NORTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18659, 7 April 1926, Page 3

NORTH CANTERBURY.

RANGIORA. Yesterday was observed as a partial holiday, the banks and offices being closed* and tho usual Tuesday market not being held. There were very few farmers and business men in tho town, and the usual Tuesday street crowd was absent. The day was cold and dull, with every appearance of rain, which no doubt kept many at home. The Grounds Committee of the Bowling, Tennis, and Croquet Club have decided to close the bowling green after next Saturday, April 10th. Should the weather be sufficiently favourable it is the committee's intention to hold a progressive pairs on that'date. The season, as far as the play is concerned, has been a successful one. The green has been in much better order than in the last few years, and aa a result bowlers have found their games more enjoyable. HANMER SPRINGS. Accommodation has been taxed to provide for the many visitors who spent the Easter holiday here. The weather on the whole has been sunny and mild, though at times the persistent nor'-wester has had an edge on it. This has enabled all daylight hours to be spent out of doors, of which f.jII advantage has been taken by the many tennis and golf players present. There has not been the usual amount of iuaeing at the boarding houses, but t»vo enjoyable public dances were prov dM by the football club and were fully patronised. The Golf Club's monthly me.ial match was played during tho week-end, and the four best cards handid in were as follows:—Mrs H. J. Win-stone, 83-12-71 • W. T. Williams, 80-9-71: 7). Nielsen, 83-9-74; D. Roach, 93-I*3 To. In playing off tje tie the first-named won. PARNASSUS. On Saturday evening a social evening was held in Miss Barber's tea-rooms to bid' farewell to Mr C. A. Frater, who is leaving the district. Mr James Connor, in making the presentation of a Kaiapoi travelling rug and a set of military hair brushes, referred to Mr Frater's sterling qualities, and wished him every success in the future, Mr Frater suitably responded. During the evening songs were contributed by Miss Barber, and Messrs D. Sheffield and F. Teear. ' A lucky spot waltz was won by Mrs A. McLaughlan and Mr F. Teear. . A good number of interested spectators witnessed the final game of tennis for the silver cup given by Mr Erik Rutherford, played between Messrs J. Scott and T. Wilkinson recently. Mr Wilkinson won by 3 points. CUST. The meteorological report for March records an exceptionally dry month. Only 1.22 in of rain fell, which brings the total for tho three months to 7.69 in. A record was established in the length of time without rain—23 days. The first recorded fall of rain in the month was on March 23rd, while rain fell on February 28th. This is the longest period without rain for 16 years. The next longest period was in 1915, when no rain foil for 21 days—also in the month of March. On the 31st there was a sharp earthquake shock shortly after 6 o'clock in the .morning.

. There were good congregations at St. James's Church on Easter Sunday. The church (was very tastefully decorated by Mesdames Crysell, - Lang, Brurisden, Richardson, Pawsey, with white and yellow flowers. Before the evening service a short .musical, recital was given :r— Organ .solo, "Abendgebet" (Kuhnhold), Mr T.- Bi Locksolo, "But the Lord is Mindful" (Mendelssohn), Mr Acheson; organ solo, "Andante Con Moto' '(Adamson), Mr T. B. Lock; solo, "Behold Me Standing at the Door," Mrs Richardson; organ solo, "Retrospection" (Ashford), Mr T. B. Lock; anthem, "The Foe Behind, the Deep Before," tho Choir. Mr A. Simmorids, • tho new Home Missionary, who has been appointed to the Cust Presbyterian congregation, with his wife and daughter, have arrived and taken up their residence at the manso. FERNSIDE. Just before the children of the local school were dismissed for the Easter holidays, a very pleasing ceremony, of the gift of an Easter egg to each pupil, was performed. The eggs, which were donated by Mrs Jack. Miles, were presented by Novak and Hazel Miles, daughters of the donor, as the children filed through the door. It was quite evident that Easter eggs wato a novelty to a good many, but it was not long before some more advanced pupils introduced tho others to tho mysteries. From • all directions the teacher was soon besieged and eagerly shown the contents by an intensely happy crowd, who in.future will not, be abashed by the gift of an Ea3ter eggPREBBLETON. Mr Harry Stevens, who spent Easter at Prebbleton with his father, Mr J. Stevens, has returned to Ashburton. Mr J. Cooke and Mrs S. McNally, who were staying in Timaru for- the Easter holidays, have returned home. Mr Lewis Southon is at present a patient in the Christchurch Hospital, receiving treatment for a poisoned arm. Beautiful autumn weather prevailed during the holiday period, and the bright sunshine tempted large numbers of people to join the various excursions and to swell the number of those who attended the sports meetings held in the neighbourhood. The Anglican Church was appropriately decorated for the Easter festival and the special services conducted by the vicar, the Rev. F. Rawle, were well attended. I ■ LEESTON. The secretary to the committee formcd in connexion with tho garden party and banquet to be tendered to . Sir Hcaton and Lady Rhodes by the electors of Ellesmere, has received a reply to his telegram to the Prime Minister, stating that he would bo in the North Island at the date suggested, but would be able to attend if the gathering were held either just prior to, or following, this date. A definite announcement of the date cannot yet be • made, but it is likely that May 3rd or 4th will be fixed upon. Mr and Mrs W; A. Nelson, of Waimate, spent Easter as the guests of Mr and Mrs L. W. Hewitt, Leeston. Mr and Mrs J: Cunningham, Brookside, hope to- leave for Dnnedin this week.

• The Bev. S. Lawry spent last, weekend'as the guest oi his nephew, Mr li. B. Barnett, Fereday's Island. Mr P. Rowell, Brookside, left on a short visit to Dunedin last week-end.

