NORTH CANTERBURY NEWS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22506, 14 September 1938, Page 6

NORTH CANTERBURY NEWS

DRIAMA FESTIVAL AT RANGIORA

FIVE PLAYS PRESENTED IN TOWN HALL | ACTING OF GOOD AMATEUR STANDARD REACHED Acting of a good amateur standard was reached by those who took part in the annual drama festival of the North Canterbury area of the British Drama League which was held in the Rangiora Town Hall on Monday evening. There was a large audience. Five one-act plays were presented, the selection offering a fair range of comedy, farce, and tragedy. The interpretation given to individual parts was, on the whole, sincere, although there were instances when players were not ideally cast. This was particularly noticeable in studies of ultramodern and sophisticated life, when the portrayal of characters did not suggest that players were familiar with the type they sought to express. Nevertheless, in each play members of the cast showed appreciation of the finer points of dialogue; lines were not recited but spoken, gestures were used naturally, and. particularly in comedy and farce, the action was well maintained. A general criticism of the plays and of the acting of each member of tho casts was given by Mr D. E. Dali, of Christchurch, who will judge the productions when the festival will be concluded this evening. Four more plays will be presented to-night. RANGIORA COUNTY COUNCIL SATISFACTORY RESPONSE TO DEMANDS FOR RATES

Demands for rates for the Rangiora County Council have met with quite a satisfactory response so far, according to the County Clerk (Mr S. G. Dailey). About £ISOO has been received to date, and it is expected that to-morrow and Friday the council staff will be busy coping with payments made by ratepayers desirous of securing the 5 per cent, rebate, which is allowable until Friday. ARRANGEMENTS MADE FOR SHOW ASSOCIATION MEETS AT RANGIORA

Further arrangements for the forthcoming Northern Agricultural and pastoral Association’s show at Rangiora were made by the association at its meeting yesterday. Recommendations for the sheep dog trials, which will be held this year in conjunction With the show, were adopted. It was reported that four men discharged from the Ashley river control scheme had been provided with work by the association. The men are engaged in .clearing reserves. ' * A contribution of £1 Is was made to the Canterbury Progress League. A motion of sympathy was passed with the relatives of Mr H. Mclntosh, who died recently.

PERSONAL NOTES RANGIORA Messrs A. Buckingham, H. H. Matthews, W. T. N. Keir, J. M. Fraser and J. A. Bell, of Rangiora, are visiting Wellington for the annual conference of the New Zealand Power Boards and Supply Authorities’ Association. Mr I. Dartnall (Greymouth) is spend ing a holiday with his parents, Mr and Mrs P. L. Dartnall, Ivory street, Rangiora. Miss Hilda Tallott (Hanmer) is visiting her parents, Mr and Mrs H. Tallott; Gust. Messrs E. J. Inch and G. W. Pearson were nominated for membership on the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association, at the association’s meeting in Rangiora yesterday. AKAROA Guests of Mr and Mrs A. T. Rhodes, Percy street, Akaroa, for the wedding of Miss Joyce Rhodes to Mr R. J. Phillips, Included Mr and Mrs R. Woodsford (Wellington), Mrs C. Rhodes and daughter (Port Chalmers), Mr and Mrs Robert Rhodes (Porter’s Pass), Mr Douglas Rhodes (Greenpark), Miss Bennett (Greenpark), Messrs Keith and Alister RicKerby (Christchurch), Mr and Mrs P. Irving (Christchurch).

Miss Peggy Burke, Paraparaumu, who was a bridesmaid at the wedding of her cousin. Miss Joyce Rhodes, to Mr R. J. Phillips, is the guest of Mrs A. T. Rhodes, Percy street, Akaroa. Mis? Comer (Christchurch) has been staying with Miss Haylock, William street, and Mrs A. R. Haylock, Onuku, Akaroa. '>

Mr S. C. Naismith, Akaroa, has consented to act on the Akaroa District High School Committee in place of Mr A. M. Helps, who recently resigned. Mr W. R. Miles, who for two years was on the staff of the “Akaroa Mail,” has accepted a position on the staff of the “Standard,” Wellington. Mr R. W. Dunwoodie, of the staff of the Akaroa Post Office, has received notice of his transfer to the Napier Post Office. RANGIORA HIGH SCHOOL After a three weeks’ vacation the Rangiora High School reopened yesterday. About 30 pupils were absent through sickness, the general complaints being colds or measles.

