MID-CANTERBURY NEWS

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22908, 3 January 1940, Page 4

MID-CANTERBURY NEWS

COMPETITION FOR PASTURES

MEETING NEXT TUESDAY

SCHEME TO INTEREST FARMERS AT ASHBURTON

A - meeting of representatives of all bodies in the Ashburton County interested in farming practice will be held in Ashburton on Tuesday evening to consider the setting-up of the organisation necessary to conduct a pasture competition in the county. The competition is to encourage production and the maintenance of highclass pasture in the county, as well as providing a way to gain first-hand practical information of the production of pastures most suited to particular districts. ’ . , The Methven branch of the MidCanterbury Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union suggested at the last meeting of the executive that a sub-committee be set up to investigate the matter. It is reported that a good deal of information on the subject is now available. It is proposed that at the meeting on Tuesday a central executive committee be appointed to organise the contest. The' suggestion has been made that the county be divided into suitable districts in which local competitions could be held. The’three winning pastures in each district would automatically be entrants for the county competition. AREA LEVELLED CAMPING GROUND AT RAKAIA On the lower side of the Ashburton approach to the traffic bridge over the Rakaia river, an area has been levelled by the Ashburton County Council preparatory to sowing down in grass and planting with shelter trees, the erection of fireplaces, conveniences, and a water-pump. The council has decided to Convert the area into a camping ground for motorists. BOWLS PROGRESSIVE PAIRS TOURNAMENT > H.'P. Milsom and W. H. Amos tied ,In the skips’ competition of the progressive pairs' tournament conducted by the Ashburton Bowling Club yesterday. Each player scored four wins, Milsom won on points. In the leads’ competition, A. P. Warriner, with five wins, was first, and W. Dacre (four wins) was second. NEW BRIDGE STRUCTURE OVER POTTS RIVER ] The work of constructing a bridge over the Potts river in the Ashburton .Gorge giving .access to Mount Potts and

[ADJUSTMENT OF ASSETS

SEARCH THROUGH OLD RECORDS

INFORMATION REQUIRED BY COMMISSION

The return of reserves and plantations showing receipts and payments, also cost of water-races and river protection, which is being prepared by the staff of the Ashburton County Council for the information of the commission set up to adjust assets and liabilities between the Ashburton County and Borough Councils, should be finished fairly early in the New The work, which is involving a tremendous amount of research into old records as far back as 70 . i y e uf s ’ is well under way. and win be com pleted in plenty of timefor “T ting of the commission, which will resume at the Ashburton Courthouse on February 20. . . Ahj The commission, which sat at Asn burton for two days last month, com prises Messrs H. Morgan. SIVL, of Ti maru (chairman). J. P; Wellington (Deputy-ControUer and Auditor-General), and N. C. K.ensmg ton, of Christchurch (Commissioner of Grown Lands for Canterbury). . _ The commission was set up follow ing the amalgamation of Allenton with the borough of Ashburton.

OBITUARY

MB J. T. SMITH The death occurred* at Ashburton*on Saturday night of Mr James Smith, who was well known.m bust ness and sporting in the town for many years. He had been seriously ill for several, months. Mr Smith, who was 52 years of age, was the principal of the firm of Smith Bros., builders and contractors. He was responsible for the buildtog of several major structures at Ashburton, among them the Catholic Ashburton Electric Power Board building, the National Mortgage and Agency block, and 36 State houses. Mr Smith’s interests in sport were varied. He was captain of the Ashburton Golf Club for a period, a foundation member of the old St. Andrew s Tennis Club, and a former memberof the Ashburton BowUng Club. _The Ashburton Racing and Trotting Clubs and the Southern Cross and Old Boys Football Clubs were other bodies to which Mr Smith belonged. His attention in recent years was concentrated mostly on golf, and he was local champion for several years. Mr Smith on one occasion won .the Mid-Canterbury golf championship and was runner-up Si the Christchurch championship. He is survived by his wife, one son, and one daughter.