RIVERTON NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 21219, 21 October 1930, Page 9

RIVERTON NOTES

YOUNG PEOPLES’ DAY

(From Our Correspondent.)

At the annual gathering in connection with the Presbyterian Sunday School, the Rev. J. Fordyce delivered an interesting and instructive address on Robert Raikes, who founded the Sunday School movement 150 years ago in Gloucester, England. Today, he said, Sunday school teachers were carrying on a great work, the importance of which could not be overlooked. At the service the selected hymns were sweetly sung, displaying good and careful training. At the conclusion of the service the prizes won in connection with the Assembly’s Scripture examination were distributed.' Special prizes, donated by the Senior and Junior Bible Classes, were awarded to Marion Smith, Mary Patrick and Connie Borland. Marion Smith, it was stated, had the' highest marks in Southland in the scripture essay, and her name had gone forward for consideration in connection with the award of the Assembly’s medal for the examination. The following were the prizewinners: Division E—Mary Patrick, Marion Smith. Division D-—Connie Borland. Frank Helm, Isbel Macdougall, Jean Robertson. Division C—Gregor Patrick, David Smith, Guy North, Elsie Frew. Division B—Bothnia Trembath, Audrev Hutchinson, Pearl. Aitken, Doris Walker. Division A—Marjorie Anderson, Raymond Tweedie, Gordon Macdougall, Grace Smith. P.W.M.U. The local branch of the P.W.M.U. and Ladies’ Guild in connection with the Riverton Presbyterian Church held their annual sale of work in the Sunday School hall on Wednesday, and was a pronounced success, both socially and financially. Probably the effort will result in a credit balance of £7O, and the money will be devoted to the cause of missions and church work generally. The ladies arc to be heartily congratulated oni tl . success which crowned

their efforts, and the liberal patronage evidences the public appreciation of their good and effective work.

The following ladies.were in charge: Tea rooms, Misses Shaw, Mesdames Buchanan, D. Tweedie, W. Armstrong, W. Gunnion and McKenzie; flowers, Misses Meek, Mesdames Ball (Gisborne), T. Borland and J. Borland ; plain stall, Mesdames G. Kerr, E. B. Patrick, A. Evans; fancy stall, Girls’ Guild members; sweets and dips, Mrs A. Calder and Busy Bees; cakes, Mrs G. O. Cassels; produce, Mesdames A. Provan and J. Crawford.

In the evening a most enjoyable concert was given, the performers being heartily applauded. Solos were contributed by Mrs Toole (Wrights Bush), Miss M. Price, Mr If. E. Philp, and the Rev. J. Fordyce, duets by Misses V. Cassels and Mary Robertson, and the last-named and Miss Southberg. Mr Philp also gave a recitation. Miss May Robertsofi, who played all the accompaniments with her usual excellence, contributed pianoforte and organ solos. The chairman, the Rev. J. Fordyce, thanked the ladies for their work, and the performers for the pleasure they had given, an enjoyable evening terminating in the customary manner. The Athenaeum. At the monthly meeting of the Athenaeum Conimitte great regret was expressed that the secretary, Mr John Geary, who had ably filled the position for several years, would not be able to ’continue his duties for some time, owing to ill-health, and temporary arrangements were made. All present expressed the hope that Mr Geary would soon be restored, to health, and that before long he would be able to attend to the secretarial duties of the athenaeum. The librarian reported that 50 volumes had been placed on the shelves during the month, and the book committee was empowered to purchase another 25, all by the popular authors. A District Nurse. After the completion of the ordinary business of the Wallace Hospital on Thursday afternoon, a deputation from Otautau— Messrs A. A. Liddell, E. Harrington, J. Miller and A. Harrington—waited on the board in regard to the district nurse at Otautau. Mr Liddell said there was a possibility of their losing the services of the nurse. The Government had decided not to grant a subsidy on the salary paid to the nurse,

and this was considered a hardship. He said it was found impossible to make up the necessary salary unless Government support was forthcoming. He detailed what the committee had done in the past, and stated that subscribers were first charged £1 a year, but this amount had eventually been reduced by one-half.

Mr Miller gave the received from fees, the highest being £96, and the lowest £56. The chairman (Mr J. G. Johnston) said the Otautau people had the board’s sympathy, but it was a question of finance, and the Wallace Board, like similar institutions, was experiencing bard times. He moved that, provided a nurse could be engaged at. £2OO per annum, a Government subsidy’ obtained on subscriptions, the Wallace Board contribute a sum not exceeding £3O per annum. All fees, guaranteed £7O, and subscriptions amounting to £6O, to be forwarded to the board. Mr J. Horrell seconded the motion, which was carried. Early Settlers. A committee meeting of the Wallace Early Settlers’ Association was held in the Town Hall on Saturday afternoon.. There were present: Mr E..J. Stevens (Hekeia) in the chair, Mesdames A. Gilchrist, C. E. Johnstone, Messrs D. C. Robertson, E. Howell, J. Hunter, J. McKay, C. Haywood (Thornbury), J. V. Instone, T. McNeil (Thornbury). The various committees, appointed at a previous meeting, reported that all arrangements were well in hand for the annual reunion to be held on the 31st inst. The chairman said he expected to have an extra large assortment of curios, photos, etc. on view this year. Some of these were quite new here, and should be of interest to all attending their annual gathering. Women’s Division. The monthly meeting of the Riverton branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union was held on Tuesday, the 14th inst. The following were present: The president, Miss A. E. McNaughton, Mesdames A. Provan, J. R. Nuttall; T. Frew, R. Fleck, J. Templeton,, A. Helm, G. Brown, T. King, W. J. Patterson, F. Wilkinson, C. Stalker, J. Fraser, Milmine, Maley, T. Molloy, Ward, Henderson, L. Stuart, A. McKav. Mrs A. McKay .was appointed hon. secretary'. Mr King gave a very intcrest-

inging address on poultry raising which was much appreciated.

Methodist Church. Despite the unfavourable weather conditions, there was a good attendance at the Methodist Church on Sunday evening when the service took the form of an evening with Sankey. To many of the older people present it was a time for pleasant memories as they sang once more the old favourite choruses which were so popular in their childhood, days. Appropriate and helpful comments on the various hymns were made by the Rev. F. O. Prosser. Solos, duets and quartets were given by Mrs Prosser, 'Misses Joyce, Prosser, Vallard, Mr J. Churchill and lhe Rev. F. Prosser. General. Word has been received of the death at Dunedin of the Rev. T. H. Newbold, who for a time was in charge of the Methodist Church at Riverton. He was very popular, not only with members of his own congregation, but with other denominations as well. As a result of the slackness in orders, the owners of a sawmill operating in the Longwood have decided to close down till the end of the month. This will throw a number of men out of employment. A number of men have been put off by the Public Works Department, work on the Aparima bridge being near completion.