COUNTY CENTRES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 153, 10 April 1930, Page 8

COUNTY CENTRES.

(From Our Own Correspondente). STAVELEY. A heavy soaking rain J. Mo ™Z™ the mistv conditions of the. last few davs set* in on Tuesday evening, and S rain was still falling morning. If followed by moderatecondltionsthe rain will greatly benefit the turnip crops and the pastures winch, during the drier weather of last month had made very little growth The total rainfall for March was only 119 joints, rain being recorded on eight days. For March of last year the rainfall was 404 points. Local beekeepers have had a lean year according to the biggest local producer. Beekeeping has developed considerably locally during the last lew years, when conditions have been lav- ' curable, but this season has seen so few long, warm days that bees were seldom able to leave the hives. RAKAIA. After 15 points of rain had fallen during the week-end, the weather cleared on Monday,, and the day was fine. Toward evening misty clouds sathered, but no more rain fell until early on Tuesday morning Fine misty rain fell at intervals on Tuesday, becoming heavier at night, and at nine o'clock' yesterday morning the gauge registered 31 points. . PENDARVES. A sharp change in temperature occurred on Tuesday afternoon, when the wind veered to the south, bringing light, drizzling showers of ram. During the^night steady rain set in, with the result that up to 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning 21 points were recorded, making a total of 32 points for the month. Conditions were later foggy, and with every indication for further ram. lhe present fall, although not heavy, will be of immense value to farmers, and will soften the surface of the ground in preparation for further rain. The recent dry spell, although detrimental to green crops, allowed' the killing, of / twitch to proceed without interruption, and farmers took full advantage of the opportunity. RUAPUNA. The Ruapuna Swimming Club, which was revived last year, will conclude its activities to-morrow evening, when the prizes won during the year will be distributed. Mr W. C. Smith (patron of the Ashburton Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association) and Mr J. C. C. McLachlan (chairman of the Centre) will visit the district for the occasion. A considerable amount of interest was shown in Ruapuna during the past season. MOUNT SOMERS.

Despite the wet night there was a good muster, including a number of new members, at the opening shoot of the Mount Somers Miniature Rifle Club, held on Tuesday evening. The highest scores were:—Seniors, W. Morgan 64; juniors, A. Thompson 31. Other good scores were: 0. Gluvas 63, 61; J. Gorrie 60, H. Hood 60. Arrangements have been made *o play a fnendlv match with the Ruapuna Tennis Club on Saturday, at Mount Somers. Despite the failure of two meetings convened for the purpose of forming a local football club, enthusiasts are still sanguine regarding prospects, and it is stated that sufficient names for a team have been obtained. After several days of threatening conditions welcome rain set in from the south-west on Tuesday, and increased into a heavy downpour during the night, 87 points being recorded yesterday morning; Pastures which had begun to snow ill effects of the dry spell, are again refreshed and greew, thus dispelling the anxiety regarding the supply of autumn and winter feed, felt by farmers, of whom are heavily over-stocked, endeavouring to carry on until more favourable markets offer. Several potato growers state "that their crops are a practical failure this season, chiefly attributable to having been flooded during the heavy rains last January. The 1 present season has been an unprofitable one for beekeepers, too. The honey yield equals from a third to half of those usually obtained, and prominent beekeepers state the season has been the worst ever experienced in this localitv. Evidence that the failure is not only local but general, is afforded bv the fact that prominent officials throughout the Dominion state that the season is the worst experienced for over 20 years. It is anticipated that the Dominion's total crop will be about a third of that obtained last year.