MID-CANTERBURY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20064, 22 March 1935, Page 6

MID-CANTERBURY

LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS ASHBURTON, March 21. Personal: Mr A. H. Guy, of Auckland (New Zealand Grand Master of the Independent Order of Oddfellows) arrived in Ashburton to-day on a social visit. He was to be entertained by the Daphne and Hakatere Lodges at function this evening. Mr F. A. Bullock, of Christchurch, was last evening appointed judge of the vocal and instrumental sections at the annual festival of the Ashburton Competitions Society this year, and Mrs J. W. Bailey, of Auckland, was appointed judge of elocution. The appointment of a judge for dancing was not finalised by the Society. Obituary: Mr Ansley Moore, who has lived in Canterbury since he came out from Ireland in 1862 as a boy of five years, died at his residence., 46 Grey Street, Ashburton, to-day after a short illness. Mr Moore farmed successfully in the south-eastern quarter of the County for many years, and was well-known in Ashburton, where he has lived in retirement for about the last four years. Trapped by Rising River: The sudden rising of the Rakaia River, due to the recent north-westerly conditions, was responsible for a number of fishermen being trapped.

Mr B. R. Howson, of Rakaia, who was salmon fishing in the river, did not notice, until too late, that the water was rising, and he was unable to .get to the bank.

He was compelled to spend the night on a shingle bank, and experienced an anxious time, as there was a danger that the flood would submerge his refuge. However, the river did not rise sufficiently to cover the spit, and in the morning he was able to wade to the bank. Two other men were also taken unawares by the flood, and were forced to walk for several miles along the shingle before they could reach the bank. The Rangitata River also rose rapidly because of the wind, and, an angler who had set his line and had left it for a short time, returned to find that the flood had washed the rod away. Ram and Ewe Fair: The record price for a number of years of 20gns was paid for a oneshear Southdown stud ram at the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s ram and ewe fair held at the Ashburton show grounds. The fair was the first ram fair to be held in Canterbury this season, and although some of the stock was presented in fairly good condition, quite a number of the animals entered was not up to standard. Farmers would not recognise breeding in flock rams, consequently no fancy prices were offered, and many of the lines were passed in. The best price for flock rams was 7igns obtained for two one-shear Southdowns. Five one-shear English Leicesters, realised 6igns, while one two-shear Border Leicester sold at 6gns. The total entry was 1012,’ compared with 881 last year, 1210 in 1933 and 1’ )8 in 1932, the record year. The predominating breed was Border Leicester, while the English Leicesters were almost as popular-. The entry of stud rams was 63, compared with 15 last year.