COUNTRY NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19036, 3 April 1930, Page 5

COUNTRY NEWS.

ITEMS FROM VARIOUS DISTRICTS. (Special to the “Star.”) HALKETT. The annual meeting of the Halkett branch of the Malvern Plunket Society was held in the Halkett Hall on Tuesday afternoon, Mrs J. D. Henderson presiding. The balance-sheet, submitted by the secretary, showed a small credit. A vote of thanks was accorded Mrs Ward for her assistance in preparing the hall for meetings. Nurse Finlayson gave an address. The retiring president said that the whole committee greatly appreciated the work that was being carried on by Nurse Finlayson, and a vote of thanks was passed to her. The following officers were elected:—President, Mrs J. D. Henderson; vice-presi-dents, Mesflames Davis and A. Thompson; secretary, Mrs R. S. Roper; general committee, Mesdames W. H. Walker, E. Ward, L. Davis, R. Henderson, A. M’Kay, N. Fowler, Geo. Seaton and J. G. Dillon. It was decided to hold the annual ball in the West Melton Hall towards the end of May. March was the driest month for several years, only thirty-eight points of rain falling. For the corresponding month of last year, 2.91 in of rain fell. The total rainfall for the quarter was 7.82 in, against 6.59 in for the same period of last year. Mrs M. Wilson is spending a holiday with relatives in Ashburton. PREBBLETON. A social was held in the Prebbleton Public Library on Monday evening, when the members of the Presbyterian Bible Class combined with the members of the Methodist Church in organising a farewell for Mr W. G. Harding, who, having been appointed home missionary to Mayfield, is leaving Prebbleton this week. On behalf of the Bible Class, the Rev J. Naylor presented Mr Harding with a fountain pen as a token of esteem and of his valuable assistance to the class, of which he has been leader since its inception. The Rev 11. Harris also spoke in appreciative terms of Mr Harding’s work in connection with church matters, and expressed regret at his departure! He wished him success in his new sphere of activity. A competition was won by Mrs P. Thornton. Supper was served. HORNBY. A meeting of the Management Committee of the Hornby Rugby Football Club was held on Monday evening. Correspondence was received from the Canterbury Rugby Union in respect to club colours. It was decided that for the present season the colours be black jersey with scarlet sash, subject to the union s approval. The Recreation Committee wrote granting the use of the Domain for Saturday, April 5. The Rugby Union notified that it was not possible to get two senior teams to Y'isit Hornby so early in the season. A list of the year’s competitions was also read and the club was notified that nominations to enter any of the grades could not be received after 5 p.m. on. Thursday, April 17. Air Laugesen wrote in reply to the secretary’s letter, wishing the club success. The Farmers’ Co-operative Society supplied the club with a price list for new jerseys Messrs Bond, Lodge and Motts were appointed a sub-committee to selecf probable and possible players to meet a team to be invited from Christchurch to the Hornby Domain next

Saturday. A curtain-raiser, past and present schoolboys, Hornby v. Islington, was arranged for 2 p.m. The annual harvest festival in connection with St Columba Anglican Church was held on Sunday evening. The harvest gifts were numerous and tastefully arranged. The Rev H. Jones, vicar of the parish, conducted the service, and the choir sang appropriate numbers. There was a large congregatibn. BALCAIRN. A general meeting of the Balcairn Tennis Club w*as held in the hall on Monday evening. Mr N. Kelcher was in the chair, and there was a good attendance of members. Closing day was fixed for Saturday and it was agreed to hold a Yankee tournament. To raise additional funds for the club, a dance was arranged. Large quantities of grain are being transported by lorry to the railway daily. The country is getting dry, and a good rain would be very beneficial to the pastures and root crops. LAKESIDE. Much regret was expressed in the Lakeside and Sedgemere districts at the death of Mrs Neilsen, youngest daughter of Mr August Ilantz, a pioneer settler of Lakeside. Mrs Neilsen, who was of a kindly and retiring disposition, was an old pupil of the Lakeside School, and was held in high esteem. The funeral, which took place at the Church of England portion of the Ellesmere Public Cemetery, was attended by a large number of relatives and friends. Many wreaths and floral tributes were sent. LEESTON. On Friday afternoon the women of the PAV.M.U. in connection with the Leeston Presbyterian Church, met at the invitation of their president, Mrs Young, at the manse, to do honour to an old and enthusiastic member, Mrs Candy, who is leaving the district. A presentation of a crystal salad bowl and jug was made to the guest, the gift being subscribed for by the members of the PAV.M.U. In miking the presentation, Mrs Young paid a tribute to the kind and willing help that Mrs Candy had given at all times. As vice-president, as a member of the PAV.M.U., and as a church worker she had endeared herself to stranger and friend alike. They all regretted her going. The Rev J. Young also expressed his deep regret that such faithful members and workers as Mr and Mrs Candy had been, were leav-, ing. A large congregation attended the quarterly parish service in St John’s Church, Leeston, on Sunday morning. The special preacher was his Grace Archbishop Julius. His Grace was cordiall}' welcomed by the vicar, wardens and other office-bearers. The president (Mrs W. O. Rennie) and vice-president (Mrs W. Lochhead) of the Ellesmere branch of the Plun-1 ket Society called upon Mrs Harte, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs G. Coe, to convey the greetings of members of the branch and their best wishes for her early restoration to good health. Mrs Harte was secretary of the branch for a number of years, but owing to ill-health in recent months was obliged to resign the office. Appreciation of her good work was expressed by the president, who asked Mrs Harte to accept a travelling rug and a cheque as tokens of the regard in which she was held by the members. On Monday Messrs 11. G. Hubbard and A. Anderson interviewed Mr H. A. Railway Traffic Manager, and y ■ Pawson, Railway Business Agent, at Christchurch, in company with Mr P. R. Climie, organiser to the Canterbury Progress I >eague, relative to thel great amount of inconvenience oc-

casioned by the difficulty in securing railway waggons for the cartage of grain. It was pointed out that a large proportion of the recently threshed grain was still stacked in the paddocks and that besides the inconvenience, there was a risk of heavy loss in the event of wet weather setting in Cartage contractors, it was also men tioned, were suffering loss through the large amount of wasting time. It was contended that considering the size of the district and the huge qnan tity of grain it produced, Southbridge was not getting its fair share of rail way waggons. Messrs Penn and Paw son promised to look into the matter and to do their utmost to relieve the situation.