SUMNER RIPPLES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12083, 11 August 1917, Page 3

SUMNER RIPPLES.

[From Owr Correspondent.] THE SOLDIERS. Captain T. Charters, who ife down on final lea ve, lias been visiting fiiends on Clifton this week. Sergeant Frank Anderson was tor a long time in the employ of Mr W. Watson, and was an actire member of the Life Saving Society. Ho is now in France, where, " during his hours or bisection," he has seen some warm work. He is in crood health, and has forwarded a most interesting record of his experiences. . Superintendent J- Carter received a cable, this week statincr that his son. Private Herbert Carter, had been iemovccl to Brockenhnrst Ho«r>ital suffering severely from "trench fever. A recent letter states thnt Corporal E. B. Stevens is in good health somewhere in France, j DECLARATION DAY. Tho Town Hall was crowded for the Declaration Dav celebration with a widely representative and patriotic gathering. The Mayor, the Hon J. |3arr, presided, and expressed his legiet that there was still the occasion lor the gathering. Only one authority had voiced an opinion that the wai would last three years, but he was now no more. Our New ZealamLrs, since August. 1914, had performed services to ihc Empire that were never expected of them, and had helped to save us from German rule. The mothers and wives had borne their sad burdens bravc-lv. yet they rose to the occasion, in their patriotic efforts, asratn and again. So far as he was concerned, it was a war to a finish, and he moved the resolution, with the conviction that they should fight till victory was nchieved. Mr G. W. C. Smithson, in seconding the resolution, said that the Prussian spirit had to be crushed for all time. We were determined to go on till victory was in sight. We hud the backs of the enemy before us. and ho felt sure that: all present would make a vow for tho new year of war to do all they could to bring it to a victorious end. LieuLenant-Colonel Loach, who received prolonged applause, said that he could support the resolution as a soldier nnd as a citizen. He had lived with tho New Zcalanders on G'allipoli. and knew that our soldiers were amongst tho finest on any front. They wero now shoulder to shoulder with the fighting Irish, the canny Scotch and men from all parts of England for whom they had the most profound respect. More than that, men of every creed and every colour were doing their hit for the Empire alongside our boys, and the nation H - as being strengthened as never before. Mr A. W. Beaven, thanking the Mayor for an opportunity to speak, said that for forty years the military power of Germany had pointed to conquests in Denmark, Austria and Franco. His iron mines in AlsaceLorraine wero exhausted, and ho was looking for further plunder. Ho would never improve till he had had a good hiding, and we were determined to see that hp got it. Tlie Mayor then pnt tho resolution, which was carried unanimously, the National Anthem terminating th e proceedings of a gathering that will not bo forgotten. ALL SAINTS' CHURCH. Declaration Day services were commenced at All Saints' Church with a celebration of Holy Communion at 7.30 a.m. on Saturday morning. There was also a celebration at 8 a.m. on Sunday, with matins at 11, tho preacher being Mr G. Stenning, lay reader. The vicar, the Rev J. do B. Galwey, conducted the evening service, during which the names of those at the front were read, and the special Litany included. Large congregations wero present on Sunday, and tho special war hymns wero sung with much feeling. Suitable 'texts wero chosen and both services concluded with the National Anthem. REDCLIFFS. At Redcliffs It-lie Declaration Day celebrations formed a very interesting portion of tho annual meeting of tho Red Cross Bandaging Committee, Mr G. Stenning. in a stirring patriotic address, referred to the suitability of such a meeting held on that day,, and in a building, tho construction of which had been tho labour of many of the Redcliffs boys who had paid' tho great' sacrifice, or wore still ncbly .serving their King and country. He was talking to Red Cross workers, who know what tho war was costing them in physical and mental strain, and to them ho put the resolution, knowing they were prepared to work on and to mako still further sacrifices. The resolution was ably seconded by Mrs Pidgeon, and carried by acclamation. The meeting concluded with the Marseillaise, and the National Anthem. KILLED IN ACTION. Amongst tho many regrets occasioned by tho present war, few will be felt more generally than the loss_ of such men as the late Corporal Felix H. C. Preston. This soldier came to Sumner as a, lad seven years old. in 1891. His father, tho late Dr Preston, of Lincoln, had died previously. For nearly twenty-six years he had Jived in Sumner, and had identified himself wilth tho Sailing Club, the Croquot and Tennis Club, the Golf Club, tho C.D.C., and, latterly, with the various patriotic societies formed since the war. He was a staunch supporter of All Saints' Chruch, and always gave freely to assist deserving funds of all kinds. He received. nearly all his education at tho Sumner School, for which institution ho cherished the kindest regards. On

