MID-CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18364, 23 April 1925, Page 7

MID-CANTERBURY

ASHBURTON.

PERSONAL. Sergeant W. T. Kelly, of Christ-church, is at present in Ashburton relieving in the place of Senior-Sergeant D. Jackson, who is on holiday. The Weather. Yesterday Ijroke dull and foggy in Ashburton. while rain threatened most of the day. An occasional light drizzle was experienced at "Westerfield and Mayfield during the morning, but there was not sufficient to register. General News. The main road from Ashburton to Mayfield, via Lagm.hor and Westerfield, is in very good order with the exception of a fe.w bad pot-holes for about two miles after passing the Vresrerrield railway station and a stretch of about two miles from Haekthorne to the Mayfield corner. A first offender for drunkenness, aged 20 years, who was arrested from the In-vereargiil-Christehureh express on Tuesday, appeared before Mr E. V. Xicholl, J.P., at" the Ashburton Magistrate's Court, smlivas eouvieted and discharged. Referees' Association. At a meeting of the Ashburton Referees' Association, held on Tuesday evening, Mr H. J. Chapman presided. The following referees were appointed for matches on May 2nd: — Senior—Ashburton v. Celtic, at Show Grounds, Mr E. Partridge: Eakaia v. Hinds, at Show Grounds. Mr H. Porter; Old Boys v. Methven, at Methven, Mr L. Grieve.

.Junior—Eakaia v. Allenton, at Bakaia, Mr Chapman: Old Boys v. Mayfield, at Mayfield, Mr Guiney; Hinds v. Springburn-Mount Somers, at Hinds, Mr Herron; Ashburton v. Methven, at Shaw Grounds, Mr W. Douglas. Third Grade —High School v. Eakaia, at Show Grounds, .Mr C. Day; Technical School Old Boys v. Old Boys, at Show Grounds, Mr Marshall; Allenton v. Tinwald, at Tinwald, Mr W. Page.

Labourer's Bankruptcy. A meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of James Gibson, labourer, of Aahburton, was held in the office of the Deputy-Official Assignee (Mr J. B. Christian) yesterday afternoon. Mr A. K. North appeared for the bankrupt. Bankrupt's financial statement disclosed a deficiency of £304 10s 6d. The only assets comprised one single and one double-furrow plough, valued at £3 ■los and £5 respectively/but the amount owing to unsecured creditors totalled £303 0s 6d, leaving the deficiency a? stated. The principal unsecured creditors were:—John Orr and Co., Ashburton, £42; G. Hefford and Co., Ashburton, £3l; W. B. Lundy, Tinwald, £3l; Pyne, Gould, Guinness, Ltd., Ashburton, £27 10s; National Mortgage and Agency Co. of New Zealand, Ltd., Aahr burton, £26 10s; James Gudsell, Tinwald, £25; Bennett and Walls, Tinwald, £22; J. Hardwick, Lowcliffe, £l4; W. Sparrow, Ashburton, £l4; W. Patching, Ashburton, £l2; W. H. Collins and Co., Ashburton, £l2. In his sworn statement bankrupt stated that he had been employed by the Upper Ashburton Road Board as road maintenance man for the past sixteen years. According to the terms of his employment he had to supply the necessary horses and plant. His wages, which were originally. 16s per-day, had been increased to 25s per'day. He had received about 25s per day since the war. Up to about four years'ago he appeared to be holding his own. He was bringing up a family of eight children and could save nothing-but what would meet his liabilities. The price of horse feed, shoeing, repairs, etc., rose considerably, and he began to find it difficult to make ends meet. He had much-sickness in his family in 1922, which meant expense, and in the same year he lost heavily through his home being completely destroyed by fire. He received £2OO from the insurance company, but the loss was fully £250 above this amount. He used .the whole of the insurance'money in paying accounts, but found that sum insufficient to satisfy all demands. He held at this time three horses, worth about £7O, and plant worth £4O; total £llO. Finding that he could not carry on with the money received from the Board, he decided to give up the work, and he did so in November last. He wag then heavily in debt, and sold his horses and plant for about £l5O. Out of that he paid £4O owing for chaff, and' also paid other accounts,' and retained a portion for current household expenses. He had worked for wages since that time, and was now employed at the Fairfield works. Some of his creditors having pressed, he had been forced to file.

In answer to Mr J. Gudscll, debtor stated that one of the horses he worked" belonged to his wife. Mr W. B. Lundy: Perhaps she will pay for shoeing of that horse. Bankrupt stated that all the money he had received he had paid into the bank, he had never in any way squandered it.

