RIVERTON NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 19896, 15 June 1926, Page 4

RIVERTON NOTES

THE WEATHER. (From Our Correspondent.) The fore part of the week was fine, but towards the end rain fell heavily, and we were once again reminded that winter was still with us. Little can be accomplished on the land, which is still sodden with the heavy rain, and if an improvement does not soon take place, all farm operations will be considerably retarded. Frosts have been conspicuous by their absence, although one or two light ones have been experienced, but hardly severe enough to do the ground any good. All old identities like to see severe frosts and a fall of snow, for the former has a sweetening and beneficial influence on the upturned earth, besides accounting for the diminution of insect life, while the latter has the tendency of clearing the atmosphere. A severe winter is generally followed by a prolific spring, but as it is yet early in the season, these visitations may be experienced before the earth discards her winter mantle. Feed is still plentiful, and some of the dairy factories are still open, so, taken altogether, the man on the land has not fared so badly. PLUNKET SOCIETY. The monthly meeting was held in the Rest Room on Thursday, when there was a fair attendance of members. Upon the conclusion of the general business, a discussion took place with reference to the gift of £lOO from the Invercargill Savings Bank. No definite motion was passed in regard to same, the secretary not having received official confirmation from Invercargill, but one and all expressed great satisfaction. The nurse’s report for May was as follows:—Visits paid to homes, 34; visits to room (adults), 44; visits to room (babies) 44; new cases for the month, 3. THE QUEEN CARNIVAL. The executive in connection with the Queen Carnival have met, and have fixed upon the 24th inst. as the date for the coronation cerembny. Arrangements have been made with a Dunedin firm, who will send a representative, and he will take, charge of proceedings. A full dress rehearsal will take place the previous evening so that no hitch is likely to occur on the crowning night. It has also been decided to suitably recognise the sendees of the three princesses, and they will be the re- 1 cipients of presentations before the curtain is finally rung down on the carnival. Great interest is being taken in the ceremony, and should the weather be at all favourable the spacious theatre should be taxed to overflowing. The amounts received by the different committees are as follows: Miss McKay (maroon and gold) £484 Ils 6d; Miss Southberg (blue and gold), £365 4s 6d; Miss G. Trail (green and white), £340 0s Bd, making a grand total of £llB9 16s Bd. In the meantime £llO has been handed to each of the different clubs interested. The Rowing Club will now be able to purchase the long looked for new boat, the brass band will wipe off the debt remaining on the instruments, and it is expected the Hockey and Football Clubs will combine and have erected a very necessary adjunct to the recreation ground—a dressing pavilion. The Bowling, Tennis, Croquet and Golf Clubs will now be out of debt and show a credit at the bank. That they are able to do so is due to an energetic and indefatigable executive, not forgetting to mention the monetary assistance given by a liberalminded and sports-loving community. THE PROPOSED CRUSHING PLANT. That Mr J. O. Hymers made a wise suggestion at the council meeting when he advocated the purchasing of a crushing plant for utilising tons of metal now lying idle in South Riverton, is the opinion held by many ratepayers, and the hope has been freely expressed that the scheme will be brought to fruition. A well-known contractor informed the writer during the week that metal, which was in abundance in the south ward, could be easily procured, while a plant, suitable for local requirements, could be purchased at a reasonable figure. It was, in his opinion, a waste of money to use the gravel at present available, and during the latter end of the week, ratepayers have had this viably forced upon them. With the heavy rains and the motor traffic the maintenance gravel from the pit has been thoroughly stirred up, and in places it is a quagmire. The local body cannot help the elements, but many ratepayers think it a waste of public money to continue the gravelling until the winter is past. An effort is also on foot to have the main road through the borough made a highway one, and this suggestion likewise appeals to all residents, who are anxious to see better road facilities prevailing. A PROGRESSIVE CLUB. At Friday night’s meeting of the Riverton Bowling Chib, the president (Mr A. E. Willett) made eulogistic reference to the kindness, advice and consideration shown the country clubs by Mr J. H. Loudon, who had the welfare of the clubs at heart, and was ever ready to give them all the support he could, and to Mr Loudon they were greatly indebted. In replying to the criticism made that all sports clubs should be selfsupporting, he said he agreed with the critics to a certain extent, but when a club carried out improvements, which not only benefited the body interested, but conferred a' boon on the community, then, he thought, they were entitled to every consideration. The Riverton Bowling ' dub’s green had been transformed from what was originally a miniature lake and an eye-sore to the public, to a picturesque spot and a place of beauty. This was the opinion expressed by many. Visitors from all parts of the Dominion, and from overseas had complimented them on the beautiful surroundings and even playing surface of the green, and, as these tourists were accustomed to the best of bowling conditions in the larger centres, their opinions were worth repetition. Then, again, there was the pavilion, a building greatly in evidence during the holiday season and which was much used by excursionists during the school picnic. He concluded, by remarking that now they were in a good financial position, the funds available would be judiciously spent in further improving the property.—(Applause). GENERAL ITEMS. The unsettled weather has to some extent interfered with the fishing industry, and the launches have not done, so well as previously. The Wairuna left during the week for the coast and will be absent for a few days. The local sawmillers ceased operations for a week, and during the interval some necessary overhauling and repairing of the plant will be carried out. Orders are reported slack, but in the spring a revival is confidently looked forward to. Employment at present for outdoor work is hard to get, and during the past week a number of unemployed have been on a lookout for work. Included in the number were three emigrants, who stated that they had experienced hard times since coming to the Dominion, and were anxious to make provision for those dependent upon them. The annual general meeting of the Progressive League is to be held on Thursday, when a report of the year’s operations will be submitted to those present. On Saturday the Riverton High School sent a girls’ hockey team to Wyndham to try conclusions with the team there. After an interesting match the visitors were defeated, the scores being: Wyndham 4, Riverton 1. The High School football team also journeyed to the same place, and were more successful than the girls, defeating the eastern school by 33 to nil. On Saturday Riverton seniors were to have met Ohai on the local grounds, but as some of the Ohai players were unable to play owing to injuries the match had to be postponed. The other district matches resulted as follows: Seniors—Orawia nil v Orepuki nil; juniors—Riverton defaulted to Ohai; Orawia 11 v Orepuki 6. Following are the results of the medal competition, played on the golf links on Wednesday: Jordan 85—16—69; Mills 89— 18—71; Spencer 102—24—78 j Willett -

12—79; Banks 86—6—80; Rouse 88—6 —B2; Berndston 96—12—84; McNeil 101— 18—83; Birch 113—24—89. The first round of the ladies’ medal match, which was Co have taken place on Saturday afternoon had to be postponed on account of the weather. The heavy r rains of the last few days have caused the rivers to rise, and the Jacpb’s was over the road on Sunday afternoon near the Aparima dairy factory, but at latest accounts was returning to normal, although theer is a lot of fresh still making seawards.