SOUTH MALVERN.

The rainfall for the month of March was 2.34 in. The period was fine for the first three weeks, and the four days of rain all occupied after the 20th. The maximum fall was l.olin on March 23rd. Since 1909 the average for the same month has been'2.Blin, the maximum being 4.40 in in 1909, and the minimum .96in in 1919.

A meeting of the District Picnic Committee was held on Monday last to receive the financial report of the annual picnic, which was held 'at Timaru. Thpre were representatives from Whitecliffs, Glentunnel, and Oalgate oniy. Mr J. T. Todd presided, and the secretary (Mr A. M. Wilson} rend an interim balances 1 ipot, which showed that there was a profit of about ft 10s on the excursion. It was decided to call the annual meeting for the first Monday in October, and to nsk the surrounding districts to call . a public meeting in each centre beforehand. These meetings would decide on a suitable picnic destination, and appoint delegates to attend the annual meeting. Before the meeting closed, the chairman thanked the committee for its valuable help on the day of the picnic. A small bird commonly known ns the "wax-eye," a native of Australia, is giving great trouble to orchardista locally. As soon as the apples show signs of ripening these birds descend in large numbers and ■do considerable damage to the fruit and the trees. When they start on an apple they leave nothing but the stalk. In one orchard in Coalgate, among several variety of apples near ripening, they selected the variety Delicious in preference to all others, and the question has cropped up as to whether the Delicious contained more sugar than the others, or was a softer apple. On investigation it seemed that it must be that this variety was tho sweetest apple. '

There was very heaTy, passenger truffle on the Whitecliffs line on Thursday night, and the Coalgate station presented a very busy 6oene on the arrival of the eveping train from town. Mr and Mr s Wm. Gilmour left for Dunediu on Thursday morning, and will be away for about ten days. After a wet Thursday, Good Friday was a fine day. Easter Saturday brought a stiff nor'-wester, which was not unwelcome after the rain on Thursday. At the Presbyterian Church on Sunday the Rev. J. J. Bates preached to a large congregation, the subject of his address being "The Crucifixion." Special hymns were sung, and Miss Molly Bates sang the anthem "There is a Green. Hill Far Away." Mrs Vera Bates presided at the organ. Close on 100 people listened to the Rev. H. N. Roberts at the Anglican Church, ,the address being on "The Life After Death." The Easter hymns were heartily sung, and Holy Communion was celebrated. SOUTHBRIDGE. The annual camp of the North Canterbury Presbyterian Bible Class Union was hold at Southbridgo during the Easter holidays. The visitors arrived on Thursday night, and camped in the school, the.Town Hall being used for meals. A special service was conducted on Good Friday by the Rev. T. G. Butler. On Saturday the campers were taken for a run to the Rakaia'huts, by some of the residents. In the. evening a banquet was held in the. Town Hall, followed by an impromptu concert in the St. John's Hall. On Sunday the visitors were present in force at the services in the Proßbyterian Church. . The Rev. T. G. and Mrs Butler were the camp presidents. At tho banquet, Mrs McKay, one of the camp mothers, Bpoke of the great kindness shown tho visitors by thq people, of Southbridge,..both bofore their arrival, and, during their stay. Mention was jriado of the work of the Rev. T. G. and Mrs Butler, who had been making preparations for a long time, ahead. • The first prize winners at tho euchre tournament and dance held at Southbridge in aid of-the surprise packet stall at the Recreation Ground Bazaar, were Mrs Williamson and Mr D. Wylie. Consolation prizes went, to Mrs Chapman and Mr.D. Strez. . The attendance was good for holiday time. Miss Thian played for the'dance. •'•••

SELWYN HUTS. A novelty dance was'held on •'the tennis courts on Saturday _ evening, the weather being ideal. The • music 'was supplied by Mr R. Wall (Springston) and several extras were supplied by visitors. The committee are greatly indebted to Mr A. R. Harris, who installed tho electric light, and who so generously lent his wireless set for the radio concert, which was given during the evening. This was greatly appreciated by all present. During the evening Mr W. H. Denton presentod the prizes won in connexion with the baitcasting competition. ' ' Amongst the number who were in residence at the Solwyn huts during the Easter vacation, were:—Mr ' and Mrs W. H. Denton and Miss Marjorio Denton; Mr and Mrs Spedding, Mr and Mrs \V. A. Hardie, Mr and Mrs T. V. Whitmore, Mr and Mrs A. R. Harris, Mr and Mrs Billens, Mr and Mrs R. Scott, Mr and Mrs H. Thompson, Mr and Mrs F. Schmidt, Mr and Mrs F. ,Kee»ley, Mr and Mrs Smith, Mr and Mrs L. Thompson, Mr and Mrs R. Thompson, Mr and Mrs Christie, Mr arid Mrs E. G. Batty, Mr and Mrs L. W. Clarke, Mr and Mrs E. E. Nutt, Mr and Mrs H. W. Heslop and Miss Edna Heslop, Mr and Mrs W. H. Price and Miss Doris Price, Mr and Mrs Haydock, Mr and Mrs Ball, Mr and Mrs De La Cour, Misses Eileen and Rita Nutt, K. and J. Hardie, R. Batty, Flannigan, Messrs H. Collins, S. F. Barnett, Les Heslop, J. Hopkins, A. Haydock, J. Baxter, H. Webb, M. W. Baker, A. Dearsley, H. Cheeseman, A. Spooner, G. Vinceat, F. Amcdeo, F. White, A. MacCallum, C. Pendleton, Grant, W. D. Berry.