MANDEVILLE NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 20771, 11 May 1929, Page 9

MANDEVILLE NOTES

(From Our Correspondent.) After a period of splendid weather, comprising mild foggy mornings opening out into beautiful sunshine before 10 o'clock, the pastures and lawns appear very like spring time with their luxuriant growth. Rain, however, began to fall on Wednesday and while doing good to the turnip crops and assisting to make the land fit for the plough, it prevented what would otherwise have been a very large gathering of district and distant residents from taking advantage of the invitation of Mr. Roche to be present at the opening ceremony of a traffic bridge erected on his property over the Waimea stream. The rain slackened between 3 and 4 p.m. and something like 20 cars gathered at the ■ bridge. Among those present were a number of ladies. After inspecting the bridge, which is 40ft. long and 12ft. wide, Mr. D. L. Poppelwell (Mayor of Gore) addressed the gathering and during the course of an interesting speech referred to the construction and plans of the bridge by Mr. John Hanley, of Hanley Bros., the well known farmers on the lower ' Knapdalc road. Mr. J. H. .McLeod said the bridge was a decided credit to Mr. Han-« ley and the workmanship was of the best and would certainly serve a useful purpose for many years. Mr James Bruce said it was not only a pleasure to be present, but it could not fail to be the means of showing what can be accomplished and he felt certain bridges of a similar type would now be built. Mr. John Gardiner (Gore) also spoke. Mr. Poppelwell then called on Mrs. Roche, who, after the bridge was declared open, drove her car over thereby breaking the tape that was stretched across. Mr. Roche after thanking the ladies and gentlemen for their presence, made kindly reference to Mr. Hanley’s interest in the construction of the bridge which was of invaluable convenience to him in the working of his farm. He wished it to be known that in addition to supervising the work and providing much of the substantial material the whole was gratituously accomplished. Refreshments were then passed round, and before dispersing Mr. Poppelwell thanked Mr and Mrs Roche for their hospitality, which , was followed by three hearty cheers. In spite of the rain during the early part of the evening the dance held in the ’ Public Hall by Mr and Mrs Roche in con- i junction with the social committee was in every way a thorough success. ]