MID-CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18635, 9 March 1926, Page 7

MID-CANTERBURY.

ASHBURTON. ~ | PERSONAL. Mr, Mrs, and Miss Fletcher left yesI terday on a visit to the Dunedin 'Exhibition. Hospital Board. At the monthly meeting of the Ashburton Hospital Board yesterday there were present: Messrs W. T. Lill (chairman), J. Bruce, A. Horsey, W. G. Gallagher, W. Bryant, A. T. Lilley, and F. W. Watt. The chairman, in referring to the Hospital Boards Association Conference, stated that the Ashburton Board had been fortunate in getting all its remits carried. A vote of thanks was passed to the Dunedin Hospital Board for entertaining the chairman and secretary. It was decided to invite Drj Malcolm MacEachern, the American expert on hospital matters, to visit Ashburton while he is in New Zealand. The chairman reported that the following cases of infectious diseases had been notified in February:—Borough — diphtheria 8, scarlet fever 1, tuberculosis 1; County—Diphthoria 8, scarlet fever 1, erysipelas 2, tuberculosis 3. j Two deaths from tuberculosis had oc- j curred, one at Mount Somers and one at j Rakaia. The Acting-Medical Superintendent j Dr. W. J. Mullin, reported that during January there had been 63 cases admitted; admitted in February, 51; total treated, 114; discharged in Feb- | ruay, 54; died, 3; remaining on February 28th, 57; operations, 30; X-ray I treatments 59; out patients, 38; out-pati-ents treated, 163. At the Methven home 9 patients had been admitted and 13 discharged; Kakia, 1 admitted, 2 discharged. Salmon Fishing. The quinnat salmon are now running freely up both the Rakaia aud the Rangitata rivers, and anglers had some good sport at the week-end. Ashburton men landed a good number from tho Rangitata, the fish ranging from 61b up to 201b. Catholic Bazaar. f There was a large attendance at the Catholic Bazaar on Saturday night, and I good business was done at the various ' stalls. So far the attendance has been a record for church bazaars. The Page Memorial Fund. The First Canterbury Mounted Rifles Band gave an open-air concert in the Domain on Sunday afternoon, when a collection was taken up in aid of the Page Memorial Fund, and a sum amounting to S, 12 15s 7d was contributed. The Canterbury Commercial Travellers Association has offered to put on an entertainment in aid of the fund, on Saturday, March 20th, and the Memorial committee has thankfully accepted the offer. Inquest. An inquest- was opened yesterday touching on the death of Joseph Pearce, son of Mr Thomas Pearce, of Gore, who died as the result of injuries received through being knocked dowti by a motor-car on the Main South,road, on Saturday night. After evidence' of identification had been taken, the inquest was adjourned. ' Ashburton Building Society. The fifty-first annual general meeting of the Ashburton Permanent 'Building and Investment Society was .held last night, Mr Robert Bell, chairman of Directors, presiding. The director's annual report stated that after paying the usual 7 per cent, on A. and B. shares, there remained the sum of £3,422 15s 6d to be dealt with, and they made the following re-commendations:—2-J per cent, profit on B shares current, £706 18s; 2$ iper cent, profit on A capital shares £1,198; carry forward £1,517 17s 6d. The balance sheet disclosed, receipts including interest £19,409 lis 9d; loans repaid, £29,001 16s lid; current account deposits, £231,816 7s lOd; deposits received and renewed £78,991 13s sd; balance Bank of New South Wales, £5,353 10s lOd; together with other items, amounting to £368,383 14s lid. Against this was the expenditure of £368,383 14s lid, which included a debit balance of £9,893 17s 7d brought forward; interest on.deposits and A capital shares, £8,217 18s.-8d; current account withdrawals, £243,797 15s lOd; profit paid on A capital shares, £2,396; profit paid on B shares; £386 Ss; fixed deposits paid out £21,207 16s 8d; fixed deposits renewed £63,269 15s Id; new loans, £16,842; cost of management, £1,973 18s. ' The liabilities comprised, A capital shares, £47,920; B shares, £30,153 4s Id; fixed deposits and interest accrued thereon, £100,485 5s sd; current accounts and interest added.thereto £101,002 3s 8d; reserve fund and interest added thereto, £21,574 4s Bd. The assets included loans, current and interest accrued thereon £293,164 0s 3d; N.Z. Government bonds and interest accrued thereon, £4105; deposits Bank of New South Wales and interest accrued thereon, £12,128 14s Bd. The Directors who retired by ' rotation were Mr Robert Bell, and Dr. W. J. Mullin, and both were re-elected. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said that the "Society .had had the most successful year in its history. He advised a cautious policy for the ensuing year in advancing money on mortgage, as, owing to the decline in the prices for primary produce, there would be probablv less money available for investment. He eulogised the services of the former secretary, Mr Albert Roberts, who had retired, and said that the Society had decided to retain his services in another capacity. The motion was seconded by Mr " . Bryant and carried unanimously. Mail Notices. . Mails close to-day for northern ports at 2.45 p.m., late fee letters 3.10. p.m., guad's van 3.32 p.m.; and at 5 p.m.; late letters 5.25 p.m., guard's van 5.43 p.m. Mails for Great Britain, Ireland,* Continent of Europe, and Central America, via Panama (specially addressed correspondence only) close to-day. Mails for Great Britain, Ireland, Continent of Europe, United States of America, Canada, also Fiji, Samoa, Pago Pago, Honolulu, Japan, Tonga, Central America, West Indies, Mexico, via Vancouver, close Saturday, March 13th.

