SUMNER RIPPLES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12065, 21 July 1917, Page 3

SUMNER RIPPLES.

- [FROM Oct CoßKKsrovDrxr.] THE SOLDIERS. Gunner F. H. Roberts, late of The Spur, Clifton, arrived from tho north last night, on a week's final leave. Gunner Roberts was widely known in the borough. He was amongst, the first to join the old C.D.C. at tho outbreak of the war, and as secretary of the Burgesses' Association was later nominated for a vacancy on tho Borough Council and duly elected During his lengthy lesidenco hero he became very popular, and, as Mrs Roberts and his fnmdy all worked hard for patriotic purposes, it. is expected that he will be enthusiastically fnrewelled at the official public send-fttf on Tuesday evening next. Private T. Gordon Box, at, one time ft very capable and enthusiastic officer in the C.D.C.. arrived in England earlv in the vear. Recent advice locates him at Codford Military Canrn. His many wellwishers will be glad to know that he .« again quite fit, having fujlv recovers from ttic severe cold which invalid'.'' him just prior to leaving. He states that they arc allowed a generous amount of freedom, enabling t,"em after hours to see something of tno country life of the Old Land for a radius of several miles. _ Another fortunate representative. Sergeant Youngman, still writes ve ; j hopefully from France. He is tho one left of many of our own bovs in one o. the batteries. May he striko tho homo trail before long now. A visiting soldier, a nephew of Air* l, C. Jamiesou, of the Esplanade, is Corporal J. Ellis, of To Puka. Tauranga. Corporal Ellis is down on last leave, and is making arrangements tor his wii e and family to reside in Sumner during his absenco at tho f ron^' The secretary of the Send-off and ceotion Committee, Mr J. ~ ford, is compiling a list of nil men o active service who are representing tho borough in the great war. A tion of the several rolls of hono ' the district, and an examinationor to Christmas girt hst kept by the L. . Liverpool Commit eo has rcsuL-od m a verv complete list of soldiers. COIN -AFTERNOON.

Next Friday iho Lady Liverpool!Gon». mittee aro making a special wav of a coin afternoon, m tho in ten..of Christmas presents for the ', Ul y'' hovs in tho trenches. This will he he 1 in the parish room,, where a S l J ™'J programme will be sulimittoa. year thirty-seven parcels of cake, etc., Wero received by "our hoys ; with tho greatest satisfaction, as their kuiu acknowledgments showed. 0 ( (V,n | easily do this again to show our good will" at Christmastide. LIFE SAVING SOCIETY.

Mr H. Buttle presided over the bv monthlv- meeting of the Sumner branch of tho Royal Life S-aving Society. Jho principal business of the evening was tho preparation of the gear for tho coming season. The Australian disaster duo to the snappir|; of a rope, irs being carefully borne in mind, and a* n prec.iutionary measure the meeting decided to have nil ropes tested by an expert. Mr IT. W. Benson and Mr C. Parnham are to take this matter in hand and get tho work done in the city. Bosidcß this, tho new belt was approved and arrangements rondo for four to be procured. BABIES' HOSPITAL. Tho final meeting of the Plunkefc Babies' Hospital Committee disclosed a highly satisfactory state of affairs. Mrs 0. W. C. Smithson presided. The secretary reported that the concert recently given by tho Christ church Society Entertainers has resulted in a net profit of £8 Bs. and that this now brought up tho funds to £lsl. Tho meeting passed very hearty votes of thanks to tho concert party, to the council and to tho Picture Company for the nRe of tho Town Hall, subscriptions were acknowledged from Mesdames G. H. Gibba, Slater, Burgh, Hamilton, Sinclair f*nd Mr H. 0. Jaraicson. Tho prizo for the child selling the most tickets was awarded to L«!.«lio _Hcslop. SL'BF CLUBS. Our delegates to the present Sunt Clubs' Association, Messrs R. Mitchell and W. H. Benson, have every reason to be well pleased with tho progress tlie movement is making. One day during last season. whilst <li.scnss.ing tho question of uniforms for the Life Saving Club members, it, was stated that manv who wore the uniform claimed no ability to render assistance in case of «. bathing accident. It was agreed that this would, in certain cases, load to notions of false purity by tho general bathing public, who naturally expect a chib member to endeavour to effect u rescue when necessary. Some of the Sumner Club moml>crs then moved in the direction of forming surf clubs, tho members of whicli would bo required to pass a stiff rough-water test and receive a permit to wear a special costume to mark their proficiency in thf- saving of life amongst breakers. The colours tbon Suggested were white with a green band round tho chest, and groon facings. At a meeting of delegates from Lifo Saving Societies, hold later on, the present association was formed, and those colours were adopted. "While many details have yet to be arranged, the whole movement is making splendid progress, and will greatly iniprovo all seaside bathing. Already Me-ssrs P. A. Schwartz and Ohristensoti, of Now Plymouth, both foundation members of the Sumner branch of the Royal Life Saving Society, are taking iin the matter keenly for Taranaki, and them aro other .signs that the movement will soon make its great usefulness felt throughout fhe Dominion. THE LADY LIVERPOOL SOCIETY. The first monthly meeting of tho new. committor was h»>ld at Mrs Barlow's residence. Mrs Holland wrote thanking the branch for its gifts for tho New Zealand Club at Ismailia. The sum of £3 10s was received from Mrs .1. D. Lawrence, as proceeds of the dance held in tho Town Hall for tho Egyptian comforts. This f*irn, together with £o lis 6d from the- gift afternoon, will bo spent on Christmas presents to New Zealand«>r,s in Ismailia, PERSONAL.

