COUNTY CENTRES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 197, 2 June 1934, Page 8

COUNTY CENTRES

(From Our Own Correspondents.) RAKAIA. The rainfall registered at Rakaia during May was 4.08 inches, compared with 2.11 inches for May, 1933. Bain fell on 13 days, the maximum fall, 2.49 inches, occurring on May 4. The total rainfall for the first five months of the year was 16.80 inches, compared with 6.68 inches for a similar period of last year. The opening meeting of the Rakaia Band of Hop© was held in St. Mark’s Schoolroom on Thursday evening, Mr A. Allan presiding over a good 1 attendance. A tejmperance address w r as given by the Rev. W. E. Moore. Piano solos were played by Misses - Edits' Kidd, Hazel McGeorge, Rosina Pluck, Mr Moore, and Fred Allan and Trevor Mead. . Songs were sung by Misses Hazel McGeorge and Doreen Pluck; a mouth-organ solo_ was played by George Smith, and a banjo soloj by Bert Anderson. Miss Edna Kidd was the accompaniste. A meeting the Rakaia snb-.bi>aMi;h of the Plunket Society was held in the library on Thursday afternoon. Mrs A. S. Henderson presided. The nurse’s report for March, showed that she had visited the district on four occasions. There had been 99 visits to the rooms (adults 48, babies 36, pre-school children 15). New cases totalled two. In April she had visited the district four times. Adults visiting the rooms numbered 48, babies 41, and pre-scliool children 20—a total of 109. There were two new cases. The health of the babies was satisfactory. A donation of £5 from the South Rakaia Road Board was received with thanks. An appeal for funds for the Christchurch Karitane Hospital was received, and it was decided to send £2. The annual effort to raise funds was discussed, and it was agreed to hold a dance in July and to ask the. district committees to assist.

RUAPUNA. The weather during May was a continuation of the cold and wet conditions which prevailed in April, the boisterous winds and frequent storms being very unpleasant. The sun shone on 21 days, eight of which were sunny all day. A total of 465 points of rain, which fell on nine days, was recorded, the heaviest fall occurring on April 3, 4 and 5, when 354 points were registered. This is the heaviest fall since January, 1930. The rainfall for May. 1933, was 231 points. The total rainfall for the year is 2209 points, the heaviest for the period since records were first taken in 1929, the highest previous total being 1876 points in 1932. The average for the period over the five years is 1502 points. Lambs continue to scour due to the wet conditions, and losses are fairly general.

STAVELEY. May was a tempestuous month, heavy rains and heavy gales being experienced, but so broken were conditions that frosts were not so numerous as is usually the case in May. This fact and tho abundance of moisture resulted in a late growth of feed. Rain fell on 10 days. The heaviest fall, 228 points, was on the 4th, and the month’s, total was 511 points. In May last year the fall was 378 points. The total fall fo'r the first five months ot : this year and last year is 23.86 inches and’ 17.80 inches respectively.

Wl LLOWBY,

The meteorological observations for May are as follow: —The sunshine penetrated the clouds on 25 days, on 11 of which the maximum amount-of sunshine was recorded. Fourteen frosts were experienced. The prevailing wind was from the south-west. Rain fell on eight occasions, the maximum fall occurring for the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. on May 5, when the registration was 2.78 inches. Tfie total for the month was 4.61 inches, the highest for May for several years. The registration for May last year was 1.72 inches, and for May of 1932 was 3.63 inches. The total precipitation for the first five months of the year was 16.86 inches, while those for the corresponding periods of 1933 and 1932 were 5.59 inches and 10.31 inches respectively. The fortnightly meeting of the Willow by Mutual Improvement Society was well attended. Mr Alan Chapman presided. , Tiro subject was “Newspaper Discussion,” the opening lecturettes on the various phases being delivered as follow: —Leader and leaderettes, Mr G. H. B. Lill; women’s pages, Mrs B. T. Clothier; cables, Miss A. C. Lloyd; contentions, Mr H. F. K. Hayman; advertisements, Mrs S. H. Lill. The discussions which followed tTffiso interesting speeches ■ were both thoughtprovoking and, at times,, humorous, showing what a fund of knowledge, interest’ and humour can be derived from the proper, thorough and regular reading of New Zealand’s daily journals. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chair, and the singing of the National Anthem. Miss IC. S toddart was pianisto. The Rev. A. J. Seamcr’s Maori Male Voice Choir presented an excellent programme of hakns, pois, waiatas, part songs, solos, trios, harmonies and concerted items in the Willowby Hall on Thursday. The items were all well received by an appreciative audience. The concert was hold under the auspices of the Methodist Home and Maori Mission.