NORTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19819, 6 January 1930, Page 3

NORTH CANTERBURY.

RANGIORA. After a very hot day on Friday it was expected that this would be followed by a high northerly wind. This surmise was correct as ther? was a light i northerly breeze on Saturday morning ' which increased gradually, and from about eleven o'clock until late in the afternoon the wind blew with terrific force, and one of the fiercest nor'-west pales' experienced for several years swept over the district. Trees were blown down and flower-gardens and vegetable gardens received a terrific buffeting; Iruit trees also suffered considerable damage, many trees being stripped of anv fruit that escaped the early frost. During the night the wind v?cred to the sou'-west, and after blowing from that quarter for a time, brought up rain, which continued until yesterday morning. Yesterday was dull with Tain threatening. The vital statistics for the Eangiora registration district for the month of December were as follows (last, year's figures in parentheses): —"Births 9 (16), deaths 1 (3), marriages 5 (0). The total figures for the year were: Births 135 (MS), deaths 35 (42), marriages 37 (23). Mrs S. M. Hunnibell. a very old resident of the town, attained her ninetieth birthday on Friday. The Eangiora Troop of Boy Scouts went into camp at Coldstream on Saturday, Scoutmaster G. Redout, with As-sistant-Scoutmaster E. Johnstone, is in charge. Mr F. 11. Lovett, secretary to the troop, is also in camp. On Saturday afternoon tho Eangiora Bowling Club played a progressive doubles tournament. Twenty-four players took part. A high nor*-wcst wind made conditions rather unpleasant. Prises for the tournament wero presented by Mr James Judson, the winners being: Skips, Y\\ A. Banks 1, W. E. Horrell 2. Leads, F. L. Benjes 1, A. J. Ferguson 2.

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HORNBY. A dance held in the Islington Hall was attended by 300 people, and was an unqualified, success. Throughout the evening the festive spirit was manifest, and at 12 o'clock all present welcomed the New Year by Kinging "Auld Lang Syne." Immediately after midnight a large number of balloons were showered upon the dancers, whilst hundreds of novelties of every description were distributed. A lucky spot one step, fox trot, and Monte Carlo were held, the winners receiving handsome prizes. The hall was decorated with crepe paper streamers. A feature of the evening was the special programme of dance music supplied by Mis.s Nolan's Orchestra. The M.C.'s were Messrs V. Graham (Lincoln), R. Stewart f Hornby), Randal (Christen urch). and Hughes (Lincoln). The Misses M. and F. Nolan left on Saturday for a short holiday on the Coast.

SHEFFIELD. Shearing, haymaking, and general farm work have been much retarded in the district owing to the continuous wet weather. Rain fell during December on eighteen days, the for the month being 5.29 inches. The rainfall for 1929 was .18.96 inches, the nv-rage fall for the last seven years Icing "37. SO.