COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18599, 29 December 1920, Page 7

COUNTRY NEWS.

[Feom' Owe Corbespondexxs.] : RANGIORA. For some months past Sergeant* Major W. R. Pike has conducted a free plvysioal culture class for yogng people at the Drill Hall with marked -success; and on breaking up for the holiday* his pupils presented him with a pocket wallet as a small token of their appreciation of the trouble he had taken in their' training. HANMER SPRINGS. The weather on Christmas Day and Sunday was excessively hot, hut Monday, after midday, brought a welcome change. Occasional showers of rain fell at intervals till 3 o’clock, when it set in steadily, and all through the night a regular deluge fell, and continued yesterday; although the fall was lighter. ... ... The majority of the patients and stair from the Queen Mary Hospital are away on leave, and those remaining were entertained to tea in the Hanmer Hall by tli© Y-AI.C-A., local ladies assisting to make everything pleasant, bright and cheerful for those who were unable to get on leave. The usual bomb and cracker throwing was indulged in on Christmas Eve, and general business was quite up to if not beyond that of previous years. The organiser of tho Canterbury Progress League (Mr Climie) has notified his intention of paying a visit to Hap' trier Springs after the holidays to discuss, at a meeting of aE interested,, the best methods of pushing along this health resort. It is expected that a move will he made to form a syndicate to run one or two up-to-date boardinghouses, as at present there is not half enough accommodation for those who are making applications. SOUTH MALVERN. On Thursday the annual'proficienex examinations for Mftl district were held in Hie Glpntmmel School, Sixth Standard South Malvern. Glenroy^^Hororata and Glen tunnel Schools being present. In the evening the annual prize-giving celebrations were conducted _m the Glentunnel School, gifts were distributed by the committee to each child, Speeches were made by Mr A. L. Wills (head Air H. Ledgard (chairman), the latter congratulating the staff upon tho excellent results of the year s work,-each pupil’presented from the school that day having obtained a proficiency certificate. Songs were sung by Hie school children, and after the presentatiofa of the Christmas gifts, a bountiful supper brought the evening to a ctese, The following proficiency certificates:—Thelma Davidson Frank Ledgard, Herbert Ledgard, Jack Fevere and Stuart Leeming. Medals for tho most improved forward and the most improved back in . the school football team, were presented to lrtailk Lelgard and Dick Griffiths, by the Black Diamond Football -ClubOn the same .evening the annual “break-up” of the South - Malvern School was held, and the excellent programme of songs an(d recitations pre- _____ sented by the head master was much appreciated by those present. Of the two pupils presented for the proficiency examination one had gained a. pro* ficiency, and the other a Competency certificate. Tli© prizes having been distributed, an. excellent stipoer was served, after which a presentation of a pair of military brushes was made to the henjd master, Mr M’Callum, on. behalf of the scholars, and to Mrs At Callum a silver jewel case and crepe de chine handkerchiefs. _ Air AI Caßum suitable replied, thanking the children for their Christinas gifts. . ■ After excellent weather for. Christmas, steady rain set in on Boxing'Day over the whole district, to ..the great disappointment of all who had worked to make the Glentunnel sports a success. A number of visitors came up by the special train, but the sport© had to bo postponed. OURUHIA. - On Boxing Day the children gathered in full strength for their Sunday School picnic, practically all homes being represented. Owing to the inclemency of The weather, old aud young gathered in the schoolroom, where pleilty, of fun. and games were carried on to the enjoyment of all. Prizes were disposed, of m various ways, all children receiving prizes. The children took the opportunity of presenting to Pastor Day, of Kaiapoi, the late superintendent of their 1 school, a silver teapot on the eve of his departure to Invercargill. The happy dav was closed by singing “ God. be with You till we Meet Again,” all faces testifying to the joyous time spent together. OXFORD. Christmas Day was the hottest'day of the season. On the grass the thermometer registered 128 deg. I This great heat, following a period of heat and drought, had a very deleterious effect on the crops and pastures. It was causing crops to ripen unduly, and pastures to become parched. Fortunately, a change took place on Monday morning, when rain commenced to, fall lightly, and increased as the day. advanced. It proved an inconvenience to picnickers, however, and necessitated the postponement of the school sports, which will now be'.held next Monday. cheviQt. '. v ;y A farewell social to Mr F.' K- Caverhill. who has been secretary and treasurer of the Band of Hope since its inception, was held in tlio-Presbyterian. Hall on Thursday night. . There was a large attendance of members and friends. During tho evening recitations were given .by Miss - Hayes, a pianoforte solo by Miss . Murgatroyd, and songs by Airs Ford and Air Naylor. interspersed with gataesf on-be-half of the members Air Telfer presented Air O&verhill with a founfcaihrpen. Testimony to the good work done by Air Caverhilt in connection* with'rth® Band of Hope, which Ares started ou Cheviot by. him, was also given, by= Mrs Ford, Aliss Saunders and Meters Ferguson and Naylor. • After supper waa V

