RICCARTON WHISPERS.

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

RICCARTON WHISPERS.

, [From Our Correspondent.] ■ PUR-IRT STREET CLASSROOM. A splendid concert was given at the Puriri Street Church Hall on August ' 2, in aid of the fund for tho new classrooms which have just been erected. Siongs were given bv Miss M. Stringer, > Mr J. Cocks and Mr A. Mitchell, . violin solos by Mr R- Clarke, and reciJ tations hv Miss White. Tlu choir (the ! ladies of which looked very nice, being i all dressed in white) rendered tho following part-songs: "Anchored," '"Early One Morning," "Oh, Lovely ■ May,"' "Oh, Who iWll O'er tho - Downs," "Oli, Peaceful Night." ? " Good-night Beloved," and contribut- | od much to the evening's enjoyment. > During tho interval Mr Murray gave ' a statement of the classroom fund and appealed for contributions to open the building free of debt, with the result 5 that £25 was quickly given. [ RED CROSS WORK. . The following is a list of goods for- * warded to the Central Depot from the ' Upper Ricearton Red Cross Branch: Thirty-live cardigan coats (a special | (gift from the branch for the sick and' , wounded New Zealand boys lying at [ tho various hospitals), 4 blanket dress- , .in <i gowns, 03 flannel bed jackets. 25 ; flannel vests. 18 flannel underpants, 51 • dav shirts, 54 pvjama suits. 3 operation i coats. 59 pairs socks. 7 pairs mittte-ns, [ 8 pairs slippers, 7 waitseoa-ts, 10 body belts, 24 pillow cases. 30 washers, 21 3 fomentation cloths, 89 knitted face cloths. 30 treasuro bags, 81 handkerchiefs, 42 j'tic: covers, 1 balaclava, 09 plugs, 64 medicine cloths. 57 operation cloths. 5 girdles, 5 dusters, 2 binders, 4 circular bandages. The secretary wishes to acknowledge with thanks sifts from Mrs A. Muir. Miss Hayton, Mrs Guy, Mrs F. Holmes, Miss Hanson, Mrs Hav and Mrs M. A. Holmes. BURGESSES' ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the Ricearton anef Sockburn residents will be hold at the Upper Ricearton Schoolroom on Tuesday, August 14, for_the purpose of forming a Burgesses' Association. It is to be hoped the meeting will be well attended. I understand th;\t the farewelling of the Upper Ricearton lads who have gone to the front has somewhat neglected, and the association, if formed, will be able to take this matte.- in hand at once and give those who leave a hearty send-off and a pleasant welcome home. Ladies are specially invited to attend the meeting LOYAL RICCARTON LODGE. Tho ordinary meetinc of the Loyal Ricearton Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., was held last Thursday evening, when there was a good attendance of members, Brother Exton, N.G.. presiding. Three members were reported on the sick 1 Hist, and sick pay duo to them was * passed for payment. Two accounts for ' maternity benefit were also passed for > payment. Brother A. Biggs reported ■ that the total receipts from the so'cial" ' in aid of the familv of the late Bro- ■ tlier Murfe were £l2 14s 6d, and that ■ the auditors had donated their fee for " auditing the lodge hooks. As all the [ expenses had been donated by mem- ■ hers, the total profit was £l3 15s 6d, i Tho auditors reported having examined 5 the books of tho lodge, and the report* - and balance-sheet wero adopted. One i new member was elected. An account 1 for £9 12s, cost of sending Christmas ' presents to soldier members, was passed for payment. RICCARTON DOMAIN BOARD. A meeting of the Ricearton Domain Board was held at tho Library, Upper ' Ricearton. when there were present—- ' Messrs Curry ('chairman), Bucknell. • Biggs. Holmes, English and Taylor ' (secretary). A report was received with ' respect to improvements recently made ' to the. domain. It was decided to dig the front portion of the domain and \ have it put down in potatoes. The shelter trees which the board planted around two sides of tho domain arc all doing well, some of them having made j ' a very rapid growth. ; LOYAL W AIMAIRI LODGE. ' Tho Loyal Waimairi Lodge held its usual fortnightly meeting at tho Sun- > day School, Fendalton, on August 8. . The N.G., Brother R. Diffen, presided . over a good attendance. The sick visi- ) tors' reports were considered satisfactory. One new member was initiated. I P.P.G.M. Brother G. Green and Sister . Green will entertain members and lady friends next lodge night. Brothers A. | Bell and E. Green reported a good turn-out for the last assembly and propose to hold the next one on August 15. TEMPLETON LADY LIVERPOOL FUND AND RED CROSS. Tlio U9ual monthly meeting was held at the Templeton Library on Tuesday, when the following goods were packed and sent to the depots:—To Red Cross: 14 underpantns, 13 bed jackets, 10 day shirts, 9 underpants, 6 body belts, 5 suits pyjamas, 2 washers, 2 pyjama cords. 7 tray cloths, 15 bags, 33 handkerchiefs, 54 pillowslips and 2 bundles old linen, 11 pairs so-:ks. CHURCH CHOIR CONCERT. Tho members of tho Puriri Street! Church choir, assisted by friends, have begun practice on Saturday evenings for a concert. Some very pretty part ,£6r© beting rehearsed and tho Ricearton people are promised something extra good in tho concert line very shortly. W.E.A. A very fair attendance of members was present at the local class of the W.E.A., when the tutor, Mr J. G. Polson, M.A., gave an instructive lecture on " Rents." He explained the differenco between economic rent and what was generally understood as rent. The Ricardian theory of rent was carefully examined and the class generally wero agreed that considerable light had been gained on the subject. As visitors are always welcome to these lectures and can tako part in the discussions which are indulged in, residents who are desirous of gaining knowledge should make an effort to attend. Tlio .subject for tho next lecture i s "International Trade," and .should prove of more than ordinary interest at the present time. SAM. WELLER "SWARRY." A meeting of the Sam Well or bwarry ' Committeo was hekl hist Saturday evening at the Racecourse Hotel, Mr "\\ . Laing presiding over a good attendance. Mr T. Stokes was elected vice-chairman. It was decided to hold tho " swarry" on Saturday, September 8. Promises of donations of twelve legs of mutton, one sack of potatoes, carrots and parsnips were received. Mr Henderson was appointed convenor of tho musical committee. The ilex* meeting will be held on August 25, at the Ricearton Hotel. Items for this column left at Mr Dickinson's store, Ricearton Road, will bo attended to. PRESENTATION. A very pleasant social gathering took place at tho Star Hotel last Saturday afternoon, when Private J. Sloan, who was down on final leave, was presented with a luminous wristlet watch. Mr W. Nidd, who presided over a good attendance, in making the presentaton, referred to the many sterling qualities of tho recipient, who is the third member of the family to enlist, two at picsent being in France. Messrs Stokes and Mcrrett also spoke in eulogistic terms. Private Sloan suitably replied.