Bankrupt stated that one of the two cows on his place belonged to his wife, while the other belonged to a man who lived with debtor. He had no proposition to put to his creditors. He now had three rooms furnished, the contents of which were mortgaged and were owned by his wife. . A considerable amount of sickness accounted for a large sum of his money. It was decided to leave the winding up of the estate in the hands of the Deputy-Official Assignee.

Mail Notices. Mails close to-da7: — For Northern Porta, at 2Aa p.m.; late fee letters, 3.10 p.m.; guard's van, 3.80 p.m. For Korthern Ports, at 5.15 p.m.; late fee letters, 5.-40 p.m.; guard's van, 6 p.m. MOUNT SOMERS. The annual meeting of Library subscribers was held oa Monday evening. There was a good attendance, Mr P. H. Jones being voted to the chair. The finances showed that the Library was in a good position, a Government subsidy of £9 being received. The following officers were elected: —Mr John Hood, librarian, secretary and treasurer; Mr P. H. Jones, chairman; Messrs Haziel, Morgan, L. G. Nell and Mrs Whelham, committee. Messrs Jones and Morgan and Mrs Whelham were appointed representatives on the Building Committee conjointly with those from the Domain Board. It was decided that it be a recommendation to the committee that one cupboard be set apart for children. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Hood for his services as librarian. METHVEN. The annual meeting of subscribers to the Methven Public Library was held on Tuesday evening, when Dr. W. H. D. McKee presided over a fair attendance. The secretary, Mr B. H. Allen, read the report of the past year's work, which showed that a very satisfactory year had been experienced. The balance-

sheet showed a credit of £22 4s 6d. The election of a committee for the ensuing year resulted aa follows:—Dr. W. H. D. McKee (chairman), Messrs R. H. Allen (hon. sec), H. Pawson (lion, auditor), and Mescalines Bonnington, Shemeld, Pawson and Kilworth, and Messrs Owen and Temple, committee. The monthly meeting of the Methven District High School Committee was held on Monday evening. Present: Messrs S. Smith (chairman), W. C. Pawson, J. E. Dalton, J. Osborne, 11. H. Pawson, S. G.- Holmes, Dr. McKee and Rev. Geo. Hercus. The chairman reported that as the restrictions for secondary pupils had been lifted, the High School pupils had resumed and a satisfactory number had reported for the openings The Education Board wrote authorising the establishment of a third motor-bus to convey, children to school. The committee decided to purchase a gramophone for the use of the school, and also gave the sum of £lO towards the establishment of a library for the secondary department.

RAKAIA. The returned soldiers of Rakaia have decided to hold Poppy Day to-day. Mr W. G. Morrison, younger son of the Rev. A'. S. and. Mrs Morrison, of "The Manse," Rakaia, has passed the third professional examination for the degree of B.E. A general meeting of the Rakaia Ladies' Hookey Club was held in the library on Tuesday evening. Miss I''. Cornelius presided over a good attendance. It was .decided to play a friendly match with' Darfield on May 2nd, the secretary, to. arrange for transport. Arrangements were made for the purchase of new hookey dresses. It was decided to hold a dance next month,.

On Tuesday evening, in the Methodist Church, a social evening was given ad a welcome to the Rev. W. J. Henderson, the newly-appointed minister of the Rakaia-Methven circuit. Mr H. Hopwood presided over a good attendance. On behalf of the RakaiaMethodist congregation Mr Hopwood extended a hearty welcome lo Mr Henderson and wished him a happy and successful time in Rakaia. Mr A. Oliver, circuit steward at Rakaia, also assured Mr Henderson of the hearty good wishes of all present. Captain Stein, of the Salvation Army, the Rev. A. S. Morrifion, of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr C. Evison, on behalf of the Anglican Church, -also welcomed the guest. The Rev. W. J. Henderson brieflv returned thanks. A pleasant eyening was epent in parlour games pjid competitions. Mr Henderson sang a solo, and gramophone items were given by Mr Basher.

STAVELEY. To-morrow the households of the local distrieto will be visited by ladies selling poppies. The committee which is responsible for Poppy Day in the Springburn, Bushside, and Staveley districts consists of Mrs L. A. Syme (president), Mrs John Sawers (secretary and treasurer), Mesdames Bufton and tAndrews, and Miss Green. The districts have been divided into blocks, and will be canvassed by the committee and additional helpers, who are Miss C. Ellen, Syme, Hannan, Grieve, and Fagan.