SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18402, 8 June 1925, Page 6

SOUTH CANTERBURY.

TIMARU. Social and Personal. Mr and Mrs A. Hope (Tumanako) have left on a visit to Dunedin. Mrs Howard Tripp (Wai-iti road) has returned from the south. Miss Tripp (Orari Gorge) is now her guest. Miss Vera Jarman, who has been staying with Mrs A. Irvine (Highficld), has returned to Dunedin. Mr"-J. M. IT. Tripp (Silvcrtou) is staying with Mr and Mrs Bernard Tripp (Oriolton). Mrs- Norman Hope (Fairlic) is staying with Mrs T. M. Barker (Waihi, Woodbury), Mr Norman Hope is at Tumanako. Mr and Mrs Charles Cresswell (Harewood) are staying with Mrs J. Matheson (Wai-iti road) for the week-end. Mr and Mrs Fred Annis (Curraghmore) and Mr and Mrs D. Urquhart (Streamlands, Fuirlie), are spending a few days in town. Miss Maisie Macandrew (Christchurch) arrived in Timaru on Saturday, and is spending a few weeks with Mrs Xorman Orbell (Selwyn street). Mrs H. Hope (Auckland) and Miss Fay Alexander (Auckland), who were in "Timaru for tho Avent—Cray wedding, left during the week on their return. On Friday night, Mrs J. Matheson (Wai-iti Toad) gave an enjoyable bridge evening. Others present were: —Miss Mona Matheson, Mr and Mrs Charles Cresswell. Mrs R. L. Wigley, Mrs W. Burns. Mr and Mrs W. H. Walton, Mr and Mrs *W. D. Campbell, Mr and Mrs Walter Raymond. Mr and Mrs G. A. Bridges, Mrs C. Maitland, Misses Priest and Pigott, and Messrs BalfQUr and Dnnsford. Mr and Mrs Bridges and Mrs Campbell were the prize-winners. The Weather. Cloudless skies with .practically no breath of wind have made the past three nights the coldest so far experienced this winter. Eight degrees of frost were registered at the Timaru Park on Saturday morning, compared with six degrees on Friday morning and seven on Thursdav.

TEMUKA. ,0n Thursday last Mrs P. Waring ("Fairvicw," Temuka) gave a very enjoyable afternoon for Miss Phillips, who is leaving shortly to take up her residence in Christchurch. Friends of the guest-wcro invited, and a pleasant time spent. Among those present were: —Mrs Guild, Miss Guild, Mrs Koutledge, Mrs Hayhurst, Miss Brown, Mrs Twentyman, Mrs Ashwell, and . Mrs Twomey, Miss Cf. Plood, of Timaru. -who was the guest of Miss Airay, returned home on Monday last. ■ At a meeting of the committee of the Temuka Bicycle and Athletic Club, the secretary (Mr A. Beaton) tendered his resignation, as he .was leaving the. district.' The president (Mr G. Thomson)* expressed the club's regret at' losing the services of such a capable secretary, and wished Mr Beaton every success in his new sphere of life. *Mr W.. F. Evans, on behalf of the club, presented Mr Beaton with a handsome travelling rug as a small token of the esteem in which he was held by the members.

Mr G. L. Twentyman, Seadown,- reports' the rainfall for the month of May as follows:—May Ist. ,33in; 3rd, .10in; 4th, 1.09 m; sth, .03in,- 12th, .06in; l<tth, : .llin; 15th, .Oliir; 22nd, .Olin; 23rd, .17in-; making a total of 2.06 in'ches for the month.

