MID-CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19213, 20 January 1928, Page 7

MID-CANTERBURY

ASHBURTON.

PERSONAL. Mr W. T. Lill visited Timaru yesterday, when he represented the Ashburton .County Council at the meeting of the Main Highways Board District No. 15 Council.

The Borough Inspector (Mr J. E. Eichardson) is on annual leave, during which he will attend the New Zealand Sanitary Inspectors' Annual Conference at Napier from January 23rd to 27th. The duties of borough inspector are being undertaken by the County Health Inspector (Mr E. N. Johnson). The Eev. W. Wills, of Caversham, brother of Messrs F. Wills and H.. Wills (Ashburton), is visiting. here. Mr A. H. Parfltt, Eegistrar of Pensions, Timaru, was in Ashburton yesterday, and heard a number of applications for the old age pension.

Mayfield Man Arrested. A man named Victor Bate was arrested at Mayfield by Constable White on Wednesday, and escorted yesterday to .Christchurch, where he will be called upon to answer a charge at the Magistrate's Court.

Infections Diseases. There appears to be a mild epidemic of scarlet fever in Ashburton at the present time. Since the beginning of the •week a case has been notified to the County Health Inspector (Mr E. N. Johnson) from the borough, and another while just prior to that, three cases were reported from Tinivald.

Cricket. The cricket match between the Post Office and Celtic Cricket Club was continued on the Domain on "Wednesday night, when Post Office went, to the erease and compiled 137 in their first innings, as compared with 135 by Celtic the previous night. The principal scorers were: McNicol 60, McDougall 37, A. E. Stephens 12. For Celtic, the best bowlers were Eapley, who took three wickets for 26 runs, and H. Lennon, three for 57. In the Ashburton County Cricket.Association 's competition matches to-mor-row, the following will.represent their respective clubs:—Senior—Ashburton..A team v. B team, on, Celtic. ground: Brady, Harper, Jones (2), Keeley, McSherry, Johnstone, Nicoll (2), Thomas, : Toomey.. B team: Andrews, Charles, Bentley, Lane (2), Nicoll, Pritchard, Lewis, Hanratty, McDougall, Judge, ; Tinwald v. Mayfield, at May- : field: H. J. Chapman, Gourley, O'Grady, Brady, Colville, Stephens, Willis, Drennan, Huffan, ilcNicoll, Millichamp. Ju-n-

ior—Celtic v. Tinwald, at Tinwald: Eooney (2), Bapley, Pearce, Brophy, Jordan, Lennon, Turner, F. . Lonnon, Zouch, O'Connor, Daniels, McCormick, Tinwald: Bell, Hockings, Stills (2), Bell, McKenzie, Clothier, McNicoll, Colville, Milliehamp, Carroll. Emergencies: G. Day, Oakey, and A. Carroll.

Willowby Swimming Club. The concluding evonts at the opening of the Willowby Swimming Club on Wednesday evening were as follows: — 25yds Breaststroke—B. Pearce (scr) 1, B. Clothier (3sec) 2. Time, 28 3-ssec. Cork Scramble—J. Thomson (13 corks) 1. Plunge—E. Pearce (12yds) 1, B. Clothier (113 yds) 2. 50yds Open -Handicap—First heat: A. Bradford (scr) 1, G. Day (4sec) «. Time, 37 l-ssec. Second heat: B. Pearce (4sec) 1, E. C. Mackie (9sec) 2 Tune, 39 l-ssec. Final: Pearce 1, Bradford 2, Mackie 3. Time, 40sec.

Ashburton Swimming Club. An evening meeting was staged in the Borough School baths by the Ashburton Amateur Swimming Club last evening, when there was a fair attendance, and the events were run off under good weather conditions. The principal eVent was the first of a series of four races for the rose bowl, the race being won by J. Eamsey. The points awarded are five for first place, three for second, and one for third.

Eesults: — _ , , r ~ T 66 2-3vds Eose Bowl Handicap—J. Eamsey (scr) 1, J- Millar (Ssec) 2 A. Lane (3sec) 3. Time, 43 4-ssec. Millar led nearly all the way, but was overtaken bv Eamsey about ten yards from home. Won by two feet. 25yds Schoolgirls' Handicap-Mary Johnston (scr) 1, Nora Fleming (2sec) 2.

33 l-3yds Dash—U. Flatnian (2sec) 1, J Keig (2sec) and N. Milsom (scr), equal, 2. Time, 23 l-saec. Dual Relay-N. Milsom and J. Keig (3sec) 1, J. Ramsey and U Jlatman (sa) 2 B. and A. Lane (2see) o. Time, 41 4-osee. Won by five feet.

