NORTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18918, 5 February 1927, Page 3

NORTH CANTERBURY.

RANGIORA. I On Thursday afternoon the !adies of tiic Croquet Section of the Bonding, I Tenuis, and Croquet Club cntcrtain-.'d | Mrs V,'. K. Barton to an afternoon at j the Club grounds. There was a largo I number of ladies present, and progressive croquet was played, sixteen players taking part. Mrs Barton won the I first prize, and Mr R. J. Logan the I :;econ<l. ' Mr and Mrs G. Springer, who arc ; v.orfcly leaving llangiora, were enter'.lined by the members of the St. .John's choir on Thursday evening to 1 -sapper. For a number of years both I Mr and Mrs .Springer have been very • active members of the choir, and their j removal from tho district is a distinct loss to the choir and church. As a slight recognition of their long :is- ! sociation with the choir, the vicar, the I Rev. J. F. Feron, presented to Mr Springer, a crystal decanter and to T4rs Springer a silver tray. The opportunity was also taken to wish Mr and j Mrs W. E. Barton, also members of the ' choir, who are shortly visiting England, ! i very pleasant trip. HANMER SPRINGS. The following are the meterologienl i records for January taker, at the State j Forest Service station, those for the I saino month last year being given m I <»arentlioj=cs:—Barometer: Mean tor i month *20.9 inches (SlUl): maximum ! for month on 7th. 30.32 <TO; inm.mum : lor month on 13th. i-tf.M <VJ.I2); w- ! ircmc r.ange, 1.U9 W.9S). cmpcraliiio ! in shade 75.5 degrees lah. wJ.IJ), I mean minimum temperature W-0 i (13.55). approximate mean temperature ! for the month 62.6 (60.8-1). mean doily ! range of temperature 20.6 (2-l.oS). exi treme maximum temperature on -itu i 86 5 (86), extreme minimum tempcra- ' turo on 10th, 33 (3?), range I of temperuturo for month o'i.o (•!<). j Exposed thermometers: Mean terrosi trial radiation 44.7 (-11.06); minimum terrestrial radiation on 10th <six degrees frost) 26 <2»). Wind: Average ! daily velocity for month 01 m'les (SM.S). ! maximum velocity for -month on 'loth. i (00 miles (280). Mean amount of cloud I for month (0. clear sky: 10. overcast), j 3.9 (5.2). Total rainfall 2.23 inches j (3.04), number of days on which rain j fell 8 (13), maximum rainfall in any •M hours on 23rd inst. 0.80 inch (0.S0). I Bright sunshine: 268 hours (226), maxii mum 13i hours on 25th (13};, days without recorded sunshine nil (nil), frosts on two nights (1). .Tin's is the. greatest amount of sunshine recorded in anv month of the past 5J years, the nearest to it l>eing "December, 192-j. 242 hours; March, 1025. 241 hours: and November. 1023, 233 how. LEITHFIELD. The weather for the month of January was very dry, tho total registered rainfall lieing .43 of an inch, compared with 1.06 inches for January, 192G, and 2.105 inches for January, 1925. The prevailing winds were from the northeast and north-west. Conditions for harvesting wero, for tho most part, ideal; but the dry conditions had made tho wheat stalks brittle and, with a wind blowing, this cereal was not easy to handle. Pastures have dried considerably and green feed is not plentiful. Consequently dairy herds are noi so profitable as they were a fortnight ago. At a special meeting of tho Swimming Club Committee, convened to make final arrangements for the forthcoming carnival, there were present Mra Trail, Misses A. Mander, and A. C. Lloyd, Messrs H. May, D. W. Palmer, J. Fitzpatriok, W. A. Kelchcr, F. May. F. Penfold. J. \\\ Sarich, and J. S. Russell. Correspondence concerning carnivals to be conducted by •various affiliated clubs was received. Messrs.J. SC Russell, J. Fitzpatrick. and C. W. Browne were appointed as . a competitive judging committee. WAIKUKU. Misses Ella Dreaver and Marjorie Sloane have returned from a holiday spent with Miss Reno Jackson, Woodland street, Timaru. Miss M. Orchard (Seddon) is staying at "Poleswoth Villa." Waikuku, before visiting other relatives and friends in Canterbury. . Miss Minnie "Watkins, Rangiora, has been staying with Misses Lynda and Betty Maddison, "Kranvaal," WaiTiuku. Mrs Maddison, Miss Joyce and Master Lloyd Maddison have been staying with relatives at Greendale. School reopened on Tuesday with the arrival back of the teachers, Mr J. E. Fraser, who has been spending the holidays in the south, and Miss B. C. Rout, who has been holidaying in Auckland and Sumner. Although there was a good attendance of