The annual meeting of the Tcniukii' Mechanics' Institute was held on Thursday .evening, Mr J. T. Smart presiding over a fair, attendanco of members. The president submitted the annual report, which stated .that the amount at credit was £3l 12s lOd. The sum in credit of the Building Fund was £345, compared/with £2so jat the close of the last financial year. The report and balancesheet were adopted, and the following officers wore elected for the ensuing year:—Patron, Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P.; president, Mr J: T. Smart; vice-presi-dents^,Messrs W. Hughes and W. H. McMillan;». committee,. Mesdamea Beri, Glbb, L, G., Scrimshaw, Smart, Shiols, Miss J. . Manson, Messrs Edwards, W. F. ■■ Evans, Kingstqn, Malcolm, Salmon, Scrimshaw, and Fenn; treasurer, Mr AV. Hughes; secretary, Mr F. J. .Smith; auditor, Mr E. Booth; book committee, Messrs F. J. r Smith, \V. Hughes, Salmon and tho librarian (Mrs Webb). According to the terms of Mr Burnett's generous gift of £SOO towards a new library building, the district must be canvassed without further delay. The president stated that he would sco that tho canvass of the town would be completed within one week.

GERALDINE. There was a large attendance at the monthly meeting of the Geraldine Business, Men's .Association, Mr 0. Kennedy (the Mayor) presiding.' A telegram from Mrs Massey was. read, thanking the members for their sympathy and condolence. A letter from the Canterbury Chamber.of Commerce expressed pleasure at Hi© issuing of a programme of direct sailings from Homo ports to South Island ports-and stating that now the responsibility was with importers and shippers to secure suf ficicnt inward a;nd outward cargo to justify the maintenance of the service. It was agreed that members would do their best to' co-operate with the Chamber of Commerce. The stationmaster, Orari, attended tho meeting, and reported that a gate had been erected at the north end of the railway yard to facilitate the entraining of sheep, and it was stated that the provision now made would save nearly., a mile of driving. He also stated ih'at posters would be maintained in different places in tho town, showing' the times of departure of trains, also that the Department was hopeful of announcing reductions in the charges for carting between Geraldine. and the Railway Station. Also that goods by rail, could be booked right through to Geraldine, while endeavours were being made to arrange for direct bookings outward. In view of the efforts of tho Department, it was agreed to support, the service as much as possible and'tho stationmas.ter, Mr Chambers, was thanked for his attendance. A letter from tho Postmaster-General stated that the contract for mail and passenger service between Orari and Geraldine' could not be cancelled, and suggested that the contractor, Mr C. McKcnzie, should slightly increase the passenger fares to cover the cost of additional taxation since the contract was let. It appeared that the contract price of the service is £135 a year, and that the extra tax now imposed on tho buses amounted to £63 9s a. year. Mr McKenzie said the fares could not be increased and the action of the postal authorities was calculated to drive peoDle from the railway." Sir Logan said the Minister of Lands.thought tho contract could he cancelled. It was unfair to put a tax of over £6O on the service and make the contractor do tho work at the old price. It w.as, resolved to protest against the decision and to forward copies of the correspondence to the commercial officers of the Railway Department. Some arrangements

(Continued at foot of next cdumn.)

were made as to the carnival to bo held on Labour Day, and other matters wero dealt with. Alter tlie bus.ncss meeting, Mr Larnder, tn.spei.tor ol me liieemc Tower Board, gate an interesting lecture, dcahiigwuh the history ot illumination, ana was accorueu a hearty vote of thanks. The first of a series of ball tournaments was played at Mr "\V. Williamson's rooms between Citizens and representatives of the Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Associat.ou. * Xhe Citizens wno played were Dr. Paterson, Messrs W. Williamson, Stock, Worner, Tate, Lapthorne, Hayward' Buckley, McClure, -Xaylor, Benbow, Hamilton. McGregor, Henry. Hardcastle and Twigg, and they, won 43 games. The representatives of the Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Association were Messrs Whiteley, M c . Whinnie, Lack. McColl, Haves, Bennett, Broad. Dean. Wood, Warboys Gresham, Movie, Nentze, N. Turner' Lyon, and S. Turner, and their aggregate score was 27. leaving their opponents victors by 16 games.