NORTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18896, 11 January 1927, Page 3

NORTH CANTERBURY.

RANGIORA. A large motor-car was mysteriously • destroyed by fire at the Woodend I beach, between 10 and 12 o'clock on ! Sunday night. Campers heard an explosion about that time, but attributed i 't to fireworks and took very little notice. This morning the car was iound totally destroyed. The owner, v ho is camping there, states that the ! ear was in good order on Sunday even- : iug. | Mr J. R. Deal, Clerk of the Court, | ".ho is on holiday, is !>eing relieved by j Mr Gordon Howes, of Christchurch. j Mrs It. Kinley and her you ripest son, j Peter, leave to-day for a holiday Tisit to Diamond Harbour. Mrs C. J. Smith and her three daughters are leaving this week on a holiday visit to Sumner. Miss Tonks, of Wellington, is on an extended visit to Mrs A. Per.rse, Mount Pleasant. Rangiorn. KAIKOURA. Kaikoura has lost its oldest resident, in the person of Mrs Anne Abraham, who died on Saturday morning at the age of 100 years and eight days. Mrs Abraham was the daughter of Mr Allan Gvles, and was born in Tipperary, Ireland, arriving in Victoria in 1851. In 1855 she married Mr Luke Abraham, and came to Wellington in 18-50. They arrived in Kaikoura on their way to Cheviot, but, after spending two years there, they returned to Kaikoura, where tlicy remained until removed by death. In her younger days, Mrs Abraham was a very alert woman, and tool; a keen interest in Anglican Church matters and was most popular in the district. Her husband predeceased her twenty venrs ago. She is survived by three children. Mrs George Lawson, Mrs James Boyd, and Mr John Abraham, all of Kaikoura She leaves 20 grandchildren, 82 greatgrandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren. The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon, when a larg'e number of residents amended as n last mark of resoect. The Rev. Canon Kimberley officiated at the graveside. HANMER SPRINGS. A dance was held in the Hall oh Saturday night, the purpose of which was to raise funds for cemetery maintenance. Sympathy -with the object of. tho function was shown by the large, attendance it attracted, and dancing continued until nearly midnight. During an interval after supper Mr J. Dodds announced that, including a, subsidy, l'rom t)ie County Council, about £3O would be available. Mrs- Wright, Misses Thelma Parsons, and Hett play- | ed for the dancing. Tho supper arrangements were in the hands of Mesdames H. Phillips and C. Lahmert and Mis.s A. Lahmert, together with a number of helpers. Mrs Phillips gavo a cake for competition, which yielded a good sum. Tho weather last week alternated between warm nor'-west conditions oil two days, and south-east winds, with cooler conditions, on other days. On* one or two days heavy rain seemed imminent, but there was little or none until Sunday morning, wAen several showers fell. There was no rain in the afternoon, though there avas plenty of cloud about and the wind was inclined to be fresh. Monday was suiiny with the glass at a . high level and steady.

A bogey handicap, recently played by .the Golf CL-uh, resulted- an. a • tie between Mrs Lumsden and Miss M.- ; Stojvart' with two down. Th.e monthly. m?dal ..match was played ■. during the week-rend. with, the.' following; results F. Coote, 84, gross handicap 13, • nett 71; W. Paterson, 86—13 —73, E. Carter . 87—13—74, L. Anderson 92—14—78. Tho junior cricket team visited Culycrden on Saturday to'meet the local juniors. Tho result was a win for the home team by 102 runs to 78. For Culverden Masters scored 33, Hartnell W, and Anderson 13, and Harris, their most successful trundler, took six wickets for 26 runs. For Hanmer F Lumsden, with 47 runs, was the only batsman to make a stand. The bowling honours were with Forrest, 5 for 16, Loughlin 2 for 20, and L. Anderson 3 for 33. WAIPARA. After a few days' fine weather, a change took place on Saturday afternoon, when the wind chopped to the sou'-west, accompanied by misty showers. The change will again delay harvest operations, although some of the oat crops have been safely stacked. Next week will see-the wheat harvest fairly general, when a. spell of fine weather is hoped for. A dance was. held in the local hall on. ■Friday evening", when there was a good attendance. Music was supplied by Mrs A. Ferguson (piano) and Mr Hal) (Omihi) violin. Two solos were, sung by Miss E. Brien (Omihi). Mr Laredo made an efficient M.C. A dainty supper was provided by the committee. The proceeds are in aid of the tennis courts.

