RICCARTON RECORDS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17182, 27 October 1923, Page 11

RICCARTON RECORDS

BOROUGH NOTES AND NEWS

*3y Our Special Correspondent.

. A SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION. A very well attended hard-up and fancy dress social was held on Wednesday evening, organised by the Ladies’ Guild of St James’s Church. The proceeds are to be used in furthering the big bazaar for which the ladies are assiduously working to raise funds in connection with the new church. Some pretty fancy costumes were worn by the young ladies, bub very few of the menfolk were prepared to forsake the- conventional suit. In the hardup section, too, the fair sex was far more venturesome than the “lords of creation,” whoso idea of looking hard-up ” belied acquaintance with soup kitchen?. Prizes for costuming were awarded as follows:—Best fancy oress. Miss Thelma \eavo (“ If Winter Comes”), and Mr Papprill, naval officer; hard-up get-up, Mrs A. E. Phil Pott and Mr T. M. Ford. There were | numerous games and competitions, ! everyone entered with zest. Mrs Craighead and Miss Jean btaunton tied for iirst place in tlte animal guessing competition, and Miss Kerr won the musical chairs. Songa were sung by Miss Ida Christian, Messrs Joseph and Papprill, and Miss Jean Staunton danced an Irish jig. ' novelty was a Welsh anthem (unac- ! companied) sung during the supper re cess by Mrs M. Jones. The suppe. was what one of the ladies termed “ n scream.” Squatted on pieces of newspaper about the floor, formed into circles around short candles, the guests were regaled with the plainest of fare ; but there was plenty of it, with liberal supplies of tea. Mr E. Evans was a hard-working director of ceremonies, and he kept the ball merrily rolling On his motion, a very hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Tasman J. Lovell, who acted as pianist. A SECRET! A very interesting piece of municipal news will be published shortly. Important negotiations have been. pro. ceeding lately, and the results, it is stated, are likely to be of considerable importance. Although the news has leaked out your reporter believes it is still intended to he a secret, so that ratepayers will have to go on guessing for a while. WHARENUI SCHOOL. Miss E. Marwick, for fourteen and a half years in charge of Waifcaki South School, Otago, has been appointed infant mistress at the Wharonui School. At next meeting of the School Com. mittee (which will be held a week later j than usual on account of Carnival Week fixtures) the matter of fixing & time and place for the annual picnic will be discussed. The boys are in the thick of a bottle collecting effort for the school- 1 ground improvement fund. TOWN HALL CHARGES. Lately the Town Hall Committee has had to spend some money on the hall piano. As a consequence, it has nowbeen decided that users of the hall shall pay 7s 6d a night extra for the use of the instrument, making the rental 27s 6d for a midnight dance and 32s 6d if the time is extended to one o'clock. Like all increases in price, this one. is very unpopular, it being pointed out that the extra revenue derived for piano hire will be nearly enough to buy a new piano each year ! There are "conflicting opinions, of course, as to the fairness of the charge. Your representative had a chat with Councillor T. M. Ford, chairman of the Tow-n Hall Committee. He said, he had gathered from various sources that the amended tariff was not unreasonable. However, as it had been represented to him that Riccarton was charging more than is usually asked for the use of similar suburban halls, he would make fuller inquiries.

EUCHRE AND DANCE. There was a good attendance on Thursday evening in the Town Hall, when the fortnightly progressive euchre tournament and dance in aid of the Wharenui schoolground fund was conducted by Messrs Eagleton and Milne. The roll-up at this function, however, is scarcely what was expected. considering the objective, the value of the prizes, and the low prices of admission. Card players and dancers alike are well catered for. On Thursday Mrs M. Jones won the ladies' first prize with 27 points, and the following four 'ladies drew with 20 each for second place: Mesdames Cox, Gordon and Dyer, and Miss Hutton. In the “cut” Mrs Cox won second prize and Miss Hutton third- The gentlemen’s prizes went to Messrs G Granger, Mayne and T. Weir, in that order. After a dainty supper, under the supervision of Mesdames Hellier, Eagleton, and Milne, a dance was with Air Eagleton as AI.C. and ATr Bruce Estnll at the piano. Miss Mcbarrv and Mr R. Rhodes won the “ lucky spot ” waltz. Air C. Granger played for extra dances. RICCARTON ROAD DUST. The Riccarton Borough Council noted at Tuesday night’s meeting that Riccarton Road is dusty. The brief discussion reported in the morning papers on Wednesday formed the subject of conversation on the trams all day. Everyone seemed agreed that it was “ time something was done,” for the dust nuisance was a detriment to the borough as a of residence- How to overcome the nuisance, however, was not so easily settled. Some suggested more water, others a tar-sealed asphalt, 6r concrete road. But how to pay for either of these? There r s the rub. Riccarton Borough Council hasn’t any thousands to spare. Why not raise a loan ? asked one ratepayer, who expressed the opinion that the residents would willingly pay a little more rates in order that- the tram ride to and from the city would he a little more pleasant. He pointed out that the saving in cost of maintenance would probably make the loan a profitable investment, in addition to the comfort ‘derived- Aleanwhile the council is making inquiries. A POPULAR DANCE EVENING. The E.M. (Eagleton and Alilne) Assembly’s usual weekly dance in the Town Hall on Tuesday evening was again well attended, and the enjoyment of the dancers was assured by the careful attention of the promoters. Mr Eagleton, as AI.C.. has a happy knack of making the wheels run smoothly, yet merrily, and the conduct of these dances is attracting visitors front the city and neighbouring suburbs. Capital music was played by Air Bruce Estall, extras being supplied by Air C. Granger- Opportunity was taken to announce the assembly’s ball on Thursday in Cup Week. By all accounts this will be the dancing event of the : season, as far aa Riccarton is concerned. A night of novelties is promised. PERSONAL. The friends of Airs S. A- Staples, of “ Blantyre.” Clyde Road, will learn with regret that she lias not yet recovered from the illness which laid her aside last April. After several weeks of convalescence at Sumner it has become necessary for her to re-enter the “Rowans” Private Hospital. Miss Gladys Cross, one of Canterbury’s most gifted sopranos, has returned to Riccarton from a visit to the West- Coast, where she delighted a big Greymouth audience with her singing.