ASHBURTON.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 885, 11 December 1916, Page 5

ASHBURTON.

NEWS AND NOTES. From Our Own Correspondent. The extra night in the "lolanthc" season proved a big success. The house, though not packed, was comfortably filled, and it speaks volumes for the excellence of the show that it has run a season of four nights successfully. The audiences throughout the season have been thoroughly appreciative. At the invitation of the society, a number of inmates from the Tuarangi Home saw the o]>era on Saturday night. After the curtain had fallen on Saturday the company held a light supper in the room at the back of the theatre. Mr P. L. Orr presided, and a short toastlist was honoured.

In reply to the toast of "Mr and Mrs H. J. Chapman,'' Mr Chapman thanked all for the hard work they had put into the opera. There had been no trouble of any kind, and the ladies especially had put much time into the learning of the dances. He also wished to thank the stage mechanists (Messrs C. Day, R. Bramley, and M. Keeley), Mr Little (for the use of bill boards), the Electric Supply Company, and the New Zealand Picture Supplies Company, Mrs Frizzelle (pianiste), and the members of the orchestra.

A large number of local residents visit the mouth of the river every weekend. Yesterday particularly many sought the cool of the river and sea breezes as a refreshing change after the hot week in town. The "mouth" (as it is generally known) provides excellent swimming and fishing. The number of huts at the settlement increases every year, and some are quite commodious dwellings.

A farmer in the Wakanui district has liia oats in stook. Judging from appearances, the crop has not suffered severely from the dry weather, but it is very apparent that unless rain falls very soon other crops in the locality will be ruined. Feed is rapidly disappearing, and if the heat continues the feed problem will become acute. Ninopenee halfpenny will be charged for a 41b loaf from to-day, owing to the increase in the price of flour. Ninety degrees in the shade was the maximum reading of the thermometer on Saturday.

There was a fair attendance at the Ashburton stock and produce sales on Saturday. The following range of prices obtained:— Poultry.—Hens 2/4, 0/-, 4/-, to 4/6, ganders 3/-, ducks ?>/-. Pigs.—Baconers £3 to £•'! 7/-, porkers 40/- to 58/6, stores 30/- to I!;"./-, weaners 14/-, 20/-, 23/6, to 28/-. Produce.—Potatoes (table) 11/8 to 15/- per sack, pig 2/- to 2/6 per sack, peas 1/6 peck, lettuce Id each, onions 3d per bundle, rhubarb 3d to 4d per bundle.