LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 114, 27 February 1950, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Pipe Band Visits Timaru The Ashburton County Scottish Society’s Pipe Band visited Timaru yesterday and took part in a display of marching staged on the Caledonian grounds before a large crowd. In addition to a drum-major’s display the band played a selection.

Salvage of Arahura Dredge Salvage operations on the Arahura gold dredge, which sank on March 5 last year, are to commence immediately by Arahura Gold Dredging, Ltd., the company which owns the dredge. According to information received from the directors of the company, the claim against the underwriters has been “satisfactorily settled.” —P.A.

Harvest Festival Harvest festival services were held in the Baring Square Methodist Church yesterday. The church was suitably decorated, and in addition to the usual display of fruits and vegetables there was a table of foods for the making up of parcels for Britain. Special harvest thanksgiving music was sung and appropriate sermons were given by the Rev. W. T. Blight.

Tramping Club Trip * • The Ashburton Tramping Club had perfect weather for its trip yesterday to Pudding Hill Dam. During lunch members were regaled with the songs of bellbirds. Later the party crossed the dam and ascended the hill through the bush. Amongst the tusspeks celmisias were seen in bloom, also gentians. Later the stream was followed for spme distance up from the dam, and a few wild strawberries were fdund in fruit.

Grass Fire at Pendarves

Fire, the origin of which is a mystery, burned about half an acre of grass and stubble on the property of Mr .T. Egan at Pendarves yesterday. TII6 County Council’s fire tender was on the scene a . little after 5 p.m. and though tke blaze approached a plantation on.the property the absence of wind and the prompt attendance of the fire-fighting plant prevented any serious damage being done.

R.A.0.8. Social and Dance There was a good attendance of members and friends at the R.A.0.8. social an dance in the Hampstead Hall on Saturday evening. Music for dancing was supplied by Bros. L. Chapman and S. Wilson. Novelty dances were won by Mr and Mrs Cowell, and Mr Stills and Miss J. McKay. Extras for dancing were played by Mr Doig and Master G. Glenie. Bros. J. Busliell and G. Ede were masters of ceremonies.

Ashburton Club and M.S.A. Picnic The Ashburton Club and M.S.A. held its annual picnic in the Tinwald Domain yesterday. With ideal weather prevailing, the attendance of members and their wives and families was a record. Sweets, ice-creams and soft drinks were provided for the children, who also enjoyed free rides on a merry-go-round. A lengthy sports programme for children and adults was conducted by the committee, a commentary on the events being provided by Mr A. Stanley.

Borough School Picnic The Ashburton Borough School was favoured with a perfect day for its annual picnic on Saturday. As usual it was held at Timaru, and in addition to the usual attractions of this favourite seaside resort there were on Saturday speed boat and yacht races and a big boat in the harbour. Launch trips were enjoyed by many of the visitors. Some GOO picnickers made the journey, and moving pictures were taken which will preserve some of the scenes at the outing for posterity. r

Ashburton Club Officers

An election for only the committee of the Ashburton Club and Mutual School of Arts was held this year. Tlie new officers will he as follows: President, Mr K. S. Johnston (re-elect-ed unopposed); vice-president, Mr A. C. Gadd (re-eTecited unopposed); committee, Messrs A. Henderson, S. L. Hawke, G. M. Cates, A. V.\ Hayston, S. W- Kerr, R. E. Bennett, D. C. Wood, E. I£. Bell, W. J. Johnson, H. C. Patterson, E. A. Blajnl, and K. R. Thompson.

Rangitane’s Maiden Voyage Dressed from stem to stern for the occasion, the New Zealand Shipping Company’s 21,867-ton liner Rangitane arrived in Auckland,at the end of her maiden voyage from London yesterday morning. While awaiting to be cleared by the port doctor and customs authorities, she rode at anchor off King’s Wharf, where her sister ship, the Rangitoto, which made her first trip to New Zealand in September, was berthed. A total of 399 passengers disembarked when the Rangitane berthed. The Rangitane is a successor of the earlier liner of the same name sunk by enemy raiders off the New Zealand coast in the early hours of the morning of November 27, 1940. — P.A.

Ashburton-Lyndhurst Irrigation In an endeavour to obtain an extension of the present AshburtonLyndhurst irrigation scheme into the Lyndhurst - Lauriston - Chertsey - Mitcham, and Dromore area, a deputation will wait on the district engineer of the Ministry of Works at Christchurch (Mr F. W. Young), and the Minister of Works (Mr W. S. Goosman). This decision was made at a well-attended meeting of farmers at Lauristop on Saturday evening. The following representative farmers were appointed to the deputation: Messrs T. Flynn (Dromore), C. Ward (Chertsey), T. V. Wilkinson .(Mitcham), J. R. Mounsey (Lauriston), and the chairman, Mr H. Wilkinson (Chertsey).

Housing and Immigrants Occasional reports that the housing shortage in New Zealand was not sufficiently emphasised to prospective new settlers Avere strongly denied by Mr L. E. Ellisson, former assistant immigration officer at New Zealand Plouse, London, who returned to Auckland in the Rangitane yesterday, says a Press Association message. He said this problem was stressed in every way possible, even to the extent of mentioning it in brochures sent to shipping companies for circulation to every intending passenger. Questioned about the screening of Government-assisted immigrants, Mr Ellisson said the immigration staff tried to be most particular in checking up on both character and health, but there Avas always, the liuman element to contend with in this Avork. On returning to Wellington Mr Ellisson Avill take up a post at the head office of the Department of Labour and Employment.