LATE ASHBURTON ITEMS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18363, 22 April 1925, Page 12

LATE ASHBURTON ITEMS.

Hiss M. F. Arnott, who ha s been on tin extended trip to Europe, and has just recently returned to the Dominion,' is spending a few days in Ash burton* Up to the time of her departure, Miss Arnott was for some years head mistress of the Ashourton High School. The first meeting of the 1925 session of the St. Stephen's Men's Club was held last evening, Allien there was a good attendance. Two new members were elected, and the remainder of theevening was spent in a progressive euchre tournament. The first prize, a fountain pen, given by Mr L. F. Andrews, was won by Mr G. Service. The consolation prize' went to Mr G. V; Furby. The l'ourth annual meeting of the Ashburton Women's Shakespeare Club Whs held last evening, when Mrs M. E. lluddock, presided over a good attendance. The election of officers resulted: —President, Mrs M. K. Ruddock'; vice-presidents, Mrs G. V. Yuvby and Miss YVatt; committee, Mis D, P. Keir and Misses H. Lockwood and N. I>oyle; secretary and treasurer, Miss 0. Dent. It was decided to_ meet each alternate Friday evening. Next Friday was set down for the opening date, when Miss M. F. Arnott will give a short address. Mrs Ruddock reported that- the committee had decided to forward Miss Meiizies a memento In appreciation of the interest she had taken in the club since its inception, and the selection of a suitable gift had been left in the hands of Misses Dent and Watt. The monthly meeting of the Borough School Committee was held last evening. Present: Messrs John Watson (chairman), J. S. Laing, R. Marsden, A. Bushell, W. Page, and J. McElhinney. The chairman reported a credit balance of £37 12s lOd. Ho also reported that since the last meeting a deputation had Visited the school in regard to a cyclone fence around the school grounds nr a cost of not more than £2OO, the Education Board to find £l4O, a Government subsidy of £3O, and the School Committee to find' £3O. If this was agreed to, the. erection of the fence could be proceeded with immediately. He understood,-unofficially, that a contract had been let to Smith Brothers, and that the erection of the fence would bo proceeded with without delay. A letter was read from the secretary of the Trades Hall, Chtistchurch, asking for the use of a class-room on Monday evenings for the purpose of W.E.A. classes. It was decided that the request bo granted. A draft -report to bo submitted to the annual meeting of iiouseholders was. read and approved. it was decided to place on record the committee's appreciation of the services Of Messrs J. S. Laing and J. W. Bowden.

There was an exceptionally large attendance at the Tinwald Hall last night oh the occasion of a public presentation to Mr and Mrs A. V. McMurtrie, on the eve .of their departure from the district. Mr McMurtrie, who has heen headmaster of the Tinwald school for heaily five years, lias been transferred On promotion to headmaster of the Matamata Junior High School in the North Island. The chairman of the School Committee, Mr J. Lowrey, presided, and in making the presentation dT a set of stainless cutlery to Mr and Mrs McMurtrie on behalf of tho residents of Timvald and the School Committee, spoke of the keen interest Mr MoMuitrie had taken in all branches of sport in the district, especially football, and the way he had organised that branch of the sport in the school. By his active interest, he had become very popular. The speaker also mentioned tho interest Mrs McMurtrie had taken in the school and the help she had .given all the school functions, ttefer6nce to the popularity of their guests and to the loss that would be sustained by their depaiture irom tho district, and the capabilities of Mr McMurtrie as a schoolmaster was also made by Mr J. McMillan, the Bc»\ A. H. Burnett And Mr "W. Hopwood. Mr McMurtrie suitably replied. Du.ring the evening items were given bv .Mesdames H. J. Chapman, Hofl'ey, Whyte, Misses M. Kerr, Dixon, M. Bell, 'Weston. Webster, M. Chapman, Mr M. McMillan, and Master Douglas Brown. The evening was concluded by a dance.