MID-CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18901, 17 January 1927, Page 9

MID-CANTERBURY.

Ashburton. Unemployment. Not for some'years has such a large number of idle men been noticed in the streets Of Ashburton as during.the past week. Tiiero are fully 80, the majority of whom are in quest of harvesting work. Ashburton is not alone in this respect, as the Eakaia and Methven' townships are at present receiving a visit from almost an equal number. One man seeking work stated that when he passed through Eakaia on Thursday, there were about 60 unemployed, and at Methven the previous day there were another 40. The harvest in the Ashburton County is about three weeks late this year, but it is considered that when the crops are ready for the reaper, there will be. plenty of work. A farmer in the Lauriston district stated on Saturday that he had about 300 acres in crop, which would not be ready for over two weeks yet, but at the end of that time he would require the services of about ten men. He predicted that wten the demand set in there would be a shortage of men.

Drivers' Licenses. Sinco April Ist, 1926, the Ashburton Borough Council has'issued 640 licenses to drive motor-vehicles. Telephone Line Construction. As the result of a meeting of. residents of the Dromorc, Lauriston f> and Winchmore districts, it was decided to havo party telephone lines erected in the represented districts. The Ashburton Postmaster (Mr J. Mulvey), who was present, supplied the necessary information, and submitted specimen groupings of the settlers and approximate rentals payable by each. Two lines will be required, one of <which will serve the Mitcham and Lower Lauriston districts, while # the other will serve the Upper Lauriston and Winchmore districts. Both lines will be about 18-miles in length.

Royal Visit. On the occasion of the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York to Ashbur--ton on March lGth, the raUway authorities have made arrangements tor tne station, to be attractively decorated hunting will bo flown from all the flag poles, and a carpet will be laid from the Eoyal carriage to the reception platform. Along this route Scenery and other decorations will be placed.and the Department is sparing no efforts to enhance the appearance of the surroundings. Dental Clinic. The Acting-Director of Dental Surgery in Schools (Mr J. L. Saunders) visited Ashburton and inspected a room at the East Ashburton .School, with the object of ascertaining if it were suitable for the establishment of the proposed dental clinic for the use of all the Ashburton schools. Mr Saunders informed the ehairman of the School Committeo (Mr W. S. Kerr) that the room was quite satisfactory, and tte committee will give further consideration to the matter at its meeting to-mgnt. Army Officer Welcomed. A hearty welcome was accorded Adjutant and Mrs O. Ransom and Sister mite, «f»/S land, who succeeded Ensign and Mrs G. H. Pratt and Sister James rosDectivelv at the Salvation Army Hall o?Saturday night Sergt-Major J Argvle presided, and on behalf of the local corps, extended a welcome to lie new officers and hoped that their stay

