Local and General

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LIX, Issue 87, 1 November 1938, Page 4

Local and General

In this issue the Railway Department advertises particulars of excursion fares and train arrangements for the Christchurch A. and P. Show and races. Inclement weather to-day caused a postponement of the garden party organised by the Leeston Methodist Circuit in aid of funds for the orphanage at Papanui. This function will now be held on Friday of this week, at the residence of Mr and Mrs T. W. Brooks, Brookside.

This (Tuesday) evening the annual social and presentation of prizes under the auspices of the Ellesmere A, and P. Association will take place in the Leeston Town Hall. There will be a good band for the dance music, an excellent supper, and a pleasant time is anticipated for all who attend.

Reporting under date October 27 on the London meat markets, the New Zealand Meat Producers Board states: Lamb easier owing to heavy supplies of home-killed selling at 'prices below frozen lamb. With increasing stocks and poor demand, prices for wether and ewe mutton are lower. New Zealand porker pigs are a shade easier owing to increased supplies of home-killed; prices for baconers are unchanged but the

tendency is easier.

Distemper has caused the death of many dogs in the Auckland district in the past four months, during which the most widespread epidemic of the disease for many years has been experienced. Farm dogs and city pets alike have suffered, and the average mortality rate of dogs contracting the disease has been about 60 per cent., according to veterinarians, and as yet there is no definite indication that the epidemic is waning, says the Herald.

Excellent catches of flounders are now being made at Lake Ellesmere* Comment has often been heard to the effect that little or no effort had been made to make available to Leeston and other Ellesmere residents, flounders caught in the lake, but now Mr F. Alexander, of Lakeside, has made arrangements to do so. Local residents requiring fresh flounders should leave their orders at Mr W. L. Donald's garage, Leeston, and they will be delivered at the garage the following evening about eight o'clock.

Rain fell on ten days in October for a total of 2.31 inches, as compared with only 41 points on three days for October of last year. This year's total is now 29.35 inches, as against 20.44 inches for the corresponding period of last year. The October average for the last 25 years is 1.86 inches, the heaviest recording being 4.56 inches in 1932, while the lightest was 15 points in October of 1929. There were ten frosts last month, the hardest being 81 degrees, whereas in October of last year there were eleven frosts, the hardest being

94 degrees