ASHBURTON ITEMS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17273, 11 October 1921, Page 5

ASHBURTON ITEMS.

Paddling Pond.

Amongst other improvements and additioaa* facilities for enjoyment in the noggin, there is now a paddling pool f or children, which has just been laid down in concrete at the southern jnd of the oval, and in the centre of two ro ws of swings. ' ' Golf. The closing of the golf season attracted a large number of players and their friends. Much interest was centred in the men's championship, which wß s won by H. A. Boddingtou, who .' best W. C. Rawnsley. The president, 3u- D. Wood, warmly congratulated members on the keen interest they had taken in the game from the opening to the closing day. The club competitions during the season resulted as under: —Ladies' championship, Mrs Thomson; men's championship, H. A. Boddington. Bermaline Cups: Ladies. Miss Christian; men, H. H. Allan ana j '■; H. A. Boddington. Barnett vase: .Ladies. Mrs Kennedy; men, H. Thom- , sdb.yThe May medals were won respectively by Mrs Rawnsley and H. H. <, Allan; those for June by Miss BonE.aington and W. C. Rawnsley; those •for July by Miss Orbell and D. Wood; /and, those for August by Miss Stewart :;,and H. A. Boddington. Numerous ;'/other trophies were won during the ■ season in competition amongst the' ladies # The committee of the club have been '

considering the advisability of "securing . new links, and with this end in view ■■;' have approached the Borough Council : for the use of a reserve of about 3fl .; acres at the end of East Btreet, and : near the northern approach to the Ash- • burton traffic bridge. If a lease of this '~ reserve can be secured at a reasonable : rental, the club is prepared to spend ' a sum of from £300.t0 £4OO upon it, and this the committee consider would convert it into a really splendid niiie- :' hole course.

Old Boys' Football Club.

At the annual dinner and reunion of the Old •Boys' Football Club, Mr T. J. Hunter presided, and was supported his right by Mr F. W. Walters (headmaster of the High School) and on hj» left by Mr F. B. Robilliard (president : of tho Ashburton .County Rugby Union). There were also present members of the Referees' Association, Celtic Football Club, Ashburton Football Club, and Golf Club. # A number of toasts were honoured, interspersed with musical items. «

Hospital Board.

. - The monthly meeting of the Hospital v^:"Board' was held yesterday. Present: /-Messrs O. Eeid (chairman), T. J. 8. K Doherty, T. W.- Watt, W. H. Kobin,Boo4 W. G. Gallagher, A., Horsey, J. <* Bruce, W. T. Lfll, i , . The chairman, in his report, stated that' until the • matron' took up her duties at the Malvern Home, matters would remain unsettled. "Up to tUo end- of September, 16 cases nad been received and discharged from the homo. • The medical superintendent reported that there were 61 patients in the hospital on September 30th. During Sepdischarged; 'The figures constituted a record for the institution. ■ The treasurer "reported a credit balance of- £1796 6s sd. •- Messrs Horsey, and :Watt were appointed to the visiting committee, a The Director-General of . Hospitals reported favourably on the one acre at the Bakaia Domain as i *ite for a, cottage hospital, and the. chairman stated that steps had been taken to

have the necessary legislation passed this session to empower the Rakaia Domain Board to transfer the land to the Hospital Board. . 8 decid «d that the employees at the Malvern Maternitv Home should he put on the same footing in regard to treatment at the county hospital as the employees at the hospital: . f\,. lon S list of unpaid accounts, totalling £8067, was presented. Mr F. •j Yl**' who had P re Pared tho list, said there were many cases in which the accounts should have been paid, if those who had undergone treatment in the hospital had shown a proper spirit. On the other hand, there were old-age pensioners who had come along with their 5s a month to help pay their hospital fees. The chairman remarked that it was pleasing to hear that the old-age pensioners had shown their willingness to do their best to pay their accounts, while there were many others who should have paid but had not done 80 . - „r was decided to write off a total of £3OOO.

Mr LiII brought up the question of the Board's proposed building policv, ««a would involve an expenditure bf £20,000. He strongly advocated that a loan should be raised for the purpose After nome discussion, it was decided to refer the matter of the equipment of the maternity home and cottage hospitals to the Finance Committee, but no action was taken in regard to Mr Lill's proposal that a loan should be raised. Angling. Warm rains and the consequent melting of the snow .on the ranges caused the _ Rakaia, Ashburton and Rangitata rivers to be unfishable, and gave the Ashburton anglers a blank week end. School Pete. The preparations for the two days fete next month to raise funds for the beautifying of the Ashburton Borough School grounds are well in hand, and there is every prospect of the £SOO aimed at. being secured. At the annual dinner of the Old Boys' Football Club, Mr H. J. Constable, who, with Mr Barlow, is organising the fete, wal present and outlined the programme. Amongst many other competitions would be a Foothall King Carnival, and he asked for the hearty co-operation of the Old Boys' Club. It was hoped that this competition would bring in from £2OO to £3OO to the total sum which should be raised, and he felt sure he had only to mention the matter to the Old Boys in order to enlist their whole-hearted support. The suburb of Hampstead succeeded in raising close on £ISOO for school grounds purposes, and Ashburton should have no difficulty in raising close on-£IOOO. The Panning Outlook. * Agricultural and pastoral prospects have never been more hopeful than they are just at present. There is a great growth of feed in all directions, while the grain crops are looking remarkably healthv and making rapid growth. Another 16 points of rain rfell during Saturday, and a further 4 points were registered at the Ddmain weather station yesterday morning, followed by a warm cloudy day. There has been a good lambing all over the plains, and lambing is now general at-the foot of the hill country. Lambing in the back country has just Btarted, and with favourable weather from now on it. promises to be a good one. The melting of the snow on the ranges has come'at an opportune time. The lambing perceritagea on the plains are quite up to, if not above the average, and with the present growth in tho grass and a dpell of fine dry i weather toWden it off. Aere shpuldte & large number of lambs fattened in the. district. An unusually large area has been devoted to cereals, and with the present indications of a damp season, there should be a plentiful supply °f stubble feed after harvest.