COUNTY CENTRES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 74, 8 January 1930, Page 8

COUNTY CENTRES.

(From Our Own Correspondents), SEAFIELD. The district could do with a week of warm weather to bring away the rape and turnips, which the recent rains have given a good start. Early oats are practically all reaped, many paddocks being stacked. Miss Joyce Mitchell is spending her vacation in Timaru. Misses C. Bolton and T. Watts are the guests of Airs J. Gregory. Aliss Laura Taylor is the guest of Miss N. Bennison, Charing Cross. RUAPUNA. The north-west gale on Saturday afternoon prevented the t&nnis tournament being played. Work lias been started on the erection of . the new fence around No. 3 court. The weather during the week has been variable and .showery, with northwest winds prevailing, and at times approaching gale force., During the month of December the weather proved very variable. The following is a record of tlie rainfall fpr the last five months: August 42-5 - points, September 4.07, October 88, November 201, December 606. Heavy rain from the south-west fell on Sunday morning, registering 69 points. The surrounning hills and mountains have a fresh coating of snow, which tends to make the air colder. Owing to the showery weather, shearing operations are backward, and sonic of tiie lambs are scorning and losing the condition gained during the dry month of October and tlie satisfactory month of November. December has been much too wet for the good of the district, especially for fattening purposes, and tlie likelihood of lambs going away fat off the mothers, as was predicted in October, is now practically negligible. Oat crops are heading and looking well. Early turnip crops are doing well, but rape crops, owing to the wet weather keeping tlie ground too cold, are backward.. The two sawmills are gradually clearing up those trees suitable for mining purposes tliat were blown down ny tlie severe gales of last year. A .urge number or tne trees have been growing lor over oU years, ftoliie of die largest of the pines measure 14 to i(3 feet around the butt. With so many of these old-established trees olown down and having been practically the first obstacles that the northwesters struck after coming through che Rangitata Gorge, there is a probaoility that the trees hereto not hardened to standing the full force of the gales will blow down on the occasion that a severe north-wester sweeps the district.

The new concrete wall in tlie swimming bath is very successful. Although there was some doubt as to whether the baths would hold water after the charge of gelignite was used to empty, them for cleaning purposes, they are how overflowing, arid swimming is being enjoyed by all interested. Visitors invariably comment on the beauty of the domain and its surroundings.