METHVEN. The monthly meeting of the committee of the Methven Volunteer Fire Brigade was held in the Bit. Huft Board's office on Wednesday evening Mr' W. A. Shemeld presided and there were also present :-Jlessrs T Allan J- Mcl) - AndersoD > s - IVI-iitMWsheet i" connexion with the Sent Sla. This showed that the effort had been, a most suecessiul one Tl,p total amount received was £ll< Os 10d, and the expenses were £29 VS 8d leaving a net credit-balance of l na 7 7s 2d. The balance-sheet was vprv favourably commented on, and a i." rtv vote of thanks was passed to nil' those who had assisted to make the function the success it was. It was de-

cided to vote the sum of £o towards the Brigade social fund as a small appreciation of the assistance given by the members of the brigade at the gala. The manager of the Bank of New Zealand wrote enclosing a cheque for £3 3s as a gift towards the purchase of fire brigade equipment. The secretary reported that the Methven Picture Co. had offered to give a benefit programme for the Brigade funds and woul3 screen a special picture, "Fighting the Flames," on Saturday. It was decided to thank the company for its generous offer, which was gratefully accepted. With the month of January more than half way through the farmer is anxiously looking to the crops which, under usual conditions, should be showing signs of ripening. The present season in the Methven district is probably the latest experienced for some years. Scarcely a week has passed for several months in which no rain has been experienced. Following this the weather has been more or less dull. There has not been the usual north-west winds which, although often unpleasant, "would at present be of great benefit to the farmers generally. \Vith moist, humid atmospheric conditions prevailing as at present, there is naturally a fair amount of smut, rust, mildew, and other diseases to be found in patches in wheat and oats but fortunately not to any serious 'extent. Many good crops of cereals are reported from other districts and the Methven district is equally good. «f not in fact better, than other places. All parts of the district are uniformly good, and on the lighter lands round Lyndhurst and Lauriston the crops appear as heavy as those on the heavier land. So much broken weather has, of course, delayed shearing and there 13 still a fair amount to be done, and it is_ possible that harvesting ind shearing will be going on together. Tn regard to wheat a fair number of farmers in the district have sold the crops for the coming season at prices from 5s 8d to 5s 9d on trucks. One firm was operating fairly keenly at the latter end of last week, but apparentlv their order is filled and the demand has weakened. In view of the moist conditions there is considerablv more feed this year than is usually the case, and there will be no shortage this autumn even should a drv spell be experienced from now on. Fanners are naturally understocked and, apparentlv, there is little chance of any turnover in stock owing to the extremelv keen demand making for prices too high'to show any margin of profit. In consequence of tins many large areas of grass have been shut up for seed, while in addition there has been more hay saved tnan is usual. Clover has made an abnormal growth and two paddocks in Particular, one at Mr V. W. Rnddenklau's and another at Mr J. Hyland's are especially fine. These are both on the Springfield estate, but other parts of the district claim areas as good. Tuniin sowing has been a wearisome lob this season. In many cases the ;and has been worked for long enough in nn pndeavonr to dean it from twitch, and the result of much good labour has been lost owing to the continued

rain. The rain has also had its bad effect on the sowing of turnips, which has been seriously delayed, and many areas have had to be re-sown. Winter feed crops are showing up well, and the only thing now needed is plenty of sunshine to make for a bumper season. J

MOUNT SOMERS. A good deal of shearing still remains to be completed in these parts, as little more than a shed full at a time is done, owing to the continued spell of broken weather. Runholders. same 20 or 30 miles further back have experienced better luck Most of the sheds tjiere have had an uninterrupted run, as little rain has fallen for some weeks. In fact, it is stated, the country in those parts would be benefited by a good rain. With the progress of shearing in the Ashburton Gorge, various means of transport are now daily employed in hauling the wool down the gorge, and as roads and fords are not adaptable for heaiyy motor transport some of the stations still find it needful to continue with the services of the old time waggons and teams. Daylight saving has now had a pretty fair trial, and although only a few refused to give it a test farmers and residents alike have failed to be impressed with the scheme, and each week sees added numbers putting the clock back and adopting • the former time. The farmers' work usually ends with darkness, and an additional hour tacked on at the beginning of the day leaves insufficient time for heeded rest, and an impaired vitality results. Mr and Mrs G. Alexander, who have been resident in the district for several years, have left to take xu> their residence at ALford Forest. Mrs Alexander has been connected with the Plunket Society since its formation, and Mr Alexander has been a member of the School Committee during the past two years.

Mrs F. Courage and family, Amberley, have been staying with Mrs I. F. Peache, Mount Soiners Estate. Mrs J. Wales and Miss E. Wales, Lvttelton, are the guests of Mr« E. C. Wood.

Mrs W. Edgar and her daughter, Mount Somers, are visiting Timaru.