entering tho commercial world ho soon showed splendid business ability, and just prior to enlistee held a very responsible position with tho Canterbury Seed Company. Corporal Preston was last in Sumnc-r during November, 1916, when, on the occasion of a visit from Chaplin Mackenzie-Gibson, ho was accorded one of the heartiest send offs given in borough. Ever a popular Tesident, vl always he remembered as a true sport, a dutiful sou and a patriotic and gallant New Zealandcr. SUMNER. RED CROSS WORK. The mostl-ly meetini? was held early this week, Mr G. W. C'. Smithson presiding. The Volunteer Fire Brigado wrote thanking the committee for its assistance at: the recent social. _ Mi Gregorv-Hunt forwarded a donation oi £1 is. and another donor presented a boat to be disposed of in aid of _ the funds. It was decided to vote £ls for garments and £lO for bandage work while a special donation of £lO was to be forwarded to the central depot. A motion of sympathy was accorded to Mrs Preston*and familv on the death of Cornoral F. IT.- C. Preston on the battlefield in France. Donation lists wero handed in by Mesdames H. J. Marriner, G. W. C. Smithson and H. C. Bacon. The following articles wero received from the school children :—ls handkerchiefs, 3 face washers. 40 knitted face cloths. 6 pillow slips, 6 pairs of bed socks and 5 treasure basis. ANNUAL MEETING. Tho annual meeting of the Redcliffs Bandaging Committee resulted in a lull and enthusiastic attendance of members m tho church room, the Mayoress, Mrs J. Burr, presiding. The annual report gave the yearly output, at 104 garments, 1201 roller bandages, 551 swabs, 302 plugs, 14 pairs of socks and I6(j»i various other articles, besides which the Redcliffs School children had made and ■sent in 160 handkerchiefs, 30 jug covers, 328 face cloths and 14 pairs of mittens. Oil two occasions the lady members had collected and supplied goods for the Red Cross shot, which had realised £O7. A regular monthly donation of 10s had also been handed to the Hospital Comforts Fund. Early in the year Miss Freeman visited the branch and gave a most instructive! address to the workers on tho requirements of tlio fund. Tho thanks of the committee were duo to the Giris' and Boys' Briirade, which had worked .steadily throughout til© year, and kept the committee supplied with funds; also to Miss Foster's Concert Party for assistance, and to Mr Gibbs for conveying material to and from the depot free of charge all this year, and to White's Sewing Machine Company for the continued use of machines. Tho receipts for tho year amounted t-o £lO5 2s 2d. The Children's Brigade had collected £B4 l(is 6d, and Miss Foster's Concert Party £l2 16s 9d. Mrs Lavie, of the central bandage department, then gave a very interesting account of the growth of the work in Canterbury, and the activities of tho organisation throughout t;ho Empire. The social part of the evening was also a great success, musical items beina rendered bv Mrs Pidgeon. Miss Pender and Messrs Peek and M. Woods. Everything points to a very successful and useful year ahead of this society if its services should be needed. PERSONALRecently tho staff of the Borough Council met to say au revoir to tlue, borough engineer, Mr R. W. Winter, who has been appointed clerk to tho Halswell County Council. Mr C. Dash presided and made reference to Mr Winter's long and faithful service. He had been responsible for many important undertakings, his responsibilities including drainage, water supply and electric lighting. As a mark of their appreciation of his ability and comradeship, tho staff and employees asked him to accept a leather dressingcase suitably inscribed. They wished him tho best of luck in his new sphere of work. Mr Winter was warmly received and suitably replied. THE COUNCIL BUILDINGS. It has been decided to make alterations in the rooms of the second storey of the council chambers. There are a wide passage and a lumber room occupying spacia too valuable to be lost. Tlie council proposes to take out tho partition and form a room loft by 19ft., which will be useful for small meetings. With this tho room nowused by the gas department, will be. reserved for tho newly appointed borough engineer, Mr Spence. BAND OF HOPE. The third meeting of the Band of Hope, was held in the Town Hall, where the Rev J- Paterson, of St Paul's, presided over a large audience. Tho program mo again proved very entertaining, a prettily decorated stag© assisting very materially with the genera. effect. Items were contributed by the members as follows Pianoforte solo, Miss Eileen Bowman; cornet solo, Roddio Fen ton; dialogue, girls and boys; song, four girls; recitation, Dorothy Alexander; song, little girls; solo, Gladys Fenton; recitation. Phyllis Riach; song, Jessie Loach; song, Willie Mackenzie; recitation, Daphne Aburn; pianoforte solo, Gladys Short; recitation, Agnes Loach; pianoforte solo, Gladys Fenton; and recitation. Violet Graham. During the evening the chairman gave a most interesting address, illustrating by means of splendid charts the effect of alcoholic excess upon the human body. The proceeds were divided between the Red Cross and Lady Liverpool Funds. THE LIFEBOAT. At last Tuesday's council meeting Mill. J. Marriner made a good case for public recognition of services rendered by tlio Volunteer Lifeboat Brigade. In twenty years upwards of three hundred lives have been saved b" this society. Most of these, fully nine-tenths, were cases of visitors to the borough. The efficiency of this insurance of public life is now being endangered for want of funds. It affects all who visit Sumner, especially the many who come from the city and suburbs. What the deputation asked for was that the council should delegate its control of the property to a board of representatives of all public bodies in and about Christ-church. Sumner should contribute, say, a sunt of £2OO a year, ai\d other councils varying sums. The finances should then be spent in providing a special officer to watch for incidents, "both at the pier and nit' Baths, and also pay for all necessary repairs and upkeep. Mr Marriner said that he felt sure the cfutlving districts realised their responsibilities in this very important matter and would come to their assistance now it was so urgently needed. Captain Hines also supported the speaker, and tho Mavor promised that the matter should be fully dealt with.

THAT "STRATEGIC WITHDRAWAL." Hinclcnlmrg;: "I positively refuse to stop ill thai- JiOv;fi.c another niomont!" —I-yndcm ' : Oui'^ou."