MID-CANTERBURY NEWS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22595, 28 December 1938, Page 4

MID-CANTERBURY NEWS

INCREASE IN TRAFFIC

RAILWAY FIGURES FOR CHRISTMAS

MANY EARLY BOOKINGS

A remarkable increase is shown in the rail traffic leaving Ashburton this Christmas, compared with the last IQ years, when the number of holiday bookings made before the increase in fares on December 10 is taken into account.

The Christmas holiday period from December 22 to December 27 showed a return of 766 tickets sold at Ashburton, compared with 852 for the same period last year, 9 92 in 1936, and 811 in 1935. But, to this year’s total, must be added the total of 394 tickets which represented the increase in the normal sales for the week ended December 10, when the rail fares were increased. Many local residents took advantage of the opportunity to purchase holiday rail tickets before the increase in rates came into force. This, therefore, increased the Christmas holiday bookjngs at Ashburton to 1160, a very substantial increase on other years. The figures for the last three years are as follows: 1936 1937 1938 December 22 .. 75 113 59 December 23 .. 169 107 127 December 24 .. 179 134 264 December 25 .. 120 187 111 December 26 .. 53 268 87 December 27 .. 396 43 118 Totals ~ 992 852 766

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

ASHBURTON SOUTH DISTRICT

Beginning the day with an early morning service at Lagmhor Presbyterian Church, and later at Tinwald. the Presbyterian Central Hall enjoyed a fitting conclusion to Christmas Day when both Presbyterian and Methodist Churches united in a service which was led by the combined choirs of Flemington-Tinwald and Lagmhor Presbyterian Churches. The Rev. W. W. Avery presided and conducted the devotional service. The address was given by the Rev. D. D. MacLachlan on the text, “We have seen His star in the East and are come to worship Him.” The choir sang the Christmas anthems. “Over the Fields of Bethlehem,” “While Shepherds Watched.” "Christians Salute the Morn,” “Silent the Night,” and “Love Came Down at Christmas.” The Willowby Methodist trio sang “From Every Spire on Christmas Night."

BIBLE CLASS CAMPS

PARTIES LEAVE ASHBURTON

About 15 members of the Presbyterian Young Women’s and Young Men’s Bible Classes in the Ashburton County representing Lagmhor, Tinwald, Flemington, Methven, Winchmore, Rakaia, and Ashburton, left by the south express for Gore yesterday to attend the Dominion annual summer conference. The conference will end on January 4. A similar camp for Anglican Young Women’s Bible Classes, which will open at Rangiora to-day, will be attended by four members of St. Stephen’s Anglican Bible Class, Ashburton, who left for North Canterbury last evening. They will return after the camp closes on January 6.

PERSONAL NOTES

ASHBURTON

Mr J. O. Riddell, engineer to the Public Works Department at Ashburton and Winchmore, is on a holiday visit to Akaroa. The Rev. D. D. MacLachlan, Tmwald, will leave to-morrow on his annual holiday, which will be spent in Otago. The Rev. R. R. Seaton will relieve at Tinwald during part of Mr MacLachlan’s absence.

COUNTY RATES

SUM OF £5580 COLLECTED AT ASHBURTON

Of a total of £37,245 general and special rates and water charges struck by the Ashburton County Council for the 1938-39 year, the sum of £5580 was collected up to the time the council’s office closed for the Christmas and New Year holidays. The total rates and water charges last year were £30,066.

BOWLS

ASHBURTON TOURNAMENTS

Progressive pairs tournaments were played on the Ashburton Bowling Club’s greens on Monday and yesterday, when there were good entries. The results were as follows:

Monday—Skips, W. Finn 1, H. Silverwood runner-up; leads, A. Argyle 1, K. Robinson and J. McElhinney run-ners-up. Tuesday—Skips, W. Finn 1, P. Dunn runner-up; leads, J. Briscoe 1, I. Bolton runner-up. AUenton Club

A similar tournament was held by the AUenton Bowling Club yesterday, when there were satisfactory entries. A. Argyle won the lead’s prize, and E. S. Chambers the skip’s prize.

RIVER CONTROL

PROGRESS OF ASHBURTON SCHEME

STOP-BANK CONSTRUCTION STARTED

Good progress has been made with the Ashburton river control scheme estimated to cost £30,000, since it was taken over by the Public Works Department some weeks ago. The scheme, which was begun with unemployed labour comprising about 40 men in August of last year, is designed to give protection from flood water to properties on the banks of the river from the sea for a distance of about 25 miles up both branches of the river. It involves clearing all the overgrowth of willow trees, broom, and gorse from the bed of the river to a width of seven chains and a half in the north branch and 15 chains in the south branch, and the bed will be cleared to a width of 20 chains from the confluence of the branches above the Ashburton traffic bridge to the sea coast. In addition 32 miles of stopbanks will be constructed at the weakest points along both banks. Working in two shifts, the large stump-puller has been shifting on an average of six or seven large willow trees an hour and that part of the riverbed between the confluence of the two branches and the Ashburton traffic bridge has been completely cleared of all overgrowth. Before Christmas two large tractors, each 98 horse-power, with angle-dozers attached, arrived at Ashburton, and after being assembled early in the New Year, they will be put into action assisting with the stump-pulling and clearing the fairway of the river. A start has been made on the construction of a stop-bank at Digby’s bridge, which is regarded as one of the weakest points along the river, and half a mile has been completed. This bank, which will be the biggest, will be about three feet high and will extend from about one mile on each side of the bridge. At Wakanui, where the river breaks out on to the River road during high floods, the existing stopbank, which was constructed by the Wakanui River Board, will be considerably strengthened. There is not as much work to he done in the south branch of the river as in the north. Work on the scheme will resume on January 12.