WAIREWA COUNTY COUNCIL

INCREASED GRANT TO PROGRESS LEAGUE

RETURN TO ORIGINAL BASIS

PROPOSED

Mr P. R. Climie, organiser of the Canterbury Progress League, waited on the Wairewa County Council at its last meeting about league matters. He pointed out that though the .league had cut down its activities during the last six years, it now wished to get back on to its original basis. The former income was £I4OO, but during the depression it had been reduced to just about £6OO. , After hearing Mr Climie, the council decided to revert to its original contribution to the league, namely, £2l in place of £ls contributed foi the last few years. Mr Climie thanked the council for its support. There were present Councillors i. Coop (chairman), W. H. Montgomery, E. J. Keenan, F. Feather, J. O. Coop, W. F. Parkinson, and N. Wright. Cr. Montgomery referred to the death of Archbishop Julius, and amotion of sympathy was passed with his relatives. . . , , The chairman reported that he had taken up the matter of clearing the stream at Little River of willows with the Hon. R. Semple, Minister for Public Works, in Wellington. The Minister had confirmed his previous arrangement and v any further cost would be entirely borne by the department. The portion of the stream to be cleared would be from the bridge above Mrs T. Thompson’s property to the hotel. It was proposed to make two deviations in the course of the stream and there were about 1200 willow trees to be pulled out. It was decided that Crs. Cobp and Keenan, with Mr Renner, should submit an estimate of repairs to the pound and a report on the poundkeeper’s position. The engineer said the recent lettingout of the lake had cost about £75. Cr. Wright said that slips on the Reynolds Valley road wanted attention. The Christchurch City Council wrote about the Canterbury court for the Centennial Exhibition and the proposed history of Canterbury. The chairman stated he had attended the conference in Christchurch and had said the council would agree to support the court and the history of Canterbury. The Department of Internal Affairs wrote that money raised locally would be subsidised £1 for £3 for local centennial memorials if approved. The chairman reported this was in reference to the proposed purchase of the two acres of land adjoining the Awa-ili Domain. He said the purchase had to be approved by the Maori Land Court. The land could be paid for in 1940. It was resolved that no action be taken at present. Mr D. Richards wrote that he did not wish to act as the council’s representative on the Canterbury Patriotic Fund and Mr J. O. Coop was appointed in his place. RUGBY FOOTBALL DATE FOR ELLESMERE’S GAME WITH ASHBURTON It was decided at a meeting of the Ellesmere Rugby. Sub-Union on Monday night, to accept September 24 for the postponed representative matches i With the Ashburton Union, and to suggest October 1 for matches with North Canterbury. Sympathy was extended to Messrs W. M. Nidd, B. P. Moran, and E. Watkins, who had suffered bereavements The Canterbury Union advised that the New Zealand Union had upheld a decision given by the Canterbury Union on the Southbridge-Lincoln match about which an appeal had been lodged This meant that the disputed match was awarded to Lincoln. • A protest against the Leeston Club was made by Irwell for playing second grade members in a third grade team. It was explained that there had been difficulty in securing a full third grade team for a curtain-raiser match and that the second grade players had been included on that account. In view of the circumstances it was decided not to impose a penalty in this case, but to draw attention to the necessity of observing the rule.

