COUNTY CENTRES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 252, 5 August 1933, Page 8

COUNTY CENTRES

(From Our Own' Correspondents.) WAKANUI. The Wakanui Women's Institute met in the Early Settlers' Hall on Wednesday afternoon, Mrs IS. P. Taylor presiding. Mrs F. Curtis (president of the Ashburton Women's Institute) gave a resume of the recent conference held in Christchurch. A very interesting demonstration on the spinning of wool was given by Mrs Garriock, who also exhibited a shawl and scarf she had knitted from wool spun by herself. Mesdames Curtis and A. Fooks gave demonstrations of weaving, the former exhibiting several specimens of tweed and the latter a number of cotton articles. The competition for the best article made out of a flour bag resulted:—Mrs, D. Butterick 1, Mrs G. Leadley 2. Good business was done at the sales table. Misses Eden, Butterick, and Bennison dispensed afternoon tea.

ANAMA. The fortnightly euchre evening was held at the residence of Mr C. Maidens on Thursday' niglS. There was a good attendance and an enjoyable time was spent. Prizes were Avon by "Mrs Rushton and Mrs and Mr R. Brown and Clifford CamyTfeTi. Mr Rushton moved a hearty vote of thanks,to Mr Maidens. After several days of north-west weather a cold south-west wind sprang up on Thursday evening. It was accompanied by heavy rain. 54 points being recorded up to 9 a.m. yesterday. HINDS. While the County Council steam roller was proceeding up the Hinds-Arun-del Main Highway on Thursday, sparks were carried by the hard northwest wind into Mr H. McConnell's gorse fence, igniting it. The driver immediately took steps to combat the outbreak, but as 'tlie fire had a good hold he could not make much headway until he was joined by others. About 15 chains of fencing and nearly 20 acres-of fescue stubble were burned. A pukeko which recently took up its abode at a local farm house has proved itself to be a marauder and thief, robbing ducks' and fowls' nests and eating the eggs. The migratory dottrel has returned to the local fields. The inch of rain that fell from the southwest on Thursday night will be cf great benefit. Grass appears to have responded to it wonderfully, a growth being noticed in the young grass and grain crops. From all appearances an early spring seems assured. * Agricultural work was slightly delayed by the recent rain, but teams and tractors are working much overtime to get the necessary crops sown, which even if a few days later must appreciably benefit. At least 10 horses arrive at school daily. The families drive from varying distances, the furthest being seven miles. It is expected that the Department will eventually make Hinds a consolidated school, its central situation being well suited for this.