NORTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18591, 16 January 1926, Page 3

NORTH CANTERBURY.

rangiora. The arrival of Wirth's Circus at the Kangiora railway station at 11 o'cloc - yesterdav morning drew quite a arge crowd, the majority in S watched very keenly the unloading operations, especially the w ?rk ; ntpr . elephants, which was especKdiN nter esting. During the afternoon chjldren were invited to inspect the* animal., and the offer was readily accepted. OXFORD. On Tuesday afternoon a thunderstorm broke over the middle part of the district. It travelled north through the W'arren-Bexley area, an in crossing the Oxford road oppos te the West Oxford railway station, its course was so definite that while the front wheels of a motor-car weie on drv road, the hind wheels were in what almost constituted pools. Isuaily theie is general!v an outer fringe ot rain m a thunderstorm, but rarely is there such a defined edge of a storm as that above indicated. , The quarterly meeting or the Oxlora Methodist Church was held on Tuesday night, when the Home Missionary piesiUed over r.u attendance ot fourteen members. The membership roll was reported to be 93, and the Sunday services were well attended. The balancesheet showed a deficiency on the quarter's working of £2O 10s. but the balance brought forward from the previous quarter balanced the accounts. The Foreign Mission secretary reported having collected £l4 2s 3d. Mrs Tritt was re-elected secretary, with Mrs_okurr, Mrs Comvns, and Messrs A. Newport and E. G. "Wells as a committee. Mr C. C. Early was re-fleeted Home Mission secretary, with Mrs Judson, and Messrs 0- Hawke, E. Woodfield, and li. "Watson as a committee. Messrs C. C. Early and D. J. Hawke were reappointed circuit stewards. The circuit stewards presented a report in regard to the raising of the stipend of the Home Missionary, and the manner in which the increase should be secured. After a long discussion it was decided to raise the stipend bi- £2O. and to ask the Home Mission for a grant of £ls per year to relieve the inevitable straitening of the finances. TAI TAPU. At the recent flower sliow the Champion Silver Cup presented by the Hon. Sir n. Heaton Rhodes, for most points in pot plants, was won by Mr H. A. Wheeler; rose bowl presented by .Mr H. A. Wheeler was awarded to Miss S. Morgan. The silver cup presented by the late Mr R. Macartney for cookery, was won by Mrs Roberts, and the silver cup presented by Mr T. O. Morgan for vegetables, was won By Mr J. H. Mackenzie. Sectional certificates were awarded to Mr H. A. Wheeler, most points for pot plants; for cutflowers, Mr H A. Wheeler; decorative, Miss CForbes; fruit, Mrs Roberts; vegetables, M? J. H. Mackenzie; cookery, Mrs Roberts; home industries, Mrs Roberts. In the competitions the winners "were: Cake: Miss Ruth Strand; motorcar: Master Graham, Suckling; cushion : Miss L. Page; teddy bear (presented by Miss Yarr): Mrs P. Bailey, Springaton; ladies' nail driving: Mrs Flumridge; men's nail driving Mr G. Rhodes. Mrs Barclay (Melbourne) is the guest of her sister, Lady Rhodes, at Otahuna. LEESTON. _The monthly meeting of the Leeston Town Board was presided over by Commissioner R. J. McConnell. Mr J. McCormack's solicitors wrote that the new road leading from High street into his land had been completed in accordance with the conditions. The Board agreed to take over the road on its consulting engineers passing it as satisfactory. The Board of Trustees of the Leeston Methodist Church complained that a bridge at the entrance to the church property inSelwyn street had been removed, leaving an open ditch which had not been lighted or protected in any way. As a result, a car had been damaged because the driver was unaware that the bridge had been removed. The Board expressed regret that the accident had taken place. Mr J. T. o'Gorman called attention to a pool of stagnant water on a neighbour's property. The Board hopes to meet the parties concerned on the occasion of the visit of the Commissioner of Crown Lands, with a view to arriving at a settlement of this and other matters in dispute. A tender of £29 19s per sump was accepted for the construction of three concrete sumps for fire brigade purposes. The Board's surveyors sent drawings and specifications of work necessary at the intersection of High street, to send a supply of water down Lake road for fire purposes. It was decided to call tenders for the -work, and to consult with the Fire Brigade as to the most convenient places to have the sumps constructed. The clerk stated that nearly a mile (of concrete channelling had been laid .lately, and that there would be sufficient funds availablo to do a further 50 or 60 chains. The Board decided to make a tour of inspection to decide where the'further lengths of channelling should be placed. Tt was stated that the concrete kerbing from the railway crossing in Lake road to the corner of Woodville street, required raising. An estimate of the cost of this work is to be obtained. It was decided to have a quantity of shingle taken out of the Board's pit for use in the winter time, when the pit would be flooded. Satisfaction was expressed at the decision of the County Council to repair the Pound road from the pound to Gilbert's corner, and it was decided to supply the shingle required from the Board's pit. The chairman reported having represented the Board, with Commissioner W. Johnston, at r. visit to the institutions under the control of the North Canterbury Hospital Board. At a special meeting, the Board agreed that the statutory half-holiday under the Shops and Offices Act shoulu | be observed on Saturday, as hitherto, j PREBBLETON. The district was visited by a severe ; thunderstorm on Tuesday afternoon, followed by heavy showers of ram, j which were more than welcome, al- j though they temporarily held up har- : vest operations, which are now fairly J general. Several crops of oats are already cut and stacked, but have proved ; most disappointing, apd it is antici- ■ psted that the yields will be small- ; Grass seed also is unsatisfactory. On . the other hand, wheat crops are looking j extremely well, and although a mucn smaller acreage has been sown this j season, the yield should be some- j where near the average. Some good ! crops of peas are to be seen, and car- ! rots which are sown fairly extensively j also look well. Onions are not nearly j so good as in more favourable seasons, < but potatoes, although planted late in ■ the year are coming on nicely and ; satisfactory returns are expected. j Mr and Mrs W. O. Downey, who for j some years have acted as organist and ; organ-blower at the Anglican Church, j were recently the recipients of a pre- j sentation from the members of the church. In presenting them with a reversible rug, the Rev. F. Rawle voiced the appreciation of the congregation of Mr and Mrs Downey's workThe friends of Mr John Stevens will regret to learn that he is at presen indisposed. . . Mr A. Case, accompanied b.y hiss'ster. Mrs P. Saunders, and Mr Jack Saunders, intends leaving early in the JJnneduv

