COUNTY CENTRES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVII, Issue 10805, 28 December 1926, Page 8

COUNTY CENTRES

(From Our Ov.a Correspondent)

SPRINGBURN.

A wet Christmas Eve a co ld wet Christmas, which drew families and friends round the fire and made the Christmas dinn appropriate. Picnicking was out of the Question, and as the day wore on the rain became heavier. Sunday and Boxhig Day were also wet dismal days which gave no inducement to go to farming pursuits. Shearing ie stm far from completed, many farmers not vet having started; while shearers, with the enforced idleness, are making peer wages. On many pastures the feed has become so rank and lon cr that only a north-wester will effectively dry the sheep, and the continual damp is good for neither the wool nor the lamb. Round the foothills the season has been cold and backward with the result that crops are not yet very forward, while the recent wet and sometimes humid conditions have been conducive of fungus diseases. lurtiei from the foothills the season has suited the districts mucin better,' and there are many exceptional crops which, owing to the abnormal growth, will require much labour in the liarresting.

ALFORD FOREST. The funeral of Mr Andrew McFarlane was conducted at the Alford Forest cemetery on Christmas morning. A very large number gathered to pay "their respects to the county’s oldest pioneer: The service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. R. Dickie, of the Springhurn Presbyterian! Church, who in a short address said that with the death of Mr McFarlane the district’s oldest pioneer had passed. He had prepared the way for other generations and he had lived long enough to see them build upon the foundations laid by pioneers whom it behove the present generation to revere. The Ashburton County Council was represented by Mr Angus Horsey (chairman) and the Mount Somers Road Board by Mr ,J. Lockhard (chairman).

MOUNT SOMERS. The Christmas season was marred by "unpropitious weather elements, which ■necessitated! the abandiment of all out of door pastimes, besides being a disappointment to people visiting the district in contemplation of spending happy hours in picnicking. . Despite the adverse elements, however, a cheerful spirit prevailed - On Christmas Day, Mass was said at 630 a.m. in the Catholic Church by th© Rev. Father Price (Methven) and was largely attended. The church was beautifully decorated. Services were field in the Anglican Church in the morning and evening. Both sei vices, which were well attended, were conducted by the vicar (the Rev. J, \\ •x . Dyler). The church was beautifully decorated. __ . , Steady raint set in at mid-day Christmas Eve, being driven by a driving southerly wind. Eighty-seven points were recorded at 9 o’clock on Christmas morning. The rain continued throughout Chritsmas Day—the wind changing to the north east—until Sunday m°rnins, and' showers fell throughout the day and a greater part of yesterday. Late yesterday afternoon conditions became promising for a return to settled conditions and the sun peeped through the clouds at short intervals. Ninety-two poinits of rain were recorded on Sunday morning and 32 points yesterday morning, and a furtliei io points this morning, making a total fall of 2.27 inches during the storm. Two noteable features of the storm is the prolonged spell of north-east winds since Christmas djay, and the steady temperature, which has not risen above 55 degrees, nor fallen below 48 degrees, since the commencement of the storm. The minimum readings were 48 degrees for the last four consecutive mornings. , . j Further showers fell last night and -this morning was again overcast and misty, although quite clear m the Ashburtoh Gorge at an early hour As far as can be gathered no damage has been done to the crops, but farmers are most anxious for a return to fi™ weather, as prolongation of wet damp conditions will soon spoil many crops.

methven. The weather throughout the holidays at Methven was very bad. Bain commenced on Friday afternoon and with slight intermission continued till tins morning, 233 points being registered for that period. The wet weather came at a very unfortunate time, as hot weather was needed for the crops, which were looking particularly well. The prospects now are not so promising as a week ago. Mildew has made its appearance in the wheat crops, and unless drying winds and hot weather are experienced the yields will be much less than was anticipated. Shopkeepers in Methven _ report disappointing business on Christmas Eve, probably due to the steady rain. Many people put off their Christmas shopping until the last minute, and on this occasion left it too long.