GERALDINE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19959, 17 November 1934, Page 3

GERALDINE

TOUR OF DUKE OF GLOUCESTER STOP IN TOWN DESIRED “You know it is exceedingly difficult to alter the itinerary in any way,” remarked Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., who is at present at Cave, when questioned by the Geraldine representative of “The Ti:: aru Herald” as to the possibility of the Duke of Gloucester stopping at Geraldine for 10 minutes while motoring from the Hermitage to Mr J. H. Grigg’s Longbeach estate, Ashburton.

“His Royal Highness is hedged round by all sorts of restrictions,” continued Mr Burnett. “His Majesty the Kinginsisted that the Duke was not to be disturbed till 10 a.m. daily, and his Excellency the Governor-General has also done his utmost to cut down superfluous engagements in order to give the Duke every opportunity for sight seeing.

“Directly I heard that the Geraldine people were anxious that the Duke should spend at least 10 minutes ot Geraldine, I saw the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. J. A. Young. It is not the first time I have endeavoured to get the programme altered. Longago I thought it might be possible that the Duke would stay over night at Temuka, when a loyal address, a Maori haka of welcome, and suchlike, could have been arranged. However, the Duke is coming from the Franz Joseph Glacier to Timaru, and, so that he will not reach Timaru too early, the train will stop at a siding, the Duke sleeping aboard, so it will pass through Temuka in the early hours of the morning. Consequently, it will be absolutely impossible for the Duke to make any appearance at Temuka. “The agitation at Geraldine developed, and I thought that if arrangements could be made for His Royal Highness to motor slowly past the point where the townspeople and children were assembled, such a concession would be greatly appreciated, so I approached the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Under-Secretary, Mr Malcolm Fraser. However, my application is only one among hundreds throughout the smaller towns and the country towns, in an endeavour to get the Duke to show himself in their midst.

“I know full well the difficulties entailed,” continued Mr Burnett. “The original programme of the tour was submitted to the King, and the final programme, hall-marked by the Governor-General, reached the Duke at Colombo, and was submitted to the Duke’s staff. Any alteration will be extraordinarily difficult to achieve, as they do not wish to overwork the Duke. As the matter now rests, I have used all my influence with the Minister of Internal Affairs, urging that the Duke stop at Geraldine, even for only 10 minutes. The Minister made a note of my request, and said that he would help to the best of his ability. The applications will be forwarded to the Duke’s staff in Australia, and the Minister assured me that he would let me know the result immediately the information -was available.

“I thought the correspondence and the sub-leader (published in the •Herald’ on November 6) well-timed,” remarked Mr Burnett in reply to a question. ‘‘Good; I do not blame Geraldine for endeavouring' to arrange for a brief stop by the Duke. You realise the position? The trip to the Hermitage is a private one, as is the trip from the Hermitage to Longbeach. Only a small staff will accompany the Duke; the others will push on to Longbeach or Ashburton. The visit to Longbeach is purely a private arrangement which was made months ago in England. In every way I have exerted every means in order to secure an opportunity for the people of Geraldine to see the Duke, but it is extremely difficult, as the Minister has been inundated with similar requests, and applications have been refused right and left. If it is not possible for the Duke to stop, it is to be hoped that he will graciously permit his car being driven very slowly through the town at the point where the people and the children are assembled. The tour will involve a heavy strain on His Royal Highness, and every care is being taken that he is not overburdened with official functions. I will do all in my power to arrange for the Duke to drive very slowly through the town if the application for a brief stop cannot be acceded to. I hope I will be advised as to what arrangements are made in Geraldine.” VICE-REGAL VISIT POSSIBLE While conversing with the “Herald” representative, Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., intimated that there was a possibility of his Excellency the Governor-General Lord Bledisloe visiting Geraldine in January, as he would probably visit Temuka during that month in order to unveil the memorial archway to the Maoris of the South Island who were killed in the Great War. After outlining the negotiations which were in progress in regard to the matter, Mr Burnett said that if his Excellency consented to perform the ceremony at Arowhenua. he hoped that Lord Bledisloe would be able to visit Geraldine at the same time. “Perhaps his Excellency might be agreeable to say ‘farewell’ to Geraldine, as he has never officially visited the town,” concluded Mr Burnett. BOWLING In a Thursday competition match, Geraldine beat Fairlie by 82 points to 80. Scores (Geraldine names first) : C. Stock (s), T. J. Paterson, G. R. Knibb. J. R. Lack 17; C. Boulter (s), Hutcheon, Pryde, Wall 22. H. Turner (s), J. J. Mulvey, J. H. Woolhouse, W. H. Broad 12; I. Stamp (s). J. A. Whitehead, W. Black, D. Annan 30. W. Hamilton (s), A. J. Burmester. W. T. Turner, G. Loach 39; P. Carlton (s), C. Stamp, Barron. Manaton 11. P. Hendry (s), M. Campbell, A. G. Malins, T. B. McKinlay 14; H. Carlton (s), J. Caskey, S. Harper, H. Bateman 17. In a friendly ladies’ match, Geraldine drew with Fairlie. Scores (Geraldine names first) : Mesdames J. H. Lewis (s), A. G. Brown, C. J. McGregor, Boulton 17; Mesdames Carlton (s), Browne, S. Pocock, Stanley 14. Mesdames Burmester (s), Lewis, J. D. Ellery, A. Sutherland 18; Mesdames W. Black (s), Annan, Crichton, Davidson 21. The following amended team will represent Geraldine against Kia Toa B at Timaru this afternoon:—J. D. McKechnie (s), M. Campbell, C. C. Knight. A. A. Readdie; G. Loach (s), J. J. Mulvey, J. H. Lewis, W. T. Turner; S. H. Turner (s), A. J. Burmester, A. G. Brown, E. Simpson; P. Hendry (s), H. Broad, J. S. Thomas, J. H. Woolhouse. SUCCESSFUL GARDEN PARTY Under the presidency of Mrs A. L. Brenton. the Geraldine Presbyterian Ladies’ Association conducted a successful garden party and sale of work at the Domain on Thursday afternoon, when the satisfactory sum of £34 was raised toward the debt extinction fund. There was a large attend-

