NORTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19202, 7 January 1928, Page 3

NORTH CANTERBURY.

RANGIORA. Mi A. Lyon, of Marton, * as a vi: tor to. Eangiora yesterdav.

Mr L. W. Harvey, of the local railway staff, has been transferred to Hampden, and left yesterday to take up his duties.

The monthly horse sale was held yesterday. There were about 53 horses yarded and most of these were sold~at satisfactory prices. Best draughts made from £3O to £37. One excfpUoSh good draught made £46 10s. medium draughts made from £2O to *">3 draughts from £3 to £l2, hacks' from £1 to £o.

After two or three postponements, owing to unfavourable weather, the Eangiora Swimming Club Carnival which was to have been held earlv in December took place last evening in the Eangiora Municipal Baths. There was a. fair attendance of spectators, and Mr W. Johnson, president of the Club, in a short address, declared the baths open for the season. The results of the events were.—2syds Dash Handicap (8 competitors)— Final: J. Hanley 1, E. Benjes 2; time 16sec. SOvds Men's Handicap (9 starters)— Filial: T. Hawkins (4sec) 1, R. Benjes (4see) 2; time SdAsec. Springboard dive: S. Thompson 1, D. Garrett 2. Girls' race- Miss Ngaio Prestncy (scr) 1, M. Watldns (4 sec) 2.

HANMER SPRINGS. The following are the meteorological records for December, taken at the State Forest Service Station, those for the same month in the previous year being given in parentheses: Barometer, mean for month, 29.72 inches (29.78); maximum for month on 9th, .30.22 (30.4); minimum for month on 21st, 28.76 (29.5); extreme range, 1.46 (0.9). Thermometer: temperature in shade, mean maximum temperature, 67.96 degrees Fah. (66.5); mean minimum temperature, 44.96 (43.7); approximate mean temperature for month, 56.46 (55.12); mean daily range of temperature 23 (22.7); extreme maximum temperature on 27th, 84 (83); extreme minimum temperature on 3rd, 34 (32); extreme range of temperature for month 50 (51); exposed thermometer, mean terrestrial radiation, 39.38 degrees Fah. (38.5); minimum terrestrial radiation on 3rd, 29 (3 deg. frost), (26). Wind: average daily velocity for mouth, 63.22 miles (93 miles); maximum velocity for month on 6th, 306 (480); mean amount of cloud for month (0 clear sky, 10 overcast), 5.25 (6.8). Rainfall for month, 4.46 inches (3.54). Rain fell on eleven days (16); maximum fall on 12th. 0.92 inch (0.75 inch). Total sunshine, 234$ hours (209); maximum, 13* hours on 4th (13£); days without recorded sunshine, 4 (5). Frost on 3 nights (3). Rainfall for year, 45.45 inches; in 1926, 44.12 inches; 1925, 52.57 inches; 1924, 50.19 inches; 1923, 50.79 inches. Average over five years. 1923-1927, 48.62. In 1922 the fail was 36.38 inches.

SCARGILL. JXiring the.past fortnight, with the exception of two wet. days, the weather has been very fine anii much warmer. Conditions could scarcely have been better .for,, the holidays,.' and! an unusually large number of- visitors found their way to the many attractive pic* nicking and camping places about the district, particularly Motunau Beach. Crops, some of which have been standing in ear for about seven weeks are rapidly coming in under the influence of a few'days' summer'heat;-and. reaping has commenced. Practically all the crops look good this year. The weather has especially favoured those on the lighter land, but has produced a considerable bulk of 6traw on heavy ground. Caterpillars are reported to be active in. some of the more forward crops of oats, but so far the damage done has been small. Sowings. of fattening crops, rape,.-turnips, etc) apparently cover a larger area than last year. Early sown rape was slow in growth, but there are some splendid paddocks to be seen, and the damp season has been especially favourable to the turnip crops. Throughout the district pastures show a good growth of feed, and. live stock'generally is in' good condition. In comparison with previous years the season for farmers has opened with brighter prospects. The rainfall for 1927 recorded at "Te-Awa-Roa" was 24.58 inches. For each month the figures are as follows, last, year's figures.being • given, -in parentheses from June: —January, .53 inch; February, 1.13; March, 1.06; April, .60; May, .82: June, 3.59 (1.21); July, 2.92 (1.48): August, 3.85 (.93); September, 1.70 (.G7V, October, 1.80 (2.60); November. 4.67 (5:34);' December, 1.01 (2.49)..