Musical items wer e given by Messrs A. Fuller, W. Weir, li. Glubu, J. Hannah and ill. Lagan. WHAREXUI SCHOOL COMMITTER. Tho monthly meeting of the "\\ harenui School Commiitteo was held on Tuesday evening at the masters oliice. (Present, Mr T. Haberficld (chairman), G. Bates, W. Burgess, V. Bradnoek, D. M'Lean, A. Mahonev, A. Staunton ana T. Stokes. A largo amouii,:, of correspondcncti was dealt with. Ihe h(VK master reported an average attendance of 230, that the children's concert 111 aid of tho honours' board had realised. £6 Bs, and that tho School Red Gross work for tho year totalled £l2 odd. Letters of appreciation will ho torwarded to the staff congratulating them on their splendid work. The handsome picture first prize which the scholars won at the recent competitions was on view, and many congratulatory remarks wero made in reference to Mi Mounsey, 'tho musical instructor. Arrangements were mado for the planting ot ornamental shrubs on Arbour Day. CHRISTMAS PARCEL FI'XO. On Tuesday evening Mr C. S. Thomas's concert party presented a most enjoyable programme at the Islington Hall in aid of the Soldiers' Christmas Parcel Fund. Tho hall was well filled by an appreciative audience, most of the items being encored. During tho interval several sacks of potatoes, donated by Mr H. F. Nicoll, were sold, and by this means the funds wore considerably augmented. It is expected that tho total proceeds will amount to £ls. As a result of a gift afternoon recently promoted by Mesdames J. Rountree and Hodgson, one hundred gifts were received, and £1 17s 6d in cash. Mr T. Haberficld writes:—Mr J. J. Stevens stated in last Saturday's issue that the Wharenui School Committee closod the only recreation ground for four Saturdays. The ground is not a recreation ground, but a school ground, owned by the Canterbury Education Board. The only recreation ground in Riccortbn is tho South Hagley Park. With reference to the Ladies' Hockey Club, members were aware of the* state of the ground before starting the competition games, as they had several practice matches; but fheir vacating the ground did not justify his club in breaking its agreement. The proper place for youne men to play football matches is in the park, which is only about fifteen walk from the ground about which his club is so much concerned. The School Committee was elected to look after and safeguard the children's welfare, not to cater for footbmll clubs. In my last note I did not infer that bis club forced the Ladies' Hockey C.'ub off tho ground. "Whether tho ladies used the ground on their Saturday or not was no business of Mr Stevens or his club. In conclusion, I wish t'o state that itis not my intention to reply to an.\ future correspondent, but to say that my offer still holds good, and that the Red Cross Fund will receive the sum named previously if Mr Stevens can prove that my statement is incorrect, failing which I hope he will act in tho same manner, as I presume the first) statement was made by him.