SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19819, 6 January 1930, Page 4

SOUTH CANTERBURY.

TIMARU.

THE WEEK-END. A beautiful warm day on Saturday was marred by a strong nor'-wester, which continued throughout the afternoon. There was again a large crowd at Caroline Bay, hut the wind made conditions somewhat unpleasant. During the night the wind veered to the sou'-west and steady rain fell yesterday, when the weather was dull and overcast with intervals of sunshine. The fresh south-westerly wind continued in the afternoon. The cadet military band gave a concert at the bay under the auspices of the Caroline Bay Association, and in the evening the Timaru Municipal Band also gave a concert at the bay. Both programmes, which included secular and sacred items, were greatly appreciated by large audiences.

About 800 excursionists from the north arrived in Timaru for the day yesterday by the two trains from Christchurch, and 236 passengers left Timaru by the early morning train for the northern citv.

Incoherent Fire Alarms. The Timaru Fire Brigade was put to some inconvenience on, Saturday afternoon owing to the incoherent directions given as to the locality of a fire. In commenting on the matter the Superintendent (Mr P. Campbell) said that first of all the brigade received a telephone message that there was a serious fire in North street, where a house was on fire and a baby in danger. The No. 1 engine was promptly dispatched to look for the fire in North street, and no sooner had this been done when another call was received that a mistake had been made. There was no fire in North street, but there was a chimney on fire in Waimataitai street. Another engine was therefore sent to Waimataitai street, where a ehimney fire at the residence of Mr T. 11. Probyn was quickly extinguished. "We can't regard this too seriously," concluded the Superintendent. "Nine times out of ten when persons ring up to tell us about a fire they are so incoherent that we can't make head nor tail of what they are talking about. If people would only keep cool it would save a tremendous amount of confusion, and the brigade would be able to get to the spot ever so much quicker. I regard this affair this afternoon as a verv serious one."

TEMUKA.

FIRE BRIGADE LOAN. A special meeting of the Temuka Borough Council will be held on January 15th, to consider a motion to apply to the Local Government Loans Board for its sanction to "the borrowing of £IOOO for the purpose of providing a new lire brigade station and motor convey ance for the borough. Bowling. The Temuka Club" will be represented at the Dominion Bowling Tournament in Dunedin by G. Pierce, J. B. Sinclair, Dr. A. S. Mclnnes, and T. Edwards. The progressive pairs tournament held by the Temuka Bowling Club was held on Thursday, when visitors from Dunedin, Christehurch, Oamaru, and Timaru took part. The winning skips were Tait and Haig (Timaru), and B. Lev-emj (Temuka). The prize for the leads went to A. D. Cameron and Walter Berry, both of Temuka. Vital Statistic*. The Temuka returns of vital statistics for the month of, December, the quarter, and the year are as follows (the figures for 3928 being shown in parantheses). —Monthly returns: Births 10 (6), deaths 4 (4), marriages 0 (4>; quarterly returns: Births 32 (21), deaths 9 (14), marriages 11 (12); returns for the year: Births 100 (96), deaths 48 (48), marriages 32 (32). Weather at Winchester. The month of December was exceptionally dull, but the mean temperature was slightly higher than that recorded last year; and the plentiful and well-distributed rainfall, following three months, proved a great boon to the South Canterbury farmers, and the salvation of the crops. Mr J. L. White (Winchester) reports that rain was recorded on 19 days, the maximum fall being 53 points on the 29th. The month's fall was 3.21 inches, compared with six inches last December. The total rainfall for the year was 31.13 inehes. In 1928, 27.52 inches was recorded; 1927, 28.73 inches, and in 1926 24.24 inches. The absolute maximum shade temperature for the month was 87 degrees on the 13th, four degrees higher than that recorded the previous year. The absolute minimum was 40 degrees, on the Bth, average of maxima, 72.4 (1928, 70.5); average of minima, 50.4 (51.5); mean, 61.4 (61.0).

Personal. Mr and Mrs J. Andrews (Birkett street, Temuka) left for Dunsdin on Saturday, wher-3 they will spend a fortnight's holiday. Miss Roma Sullivan (Christehurch), who has been visiting Temuka, returned home on Saturday. Misa Vera Smith, who has been spending a holiday in Temuka, has returned to Ashburton. The following is a list of recent guests at the Crown Hotel, Temuka: Mr N. Evan, Mr O. Griffiths (Melbourne), Mr McDonald (Christehurch), Mr McClellan, Mr and Mrs Searle and Miss Murphy (Christchureh), Mr Paalet (London), Mr A. Milne and Mr C. Causland (Christehurch), Mr, Mrs, and Miss Anderson (Dunedin), Mr and Mrs Evans, Mr and Mrs Maddox (Nelson), Mr and Mrs Anderson, Master Anderson, and Miss Anderson (Oamaru), Mr and Mrs G. Black, Miss Black, Mr F. Thorp (Dunedin). Mr Thorp, Mr and Mrs Dyson (Nelson), Master J. Treleaven (Christehurch), Mr W. Ritchie (Dunedin).

GERALDINE.

W.E.A.

The final sessions of the W.E.A. Summer School were conducted on Friday, the usual lectures being well attended. Dr. Fisher lectured on "The Economic Background," and Professor Shelley gave a general summary. In the afternoon a large party motored out to "Silverton" at the invitation of Mrs J. Mowbray Tripp, who was an interested member of an overflowing audience at Professor Shelley's reading of "The Shadow of a Gunman" the evening before. The party was hospitably entertained, and greatly enjoyed a ramble through the spacious gardens, which were looking at their beat in the hot sun. In the evening Professor Shelley finished the reading, aad «!#• «m 4 two acts of "Joan

of Arc." Both readings were fully appreciated by large audiences. After the reading Miss Fergnsson, who has been in charge of the musical department of the school, organised a concert, many items of vocal, instrumental, and dramatic interest being given. She also introduced some old-time dances in the adjoining marquee, which were followed with great pleasure. At the conclusion of the evening's entertainment Professor Shellev, who had contributed a song of the Western Hebrides to an insistent encore, thanked the Geraldine people and the various sports clubs for the help thev had afforded to the school, which he said had been one of the most enjoyable and successful 0 f their yearlv camps. They broke up next morning, he said, and would have nothing but pleasant memories of their stay at Geraldine. Mr G. Manning expressed his thanks for the as S iBtanee 8 t anee and advice which had been freely given, and congratulated Geraldine on j tß community spirit. The camp dispersed on Saturday morning.