SEPTON. The Eev. E. "W. Blakiston, who for the past two years has been vicar of the parochial district of Ashley, preached his farewell serinou at St. Michaefs Church, Sefton, on Sunday evening last. At the conclusion oi the service Mr H. Ashby, on behalf of the parishioners, presented nun with a wallet of notes and spoke in appreciative terms of. his ministry amongst them. Mr Blakiston leaves to become an assistant to the vicar of Gteraldine. As Mr H. Ashby and Ins daughter were relinquishing their work in connexion with the Sefton feunday School, opportunity was taken at the same time to present Mr H. Ashby with a pipe and Miss Ashby with a handbag. The Rev. H. P. Ault who preceded the Rev. E. W. Blakiston m.the district, leaves New Zealand this month for Palestine and England before entering on his missionary work in India. Mr Ault has been attending the Student Volunteer Movement Camp at TTaitak? during the past week.

WAIKUKU. Mrs F. Morriss and her two children, accompanied by Miss "R, Tornlmson, left for Tuna, Jla-taniata, by ThursJ "E. J. H. Drearer is visiting P 4r r ntni?of 1 Methodist and Schools, was held at IK Gorge. The day was gloriously toe Sid the children and adults spent a E - P - enterMisses Nelson, Lynda, Betty Ma i d Tovce Maddison. Gladys Hall a ri?l.«rt Margaret Orchard, Maggie S %J£*f, Mavis Cross Daphne «&iifflan Messrs B. Richards. R, McQu nan. y llin^on)< MacGowan ?i°,VHnd> Don. Morriss, • .Arthur, tltrt and Lloyd 'Maddison.

LOBURN.

There was an excellent attendance at the Coronation Hall on Saturday afternoon, when the parishioners of the Loburn and Okuku Anglican Churches met to say farewell to the Rev. E. >- Blakiston. who is leaving the pans ft to take up work at Geraldine. Mr Jn. AVilkinson, on behalf of those present, handed Mr Blakiston a roll ot notes. Mr Blakiston briefly responded.

BELFAST. | A meeting of ex-pupils of the Belfast ; School held in the main school to receive a progress report from the executive appointed to carry out the school jubilee celebrations was well attended. The report showed that satistactorj progress was being made. Over 1*" past pupils had been communicated with, and about 300 replies received, as well as a large number ot old photographs which will be of great i«« to old scholars. It was decided by jne meeting to engage an orchestra tor uw occasion. Committees were appointed to assist the members of the executive as follows:—Reception Committee, Mesdames E. Harris, "W. Rogers, «• Grimshaw. J. Beagley, Messrs a. Brown and A. Rogers; Entertainment Committee, Mesdames Thomas, Messrs E. Rudkin. C. Clarke, and A. Clarke. Sports. Messrs T. Morton, J. Don,j ana 3. P. Campbell, to work in conjunction with school teaching staff.

LEESTON. The Jlev. G. P. Hunt presided over the quarterly meeting of office-bearers of the Leeston Methodist circuit. Mr G. Mumby was appointed lay representative to the annual conference. to ho held in Christchurch in lebruary. Mr R. G. Bishop, junior circuit steward, presented the financial statement for the quarter. The ordinary income was not sufficient to meet the expenditure, and although a sum had been raised bv a special effort, there was still a debit balance. The statement was adopted. The chairman nominated Mr A. Tong for re-election as senior steward and" Mr R. G. Bishop was reelected junior steward. It was agreed that April loth should be observed as harvest thanksgiving Sunday, and tha* cash thankofferings should be collected at that time. The chairman reported having been in communication with the District Loan Board in Christchurch in regard to the proposal to dispose or the present parsonage in order to build a new one. The reply received was that the Board would be prepared to consider the matter fully when definite proposals were submitted. p Tho death took place at the Christchurch Hospital on Thursday morriing, after a short illness, of Mrs VV. O. Shilton, of Leeston, who was.a, daughter of Mrs D. Mehrtena. of Camside, Rangiora. Mrs Shilton was 33 years of age, and leaves four children. She was a loyal member of St..Johns Anglican Church, and a capable musician, assisting many local functions as pianist. The funeral takes place to-day at Rangiora, and tomorrow evening a memorial service is to be held in St. John's Church, Leeston. ' Mr S. E. "Wright, engineer to the Ellesmere County. Council, returned, to Leeston this week after a Holiday trip to Nelson. Mr L. C. Vicary, engineersecretary to the Springs-Ellesmere Electric Power Board, spent the Christmas and New Year holidays on the West Coast, and has returned to Leeston. The Rev. W. G. Hannah, Presbyterian minister at Southbridge, left yesterday for a month's, holiday in ;Gtago. Figures supplied by Mr A, '.J.™ In--wood show .'that the rainfall' last- month 'was 2.92 inches; and for ..the -year", end-, ed December .31st,; 23.68 inches.'. For. i the three ireelcs from December 14t&j to January 4th ~„ the rainfall .was exr'] ceptionally heavy, being 4.01 inches,, 1 j