ALFORD FOREST. On Saturday night the Ashburton Power Board representatives met the residents for the purpose of placing before them the Board's proposals for electrical reticulation of the district. Messrs A.* Buckingham and Wise, represented the Power Board, and they apologised for the absence of Mr J. Cow, chairman of the Board. Mr M. W. P. Blathwayt was voted to the chair, and there were about sixteen residents present. Mr Buckingham explained the Board's proposals which were to run two main lines through the district. No. 1 line is to come from the Bushside school, and rim along the main road as far as Mr R. A. Grigg's homestead. There will be a branch line from the hotel corner going round the settlement and another branch which will catch about four consumers going off from McKenzie's corner. The guarantee on these lines will be about £6 10s to £7. No. 2 line will run south from Bushside to the late Mr Revelcy's home, from where it will cross the river, pass Mr S. Campbell's property, and run out to the Alford Forest-Ash-burton road, about two miles below Alford Forest, and from here there is a proposed extension of about two miles down the road. The guarantee on No. 2 line will be about £l2. A local committee to work in conjunction with the .Power Board represents tives was set up for the purpose of seeing if the necessary guarantees will be forthcoming. Messrs R. A. Grigg, A." Hart, and \V. Carney, will canvass for No. 1 line, and Messrs S. Cambpell, and E. T. Grigg for No. 2 line. STAVELEY. On Friday night, when the committee of the Hall Society was sitting, the electric power failed, and the room was plunged into darkness. Matches brought to light the venerable candle which had to do duty for the remainder of the meeting. There were present at the meeting of the Hall Committee Messrs G. L. Bufton (chairman), J. T. Hooper'(secretary), E. E. Burgess, C. Cornie, and H. ! Rutherford. Correspondence was read from the Society's solicitor, stating that he was in possession of the title deeds to the hall property. Accounts amounting to £l2 18s lid were passed for payment. It was decided that the Society should, open a bank account, and Mr T. Rutherford was appointed auditor. The second Monday' in each month was agreed upon as the committee's meeting night. It was reported that a picture-showing company had booked up for a year. It was decided that the members of the committee should meet the Ladies' Bazaar Committee on Tuesday night for the purpose of putting the hall in readiness for the bazaar. The following new members were elected to the Society:—, Messrs. T. Bright, D. A. Syme, W. Brown, W. J. Johnstone, A. Robertson, G. Mcßae, C. Mcßae, and R. H. Burgess. The cycle road race conducted by the Springburn Athletic Club was most successfully held on Saturday evening, when a large crowd of enthusiasts gathered to see the event. The route was from Staveley direct to Springburn and back, via Bushside, and then to Springburn via Rogatski's corner and back again by Bushside, a distance of about 13 miles. The roads were in good order for riding. Twelve of the fifteen entrants faced the starter, and the pace was made fast from the start. At the first round W. Faga'n (off the mark) was leading, and finally won easily. The contest for second and third places was' exciting, H. Lamb (ljmin) and J. Nelmes (2min>) coming down the road together. Lamb, who had ridden a good race, had, however, to take third place, Nelmes being half a wheel ahead. H. Cranfield (Methven) secured fastest time. Among those who attended was Mr John Sawers, president of the club, and, after having been away from the district for some time, he was able on Saturday night to renew, many acquaintances. On Saturday night, after the cycle race, the Athletic Club held in the Staveley Hall a short night dance, at which there was a good attendance, there being present many of the cycling competitors, with their friends, from outside districts. Messrs C. Sloper and R Grieve were M.C.'s, and dance music was supplied by Miss M. Messrs Chapman Brothers, E. Walfrey, E. Naumann, and W. Fagan.: Mrs T. J. McGregor, "Cora Liun," Fairlie, returned home yesterday, after spending a few days with her sister, Mrs E. Walfrey, Springburn. The latter part of last week saw a chapter of minor accidents, two of which called . for medical attention. Miss I. Syme fell from horseback while riding in rough bush. land, and on Saturday a small boy, George Sutton, fell on the road, receiving a nasty cut on the knee. The weather improved greatly over the week-end. Saturday was a very hot day, aud on Sunday nor'-west conditions prevailed. PENDARVES. The rainfall for February was ,two inches 1\ points, as against 96 points for February, 1923. Rain fell on nine, days during last month, the heaviest fall being on the 28th, when 80 points fell. The rainfall to date for 1926 is five inches 22 points. For the same period for 1925 .it was two inches 91 points. ' ' . The weather dunn<r the past montn has been all that could be desired, from a farming point of view. Occasional showers have fallen, together with a good rainfall oh the 28th, and the result is a green growth everywhere. Early 'oats are to be seen on all sides and are making rapid growth. The dry spell some time ago was, employed by farmers in working twitch, and the'benefit of this 'will be reaped later on. Turnips have done well this season, and at present appear to be free from blight. This applies also to late crops of rape and kale. Threshing is finished in the district. Most farmers are holding their wheat for present, and ' a good deal of general dissatisfaction is felt over the position" of the wheat market.