in Ashburton would a pleasant one. There were several other speakers. Adjutant Ransom suitably replied, thanking all for their reception, and paid a tribute to' the work of liis predecessor. Several musical items were given, and supper was provided. BOWLING. .Ashburton ,B met Methven in a pennant match played on the latter's green on Saturday afternoon. JAshburton B was the winner by 102 points to 57. Details are as follows, ' Methven players being mentioned first:— Duff, Morgan, Smith, Beattie (s) 11, v. Sawle, Moore, Hoskin, O'Brien (s) 33; Forest, Holmes, Cooksley, Sim (s) 16, v. Watson, Willis, Oakley, Smith (s) 32; Owors, Going, P. Cookson, Owen (b) 14, v. Hardy, Rouds, Craighead, Eaßterbrook (s) 17; Callaghan, G. Cookson, Lawson, Ramson (s) 16, v. 'Russell, Percy, Dunn, Lane (s) 20. . . ASHBURTON A v. RAKAIA. Ashburton A met Rakaia on the Ashburton green, and after a series of very close •games won by 71 points to 66. Details are as follows, Rakaia names being mentioned fl"t: — „ _ F. Magson, W. Black, J. Milne, R. Borland (s) 14, lost to P. Jackson, T. J. Doherty, E. McSherry, H. Milsom (s) 18; J! Bell, W. Palmer, G. Hardy, A. S. Henderson (s) 20 lost to E. Vincent, C. Hawkey, R. M. Dunlop, A. Lane (s) 24; J. Patterson, T Shannon, J. Stubbs, A. Holme (s) 15, lost to G Cowen, F. H. Steele, John Watson, W. H. Higgins (s) 20; M. P. Cooke, A. Weaver, H. Nickolls, D. Nowman (s) 17, boat W. Christmas, H. E. Bonnington, C. G. M. •Boyce, M. Kissano (s) 9. CRICKET. SATURDAY'S PLAY. Bright weather was experienced for the continuance of the Ashburton Cricket SubAssociation's competitions on Saturday. SENIOR GRADE. Fairfield v. Ashburton. Ashburton A obtained as three-point win in their match against Fairfield, which was completed on the Domain on Saturday, having won by 5 runs and seven wickets. The top scorers for Ashburton were B. Lane, wno put up 72 in the first, innings and 47 not out in the second. R. McGregor made 32 not out in the first innings, and Judge 28 in the second. R. Drennan made 47 for Fairfield on Saturday. Scores >- FAIRFIELD. First Innings .. . • • , • • 114 Second Innings. 3. Mora, b Bentley .. .. 2 D. Vincent, b Bentley .. R. Drennan, c McGregor, b Charles .. 47 P. Willis, st Nicoll, b Bentley .. 17 c! Huffam, c McGregor, b Bentley .. 14 K.'Fowke, b Charles .. 0 S. Willis, c sub., b Charles .. .. 1 J. Willis, c and b Charles .. .. 10 G. Fowke, b Bentley .. 1 W. Watkins, c and b Bentley .. 0 F." Smith, not out '.. .. .. 4 Extras -. .. .. 12 Total . - .. .. 110 Bowling Analysis.—Bentley, 6 for 47; McGregor, 0 for 25; Judge, 0 for 10; Charles, 4 for 16. ASHBURTON. First Innings. M. Keely, b Fowko .. .. 2 C. G. C. Harper, b Drennan .. 25 K. Nicoll, b Drennan .. .. 0 Judgo, lbw, b Drennan .. 0 Lane, run out .. .. .. 72 Millichamp, c Drennan, b S. Willis .. "> Toomey, c P. Willis .. .. 7 Bentley, b Drennan .. .. O L. Charles, lbw, b Willis .. 2 E. Daniels, run out .. .. l R. McGregor, not out ' .. ... 22 Extras .. .. .. 16 Total . . • .. .. 158 Bowling Analysis.—Drennnn, 4 for 24; K. Fowke, 1 for 15; r. Willis, 0 for 6; S. Willis, 1 for 4._ Second Innings. McGregor, b Fowke .. ■ ~ c Bentley, c Huffam, b S. 'Wiliis ~ n Lane, not out .. .. .. 47 Judge, b Huffam ... .. .. 28 Nicoll. not out . . .. !! "4 Extras .. .. !! 14 Total for 3 wickets .. ~ lo .> Bowling Analysis.—S. Willis, 1 f or w. K " Fowke, l'for 17; Huffam, 1 for !>. ""' Mayfieid v. Ashbarton. In the senior match between Mayfieid and Ashburton B. played at Mayfieid, the latter obtained a two-point win. I n i ts fir t t - fc Mayfieid compiled 83 (J. Penrose 14 and A

