SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18141, 2 August 1924, Page 4

SOUTH CANTERBURY.

TIMARU. Social and Personal. Mrs Walter Chapman returned to Christc.hurch yesterday, after a week spent in Timaru. Miss Amy Oliver (Snrrcy Downs) will leave for England next week. Miss Betty Elworthy and Mr Arthnr Ehvorthv (Holme Station), Mr Herbert Elworthy (Craigmore). and Mr .T. C. Miller left for Christclnirch yesterday to be present at the Hunt Club Steeplechase. Mr .T le Cren and Miss E. le Creu ("Maori FTill> leave next week for a holiday in Sydney. Dr. T. F. Telford arrived oil Thursday on a two days' visit to Timaru. Casualties. Alfred BouHnn •i£r< vl j-j years. Buffered a serious injury at Otaio on Thursday by falling "IT the back of an engi"'hauling a chuff-cul 'or. The .-wheel of the galley oassed over his right leg. He was talien to the AVaimate Hospital, where the leg was amputated above th<* knee. Enquiries at the Timaru Hospital yesterday afternoon showed that George Booth, who received serious injuries tc his legs by being run over by a motorcar, was making good progress towards recovery. Vital Statistics. Tlio vital statistics for Timarn for the meni.li of July this year show an improvement all round. Births totalled 38, as compared with 27 last year, and deaths 25, as against 29 in July, 3923. Marriages 'jumped from 9 in July, 1923, to 15 last month. Tho increase in births was all on the female side, there being 2:5 last month and 13 in July, 1923. Four more males died last year than this year, the female deaths being the same in each month.

The Weather. The weather during July was more settled than during the previous month, the days for the most part being glorii usly line and sunny. About the middle of the month, heavy seas were experienced in .the bay, l)Ut; that was the result of heavy weather in tho south. Bain fell on six days, the same number as that recorded for June, and : the total fall was 29 points, compared with 55 for June. The heaviest fall was on Monday last, the record being 14 points. Frosts were registered on 26 nights during the month. The hardest frost was on July 23rd, when 11 degrees were registered. This is the hardest frost so far this winter. Unemployment. At present;, there are 25 men on the books of the Timaru Labour Department. For the past Week or two the numbers of unemployed so registered have varied between that figure and 30, but this does, not represent the true position with regard to unemployment here, as many men out of work do not apply at the department. The relief works recently by the Borough Council havo considerably eased the position, about 30 men having been taken on. / These are all married men with families/ and there are still a number of single men seeking jobs. When compared with • previous winters, the present position is no more serious than has hitherto been the case.

WAIMATE. | Yesterday" morning the staff of the'j Waimate District High School assembled in Standard 11. room to bid fare- 1 ; well to Miss E. L. Orton, the junior . mistress, who is retiring from the teaching • profession. The headmaster (Mr L. F. Pegler) briefly leferred to the very fine record of Miss Orton ivli list on : the stftff of the school,, and expressed the' regret of the scholars and teachers, at her departure. . He then presented her, on _ behalf of the pupils of Standard 11., with a h;indsomo i>owl and on behalf of the staff with a fine vase with best for her future happiness. Mr J. Menzies suitably responded for the recipient. Miss Myrtle Smith- has been appointed relieving teacher pending the arrival of a permanent'. , to fill the vacancy. ■ _ A! large number bf ' well-wishers attended af St; -Augustine's Hall: when noon witii the object' of, collecting clothes and material for babies and mnli -children for distribution to the needy. Mrs Werges guessed the lucky number in a guessing competition and won a baby's jacket". A snoi't musical irogramme wn.s given s'Jid thorough) v 3njbyod. A, dainty- afternoon tea .was provided 1 by' the coinniittee. The jripportun'ty was taken" to'jjresent Mrs Colli*' \vith ;i. silver fruit aish in recognition of hot past, valued services as secretary' >f the society. Studholme; niaifc he presentation. -Nurse McKi>© 4si 1#BS; presented Mrs Collis with a flower b w'. '