COUNTY CENTRES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 83, 18 January 1928, Page 8

COUNTY CENTRES

<From Our Own Correspondents.) RAKAIA. An old identiy of Rakaia, Mrs M. Brown, passed away at her residence, Mitchell Street, last week. -Mrs Brown was born at Townhead, Glasgow. Mr and Mrs Brown settled at Kaiapoi for several years, going to Rakaia thirtyeight years ago. Mrs Brown had been in indifferent health for some time. She was. predeceased by her husband ten years ago, but she is survived by four sons—Messrs James, Alexander, Hugn, and Douglas Brown, one (Mr Roderick Brown) having been killed in the Great War—and one daughter (Mrs Thompson). There are 19 grandchildren. The funeral, which was conducted by the Rev Mr Boothroyd, in "the absence, orthe Rev. A. S. Morrison, took place a I the Rakaia Cemetery. ; MAYFIELD. . *1 The Mavfield Gun Club held a shoot on Saturday afternoon on the A. and P Association grounds. There was a large attendance. The cups and trophies won during the past season were presented bv Mrs li. Noswoß'thy, as follow/—President's cup, T. F. Sewell; Hammond and Turner cup, D. J. Morrow- trophy given by an anoymous .donor, D. J. Morrow; Collins and Co.'s trophy, D. J, Morrow, M... Coffey's trophy, T. F. Sewell; Robilliard and son's trophy, G. W. Ross; R. Tedford's trophy, G. W. Ross. The chairman of the club (Mr D. Duff) congratulated the winners, and spoke of the successful season the club had experienced. He moved a rote of thanks to all the donors of cups and trophies. The following were the results of the matches fired "during the afternooni: —Ten bird match: N. B. Morrow (with a possible), T. F. Sewell and L. R. Harrison (equal) seconds Ten bird sweep: « . J. Robertson (with a possible), C .W. Gillies.and N. B. Morrow dividing second and third money. Seven bird match: T. R. Harrison, W. K. Bellow second. Match for a cup presented by P. J. Dowell: K. Dellow, with TV. Dellow second, and D. J. Morrow third. Double-rise sweep: L. R. Harrison, with G. W. .&oss-second. A memorial service was held in the Presbvterian Church on Sunday for the late Mr G. Murdoch. The church was suitable draped in black. The Rev. A. D Kirkland conducted the. service.

ASHBUHTON FORKS. Farmers still have to contend with unseasonable weather which, however, has somewhat improved lately. One farmer stated this week that a spell of good weather for the next three weeks would be most welcome. In the Greenstreet district a beginning has been made to reap early oat crops, but most of the crops are very backward. All cereals are reported to have made luxuriant growth, but under the thick misty rains that have been so frequent, many have been laid, some only temporally, ■while others in patches will not rise again, though' this applies chiefly to Dun oats. Weeds have grown in a rank way, too, and in some of the wheat crops weeds that have never been seen before have made their appearance. A record quantity of hay has been saved this vear, though much of it suffered fromthe -weather before it was stacked. The turnip fly lias made its presence apparent in -some crops this: season, but despite, this the turnip crops promise well. Shearing was a long job this season owing to the frequent rains and little real "dicing, but the last local farmer finished* a week ago. The wool is lighter, than usual. The year has not been erne of the best for lambs either. Though well-grown they are not getting away as earlv as usual .* Lower down in the Greonstreet locality they are reported to be doing well, and some have been sent forward to the works. . * Round the foothills the wet conditions have had a more pronounced effect than in the Ashburton Forks district, and the hills locality has bad much rain and cloudiness not experienced lower on the plains. Old residents state that they have never known a

verse- year for shearing, and many ot the shearers have been unable to.make £1 a week, so broken has been the work. Sheep have been put under cover whenever partially dry, and in cases have been shorn before they were thoroughly dry. The wool is not m the best of condition, though there are exceptions. An Alford Forest farmer has for some years been budding up a flock of his own breeding, and can this sea«on show a clip of exceptional! quality. The wool is heavy, clean, long of staple, and fine, and it should brin" - him recompense for lus trouble | and expense of recent years. Anart from the breeding he attributes much of the qualitv of his wool to the. sheep dip he is using. There is still a deal of shearing to*be don© round the hills. The crops in. the Alford Forest district have not suffered much with the heavy rains, but; on. the heavier lands about Springburn they have gone' down again and again, and now much will not hi able to bo reaped. One paddock of heavy oats near the main road has been one- of the worst eases. Nine-tenths of the paddock ha.s been laid by some of the rains, leaving areas without a blade upright. As in other parte, warm clear weather is needed, but up to the present wet misty days keep returning.