ASHBURTON NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18585, 10 October 1928, Page 15

ASHBURTON NEWS.

GIRL GUIDES* ASSOCIATION. The first annual meeting of the Ashburton Gir! Guides Association ■was held at St Stephen's Parish Hall yesterday afternoon, the president (Mrs E. B. Newton) occupying the chair. There was a large attendance of members. The report stated that the association had had an extremely busy first ; ear. At the end of April, Captain Seth Smith (Christchurch) examined the Guides for the second class Guide Badge. Practically all had passed, and Captain Seth Smith had reported favourably.* on the kecflnes and smart appearance of the company, Misses IIlillier and F. Cambridge had passed .their lieutenant’s examination, and Miss Ilillier now had her captaincy. Twenty-one Guidea had their cooking badges, one ambulance badge, and many their swimming badges-. The second company, begun as an extra patrol, was formed into a company in February. It was now at full strength and was making steady progress. Four members had • their second class and cooking badges- Several social functions ha/1 been held, and the proceeds had considerably augmented the funds. Visits had been, received from the Provincial Commissioner (Mrs F. J. Studholme) and the Divisional Commissioner (Mrs B. Cocks). Thanks were due to the following for examining the Guides: —Misses Aitken, Monro, Galbraith, Piggott and Porter, and to the Plunkct nurses for their instructive lectures. The financial statement showed a credit balance of £2O 3s lOd. The following officers were elected: — President, Mrs R. B. Newton; vice-pre-sidents. Mesdames J. H. Gngg. J. S. Laing. E. F. Nicoll. G. J. S. Fisher and Miss H. Lockwood: treasurer, Mrs C. M. Innes; secretary. Miss W. Dixon, committee. Mesdames W. A. Fleming, B. Opie. E. J. Woods. G. L. Harold, R. G. Alington, A. J. Petrie and F. Smallbone. MISSIONARY CONFERENCE. Thirty delegates from the North Island and from the northern districts of the. South Island passed through Ashburton yesterday morning on their way to Invercargill to attend the annual conference of the Methodist Women’s Missionary Conference. The partv was met at the station by Mrs R. Buxton * president of the Ashburton branch of the Union) and by several local members, and were entertained at morning tea. THE WEATHER. The gusty nor’-west wind which continued throughout Monday, abated somewhat in the evening, when three points of rain fell. It sprang up again, though in considerably diminished force during the night and continued until shortly after midday yesterday, after which conditions were very' pleas ant especially so in contrast with those experienced during the week-end. WATER TON TENNIS CLUB. The Waterton Tennis Club held its opening day last Saturday, when, in, spite of the unfavourable weather, there was a large attendance, visitors being present from the Eiffelton and Willowby Clubs. The president (Mr W. J. Taylor) congratulated the club on its success last year, and wished it every success in the coming season. Mrs G. Blee served the first ball, and the three courts were in constant use for the rest of the afternoon. FROM THE SKIES. A silver thimble was found in the backyard of an Ashburton home yesterday, and the finder marvelled at the tricks a high wind could play such as tossing the thimble from some unknown place into his yard. As the house is near the Domain, in which a cumber of magpies are in residence, it seems that the silver object was dropped by one of the birds, which, in its questing for bright objects, had come across the thimble. A CASE FOR CHARITY. That there are people in genuine distress in the county was evident from a pathetic letter received from a mother at the meeting of the Ashburton Hospital Board. The family concerned (father, mother and two boys aged thirteen months and two years, and two girls aged four and six respectively) U living in a tent in the country. Clothes are urgently required, it being stated that the family was clad mainly in rags. Any help in the way of left-off clothing will be gratefully accepted. Parcels may be left at the board’s office.