COUNTRY NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23081, 6 January 1937, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS

BALCLUTHA Obituary A very old and respected resident of the district died on Sunday at Balclutha in the person of Mrs Mary Kerr M'Guflog, widow of Mr Robert M Guffog, a one-time contractor and millowner of Balclutha. Mrs M’Guflog was 73 years of age, and had been living quietly at Kaka Point with her daughter Constance for some time. She was born at Port Molyneux, being the youngest daughter of Mr John Hislop, a farmer. In 1884 she was married to Mr M’Guffog, who was in partnership with his brother John, and they lived at North Balclutha for 20 years. They moved to Dunedin for a few years, and then purchased the Kaka Point store, which they conducted. together with the running of a passenger and goods service between the railway at Romahapa and the beach, for some 12 years. Some time after her husband’s death Mrs M Guffog removed to Timaru, where she was in business with her daughters for five years. In 1924 she returned to Kaka Point, where she had since lived in retirement. She was a woman of high character, kind hearted, and she endeared' herself to all with whom she came in contact. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and of the local P.W.M.U. She took a real interest in the progress of Kaka Point as a seaside resort, and was the first to succeed in getting swings erected for the benefit of visiting children. Of a family of five, four survive their mother. Acts of Vandalism On New Year’s Eve some of the beach amenities erected at Kaka Point for the benefit of children were destroyed by irresponsible!!. Swings were damaged and seats pulled out of their fixtures. In Balclutha larrikins were at work removing gates, etc.

CLINTON Rifle Shooting The Clinton Defence Rifle Club fired a match for the Challenge Button on Saturday at the 300 and 500 yards ranges. Due to the holiday season, however, there was a poor attendance. President Semple was the winner of the button with a good score of 92 oft the rifle. The following are the scores, together with the handicaps:—

WAITAHUNA Meeting of Church Congregation A congregational meeting was held after the morning service at the Waitahuna Presbyterian Church last Sunday, and the following resolution was passed:—” That this congregatipn, having received intimation of the impending departure for Hampden of the Rev. A. R. Chisholm, expresses its deep regret at the prospect of losing such a faithful and beloved minister. The congregation places no obstacle in the way of his departure to Hampden. Furthermore, it desires to place on record its appreciation of the fine service he has given during the 4J years of his ministry in the Waitahuna parish.” The Rev. A. R. Chisholm, with Mrs Chisholm' and family, left on Tuesday morning for their annual holiday. They will return before the end of the month, and will leave for Hampden early in February. MIDDLEMARCH Rainfall The year 1936 will be remembered as one of the best growing seasons ever experienced in the district, and the record rainfall for the month of December of 3.37 in brings the total for the vear up to 24.39 in, which constitutes a record for the last six years. The daily rainfall for the month of December was as follows: —December 1, three points; December 11, 15 points; December 17, three points; December 18, 13 points; December 20, 37 points; December 21, 153 points; December 22, 54 points; December 23, 11 points: December 25, 13 points; December 28, 21 points; December 29, 14 points. The following table for the last six years shows that 1936 exceeded the average by 4.32 in.

Holiday Season The annual school break-up was postponed at the last moment on account of the infantile paralysis epidemic, and the annual ex-pupils’ gathering, usually held on December 24, was also postponed. The annual sports meeting, which is always an enjoyable outing, was abandoned. The New Year was ushered in by the whistle of the engine of the Central Otago midnight tram, which was at Middlemarch Station at that hour. The church bell was rung and a band of young people caused amusement with a display of fireworks. Shearing Owing to the wet weather and the intervening holidays the farmers are finding it difficult to make progress with the shearing. A large number of sheep throughout the district are still in the wool, and as 10 points of ram fell on Sunday night this will probably delay matters further.

300 500 yds. yds. Total W. Semple .. .. 44 48 92 T. Lamberton .. .. 45 46 91 E. Brown ,. ,. 45 46 91 H. Turner .. .. .. 47 41 88 E. Robertson .. .. 37 46 83 J. Evans .. .. 41 42 83

1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 Mthly. avg. for last 6 Tl. years Jan. 4.28 2.98 1.63 2.14 2.92 1.30 15.25 2.54 Feb. 2.38 2.14 1.58 3.02 2.52 3.05 14.69 2.45 Mar. 1.17 1.46 .36 1.95 4.41 3.76 13.11 2.18 Apl. .93 2.61 2.90 1.64 .86 1.28 10.22 1.70 May .80 1.50 1.77 1.55 1.39 1.36 8.37 1.39 June 1.57 .55 1.12 .84 2.39 .93 7.42 1.23 July .23 1.01 1.46 1.35 .50 1.91 6.49 1.08 Aug. 1.84 .75 1.27 .43 .81 1.28 6.38 1.06 Sep. .72 1.02 .72 1.84 1.25 1.57 6.12 1.02 Oct. 2.39 3.06 2.82 2.24 1.10 1.65 13.26 2.21 Nov. 1.02 .39 2.55 1.18 1.72 2.90 9.76 1.62 Dec. 2.48 1.31 2.04 1.93 1.58 3.37 12.71 2.11 19.S1 18.78 20.22 20.11 21.45 24.39