COUNTY CENTRES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 150, 7 April 1930, Page 8

COUNTY CENTRES.

(From Oiir Own Correspondents). METHVEN. The weather was dull on Saturday, hut although rain threatened, it held off until the evening and the various sports on the Domain were not inteirupted. The opening of the football season was the principal event, gnd although a match against Springfield had to be postponed, a good practice match was played, some promising players being in action. The bowling season is, practically closed, but there was still a good muster of players on/ the green. Mr H. E. B. Watson, winner of the Maddison Trophy this year, was a t visitor, and took part in the play. There was a good muster of players on the croquet greens, and some competition games were played. The closing day will be held next Saturday, when trophies won during the season will be presented. As usual, the tennis courts were well patronised, and some good games were enjoyed.

MOUNT SOMERS.

Those present at the monthly meeting of the Mount Somers Scnool Committee, held on Saturday evening, wt re Messrs J. R. Loclchard (chairman). G. Green, H. Alexander and J. T. Bull. The* headmaster reported a rod cf 74 with an average attendance of 05.5 Tee Education Board advised that the application for additional accommodation would not be favourably considered by the Department unless it could be shown that the school possessed less than ten square feet of floor space per child in : average attendance, whereas the Mount Somers School has 10.5 square feet per pupil now on the roll. It was decided to apply to the Board for shelving accommodation in the infants’ room.

The spell of dry weather broke on . Saturday night, when light rain set in, followed by dull cool conditions yesterday, with further rain at night. The change is generally welcomed by farmers, who were becoming somewhat anxious regarding autumn and winter feed. Harvest festival services were held in the Mount Somers parish yesterday. The service at St. Aiden's was moderately attended, while the display of gifts was disappointing. The Rev. H. M. Cocks preached ,an appropriate sermon,-and special hymns and Psalms were sung, Mrs W. T. Goodrich officiating at thq organ The gifts will be forwarded to St. Saviour’s Orphanages. Over £2O has been raised in the Mount Somers district, comprising the township, Ashburton Gorge and Buccleuch, toward the cancer campaign. The Road! District’s total is oyer £SO. As an example of the travelling to be done in country districts it may/ be stated that a local canvasser registered over 80 miles travelling, and as the number of houses visited totalled 80, the average per house was slightly over a mile. The sum obtained was* nearly £2O. The Rev. S. J. Webb, who arrived from the West Coast last week to take over the Springburo charge, conducted his first service at the Presbyterian Church yesterday. PENDARVES. The following are the meteorological observations for March, recorded by Mr A. P. Bruce. Rain fell on five days, the maximum fall being .60in., on March 8. The total for March, 1930, was 1.28 in. For March, 1929, it was 2.27 in. The total for the year to date is Tin. For the corresponding period of 1929, it was 5.80 in. Three' mild frosts, 4.5 degrees, 5 degrees and 3 degrees, were recorded, on March' 11, 2d and 29 respectively. 1 Heavy rain is urgently needed to destroy the pests that are attacking rape and turnip crops. Many of these will be of little feeding value. Light drizzling rain fell throughout Saturday night, and up to 9 am. Sunday .09in. had fallen. CHERTSEY. ' . There was a good attendance at the Chertsey Social Club’s fortnightly function, which took place'in the hall on Saturday evening, the districts of Pendarves and Rakaia being represented. Mr Andrew Doig controlled the games, and competitions were won by Mrs J. Cronin (Sutton), Mrs Andrew Doig, MIS'. Hurst, and Mr C. McSweeney. Aftei supper a dance was held, the music being contributed by Mrs Cain, Misses V. Cain and N. Robinson, and Messrs J. Cronin and W. Culloty. Mr W. Cain acted as M.C. ■*■■■- ■— a DORIE. The rainfall at Dorie for March totalled 95 points, which was distributed over five days. The country is badly in need of a good heavy fall of rain. RAKAIA. The Rakaia Croquet Club held a series of competitions on Saturday. An enjoyable afternoon was spent. Those winning the competitions were : Mesdames Finlay, Turton, Black (2), and Miss Edgington.