scholars, there seems no hope of the average attendance being raised, as there has been only one new pupil enrolled. Tho crops in the district are looking their best. Many of them are being reaped, and others are in stook. There seems to bo a good yield everywhere, though tho straw is rather rank. LEESTON. Mr F. Townshend presided over a general meeting of the Leeston Bowling, Tennis, and Croquet Club held during this week. Misses M. Free and A. W. McLaughlin were elected members. The meeting discussed a proposal that members of all three sections should visit Akaroa for a week-end during the present month. It was agreed to make the trip, and tho dates were fixed for February 12th and 13th. A joint committee representing each section was appointed to make arrangements for transport and accommodation. Further visits arc in view to Hakaia and Oxford. Tho secretary reported that the Christmas Fair held last December, combined with the street stall held a week earlier, had returned a net credit of £ll6 9s 2d, and stock on hand was valued at £l2. This easily exceeded tho original goal of £IOO, which was satisfactory in view of the weather on the night of the fair. A motion of thanks was passed to all who had lent assistance. A motion to hold a bazaar •vas carried, and the dates were fixed for April Bth and 9th, the Pictures Committee to be compensated for foregoing its weekly entertainment on tho latter date. The arranging of further details was left to the executive. Shortly after one o'clock yesterday afternoon, a fire broke out in a seclion occupied by Mr G. H. Ryde, facing Station street, on which there was a thick coat of long, dried grass. When the alarm was given by Mr F. B. "H'oodard. the whole quarter-acre section was ablaze, and the flames were spreading to the adjoining sections occupied bv Mr* Oliver and .Mr F. B. Clausen. A" shed on the section occupied by Mr itvdo and another one on Mr Clausen's section were just starting to bum. The Fire Brigade answered the alarm promptly, and from a sump opposite the Bank of New Zealand, a lead of lose was taken through Mr Clausen's section where the flames in the grass and shed were quickly subdued. Attention was then given to the other two properties, and within a tevr minutes the fire was under control without any serious damage having been done. The outbreak is attributed to a small heap of nsbos. which were thought to be dead.

AKAROA.

At the last meeting of tho Akaroa District High School Committee, it was decided to charter tho small steamer Orewa, and take tho pupils for a short trip outside tho heads if the weather is favourable, towards the end of the month. It was also decided to land at Wainui and hold tho annual Picnic on the beach. It was reported that the primary department had opened with a good attendance, ana tliore was an attendance of 10 pupils at the secondary department, with a possibility of sonie moro scholars arriving this "week. The High School Board \ has made a grant of £IOO this year, nnd it will bo of great assistance in connexion with the boardim; allowance of pupils from the outside bays. Mr W. M. Buddie, who has been m [ charge of the Motropole Hotel for the 1 past two and a half vcars, has recenU> disposed of his interest to Mrs Wedflorell, of Christchurch, and is leaving I here this week for Southland. '•■ On Wednesday evening a farewell social was tendered to Mr and Mrs Buddie at the Oddfellows; Hall. There was a good attendance, and the evening tvas spent in dancing. Musical items were contributed by Mrs F. ljArmstrong, Miss R. L. Taylor, and M. Pellcmaine. whilst those ,who assisted with tho dance, music were Mrs I*Pilkington, Miss E. M. I.elicvre, and Messrs Davidson and Pettcrson. ihe Mayor, Mr G. Armstrong, in a brief speech, eulogised tho services of the departing guests, statins that tbc Bowling Club in particular was per? sorry to lose their energetic president. In reference to Mrs Huddle, Mr Armstrong said that her departure from Akaroa was much to be regretted, as she had alwavs been willing to assist with auv movement for the betterment of the town, particularly so during the period of the Queen Carnival contest. On behalf of tho Bowling Club, he handed Mr Buddie a suit-ease, and from the citizens of Akaroa he presented Mr and Mrs Buddie wiih a Kaiapoi rug. Mr Buddie suitably replied and regretted that they were departing from a place where they had made so many friends. Last week