ASHLEY BANK. The weather during the past week has been warm and showery and has had a beneficial effect on all root crops, especially potatoes. Threshing has started in this district and the crops are yielding better than expected. -Many of the farmers are having thair oats chaffed and others are using theirs lor oa.ten hay, as there is a big shortage of winter feed owing to tne very dry and windy weather experienced early m the season. The crops are looking very clean and bright, being tiee troni rust. The wheat is very healthy looking and the ears have filled out well during the past week LADBROOKS. The recent showers have been beneficial to the late crops, which are looking in excellent condition. Although the yields for the cereal crops will notbe on the big side, the average, it is predicted, will be fair. The root crops are bearing a very healthy appearance, and, given a few showers later on. the results should be good', especially in potatoes. Harvest operations have commenced, mostly with grass seed. The threshing mills should commence in the course of a few days. A large quantity of lucerne chaff and baled lucerne hay has been sent forward during the week. It is the intention of most local fanners to cut oats for chaff this season. There is still an abundance of grass for grazing. Up to the present very . little haymaking is being done. The prospects for winter feed do not look good, and it is predicted there will be an extreme shortage thi> season. Mr T. Trask has resumed duty after his annual leave. A great number of the local residents who have been visiting the Dunedin Exhibition returned during the week. Mr J. Brown has so far recovered from his recent illness to be able to take on light duties in connexion with his business.