MID-CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19815, 31 December 1929, Page 7

MID-CANTERBURY

ASHBURTON

PERSONAL. Mr J. Johnson, State Forest Service, Wellington, is visiting Mr and Mrs E. N- Johnson, Winters road, Ashburton, and will leave for the south to-morrow. Wrist BrokenThrough the engine he was cranking his car, Mr H. JigC rs, who resides at the corner^of Havelock street and Oak avenue, had the misfortune to break his right wrisU

County Health Statistics. A notable increase is ikow J *** number of infectious diseases notified_ m the Ashburton County, exclusive of the borough, for 1929. Notiflc.tion. durng the rear totalled 154, for the previous year and 100 for 1927 In 19-6 this year's figures were exceeded, there being 172 cases recorded. The largest number of diseases reported for any month during 10-8, was 25, in June. Twenty-one cases durm that month were scarlet fever. The total number of scarlet fever cases for the vear was 90, -which is a little under five-eighths of the year's total notifications. , , Other heavy months for scarlet lever were:— April (15), May (11), July (14), August (9), and October (9). Tuberculosis claia» 26 of tbo total and pneumonia 13. The monthly totals are as follows, those for 1928 being in parentheses:— January, 0 (9); February, 6 (1); March, 11 (5); April, 17 (10); May, lo (4); June, 25 (10); July, 22 (7); August 16 (14); September 12 (9); October 20 (6); November 6 (6); December, 3 (6). Particulars of the notifications are as follows:—Scarlet fever 90, pneumonia 13, pneumonic influenza 5, tuberculosis 26, diphtheria 9, erysipelas 6. meningitis 1, puerperal fever 1, hydatids 1, sapraunia 1, typhoid fever 1.

Fire Brigade Calls. The Ashburton Volunteer Five Brigade received 13 calls during 1929. This is an increase of 10 on last year's total and an increase of 1 on that for 1927. In 1926 15 calls were received. There were five house fires, five outbreaks in outbuildings, one building establishment gutted, and one hedge, and one grass fire.

Hakatere's Gala. Day. Gala day at Hakatere, the popular settlement at the mouth of the Ashburton river, will be held on New Year's Day, and from the preparations being made by a large committee, there is every prospect of the outing being more successful than those held in former years. A large programme, which includes sports for both adults and children, has been arranged. Numerous side-shows have been erected for the amusement of all. The Ashburton Silver Band will be in attendance. The day will be concluded with a concert and danee in the hall in the evening. Gould's bus will run from Ashburton throughout the day. Vital Statistics. In the vital statistics for the Ashburton district for 1929, births show a decrease of 42, and deaths and marriages an increase of 8 and 10 respectively, on the 1928 figures. The figures for the quarter ending December show a decrease in births and a slight increase in deaths, while marriages are the same as those of the corresponding quarter the previous year. The following are the details, last year's figures being in parentheses:— Births 287 (329); deaths 156 (148) j marriages 81 (71). The following are the figures for the last quarter:—Births 58 (77); deaths 42 (41); marriages IS (18). The figures for December are:—Births 37 (27); deaths 16 (8); marriages 8 (7). Bankruptcies. Only eight bankruptcies, the smallest number for many years, were filed in Ashburton during 1929. Twenty-five were recorded in 1928, and 20 in 1927. Details are as follows:—Labourers 2, clothier 1, basket-maker 1, farmer 1, farm-manager 1, storekeeper 1, hauling contractor 1. Two bankruptcies were registered for the quarter ending December and none for the month of December. Cricket.

The Ashburton County senior representative team will play a mateh with the West Coast representatives on the Domain oval on Thursday and Friday.

The Ashburton team is as follows: J. B. Nicoll (captain), K. Nicoll, B. T. , Drennan, W. Brady, A. Gourlay, B. MeSherry, A. Hooper, C. Penrose, G. Stephen, B. Lane, J. Hanratty. Emergency: C. Huffam. © Sain. Twenty-eight points of rain were recorded at the Domain weather station for the 24 hours ending 9 a.m. yesterday. Personal. The Be v. A. J. Petrie, viear of St. Stephen's Anglican Church, left yesterday on his annual vacation. He will be away about a month. He is being relieved by the Kev. Mr Hamblett, St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Dunedin. Tennis. The last match in the Mid-Canterbury Lawn Tennis Sub-Association 'a tournament, the men's championship singles, was played last evening between K. Carleton and M. Heenan, and resulted in a win for the latter, 6-2, 6-8, 4-6. In first set Heenan was rather erratic and Carleton had no difficulty in taking it. However, Heenan settled down in the second and, by deep driving and fine placements, won the advantage games, though Carleton fought every point, Heenan adopted the same tactics in the final set and ran up a 5-1 score. Carleton then made a final effort, using his chop shots on the heavy turf to advantage, and invading the net on every, opportunity. These methods troubled Heenan for a time, and Carleton came up A 4-5. The former then went away, to take the next game and the get on his own service. Heenan, who is only seventeen years of age, plays very solid tennis, and has very steady, reliable strokes. He has an excellent tennis temperament, and there is little doubt that Canterbury tennis eircles will hear more of him in the near future.