If. Guiuey 48). Ashburton, in its first, innings knocked up 210 (C. Brady 30, J. B. Nicoll 31, A. Todd 16, 0. Andrews not out 55, C. G. Stephens 29, and A. R. Gourlcy 16). Mayfield's second innings produced 138 for fivo wickets (J. Penrose, sen., 31, J. Penrose, jun., 15, G. Patterson 60, A. 11. Guiney 13). MAYFIELD. First Innings. «T. Penrose, c and b Todd . . 14 B. H. Penrose, c Pritchard, b Johnstone 0 11. Fraer, c Rapley, b Todd .. .. 1 A. H. Guiney, b G. Stephens .. 48 Patterson, c Rapley, b Todd .. .. 1 T. Reveley, c Brady, b Todd .. 0 Orchard, b Stephens .. .. 8 A. Whiting, b Brady .. .. 1 Lawry, b Stephens . . .. 0 L. Whiting, c Brady, b Stephens .. 0 W. Edie, not out .. .. .. 1 Extras .. .. .. 12 Total ... . . .. 86 Bowling Analysis.—Johnston, 1 for 20; Todd, 4 for 47; Stephens, 4 for 8; Brady, 1 for 0. Second Innings. J. Penrose, sen., lbw, b Andrews . . 31 J. Penrose, juri., c sub, b Johnstone .. 15 G. Patterson, c Stephens, b Jacobs .. 60 H. Fraer, c Andrews, b Gourley .. 0 A. H. Guiney, c Todd, b Johnstone .. 13 K. Whiting, not out .. • 2 A. Whiting, not out .. .. 1 Extras .. .. .. 12 Total .. .. .. 138 Bowling Analysis.—G. Stephens, 0 for 18; A. Todd, 0 for 17; Johnstone, 2 lor 12; Jacobs, 1 for 25;_ Gourley, 1 for 12; Rapley, 0 for 19; Andrew's, 1 for 23. ASHBURTON. First Innings. C. Brady, b Fraer '.. 30 J. B. Nicoll, c Penrose, b Orchard .. 31 B. McSherry, c- L. Whiting, b Orchard 3 W. Rapley, c C. Penrose, b Fraer .. 8 A. Todd, lbw, b Whiting 16 R. Johnstone, c Lawry, b Whiting .. 8 C. Andrews, not out .. .. 55 C. G. Stephens, c and b Guiney- .. 29 F. Jacobs, b Guiney .. .. 3 A. R. Gourley, c sub., b Guiney .. 16 Turner, b Patterson ... .. O Extras - .. .... \. 14. Total ' .. . . .. 210 Bowling Analysis.—Orchard, two for 39; Guiney, 3 for 45; Fraer, 2 for 28; Whiting, 2 for 41; Penrose, O for 23; Patterson, 1 for 15. Junior A Grade. The match between St. Stephen's aud Fairfield, played at Fairfield, resulted in a win for St. Stephen's by 44 runs. When stumps were drawn last week St. Stephens had made 67 for their first innings, and were 77 for the loss of three wickets in tho second. Fairfield had made 70 in their first strike. Continuing on Saturday afternoon, St. Stephen's brought their second innings' total up to 172, while in their second strike Fairfield compiled 125. The double figures scorers for St. Stephen's were D. Little 42, D. Cooper 47, W. Patching 29, and A. Argyle 12. . Batting for Fairfield, H. Drennan made 46, 0. Evans 13, E. Dcmpsey 14, and H. Slade 16. Bowling for Fairfield, V. Willis took 3 wickets for 44 runs, and G. Willis 3 -for 40, while for St. Stephen's A. E. Stephens took 4 for 46, D. Cooper 3 for 27, and H. Lennon 3 for 23. RAKAIA. The vagaries of climate have- been well exemplified during the week. Monday was a fine, warm day; Tuesday was extremely sultry with a temperature of over 80 in the shade. On Wednesday the temporature was w ; and on Thursday rain set in from tho south-west coating the hills with snow' and bringing a frosty feci in the air. A total of So points of rain was registered up till 8 o'clock- on Friday morning. Saturday was sultry with » north-west wind blowing and tho glass registering 80 degrees. The rain was the means of retarding shearing ana harvesting, but has not caused an> damage. A dry spell would be welcomed by the farmers. c . Mr L Basher, foreman of the heiwvn Bridge contract, while- mqtoicycling to work on Thursday morning, struck some loose sliinjsle 'jear Ualkside, with the result that the motorcycle was overturned and Mr Uasntr was thrown heavily, disloca }»>S £'* shoulder and chipping » s "f . p °/„°" of the shoulder bone. Mr Bashe»a» conveyed to the Asbburtor> Hospital for treatment, and later m the da> returned to his home- rr.„ m „i,- and Mrs -W H Smith, of Temuka. ana Airs \\. n. o p rc . S ent tho guests her two sons are at P or her sister, Mrs u - " '

PENDARVES.

Although harvest is unusually late this year, the countryside has seldom looked better, as weather conditions during the winter and early summer exactly suited the requirements of the plains. A particularly dry winter was followed by wet weather during October, November, and December, when no less thaii 9 inches 58 points of rain fell. Thus, at the most critical period of. their growth, the crops had abundant moisture, the result being seen in their promising appearance at the present time. Old residents, indeed, consider that this season the crops compare favourably with those of 20 years ago, when record yields were obtained. During that season much damage was caused in certain districts by severe hailstorms, but during the present season no such disasters have been experienced by farmers. As changeable weather continued into the summer, however, it was feared that the crops might suffer from disease, but only- in a few cases have these fears been realised. Early sown Algerians promise to yield well, but in a few of the springsown crops, the appearance of "takeall "is evident. In some cases the loss is estimated at 10 • per cent. ■ Gartons look well and appear free' from disease. For a week past, fine weather enabled farmers to make good progress with their harvesting. . The majority of Algerians have been cut and stooked, and in some cases stacking has begun. The absence of nor'-west winds has allowed large areas of grass-seed to be stripped. The yields are heavy, and the seed is of good quality, for, although rust made its appearance, it came too late to do much damage. It is noticeable that where grass has been saved for stripping, there is now a splendid growth of.'red and white clover, which will be invaluable for lamb feed. Wheat crops are well forward, but it will be a week or two before any cutting will be done. Quite recently, growers have been concerned about the. appearance of white heads amongst their crops, and these on examination proved to bo empty of grain. This probably'is the result of late frosts, but as the general appearauco of the wheat crops is very good, it is hoped that the yield will not be seriously affected. The heavy rain which fell during Thursday put a stop to all harvesting for a time, and will probably, delay still further the reaping of wheat. On Tuesday, 91 degrees of heat were registered, this being the highest for the vear. From Thursday at 10 a.m. until" Friday at 9 a.m., 93 points of rain were recorded.