ance, the Geraldine District Band, under Mr E. Undrill, giving selections during the afternoon. A 400 yards race, the pr»:e being a large box of chocolates, was won by J. Webb. The hostesses for the afternoon were Mrs J. Gillies and Miss McLean. A folk dancing exhibition was given by pupils of the primary department of the Geraldine District High School. The stall-holders were:—Novelty and fancy, Mesdames H. V. Firman, C. S. Davies, Angus Mackay, D, Readdie, A. | L. Brenton, J. Somerville; apron stall, Mesdames J. Bennington, P. Russell, H. S. Ellis, T. J. Paterson and Miss D. Paterson; handkerchiefs, Mrs H. F. Bennett; produce and cakes, Mesdames E. Twigg, J. Wyllie, H. J. Bowkett, D. Pringle and Miss Hay; ice-cream and soft drinks. Misses B. and E. Sherratt and Miss Black; sweets, senior girls' Bible Class; afternoon tea, Mesdames H. Cowie, F. E, South, H. Mitchelmore, W. Hamilton, Grant, J. McDonald, J. South, A. M. Fyfe, H. A. Robertson, J. G. Grierson, and L. C. Simmonds. Misses Dennison, Chapman, M. McDonald, E. Thornley, S. Twigg', L. Ellis, M. Miller, B. Reid, M. Askin, Cunningham, Darroch, D. Scott, A. Omelvena, E. Friend, M. Scott, J. Hill, Joan Lapthorn; clock golf, Mr A. A. Readdie; children’s races, Messrs H. J. Bowkett, A. A. Readdie, R. Readdie, and E. P. Bennett; croquet competition, Mr W. H. Kirk. PERSONAL Mrs J. Rodman (Christchurch) is the guest of Mrs K. Mackenzie, “Stover,” Geraldine. SWIMMING In ideal weather conditions there was a large attendance of spectators to witness the official opening on Thursday afternoon of the Geraldine Swimming Club for the 1934-1935 season. The president (Mr J. D. McKechnie), who extended a welcome to those present, expressed a hope that there would be better bathing weather in the coming season than had been the case last year. He thanked the public for their interest, and appealed to everyone to become financial members so as to help the Club in its endeavours to achieve better bathing facilities and a better water supply. The Club had £4O set aside for this work, and the Geraldine County Council had promised £4O from the Hobson Trust Fund. It would cost the Club £IBO to pipe the water to the baths, but it was an urgently needed reform, and the Club would have to appeal to the public so that the children would have pure water for their swimming. He felt sure that the Mayor and Borough Council would be just as generous as the County Council in helping the Club to provide water which was free from contamination. Everyone would be pleased to learn that Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P.. had forwarded £3 3s for a trophy to be competed for annually by learners. In declaring the season open, the Mayor (Mr B. R. Macdonald) referred to the value of swimming, not only from the recreation point of view, but because it was a factor in saving life. Once the children were taught by the Club, parents would be only too pleased to let the children make a habit of using the baths. He complimented the Club on its energetic committee, and trusted that it would have a successful future. (Applause.) The president presented a handsome trophy, known as “The Sportsmen’s” Cup, and given by businessmen and farmers who wished to help the Club, to Mr J. Webb, captain of the combined team which had won “the weekly swims” competition last season. The cup will be competed for annually, last season’s winning team comprising Misses M. Barrett, M. McShane, E. Callanan, and E. King, and Messrs W. Vial, C. Davie, T. Turner, G. Sutherland. W. Kerr, and J. Webb (captain). Owing to the absence of swimmers through sickness only two races were conducted, the results being—--25 Yards Girls’ Race: N. Morgan 1, L. Morgan 2, P. Grayburn 3. 33 1-3 Yards Men’s Race; R. Hayes I, J. Webb 2, W. Coursey 3. Men’s Diving Competition: R. Hayes 1, W. Coursey and J. Webb equal 2. The officials were: Supervisor. Mr J. D. McKechnie; starter, Mr F. W. Morgan; judges, Messrs D. Pringle and F. Cooling; diving judges, Messrs J. Mcllroy and W. H. Jackson. “KING OF THE RITZ.” Ever and anon reaching the high water mark of robust farcical comedy, every scene of “King of the Ritz,” which will be screened at the Municipal Theatre at 8,15 to-night, bubbles with humour. Clever dialogue, a wealth of catchy music. beautiful frocking. artistic stagecraft, and the tireless efforts of Stanley Lupino, heading a strong cast, ensure a satisfying entertainment. The whole atmosphere of this Gainsborough British picture is one of irrepressible gaiety. The supports will include an Oxford Travelogue, Ideal Cine Magazine and also special news items—Third Cricket Test at Manchester, and All Blacks’ first match at Sydney. Owing to the influenza epidemic, the concert arranged for Fairlie by the Geraldine District Band has been postponed. The Pleasant Valley School Committee book Friday, December 14 for their annual ball. Mr E. Cholerton. Optical Specialist, proprietor of John R. Procter, Ltd., the Premier Opticians. Christchurch, will be visiting Geraldine, personally, and may be consulted on all defects of eyesight at the Crown Hotel, on Wednesday, 21st November. Appointments can now be made by ringing Mr Morris Williams, chemist ....