ALEXANDRA NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20706, 2 May 1929, Page 14

ALEXANDRA NOTES.

(Fbom Oub Own Correspondent.) ■ ALEXANDRA, April SO. . the weather, THe weather conditions changed on Monday morning when'the atmosphere turned cold, and Jight showers of rain fell at intervals. Tile Old Man Range has a light coating, of snow. The weather has now cleared,-and sunshine again prevails. ■ MUSIC EXAMINATIONS. The annual presentation of arizes and diplomas of the Trinity College of Music (London) took place in the Town Hail last Friday evening. Mr C. E. Richards presided, and was assisted cm the platforin by the Mayor, Father O’Connell, the Rev. J. Robertson, and Mr W. Black, ihc chairman in his remarks stated that <9 candidates presented themselves for the three examinations—theory (June), practical (September), and theory (December)—the results being 100 per cent, of passes m theory and. 90 per cent, in practical. The gold medal for the highest aggregate marks in the three examinations; was gained by Miss Gladys Simonfen, of Alexandra, for the second year m succession, her average marks for the past year being 75.68. The following.were the prize ■winners:— . Higher Local Pianoforte and Senior Harmony.—Miss Margaret’ Carroll (St. Gerard’s Convent). ■ High Local, Singing.—Miss Dorothy Simonsen (Mr. Kennedy Black). •Intermediate Pianoforte.—Miss Laura Orr (Cromwell Convent). • -Advanced Intermediate, and' Intermediate " Grade Harmony.—Miss Gladys Simonsen (Mr K. Black). >■ , Advanced Junior Theory.—Hazel, Haig and Hilda Nicholson, (Mr W. J, Leisk, Omakau). • Junior Pianoforte.—lsabella .Fleming (Miss Beresford, Roxburgh)! Junior Singing-—Clarence . Craig (Mr Kennedy Black). Junior Violin.—Russell Henderson; (St. Gerard’s Convent). Junior - Theory.—Bell Henderson (St. Gerard’s Convent 1 ). ' Preparatory Pianoforte. Thelma MTvay(Miss Beresford, Roxburgh). Preparatory Theory.—Shirley Vernon (Miss Beresford). First Steps Pianoforte.—Veda Turnbull (Miss Beresford). All the successful candidates in singing and pianoforte rendered items. The chairman, on behalf of the committee. presented Mr Kennedy Black, who is leaving the district, with a gold-mounted fountain pen. ' Miss Goran, 1 on behalf of his Alexandra and Roxburgh pupils, presented him with a solid leather attache ease. FRUITGROWERS’ASSOCIATION. The monthly meeting of the Central Otago Fruitgrowers’ Association was held in Alexandra on Saturday night. .The president. Mr J, Frater, occupied the chair. There was a. large attendance of growers. _ Correspondence relative to the provincial and Dominion Conference was considered. Delegates to represent the association at the provincial conference were appointed and remits wore passed;—(l) That the Nelson and North Island growers be asked to co-operate-with the Otago and Canterbury, growers in making the charge for cases universal. in New Zealand; (2) that the Government be asked to subsidise Hie first 10 tons of apricots, dried in New Zealand; (3) that provisions be inserted m the Fruit Control Act, 1924, to give Otago growers the opportunity of voting on the question of coming under the scope of the Act; (4) that spraying materials should be sold on a guaranteed analysis. Tile question of South African dried fruits and jams was introduced,by a communication from a local factory giving figures of latest importations of jams, as follows:—1025, nil; 1920, 35281 b; 1927, 148,4321 b; 1928. 469,0001 b. In 1029, 363,0001 b arrived in one shipment. Messrs Weaver, Wing, and the secretary 'spoke very strongly in regard to the more serious aspect of. these importations, affecting the manufacturer and the producer. Unless some forin of protection was granted the industry could not survive, The speakers mentioned that this association had been ‘'playing, a lone hand” iu this matter in the past, but now they were, pleased to note that other organisations had realised the seriousness ot the position and bad given their unqualified support to the representations made. Messrs Hinton, Bringans, and Stevens strongly endorsed the remarks of the other speakers, and referred to the latest _ statistics of free importations as “particularly disquieting to the industry.” They urged united action in bringing pressure to bear on' the Government to protect the industry while there was yet time. It was left to the delegates to put up as strong a case ns possible at the conference. That matters of a purely local character should also be considered at the provincial ■ conference was a suggestion, that was referred to the Otago director. It was decided to hold the annual social at Alexandra on a.date.to be fixed later The following Social Committee was appointed:—Messrs O’Eejlly, W. Laing, G. Campbell,, C. M'Ginnis, Hinton, Thorley, M. M'Ginnis, J. R. Laing, A. Ashworth. W. R. L. Williams. INDUSTRIAL CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY. The fifteenth report and balance sheet of the Alexandra Industrial Co-operative Society for-the half-year ended December 31, 1828. was submitted to the share*

holders nt » meeting held on Monday evenmg. ■ ■ The president ,(Mv Mimro) occupied the chair, and in reviewing the business for, the period, stated the cash sales amounted to £3082 5s 3d, an increase.of £506 over those of the previous half-year. The net-profit was.£l7l, 7e Id, which the committee recommended . being- apportioned as follows;—61 per cent, interest on capital (paid up) and a bonus on members’ purchases of hinepence in the £, leaving a balance of £5 3s, which, being added_to the reserve fund, would’ leave it at, £378 12s sd. The expenses involved in transferring stock and equipment to the new premises, together with bank interest charges on the overdraft, accounted for the reduction in the bonus paid to members, on their purchases for this term. The net profit for the period was only £lO greater than the previous-half-year. • After the adoption of the report and balance sheet general discussion followed on matters of interest to the society, arid a vote of thanks was passed to the staff and also the. committee for the .keen interest displayed in the affairs of the society.