'■ HALKETT. I With .the exception of Thursday, when 2o points of rain fell, the past week has been favourable for harvesting operations, which are in full swing in tho Halkett district. By the end of the present week, practically all the oats will bo reaped. As the straw is very sappy this year, the grain will have to remain longer in the stooks than.in past years. It will be at least a fortnight before there will ho much wheat reaped, and farmers will be given a chanee to get their oats stacked before the wheat will bo ripe enough to ; cut. The oat crops which have been reaped are all good and the grain is well filled. Some farmers state that their crops of wheat are affected with take all. but the disease is not very prevalent. Although early crops of rape did not turn out as well as was expected, on .account of the- continued;.cold weather, the later-sowV crops are making rapid growth.- . , DARFIELD. ~ .' The annual Xew Year's Eve dance, held in tho Memorial Hall under the auspices of the ladies of the Catholic congregation, was an unqualified success. The decorations, which weie carried out under the supervision of Mrs J'. O. Redfern, consisted of mauve and pink, whilst the stage was artistically decorated "with greenery and pink roses. Excellent music was contributed by Bradford's Orchestra. Christchurch, extras being played l>v Mr, Pringle (Mosgiel) and Miss Redfern. 'During the evening Mr Wilkes contributed a song. Several novelty danc-ss created . much. amusement, especially the Monte Carlo-competition dance, which was won by Mrs D. KeJlr and Mr M. 'Aylesbury.*

MARSHLAND. ' The weather, though very unfavourable for the hay harvest, has been, beneficial for other crops. The potatoes and onions are looking remarkably *"?U, and should blight not attack theiu yive promise of big yields. -. . . .The monthlv meeting of the School Comniitteo was held recently. liesent: .Messrs G. Chiinall (chairman), TJ. Goode, S. Marsh, T. Jesson, and "W. Waugh. Arrangements were made for the annual picnic to be held about the beginning of February, and the. Canterbury Jockey 'Club' will be _ asked for permission to hold the picnic en Hiccarton Racecourse. . A complaint was received concerning the unduly Jons and vigorous ringing of the ooh on N'ew Year's Ere by a few irresponsible.*. The comniitteo appealed to thoso concerned to uphold the dignity of the place and refrain from committing such acts in the future. Tho monthly meeting of the Hall Committee was held last' week. Present :• Messrs J. Blackburn (chairman), D. Goode, G. Chisnali, F. Smedley, 11. Monck, H. Hibbard, and W. Waugh. It was agreed to convert the library room into a kitchen, thereby supplying a much-needed addition to tho supper room.

The popularity of Mr and Mrs G. Jl. McMillan, who have till recently teen the storekeepers, was evidenced by the largo and enthusiastic gathering in the hall on Thursday evening. Dancing occupied the first part of the evening, this lieing ably controlled by Messrs F. Smedley and A. B. L. Smith. Splendid music was supplied by the .Marshland Jazz Band, while Mrs W. Barraball. accompanied by Miss Mary Hogal, contributed songs most acceptably. At 10.30 p.m. Mr Chisnall tool; the chair. Mr Chisnall expressed regret at tlio departuro of the guests, atid called cn Mr D. Goode to make to them a presentation on behalf of the Marshland residents. This took the form of a beautiful oak clock, suitably inscribed. In th© course of his speech Mr Goode ■said that there was not a family represented but had received some favour at Mr McMillan's hands. Mr J. Blackburn regretted the departure of such good citizens. Mr A. B. L. Smith, spoke in a similar strain. Mr Sniedley said that Marshland's loss - Harewood's gain to-morrow. W. Waugh said he knew Mr McMillan in a treblo capacity—in his public life, in his private life, and .'is a sportsman, and in all three he was a "white" man. All tho speakers eulogised the ability of Mrs McMillan in the store and in public life. Mr McMillan rose to reply, amid cheering, and thanked the Marshland people in a characteristic speech. Supper was then served and dancing resumed, thus ending a very pleasant function. AKAROA. The Oddfellows' ITall was a very full building on Saturday night. The occasion was a dance and euchre tournament . to raise, money for the' Dobson Mine relief fuiid. The function was run by members of the Gala Committee, tile euchre prizes were won by Mrs A. *l. Helps and Aliss Jiicobson. A choco-' late guessing competition was won bv Air J. Gallagher. Tho music for dancing was supplied by Mesdamcs IJ. Man son, ft. Pilkington, Misses Kearney Cullen, and ; Messrs Gallagher, and cuiien. During the. evening tho Mayor, Mr G Armstrong, thanked, all those who had assisted to make tho even in 2 a success, and announced that of £l9 • ,VOUW be " eiit t0 the extenfc „ I^. l ' Osborne Giddens, a well-known Peninsula tennis player, had the misfortune to dislocate hi> shoulder whilst serving ball on the Domain Courts on Saturday. Tho troop of Boy Scouts, wjio have ' a trek to Lake Kanieri, on the-l West. Coast,'are expected .to return! . Here to-morrow. j