Mr L. Sarnoy, at present with Mr E. A. Johnson, of Wakefield Avenue, has received advice that he has successfully passed tho B examination of the Pharmaceutical Board in practical chemistry, theoretical chemistry and botany. Mr Sarney, who did all his work at Canterbury College, is to be warmly congratulated upon, his achievement at a first, sitting. Miss P. Balis, who for some time has been on the teaching staff of the School for the Deaf, has severed her connection with tho institution, and is residing in Wellington. Mr B. Cockburn, for some time associated with the local post office, is entering the railway service in the city. FOB BRAVERY. Mr Alan Brown, of Colenso Street, Sumnor, was amongst those who recently received, at the hands of the Royal Humane Society, tho bronze medallion for rescuing Miss M. Archer from drowning on January 7, 1917. MiBrown, who was on tho pier at the time of tho alarm, plunged in with most of his clothing on. and reached tho unconscious girl some 70yds from tho shore. Ho nad a great struggle to make a landing, and was almost exhausted when he again reached terra firma. THE ROAD ROLLER. The borough now possesses a traction engine of its own, and is proud of the fact. For a very long time the need for this had bean manifest. When road work was being undertaken, a roller had to be borrowed. Arrangements for

this were always a source of delay and hindrance, and far from satisfactory. We now have a powerful engine that will not onlv prepare tho metal and help to form tho road surface, nut which will be useful, also, in many another direction. THE SENIOR CADETS. A meeting of the Senior Cndets was held this week, when Senior .Scrgeun, Dixon presided. Tn«; need for a- keltic drum was emohasised l>y those present, nnrl it was decided to hold a concert to r.iso tW tat. M ° rra ™' * Christehnreh, offered to he present aik. civo a lecturette u]>on hand p'^ ;,(1(S and their uses. A nuinhcr ot Censtchurch artists also Minified then williZ C eiioas*t. structcd to write to the local Committee inviting theirassistant ew-th the entertainment of the performers. THE SEND-OFF' COMMITTEE. ATr \ C "Wilson presided over the mwtinf'of'tho official Send-off Committee. 0 when th* riM** mo Pr. pent Me«<rs J- M. l»- Cr;iwford, H. .Timiestm, T. E. Wh itelie! d, F. S. Marnn O F Alien, E. L. H. Brum and J Harvey. The secretary made a repot t upon his list of Sunnier nicn at the front, several present giving furt.iei particulars. Arrangements were maoe to five the customary send-off to GunF. Roberts on Tuesday It wns'decided to ask Mt E. Hollow, or Monck's Bay. to make arrangements for the programme. A report was received from the canvasser* for the presentation fund. It was decided to make a special effort to build up tins fund. THE SOCIAL ROOM. Our Volunteer Fire Brigade _ have tt-rain come iuto full possession or their social room end billiard table. latter is a full-sized table of standard make and is a very popular form of entertainment with -he men. Superintendent J. Carter has been most successful in securing a good list ot honorary members, ami tuis, with the moderate charge for the u ; e of the should make the financial position really sound. L-ast night a match was played with tho Bowling Club, the latter winning with five games to nil. Tn tho game, W. F. Raphael beat 11. Oibbs. W Partridge bofll E. Brown. H. W. lleslop beat 0. Orr; and E, A. .fohnson beat C. Hines. This contest is now an annually recurring one of considerable interest. The return match will be played next week. THE SPRAY. Frequenters of the boat *lip tor the past three years will we'll remember the motor-boat 'lhe Spray. For many months this era ft was berthed on the upper part, of the slip and wore a very deserted appearance. Latterly, however. she wn« renovated and finally pnt to sea. Tt appears that- about, the middle of the week s-he got into trouble off tho mouth of the Assibnrton River, but later advice states that she turned up at Port Chalmers? Rale and sound. THE PRESBYTER.!AN CHURCH. Mr \ . Rule will conduct services at tho church next Sunday for the last time until his return from the front. Ho is leaving on Wednesday for tho north, and will finally rake up seero-t-ari?l work with the V.M.C.A. staff. Trio officers of the church have been fortunate in securing tho services* of Mr Pate, of Dtmedin. Mr Pate, who came from tho Old Country, has had eleven years' experience of the work during which time liy has put up a sp.cndi 1 record and has l>een regarded as a fine speaker. JTe and Mrs Pate will take up residence in Sumner.