer of a few porches of Ignd for a road at Ealing was accepted, and tho chairman was'authorised to arrange for transfer, the olerk to furnish the measurements. Accounts amounting to £37 19s 9d were passed for payment. GERALDINE. In response to an appeal made by Mrs J. M Tripp and Mrs Elmslie on behalf of Russians who havo suffered through the war, a largo quantity of produce anrl dainties was given by, the people of tho district, and at a sale conducted, by Mcsdainos.Tripp and Elmsiie on Wednesday, the gifts were disposed of. Tho proceeds totalled £SB l-lst Id, which will be sent to tho Russian Ambassador in London. Amongst the donors were many residents of Ilongitato and Eangitata Island. FERNSIDE. A euchre party end dance in aid of the funds 'of the Red Cross Brooch at Fenisido and tho .Entertainment P'unda was held in the Fcrnside Schoolroom on Wednesday evening. There .wits an eiteudanco oi ' about eighty. ■ Tlio price-winners wero Mrs J. R. Catbcrwood and Mr A. August.. Dancing Was kept up till the curly hours, the music being supplied by Miss A. Howat, and extras by Miss M, Araott ar.d _Mr S’. Fleming. The proroeds from tho gathering amounted to about £B.' LITTLE RIVER. A. smoke concert was held in the Town Hall, Little River, on Saturday evening, to bid farewell to Mr J. Doherty, of tbo Little RIVCr railway staff, who has been transferred to Lincoln. Several musical items were contributed. Tbe chairman (Mr Samuels), on behalf of the Little River residents, presented Mr Doherty with a. suit-case.