NORTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18364, 23 April 1925, Page 3

NORTH CANTERBURY.

RANGIORA. The monthly meeting of the Eangiora High School Board was held on Tuesday night. Present—Mr K Ball (chairman), and Messrs TV. Stalker, C. W. Bell, J. Marshall, C. I. Jennings, and W. A. Eowse. Mr C. W. Bell was reappointed to a seat on the Board, as the representative of Canterbury College. Applications were received tor the position of home science teacher, to fill the vacancy on the staff caused bv the resignation of Miss Jull. •« was decided to defer the appointment pending enquiries with the Department in regard to the decreased roll numbers. The principal (Mr J. E. Strachaii) again brought before the Board the number of free-place scholars who were going into Christchurch contrary to the regulations. It was decided to make a strong protest against the Department deliberately breaking its own regulations in allowing the issue of free railwav passes to children from the borough and district to attend the Christchurch Technical College, and failing a satisfactory result to take more drastic measures to compel the Department to adhere to' the regulations. It was decided to approve of the suggestion of the Director of Education, that the remainder of the school year covering 3o weeks, should be divided into two periods, with one holiday of two weeks, commencing about August 15th. At the meeting of the committee of the Eangiora Bowling, Tennis, and Croquet Club, held on Monday night, on the motion of the president, Mr R. Mcintosh, . a vote of sympathy was passed with the Prime Minister in his severe illness. The chairman of the High School Board of Governors (Mr E. Ball) at the last meeting also referred to _ the severe illness of the Prime Minister, and stated that he was sure all classes of the community were of one mind + in expressing deep sorrow and sympathy with Mrs Massey and family in the Prime Minister's illness, and he moved that a motion expressing their sympathy be sent to Mrs Massey. Tho motion was carried. The quarterly missionary afternoon of the Methodist Ladies' Guild, was held in tho schoolroom yesterday, the Eev. C. Blair presiding over a good attendance. Addresses were delivered by Mesdames G. Bowron and Frank Thompson, of Christchurch. At the close of tho meeting it was decided to form a local branch of the auxiliary. Musical items were given by Mesdames A. H. Yates, W. Maunder, and N. A. Baillie, while the Eev. Blair contributed a recitation. The committee of the Ecturned boldiers' Association has deemed it cxpedi-. cut to make an alteration in the locale of the Anzac Day service. It had been decided to hold it at the Fallen Soldiers' Memorial, but owing to a probability of damage being done to the recently sown lawn surrounding the cenotaph, and to the fence in. course of construction, Victoria Park will be used as in former years. The programme, however, will afford an opportunity to place wreaths at the foot of tho monument. Tho military parade will consist of territorials only, the cadets riot boing allowed to attend owing fo the Health authorities' epidemic restric; tions. ■ The Provincial Grand Master of the 1.0.0.F.M.U., Mr C. A. Oldman, of Waiau, was taken suddenly ill on, Tuesday, and removed to the Christchurch Hospital. An operation was performed, the patient's condition being satisfactory.

SEFTON. A' ■ meeting of returned soldiers was held in tho Domain pavilion on Tuesday night. Mr G. Clarke was voted to the cbair. It was decided to hold a ceremony of Anzac Day at 2 p.m., in the Domain if fine, and in tho Presbyterian Church if tho weather is wet. It was arranged that the Anglican Minister bo asked to take charge of the service this year and the ministers of the other churches be invited to take part. The meeting agreed that tho collection, as in former years, should he taken in aid of the blind soldiers of New Zealand; The balance-sheet of last year's 'returned soldiers' dance showed a credit balance of £l2 19s 7d which had been handed to the Ilannerdale Home to supply additional comforts for tho patients It was decided that a dance should be held next month.

LITTLE RIVER. A meeting of the Library Committee was held in the Coronation Library last night. Present: Mesdamos 0. Stanbury, G. Gilbert, andStl. Marsh, Messrs Fred Wright, H. Lewthwaito and V. Line. Tho committee reported the receipt of new books. It was arranged to purchase a further £2O worth of new books, £5 worth of which are to be cither on science or travel. Mrs G. Gilbert and Mrs H. Marsh were appointed a committee to select books to be obtained. AKAROA. Mrs W. Crotty, a well-known resident of Le Bon's Bay for over 30 years, left the district with her two young daughters at the beginning of the week to settle in Spreydon, where she has purchased a property. With tho exception of a few years in the Kawhia district, in the North Island, Mrs Crotty had spent all her married life in Le Bon's, where she had always taken a keen and energetic interest in church work and the various social activities of the district. She has left her younger son, Mr Sidney Crotty, to manage the homestead farm, tho elder son, Mr A. C. Crotty, being on a place of his own. Mrs Crotty's departure from the Bay, where she and her parents, Mr and Mrs T. Mcintosh, have lived for so long, is viewed with regret by a large circle of friends. The secondary department of the Akaroa District High School has reopened this week with a roll of 38, all but six of whom-are already in attendance. Thanks to ' the • efforts of the School Committee,.- special arrangements have been ,made with respect to the boarding of pupils coming from a distance, with the result that several from Little Eiver have been enrolled, and a less number from some of the nearer Bays.

LE BON'S BAY. The usual monthly meeting of the Le Bon's Dairy Factory was held on Monday, when thero were present:— Messrs P. Barnett (chairman), T. Mcintosh, \V. MeKav, E. O'Connor, B. Barker, W. Elliott* and A. E. Williams (secretary). The manager's report stated that the milk supply was going down to a very ;narkcd extent, but one vat was nearly filled each time now that cheese was being made every alternate day. It was decided to pay out a shilling on last month's supply, and also to pay out an extra 2d on the supply since the commencement of the season. HALKETT. The annual meeting of tho Halkett branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was held in the Halkett Hall. The president (Mr E. S. Eopcr) was in the chair, and there was a fair attendance of members present. The secretary read the report and balance-sheet, which was adopted. The president was re-elected for the ensuing year, as also was the secretary. The secretary was appointed to represent the branch at the annual'provincial conference.