A motion moved by Mr B. Moran that all delegates, whether their clubs had first grade teams or not, should have equal voting powers, was carried. It was decided that Lincoln and Dunsandel should play for the McClelland Cup to-day. and that the winning team should meet Southbridge next Saturday. The need for a stricter observance of the rules was emphasised by Mr I. D. Blair. The secretary stated that the rules were being revised. • UNITED WINS MOCKETT ROSE BOWL MATCH United beat Culverden by 11 points to 8 points, in the annual match for the Mockett Rose Bowl, which is competed for by the winners and runnersup of the Hurunui Rugby Sub-Union senior competitions. Mr S. Maxwell was the referee. In the junior match. United beat Culverden by 15 points to 3. LABOUR CANDIDATE AT MEDBURY There was a largo and representative audience recently in the Medbury Public Hall to hear an address by Mr H. E. Denton, Labour candidate for the Hurunui seat in the coming election. Mr C. S. Brooker presided. The candidate received an attentive hearing, his address being on similar lines to those he had previously given. A unanimous vote of thanks was passed. DANCE AT MEDBURY A dance was held recently in the Medbury Public Hall as a farewell to Mrs A. Sykes (a member of the social committee), who has left the district to reside on the West Coast. For the residents, Mr J. Fletcher presented Mrs Sykes with a gift. Mr J. Fletcher was master of ceremonies. The music was played by Mrs J. Fletcher.

ALLOCATION NOT

APPROVED

DECISION- OF WAIPARA COUNTY COUNCIL

CENTENNIAL CONTRIBUTION

The clerk reported at a meeting of the Waipara County Council having attended a conference in Christchurch about the proposed Canterbury court at the centenial exhibition, and other features of the centennial celebrations, the estimated cost to Canterbury local authorities being £30,000, of which the share allocated tentatively to the Waipara County was £627. He said that the allocation of the cost among individual local authorities was not in some instances favourably received, and it had been resolved to circularise each local body and ascertain the amount of money that would be made available, and their attitude toward the proposals. This circular letter was considered by the council, and it was decided not to accept the allocation as set out in the schedule, but that a contribution of £IOO would be made during the present financial year providing validation legislation was brought down. The question of further grants could be dealt with in future years. Advice was received from the District Engineer, Public Works Department, that the proposals for the improvement of Reece’s road, Omihi, had been approved. The council considered and approved proposals for improvements to the Stonyhurst, Blythe, and Happy Valley roads, and directed that they be forwarded to the Public Works Department. The chairman, Mr Alexander Cowie, was elected to represent the council on the executive of the Canterbury Patriotic Fund.

An inquiry was considered from the postmaster, Waikari, asking for an expression of opinion about an alteration of the telephone exchange hours of attendance from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. to 8 pm. Members were not in favour of any change being made, as the present hours were most convenient for the farming community, and the business section could derive no benefit from the alteration proposed.

- The clerk was instructed to survey the site of certain proposed additional drains in the Hawarden township, with a view to dealing with flood waters. The formation of three chains of road off Oxford street, Waikari, was authorised.

The financial statement showed that since the last meeting £2805 2s lOd had been collected and banked, and that at the date of the meeting there was an overdraft in the county fund account of £970 2s lOd. which would be increased to £IBBB 2s 3d when the accounts for payment had been met.

SPRINGSTON CHURCH RALLY

The annual church rally was held in the Springston Methodist Church recently. After tea a meeting was held in the church, the Rev. H. Cottom presiding. A programme of music and recitations was given by a party from Christchurch, organised by the Rev. Wesley Parker, of the Sydenham Church. An address was given by the Rev. Gordon Parker, of Tai Tapu. Reports from the various parts of the circuit were given as follows: — Springston, Mr J. W. Marshall; Broadfields, Mr D. Butcher; Weedons, Mr L. Chambers; Templeton, Mr Musgrove.

CARD EVENING AT SPRINGSTON

There was a good attendance at a flag 500 evening in aid of the funds of the Springston Cricket Club. Successful players were Mr and Mrs H. Grimwood and Mr T. Hanna. Consolation prizes were won by Mr and Mrs J. Benny and Mr J. MarnelL

WOMEN’S TEMPERANCE UNION

The monthly meeting of the Shirley- . Richmond branch of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union was held in the Presbyterian Schoolroom witn Mrs Woods presiding. One new member was enrolled. An interesting letter from Sister Alice, describing her temperance work on the West Coast, was read hy the acting secretary. Members stood in silence as • tribute to the memory of Miss Jessie Mackey, and Archbishop Julius. A paper on the early life of Francis Willard was given by Mrs StrawAfternoon tea was served by the hostesses.