COUNTRY NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23704, 11 January 1939, Page 12

COUNTRY NEWS

MILTON Valedictory Mr J. McLean, of Milton, who has retired from the railway service after 35 years, was entertained at a social evening tendered by railwaymen of the district. The station master (Mr J. B. Elliott) made a presentation of, a Bruce travelling rug. and Messrs Page, W. Lyall, A. E. Murray. H. Green, F. Halkett, J. Berry, and J. Dignan also spoke. Mr McLean made a suitable reply. St. John’s Church The parishioners of St. John’s Church at Waihola held two successful functions in the Waihola Hall in aid of the parish funds. A bazaar was held, and a card social, followed by a dance. Personal Mr H. F. Adam, accompanied by his wife and son, left at the week-end for a fortnigjit’s motoring tour of the southern lakes, Timaru. and Christchurch. The Rev. A. - J. T. Fraser and Mrs Fraser, of St. John’s Anglican Church, Milton,'and Mrs 1 W. Benson, of Auckland. are at present spending a fortnight’s holiday at Stewart Island and visiting friends in Southland. Miss Hazel Wilkins, of Milton, has received an appointment on the nursing staff of the Pleasant Valley Sanatorium, and has taken uo her duties. She was a keen swimming entnusiast, and was a popular member of the local club. Mr J. P. Little, who has been in charge of the hosiery department at Bruce Woollen Mills for the past 28 years, will sever his connection with the company at the end of this week. Mr Little has been an active member of the Milton division of the St? John Ambulance Association. Mr D. Sanson (Milton) and his son, James, are at present spending a month’s holiday with relatives at Waikaia. The Weather The gale experienced at Milton on Monday night, accompanied by driving rain showers, was one of the strongest for many years. The wind continued yesterday, and several fences, trees, and wireless poles were blown down. The Otago Electric Power Board’s officers experienced an anxious time during the night owing to the failure of the supply. QUEENSTOWN The Weather The weather is still very unsettled. Following a perfect day on Sunday, heavy gales set in early on Monday morning followed by rain. It was fine in the afternoon, and on Monday the wind sprang up again. Though the weather has not been so trying as in other parts of the province, it has at least not been seasonable. Personal Mrs Douglas Skene, of Dunedin, was a recent guest of Mrs S. Mcßride, Queenstown. Mr F. W. Farrell and Mr Norman Farrell, of Dunedin, spent a short holiday in Queenstown recently. Miss Grace Shearer, of Dunedin, and Miss Rose Aitcheson. of Waikouaiti. have been staying with Mr and Mrs Mrs J. Sinclair, of Wellington, is the guest of her mother, Mrs C. McCormick, Closeburn. Miss Margaret Mcßride has returned to Dunedin after spending the holidays with her mother, Mrs S. Mcßride Miss Mary O’Connell, of Dunedin. Is the guest of her father, Mr J. E. O’Connell, Frankton. Mr and Mrs H. O. Walker and family are spending a holiday in Invercargill. Mr and Mrs T. Hoskins, of Port Chalmers, have been on holiday in Queenstown as the guests of Mr and Mrs J, Short.

Mrs Peterson, of Invercargill, spent a holiday in Queenstown as the guest of Mrs D. F. .Murchison. Mr and Mrs G. Chalmers motored through to Oamaru last week. Mrs T. McSoriley, jun,, of Invercargill. is the guest of Mr and Mrs T. McSoriley. Miss Grace Fraser, who spent the Christmas and New Year holidays in Queenstown as the guest of Mrs S. B. Peterson, returned to Dunedin on Monday. Mrs Seymour and daughter, of Dunedin, are visiting Mr and Mrs J. Stroud, One Mile road.

Miss Phyllis Forbes, of Christchurch, is visiting her cousin, Mrs G. D. Cochrane. Mrs G. B. Cochrane, of Dunedin. Is on holiday in Queenstown as the guest of Mr and' Mrs G. D. Cochrane. Mrs F. W. Cole, who has been the guest of Miss Esther Percy for the past two months, left on Saturday for Clyde, en route to her home in Auckland. The Rev. D, K. Boyd, of St. Presbyterian Church, is exchanging pulpits for a month with the Rev. Lawson Marsh, of Oamaru. During the New Year holidays three Y.M.C.A. groups from -Wellington visited Queenstown, their tour also embracing the Hollyford and Eglinton Valleys.

Bible Class Delegates The following delegates who attended the recent Presbyterian Bible class conference at Gore have been staying at Queenstown —Mrs J. C. Mac Kay, Misses J. Frame, M. Fallow, G. Farrar, J. Pengelly, H. Williams, N. Pilkington, M. Curie, M. Armour (Christchurch), J. Andrew (Wellington), J. First (Hawera), H. Timms (Napier), W. Dolamore (Invercargill), B. Cairns, H. Dewar (Dunedin), J. Fleming (Nelson), M. Ross, M. NcNiell (Hastings), J. Lockhart, M. Maxwell, M. Porter (Milton), G. Meyer, V. Nicol, M, Mitchell (Marton), E. Wilson and J. Cross (Christchurch), M. Skinner (Dunsandel), Messrs J. Hercus, R. McKenzie, R. Best, H. Campbell (Christchurch), G. Meyer (Marton), A. Martin (Auckland), F. and J. McNeill (Hastings) and J. Davies (Dunedin). A mbonlight cruise was arranged on the launch Muratai to Walter Peak, where the party was entertained by Mr and Mrs J. Mackenzie. Minister’s Visit

The Minister of Labour (Mr P. C. Webb) paid a short visit to Queenstown last week and was formally welcomed by the Deputy Mayor (Cr W. A. Anderson), Cr Scheib and the town clerk (Mr C. M. Inglis). The Minister was thanked for making the money available for the drainage scheme, and matters pertaining to unemployment were discussed. EASTERN SOUTHLAND Theft of Money James Peter Joseph Kelly, a labourer aged 22 years, of Riversdale, appeared at the Gore Magisti’ate’s Court on Monday, before Mr F. Wallis, jun., J.P., and Mr H. A. Price, J.P., on a charge of stealing £1 from Cyril James Lindsay Knipe, of Fairplace, on January 7. The defendant entered a plea of guilty. —Sergeant J. Abel gave evidence that Kelly had 'been engaged on contract work at Fairplace Station, but failure to complete his contract had resulted in him being dismissed, following which ho visited a tractor driver’s hut. The occupant of the hut had given him dinner and tea, and after he had departed it was found that a •£ 1 note was missing. The Gore police had been communicated with, and the defendant was interviewed. He denied taking the note, and offered to be searched. The note was found in a boot worn by Kelly. In reply to Mr Wallis, witness said that Kelly had previously been in trouble, having been given two years’ probation in 1935. The defendant was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment, and an order was made for the restitution of the money to the complainant.