MID-CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19201, 6 January 1928, Page 4

MID-CANTERBURY

ASHBURTON

PERSONAL

Mr G. C. Bonnington left Ashburton yesterday to take up a position in Syd-

Mr AY. Patterson. Town Clerk, has returned from annual leave, spent in the North Island.

Infectious Diseases. The health of the residents of the Borough of Ashburton was particularly gratifying last year, there being a remarkable decrease in the number of infectious diseases as compared with the two previous years. In 1927 there were only £6 cases of infectious diseases reported to the Borough Health Inspector (Mr J. I?. Richardson), as compared with 96 in 1926, when diphtheria was so prevalent, and 50 in 1925. The following are the details, 1926 figures being given in parentheses:—Diphtheria 1 (47), scarlet fever 11 (27), pulmonary tuberculosis 8 (12), puerperal fever (2), phthisis influenza 3 (4), acute pneumonia (2), puerperal septicaemia 1 (1), erysipelas 2 ( —), food poisoning 1 ( —), puerperal pyrexia 1 ( —)•

Tinvfald Town Board Rates. The total amount of rates, struck in tho Tinwald Town Board's district for the current year was £55(3 12s 6d, and of this £496 7s 4d was collected to the end of last year, leaving the comparatively small' amount of £6O 5s 2d to incur the ten per cent, penalty.

Bankruptcies. The bankruptcy returns for the year 'just ended show an increase of eight on those of the previous year. This year's figures total 20, as against 12 for 1926. Judging by results, this year had been a hard one, as the total oC insolvent persons equals that of the slump year, 1924. Tho i 927 figures are made up as follows:—Farmers 8, labourers 5, mechanic .1, baker ], fruiterer 1, sad '.er 1, manufacturer 1, painter 1, skin-buyer 1.

Methodist Circuit.

Tlic Methodist .Church Circuit held its quarterly meeting in the Wakanui Hall on Wednesday evening, when the -.Rev, R. B. Tiusley presided. The balancesheet for the quarter showed an income of £2lB 19s lOd, and an expenditure of £227 9s, leaving a debit balance of £8 9s 2d. In view of the extraordinary expenditure, the balance-sheet was considered satisfactory. The report of the Sunday School and Young People's Societies showed that the former roll numbered 200, and the latter 76,. while the cradle roll registered 45. The Band of Hope was working. satisfactorily. The annual picnic of the Sunday School was held in tho Tiuwald Domain, when there was an attendance of about 200. The school had sent 63} dozen eggs to the Papanui Orphanage. The president of the Methodist Conference (Dr. Rauston) had visited the school, and had addressed the combined Bible Classes.. Mr R. Buxton was elected a; circuit steward in the placo of Mr S. J. Graham, who has retired after four years of service. Mr F. Frampton was reelected a circuit steward. Mr H. Wills was elected to represent the circuit at the conference which will open at Christchurch on February 16th.

In Bankruptcy. A petition in bankruptcy been filed by Ropcrt Wallice Wightman,' farmer, of. Methvcn, and a meeting of creditors will be held at the office of the Official Assignee on Wednesday, January 25th, at-11 a.m.

Tire Brigade. At the monthly meeting of the Ashburton Volunteer* Fire Brigade, hold on Wednesday evening, the Superintendent (Mr T. Barber) presided over a good attendance. Advice was received that th New Zealand Fire ■ Brigades' Association would hold its annual conference at New Plymouth, commencing on February 27th. The annual meeting of the brigade will be held on February Bth. Superintendent Barber applied for an additional two years' service bar, and Firemen J. Williams and J. Reeves for three years' certificates.

Cricket. ' The' following teams will represent th.e Ashburtou Cricket Club in its matches to-morrow:—A Team..v. Mayfield, on Oval—B. McSherry,. R. Johnstone, C.. G. Harper, C. Brady, J. B. Kicoll, W. B. Thomas, M. Keelcy, S. Toomey, E. Jones, R. Jones, and another. ' B Team v. Tinwald—H. N. Lewis, A. Bentley, C. Andrews, J. Hanratty, McDougall, J. Pritchard, B. Lane, A. Lane, C. Judge, H. Ni'coll, G. Stephens.

Caledonian Society's Sports. Record entries have been received for the Methvcn Caledonian Society's sports to-morrow, the total being nearly 300, and includes the best average class of competitor which has ever run at this meeting. Taking part in the. events will bo runners, from 'as far south as Invercargiir and north as far as Wanganui. The Society has provided a comprehensive programme, for which trophies and prizes, to the value of £l7O have been provided. A feature of the sports will be the Highland dancing. Special train arrangements have been made from Christchurch and Ashhurton.

STAVELEY. A record number of picnickers, travellers, and. campers hare visited xhe district during the holidays. A special service was conducted by Mr S. D. Baird, in the Presbyterian Church on New Year's Day, when there was a largo congregation. Miss Alma Smith sang the solo "Thanks bo to God." and the choir contributed special singing. Mrs S. T. Goldsmith was organist. Mr Baird preached from Genesis, 16-S. •'Whither wilt thou go." About fifty couples attended a most enjoyable short night dance, organised by the Hall Society, on New Year's Eve. Dance music was supplied by Messrs E. AA'olfre> D. A. Syme, DE. Sawers, AY. Fagan, and L. Doig. Mr E. Perrin was M.G. A wireless set had been lent fo' 1 the entertainment. but unfortunately reception was not cleai A light supper was handed round. During December rain fell on 13 days, a total of 505 points being recorded for the month. The heaviest fall. 131 points, accompanied the heavy thunder storm on the 23rd, and of that record, 50 points were recorded in ten minutes. It is believed that where the storm centered the fall would be even heavier, but unfortunately na accurate measurement was available. The year's rainfall, recorded by Mr H. T. Smith, at "Birchlands," Staveley. is round about the average for the locality, being 41.55 inches, compared with 38.04 inches for 1926, 52.86 inches for 1925. and 39.57 inches for 1924. Unfortunately the past- year's rainfall was not well distributed, the light falls being in tho late autumn and early winter, and heavier falls bein s recorded in the late summer of last season, and the sprint* and summer of this season. The monthly records in points for 1927 are ns follows, the corresponding figures for ?D2G Iving in parentheses: January 305 (377), February .389 (749\ March -U33 (313), April 138 (108). Mav 121 (479), June 2-10 (155), July 276 (239). August 4-35 (168), September 204 (249), October 441 (143), November (535 C 4-4-0). December 505 (484).

METHVEN. The following are the meteorological observations recorded at Methvcn by Mr Jas. Carr, Rudstone, for the month ending December 31st, 1927:—Rain fell on 13 days, the maximum fail being [>r> points on the 16th inst. The total fall lor the month was 3.90 inches. For the corresponding month in 192(3 5.11 inches were recorded. The total rainfall for 1927 was 37.05 inches, and for 1926 it was 40.31. The average fall for the past 18 years in which Mr Carr has kept records was 38.75 inches. The driest year in the same period was in 1915, when the rainfall was only 25.25 inches. The wettest* yeat was in 1925, the total fall that year being 50.15 inches. The lowest reading of the terrestrial thermometer for December, 1927; was 33 degrees on the Kith, nnd the lowest reading of the thermometer was 34 degrees and the highest reading 76 degrees, on the' 19th inst.

RAKAIA. While fishing at the mouth of the Rakaia river on Wednesday. Mr W. BlaA landed a splendid specimen of quinnat salmon, which turned the scales, at 321b. Mr Black's catch was much admired by a number, of fishermen.