COUNTY CENTRES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 97, 3 February 1934, Page 8

COUNTY CENTRES

(From Our Own Correspondents.) RAKAIA. Tho fimt monthly meeting for the year 'of Rakaia [Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union was heldi in St. Andrew's Schoolroom on Thursday afternoon. Mrs Boag presided over a good attendance. It was decided to ask Mrs Todd, of Christchurch, to address the March meeting. Later a meeting of the Presbyterian Ladies' Guild was held and arrangements were made for the coming bazaar to be held in the Town Hall on Thursday, March 22, in aid of the church funds. The various stalls and stallholders were arranged as follow'? Work stall, Mrs Breach and Miss Stevenson; sweets stall, Misses M. Oakley and-M. Lee; delicatessen, stall, Mrs 'Newman and Miss Boyd; produce stall, Mersdames Haddington and Gardiner; Rokeby stall, Mrs McP. Barclay and helpers; refreshment room, Mcsdames E. E. Oakley, O. Shannon, R. Croy, A. Shannon and 8. McAleer and helpers. It was decided to hold a further meeting of tho Ladies' Guild on Wednesday, February 14. Tho hostesses were Mrs C. Shannon and Miss StevehsonJ A meeting or the committee of the Bakaia Bowling Club was held on Thursday.evening, Mr O. Shannon presiding over a good attendance. In response to a request from the Friendly Societies' picnic committee, it was decided to arrange rinks to play at, .. Timaru on the day of the picnic. It was also decided to endeavour to arrange matches with the Akaroa and; Elmwood Clubs. The secretary reported that the Leeston and Southbridge Clubs would play a match against Bakaia, at Rakaia, on February 10. A balance-sheet of the recent bowls tournament showed a credit balance of £5.

The rainfall for January was 6.48 inches, compared with 3.07 inches for January. 1933. Bain fell on 15 days, the heaviest falls being recorded on the 6th )277 points) and 13th (162 points).

RUAPUNA. The changeable and unpleasant weather which prevailed during January was unsatisfactory from the point of view of farmers and holiday makers. Conditions were exceptionally wet and boisterous, and {the two hailstorms which swept through the district did very serious damage. On both occasions a phenomenal downpour of rain was experienced. The hail, however, was confined £o an area of about wvo miles wide. , The devastation left in its path was very, disheartening to farmers, all the crops suffering considerably. Cereal crops in some ca>ses were completely destroyed. Rape crops Were severely torn and tattered, and although they have recovered somewhat, thep ,are very backward. A ■total of 873 points o'f rain was recorded. This is the heaviest fall for any month since January, 1930, when there wore 1069 points. Rain fell on 15 days, the heaviest fall occurring on the afternoon of January 13, when 280 points fell, accompanied with hail. It has been estimated by several farmers rsituatcd in that locality that approximately 400 points of rain fell near the cemetery. This was amply borne out by the conditions of the paddocks and roadsides on the following day. The sun shone on 2.2 days during the month, seven of which were sunny all day.

At a. tennis match held on .the courts the local team defeated the Mayfield team by a few games. There was a good attendance at a dance held in the evening. Music was supplied by Miss Allan, extras* being played by Miss E. Johnstone and Mr W. Fagan.

CHERTSEY. With warmer weather approaching, the swimming pool in the Ohertsey Domain is being used by the residents and picnic parties. During the busy season the tennis courts are having a spell. Harvesting is in full swing, and a number of stacks are already to be seen. The weather up to the present has not been suitable for the headers to work, and quite a number of farmers have preferred to reap and stook their crops. A few hot days will finish ripening most of the wheat crops. Rape, turnip and other root crops are booking exceptionally well, and the prospects at present point to there being a large amount of winter feed this year. Splendid strikes of red clover are to be seen in the wheat crops. Lambs have not been fattening owing to the large amount of succulent feed, but with warmer weather to harden the pastures there will soon be larger drafts leaving the district. There is more labour offering than is required.

HINDS. Owing to the continued changeable conditions in the weather shearing has been long extended this season, and in one or two cases is not yet completed. In several instances farmers have bad the unenviable experience ef .shearing and harvesting at the same time. Some time ago men looking for harvest were very plentiful but now that harvesting is- so general men are very scarce. .Grasseeding has been long delayed, and from appearances as much ryegrass and Danthonia as u.sual has been gathering, but the quality is varied. Hinds at times has bad a very animated appearance. On at least one occasion in about a mile, radius five horse and trailer stripper were operating on Danthonia, a trailer stripper on ryegrass, a Heddei- harvester on ryegrass, and a horse reaper and two trailer reapers en Dunn "oats, while adjoining a Diesal tractor was ploughing._ The cereal crops in the main have been exceptionally good, though the general rains came rather late for some oii the grain stalks. Messrs Tilson and Tilton and Bird have threshed rather more than 53 bushels of Dunn oats per acre. A record wheat yield seems as--1 rsnred.

It must be many years since this district presented such a plentiful supply of green feed at this season. With all the supply of feed lambs and ewes are not fattening as they should. The demand for stud rams and ewes for next season ha« been brisk. Petty thieving \a taking place, fowls, 'eggs, vegetables and fruit being the principal object. The springs have risen considerably. The Hinds River still carries a good stream and as it contains several nice pools every opportunity for swimming is being availed of by the young people of the district.