COUNTRY NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16324, 13 January 1921, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS.

[From Our Correspondent*. 3 RANG I OR A At a meeting of the Rangiora High School Board held yesterday Mrs B Buisett-e was appointed matron of the Beys’ Hostel. The St John's troop of Boy Scouts after spending a week in camp at Coldstream struck their tents and returned to their homes on Tuesday Scoutmaster the Rev F. P- Fendall was in charge of the camp, and under his care the boys had a very happy time, the weather being perfect for camping out. TIANMER SPRINGS The Tourist Department has obtained the services of a medical man who will attend visitors and local people at certain hours. Dr T. C. MacIntyre undertakes tile duties as well as assisting au the Queen Mary Military Hospital. Shearing operations are now in full swing and the weather is dry and exceedingly warm, much toe dry for agricultural purposes, but well adapted to the shearing, ASH BURTON. The returns for the quarter ending December 31 show that at the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court ninety-nine civil plaints were entered, of which seventytwo went to hearing. The total amount, sued for was £2059 13s Sri, the aggregate amount recovered being £1947 Os tOd. The_tnmb.er of persons who appeared on arrest was forty-six, and on summonses, seventy-five. There were three juvenile cases during the period. Tne decision of the Magistrate, Mr | E. 1> Motley, S.M., in the recent test J case heard in Ashburton, arising out of an alleged excessive taxi fare being, charged, will be delivered at to-mor-row’s sitting of the Court. The increase of work at- the Ashburton County Hospital is revealed by the following comparative table of the num-

S her of admissions to the institution : 1020, *2l; i 918-1919. 413; 1917-1918, Slo; 1916-1917, 252; 191-5-1916. 308: ; 1914-1915, 288 ; '913-1914, 226- The j number of surgical operations performed in 1920 was 316. Additions to the , | hospital accommodation. and plant j have recently been made. The new j completed), additional storey to nurses’ ; home (in course of erection), a new ( motor ambulance, and the installation j of i new laundry plant, i The temperature in the shade at | Ashburton yesterday was 88.5 degrees. I A nor’-west breeze added to the eneri rating effect of the hot sun. A drift of j smoke hung over the plains all day, ex- ! tensive grass fires being reported from the back country up the Tlakaia Gorge. BEE.STONE A poll was taken on Tuesday for the election of five members to the North Rakai.a River Board of Conservators. The polling was as follows:—W. Bochhead. 51 : W. Cabbie, 48; James Storry, 47; J. l\ M’Evedy 40; IS. J. Cowan. 36 ; W. T. M’JDvody 30. Tie first named five were elected. SPR INGSTON SOUTH : The following won trophies at the.rei cent Sprmgston South sports:—F. Kell, senr., A. Johnstou. Miss Wright, B. Stp.ee and A. Payne. *■ Arrangements are being made for all football teams in the Ellesmere subuni rm to hold their annual picnic at Coe’s Ford on Sunday, i Harvesting is now general, and i should good weather prevail a short j j harvest la anticipated' OXFORD. I ! The Oxford Benevolent and Iraprove- | niGir Re ague met on Monday night.. |i Mr R. F. Henderson presiding. The i resignation of Mr R. P Dailey, on aeI count of his leaving the district, was ! received with regret, and it was. de- | cided to give liini a public farewell- ar- { rangemenfcs to be left to a later date j The hank account was stated to be i £7O. Accounts amounting to £26 were | passed for payment The Question of 1 'improvements at Ashley Gorge wns considered and the County Council was commended to- the improvements they had made. This Domain is under the control of the .County Council, which has no source of income for its improvement. It has not power to make j a charge for admission, as, obtains in j regard to other domains, and it has to j rely on voluntary contribution. The ! buildings already" erected are a great j convenience to the vast number of ; picnickers and it might not be unreasI onable to expect some financial support ! from those benefiting by it. It was unanimously decided to make a contribution of £3O towards the expenses in- - curved. The dale, of the next meeting was left in the hands of the president i and secretary.