CRICKET

MATCH AGAINST OLD COLLEGIANS

ASHBURTON WINS ON FIRST INNINGS

A win by 152 runs on the first innings was obtained by Ashburton in its match against Old Collegians’ touring team on the Ashburton Domain oval yesterday. Playing on a tricky wicket, which was affected by heavy rain during the holidays, Old Collegians went in first and were weak opposition for the Ashburton bowlers. The whole team was dismissed for the small total of 59, eight members of the team making three and less. J. Bruges was the highest scorer with 13. Ashburton made a fairly comfortable total of 211 before declaring with seven wickets down, although there were only three good batting performances. Dave McKay made 68, I. M. Hamilton 53 not out, and E. Stlgley 28. A much better stand was made by Old Collegians in the second Innings, the opening batsmen making 62 before the first wicket fell. When time was called the total was 108 for seven wickets (C. Walter 34 and C. G. F. C. Hamilton 51). Duncan, with two for 1. had the best bowVmg pmwrrcv ance for Ashburton, and Alpers took two for 38 for Old Collegians. Details:—

OLD COLLEGIANS First Innings

C. G. F. C. Hamilton, b Dave McKay 1 H. Taylor-Smith, b S. Duncan .. 0 J. Richards, st Allen, b Biggar .. 0 J. Bruges, b E. Stigley .. „ M. Hobbs, b P. Harper .. .. 2 C. Walter, not out .. .. ? A. Ostler, b Horgan H. Paterson, b Moore .. ■■ ° P. Alpers, b Moore .. •• JJ E. G. Pidgeon. c and b Stigley .. 12 J. S. Drew. Ibw, b Duncan .. .. 2 Extras .. . • • • •. 19

Total .. .. .. 59 Bowling—Biggar took one wicket for 0. Duncan two for 1. Harper one for 8, Dave McKay one for 9, Moore two for 13, Stigley two for 7, and Horgan one for 2.

Second Innings Walter, b Duncan • • • • 3 | Taylor-Smlth, c Harper, b Stigley .. 6 Hamilton, c Horgan. b Harper .. 51 Ostler, c Dave McKay, b Harper .. 3 Richards, b Harper •• •• jPaterson, played on, b Harper .« « Hobbs, Ibw, b Stigley f Alpers, not out .. .. •• J* Bruges, not out •. • • ” Extras .. •• •• .. o

Total for seven wickets .. 108 Bowling—Blggar none for 22, Duncan one for 25, Harper four for 27, Horgan none for 8, Stigley two for 16.

ASHBURTON First Innings

P. Harper, c Richards, b Pidgeon .. 3 E Stigley, st Richards, b Taylor-Smith 28 Dave McKay, b Bruges .. 22 B. Knox, st Richards, b Bruges .. 22 P. Allen, b Walter .. • ° I. M. Hamilton, not out .. •• 5d Don McKay, c Walter, b Alpers .. 4 R. Biggar, c Pidgeon, b Alpers .. 20 Extras .. •• •• ••"

Total for seven wickets (dec.) 211 Bowling—Alpers took two wickets for 36 runs, Pidgeon one for 47, Taylor-Smith one for 26, Hamilton none tor 21, Bruges two for 49. Walter one for 27.

BREAKAGE OF SHOP WINDOW

DAMAGE AT ASHBURTON

A large plate-glass window, valued at £25, fronting the premises of Death and Company’s Ashburton branch, was broken during the Christmas holidays, but there is no indication how it occurred. The lower part of the window was struck a severe blow, and the glass was cracked in several directions from the point of impact.

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

TE PIRITA

Mrs Birdling, vice-president, presided at the monthly meeting of the Te Pirita Women’s Institute. Mrs Stevens gave a report on the halfyearly conference of the North Canterbury Federation. Competition results were:—Bloom, Mrs Duncan 1, Mrs C. Inch and Mrs D. Inch (equal) 2; gift, Mrs Birdling and Mrs Duncan (equal) 1, Mrs Barber 2; cake, Mrs Reddicliffe 1, Mrs Birdling 2, Mrs Barber and Mrs Duncan (equal) 3. Hostesses wdre Mesdames Andrew and D. Inch. A Christmas party given by the institute for the children in the district was well attended. The children were presented with prizes by Mr D. Inch, chairman of the school committee.