NEW BRIGHTON NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1125, 19 December 1914, Page 11

NEW BRIGHTON NOTES.

THE EVENTS OF THE rax

(FnOK OCB COBRKSHBUHEOT.]

, The '■" test 1 " clause adopted by tho Surf Bathing and Life-saving Club at its last annual-meeting is now being put into force. Candidates for the test; must have passed, a still water test or a test in the various methods of rescue and release. To obtain the club's "proficiency" badge' candidates also require to hav-e a thorough knowledge of operating the life-saving reel, to show .themselves equal to filling any .of jthe seven positions connected with the working of the reel; and to be capable of carrying out the resuscitation drill. 'Following this, the candidate is re- ■ quired to swim some 200 yards out and 'beyond the/surf (at high tide), neg'o- ,' tiate a buoy anchored at this distance ' and return in good time, This is a jmost severe test, particularly in the iheavy rolling surf at New Brighton. ! Considerable interest was taken in the iexamination liehi.early, this waek by the.club captain, Mr C. Bryant. It was th> first held in the Dominion, and the'-club" is to be congratulated. Tbe successful candidates, passing the full test, were Mr F. D. Stokes, V. Drake, •F: 6uter and F. Collins. Mr D. Coul,ter and A.' Arnold obtained partial passes.'.;' The badge is of a neat lifebuoy 'design in the club's colours, black and goldy with the word ■■" Proficiency " in bold letters across the centre. The successful i candidates are. now entitled to wear this badge,: .Captain Bryant sinticipates that a'large number of the <rlub members, will compete in the test for proficiency during the present season.

The picnic season appears to have

..made a good start in Brighton. On f" Wednesday, two of ''-the local Sunday , schools were "out for the'day.", and 'the Motor-boat Club formally opened the new picnic grounds at Pleasant Point witli an outiug. ■*#* The teachers and children of the Presbyterian Sunday School travelled by'"the Beach tram to: linrwood, where an ericaiiipriieflt'was"niildo' in grounds attached to;, the property of Mr, G. King.- There were between fifty and sixty" children present, and under the management of'Mr A. Robb, assisted ;by the teachers, a, happy day was ( epent. The arrangements included the usual " sports " for both boys and girls; the various items were vigorously, and .vociferously contested.. PrisieS' were plentiful a:id jrood, and ■ the (: inner man " was generously provided for.

The teachers find scholars'of the Anglican Sunday School also journeyed ■ to Burwood, the day being spent in Mr Marshall's, paddock. There were between 150 and IUO ehijclron present, in addition to the majority of the teachers a,nd a fair of friends. The Rev H. H. M.nthia.s proved u lui.su In himself, and- his indefatitrable « fforts, assisted J r>y those of Mr G. W. Bishop, the popular headmaster of the local school', kept every and .evervhodv moving. The sports items were well patronised by boys and girls

alike. For each event there was a first- and second prize, while a lot of good things for tho. little ones were provided on an equally generous wl'\ The general verdict, despite tlie cl :<; - agreeable nor'-wester, was that the-day-was a record for enjoyment. *•" The. annual meeting of the Library was held on Tuesday evening, Mr C. H. Opie in the chair.. The treasurer's 'balance-sheet and report, were submitted and approved. The cash balance was £6 6s Dd. During the year nearly one hundred new books hid been added to the- shelves. Votes of thanks were passed to the chairman for his services to the Library during the year, to the treasurer, and to Mrs, Bellamy and Mrs Goodwin for their attendance on the. Thursday afternoons. The elec-tion-of committee, etc.. resulted as follows: —Chairman, Mr 0. H. Opie; committee, Messrs C. H. Winny, C. Israelson, H. N. Hawker, G. W. Bishop, A. G. Munns, T. -M. Gnult, and Mrs Bellamy and. Mrs Goodwin.

The "Flannel Dance" of• the Surf Club and Pioneer Motor-cyole Club, was poorly attended, on Tuesday evening. Some twenty ' couples attended and dancing was indulged in until 10.30.

The Marine Band will give an openair' concert at South Brighton to-mor-row afternoon. The performers will be conveyed to Herring Bay by th« Motor Club's launches, and the "rotunda" site for the occasion will be in the vicinity of the little bay.

' A motor-boat race will be run this afternoon mtfive o'clock for prises presented by the club secretary. .The-ma-jority of the fleet will comtwte, and the members anticipate a lively and close contest.

' V I understand that a special meeting of the Surf Club will be held on Monday; evening. The proceedings .will be of a private and'-personal character, having special reference to a prominent and popular member who contemplates resigning single blessedness.

Good sport Is being enjoyed in fishing from the pier at present. The chief catches ' are big eels and some fair specimens of skate.

A meeting of the Order of Oddfellows was held on Monday, evening, Brother Campbell, N.G., in the chair. District Grand-Deputy Hartigan and Lodge representative Mitchell were present as visitors and were accorded a hearty .welcome. A vote of members was taken for.tke election of Grand Lodge officers, and , nominations were also taken for the local officers. Remits to be submitted for the next Grand Lodge meeting were read and discussed. A vote.of thanks was passed to the visitors* '

( The. Motor Boat Club picnic to Plear. ant; Point on WednesdVvy was, attended by some 120 persons. Thirteen launches were used as transports, some making the journey twice with passengers. The grounds provided ample shade and shelter front the nor'-wester, and games and sports were indulged in with the children. The chief ©vent for the -adults was a nail-driving competition for ladies, won by Miss "White, who succeeded in driving home a three-inch nail with five blows, a feat which probably few of the menfolk could beat. Tlie prize, a scent satchel, was provided by Mr E. Jonas, whoso gramaphone selections also enlivened the day's proceedings. ' -••» :.:,■■■-.■

The open d'ance in the Pier Ball was attended by over fifty couples, and was successful from every point of view. A similar event will be held on. Boxing Night.

A Fire Brigade practice was held on Monday evening,, when all members were present. , The hose was .worked from the hydrant in front of the Council yard in Nelson Street, and some smart work was carried out, under the direction of Superintendent Hillgrove. *■ . . ; ■

There was a large attendance at the picture show on Thursday evening. The proceeds, less a small, sum for expenses, were collected by the School Committee for the school prize fund.

The local reservists' parade, owing to the holiday, was postponed from Wednesday evening to Thursday. The change unfavourably affected the ai> tendance. There was, however, &■ good attendance, and some useful work was carried out under the .direction -of' Lieutenan- Ward and' honorary instructors. A parade was held "this afternoon as usual. .

The art union organised bv the local leaders of the Girl Toum Stouts movement was drawn by Mr Wimry, the winner of the 'first prize, n gold brooch, being Mr €, Smith, New Brighton. The second prize fell to Victor Usherwood, and tbe, third to Mr Peppier, North New Brighton. The total sum raised by the art union was £2 lis 6d.'Tho Seoutmistress." Mrs G„ Thompson, lias handed' th'is over for the poor of' Belgium Eeb'ef Fund.

A grass and scrub fire occurred on Wedncsdav in the North Bexloy locality. The Are commenced at the rear of MY ' Hamber's premises, juul travers-ed the 'paddocks behind Mr Walker's, thence in the direction nf the sawmills. Fortunately, its progress was stayed .before any damage other than, the oi'a pig-stye--no occupant:;—was effected. .. # *

The don; poisoner. i<< at work again. Three d'ogs-hfive' be'vi . poisoned in-the neighbourhood of Strppt. The

police, so. far hare failed to nr.d any trace of the poisoner. As the mnttsr is one whieh is viewed very anxiously bv owners in the neighbourhood, it is hoped that the police authorities will do something further in endeavouring to discover the culprit.