the members of the Croquet Club assembled at 'BlythcliftV on tho invitation of Mrs Armstrong, to bid farewell to Mrs Buddie. A most enjoyable- afternoon was spent in lawn games, and Mrs Buddie was the recipient of a camera from her fellow-members as a murk ol appreciation of her good work during her stay in Akaroa. During the recent holidnySj there was a largo number of visitors who had not been in Akaroa for 15 years or more, and thev iverc particularly struck with tho manner in which the journey could lie made so quickly from Christchurch. Tho contrast between tho slow train tourney and the change-over to the old coaches at Little River, which entailed about five hours' travelling, could now bo accomplished in about two hours. Tho electric car to Little Biver, and an r:;prcsd., motor service from inerc. placed Akaroa within easy roach oi anvone around Christchurch. The Rev. F. J. Tyloc, who recently underwent an operation at Christchurch, returned to his homo on Wednesday and will soon ho sufficiently recovered to resumo his duties. Mr T. Stewart, of French Farm, i* at present an inmate of the local hospital, havinc: undergone a serious operation on Wednesday morning. He i? staled to ho progressing satisfactorily. Tho local fishermen are having a poor run with irroper or hapuka fishing at present. They state that it is very many venrs since there was such a scarcity of Ibis fish nt this time of live year. GREENPARK. Mr ami Mrs S. Bennett ontertained about 200 friends and relatives in the Creenpark Memorial Hall recently to celebrate tho coming-of-age •of thoir eldest son, titanley. The hall was artistically decorated with evergreehs and flowers. Mr and Mrs S. Bennett rebeived tho guests; tho latter wearing a navr silk marocain frock relieved with gold. Mr H. Kimbcr acted in the capacity of chairman. The evening, which passed all too quickly, was spent in dancing, interspersed with musical items, songs, etc., by Misses P. Suckling, P. and M. Elford, and Messrs O. Suckling, P. Dowkcr, U. floskin, G. Kverest, L. Bennett, H. Blncklcr, and E. J. Harris. The music for the dance was supplied by Mrs J. Southen (Little River), assisted by Mr F. Roislor (Ladbrooks), extras being supplied by Misses Forbett and W. Newton. The grand march was led by Mr S. Bennett and Miss Joblin. One of tho main features of the evening was tho cutting of the birthday cake, whiclf was beautifully iced and decorated with 21 kowpies. Mr H. Kimber, after proposing the toast of the King, proposed the toast of the guest of the crcning, and in doing so. on behalf of the parents; he presented him with a gold key suitably inscribed. Mr S. Bennett briefly responded. Mr K. J. Harris, in proposing tho health of Mr and Mrs S. Bennett, thanked them for their hospitality that evening.. Mr S. Bennett also suitably responded. Tho guest was the recipient of many presents. PREBBLETON. Workmen are at present busy upon the additions to the local school, with which work good progress is being made. At tho last fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Jubilee Lodge, 1.0.0.F.. M.U., Bro. S. McNally, N.G., presided over a fair attendance. One member was declared off the sick list. At the close of the business meeting, the lodge adjourned, and the members spent the remainder of the evening in social diversions. The weather for the last three weeks has been fino with several exceptionally hot days and entirely favourable conditions have prevailed for all harvesting work. Farmers have been busy early and late, endeavouring to get all their crops in whilo the fine weather lasts. The bulk of the oat crop in this district is now cut and stacked, growers preferring to chaff their oats, instead of threshing. Tho yield has been surprisingly good, nnd the number of stacks to be seen on farms round about is far larger than is usually tho case. A largo quantity of oateu hay has also been made by somo farmers. Some very promising crops of barley may bo seen in this locality and wheat" crops arc looking extremely well. A fair amount of wheat has already been cut, and it is predicted that this season's yields will be highly satisfactory. Threshing mills aro already at work in the neighbourhood and another two or three weeks of tine weather should see practically the end of the harvest. Potato crops do not seem to be coming along as well as could be desired, both they and the pasture lands being greatly in need of rain.