MID-CANTERBURY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20107, 14 May 1935, Page 5

MID-CANTERBURY

LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS ASHBURTON, May 13. Personal: Mr Raymond Oakely (president of the Mid-Canterbury Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union) left this afternoon on his way to Wellington to attend the annual Dominion Conference, which will commence on Wednesday. Mr A. J. Ching, who has been clerk of thie Ashburton Magistrate’s Court since January, 1931, has been transferred to Whangarei, and will be succeeded in Ashburton by Mr J. J. W. Pooley, of Stratford. Mr Ching, who was stationed at Hawera before coming to Ashburton, expects to leave for the north at an early date. Mr S. W. Gower (president of the Mid-Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute) is visiting Wellington as the branch’s representative at the annual meeting of the Institute. Milk for Children: Because of the low earning power of many men in Ashburton a number of children, who have been obtaining milk at the schools and paying a small weekly charge, have had to give up participating in the distribution, and the Sunlight League, which has been fostering the giving of milk to the children, has approached the Hospital Board asking if, in view of the fact that the League has no funds to make up the deficiency, the Board would accept the liability, which amounts to about 24/- a week. Members of the Board this morning discussed the question, and while agreeing that it was one of first importance, pointed out that there were many difficulties in regard to it. It was agreed that the Board's special relief committee should investigate the question and report to the Board.

Rider Thrown: When she was thrown from her horse during the meet of the Ashburton branch of the Christchurch Hunt Club on Saturday, Miss E. Richards, of Rakaia. suffered concussion, and was badly bruised. She was admitted to Oakhurst Private Hospital where her condition was reported to-day to be satisfactory.

Unemployment: Thirty-two relief workers in Ashburton will be employed under scheme No. 5 this week, and 134 will receive sustenance payments.

Ten Degrees of Frost: Though the registration of frost in Ashburton this morning was only 10 degrees, the conditions were apparently much more severe than this indicated. The valves at some of the water tanks in the railway yard were frozen In, being surrounded by solid blocks of ice.

Senior Rugby: Three field goals were kicked in the senior football match between Rakaia and Old Boys on the Ashburton Showgrounds on Saturday afternoon, and this was the feature of the fixture. There was a small attendance of the public. The senior match between Methven and Technical Old Boys was staged at Methven. The senior grade resulted: Rakaia 27, Old Boys 16; Methven 20, Technical Old Boys 0.

Hunting Season Opens: Conditions were ideal on Saturday when the Ashburton Branch of the Christchurch Hunt Club opened its season. Hounds met at Stringfellow's corner and within an hour they had made two long, fast runs and had obtained two kills. The condition of the hounds so early in the season reflected credit on the huntsman, and followers Were afforded some fast and thrilling sport. The hunting was some of the best experienced in the Ashburton County for many years.

Efficiency of Hospitals: Referring this morning to the statement in the annual report on the work cf the Ashburton Public Hospital that the average days’ stay of patients had dropped 5 per cent, last year over the previous year, Dr. J. Russell Wells said there had been a steady decline in the average each year, and the figure for last year was the lowest for many

years. This bore out what he always maintained; it was an Index to the efficiency of the hospital. New Railway Bridge: Though the contract for the construction of the new railway bridge over the Ashburton River does not call for completion of the work till the end of September the contractors have been pushing on with considerable speed, and they should finish the job by the end of July. Half the piles have been completed. The steel to be put Into the bridge has arrived at Addington workshops, where the fabrication of the girders is in progress.