served n. very pleasant evening was brought to a close by singing Auld "Lnng Syne.” . , The. takings in connection with the Cheviot Town Hall garden fete totally £202.. ~ After paying expenses a balance remained of £l7l. The Presbyterian Sunday School lield their annual picnic at Gore Bay on Monday. The weather, although threatening, kept fair for the greater part of the day. and the large number attending had. a very enjoyable time. The drought conditions that). ha;VO been ■ prevailing for some time, with extremely hot weather, were broken by a, good night’s rain, which commenced on Monday evening. Although har■vesting and shearing will bo irtterruptfed, pasture will be benefited immensely, while the rain will bo the saviour; or rape and turnip crops. ’ I""""” SPRTNGSTON. On Sunday last, the fifty-fourth' anniversary’ of the Methodist Church was celebrated. The preacher for the day vHfe the ttev W. J. Williams, of Sumner. There were very fair congregations. The sermons preached were very highly appreciated by those present.. There was special singing by the choir. Misses Henry and Dent were the organists. On Monday evening the anniversary social was held, the Rev J. Harris presiding. The programme was given by Mrs James Marshall, Sister Bessie, Messrs N. Chamberlain, Basher and E. J. Harris, and several anthems were sung by the choir. At the conclusion of the social supper was served by tho ladies of the congregation. LINCOLN. The Lincoln School annual picnic and sports took place at the Lincoln College grounds recently. Favoured with ideal weather, theio was a largo attendance of present and past pupils, parents and friends. Races were held for old and young, and a mbst enjoyable time was Bpenfc. SPR.INGSTON SOUTH. Tho Spreydon Boy Scouts, who are camping in this district, intend to entertain residents at a concert to be given next Monday evening. KIRWEE. A heat wave was experienced' in the ' district on Christmas Day, which had a very drying effect on tho crops. Sunday was also hot, but in the afternoon a southerly wind was experienced, with indications of rain. On Monday morning a slight drizzle fell, which by ton o’clock became a heavy rain. This continued all day and most of the .night, 1.27 inches being registered at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. The rain will do an immense amount; of good to the later cereal crops, and also to the root crops. Some of the oat crops have been reaped, and others are ready for the reaper as soon as the weather clears. AKAROA. Akaroa, as is usual at this time of the year, is very full of visitors, and likely to remain so for the rest of the summer, as several hotels and boardinghouses report that accommodation is fully engaged right up to Easter. Tho weather up *<j Monday morning has

been exceedingly hot. Christmas Day was a record, in tho afternoon the gloss showing over 90 degrees in the shade. The launches plying ;n the harbour [were loaded with passengers. Rain set ’in on Monday morning, a vory welcome after tho intense heat. The Tain was also of great benefit to the gardens and paddocks, ©specially those .with cocksfoot crops, as it will tend to fiU out the seed, and make a much better sample. The dairying industry will greatly benefit by the change, as the factories were experiencing a fall f’in the supply of milk. On Christmas morning St Peters (Anglican), Akaroa, had a crowded congregation- The service was fully ckoraL The church had been very ; 'prettily decorated by the lady members of the congregation. The vicar (Rev A- H. Julius) conducted the service, and preached an eloquent sermon on the meaning of “ Goodwill to All Mon.” On Sunday evening, in lieu of the customary sermon, the choir sang a number of Christmas carols. There was again a large congregation. At the close of the service a retiring collection was made on helialf of St Saviour’s orphanage. This amounted to £0 lls 3d.