CHRISTCHURCH NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14465, 6 March 1909, Page 12

CHRISTCHURCH NOTES.

(Fhom Oun Owk Correspondent.) CIIHISTCHURCH, March 2. One offect of the cool summer experienced here is felt by the men engaged in harvest- work. In the Ashburton and Mcthvcn districts they state that this work is unusually heavy this year, as owing to the almost entire absence ot north-west winds lately there is a greatdeal of' sap in the straw, and consequently the sheaves are very heavy. A farmer said that owing to the straw in the oat sheaves being so sappy and immature he was almost afraid to continue slacking, lest the. stacks should start heating. The extension of the telephone system in the country districts is not regarded with favour' by threshing machine owners. They complain that the telephone wires in a great many instances .throughout Ashbiirton County are not high enough to admit of their plants passing under them, while crossing road intersections and entering paddocks from the main roads. In a number of cases this is due to the wire being too slack. During the present threshing season quite a number of accidents have occurred in which wires have been broken and posts pulled down. The attention of the Board of Directors of the' Royal Humane Society has been called to two acts of bravery performed by a boy of 13 years, named Gerald Scoble. On September 1 Scoblo saw a little girl fall off the steps leading from the dressing boxes on the New Brighton pier. The tide was running out, and as there was a strong backwash the girl was being rapidly carried out to deep water. Scoble ran into the water waist deep, and rescued the girl, who but for his timely action might have been drowned. The second acl performed by Scoble involved considerably more personal risk. A boy of 10 years was bathing in the river near New Brighton, and got out of his depth some distance from the bank. He was seen to be in difficulties, and Scoble swam out to him and saved him. The rescued boy had sunk twice, and was much exhausted when brought to the river bank.