BUILDERS ACTIVE IN ASHBURTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18961, 7 January 1930, Page 5

BUILDERS ACTIVE IN ASHBURTON.

There has been very little business transacted in real estate during the past few months. This has been due to a great extent to the erection of so many new houses. There are now only a limited number of good building sections available in the main part of the borough, with the result that this class of property has considerably advanced in value during the past twelve months. Prospective buyers endeavour to secure sections w'here the sewerage is available,, but as a result of the high prices now being asked, a number of new houses are being erected in the suburbs. The returns show a. slight increase in the building trade in 1929, compared with the previous year, and the prospects are for even greater activity during the current year. In 1929 ’thirty-one permits were granted. If this number twenty-eight were for dwellings, as against twenty-nine for the previous year, the total value being £28,443, as against £27,067 for 1928. Authority was also given for forty-seven alterations, an increase of twenty-five, the value being £6137, compared with £8790 for the previous period. The following table gives details; —

FARMERS’ FIELD DAY. The Minister of Agriculture and Lands (the Hon G. W. Forbes) will attend the farmers’ field day at the Experimental Farm to-day. The Director of the Fields Division (Mr W. Deem) and the Superintendent (Mr R. M’Gillivray), Christchurch, will also be present. THE WEATHER. For the forty-eight hours ended at 9.30 yesterday morning, the rainfall in Ashburton was forty-six points, making a total of eighty points since January 1. The weather yesterday was bright and sultry. PRESENTATION TO MISS FAWCETT. Miss L, Fawcett, who has been as-: sociated with the teaching staff of the Ashburton East Sunday School for thirty years, was the recipient of a presentation from parents and scholars on Sunday afternoon. Mr J. Berry, an old scholar, 4nade the presentation, and an address on ‘‘Prayer and Healing” was delivered by Mr J. M. Hick* WOOLLEN MILLS RE-OPENED. Work was resumed yesterday at the Ashburton Woollen Mills, which were closed for twelve days on account of the holidays. nflDniTP TT Trr-.t T nr- T-r n r-mr, r.

BOROUGH HEALTH RETURNS. The Borough Health Inspector (Mr J. R. Richardson) reports an increase in the number of cases of infectious diseases in the borough, compared with the previous year. Eighty-one notifications were received last year as against forty-four in 1928, twenty-six in 1927. and ninety-six in 1926. An'outbreak of scarlet fever, although not so severe as in other centres, was responsible for fifty-nine cases being notified as against twenty-six in 1925. Particulars of the cases were as follow, those for 1928 being given in parentheses;— Scarlet fever 59 ( 26); tuberculosis 6 (11); puerperal fever 3 (2); puerperal septicaemia 2 (—); diphtheria 2 (2); pneumonic influenza 3 ( —); pneumonia a (1), hydatids 1 (1); and infantile paralysis (2). SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS. In connection with the New Zealand championships, to be held at Grey, mouth this month, the Ashburton Centre decided, subject to a challenge to nominate Doreen Smith for the 50 yards junior, championship and for the 100 yards junior championship.

ti § .5 .c ‘■*3 ’o is • £ ‘3 % o Q ' o O £ £ January .... 5 — 4100 3 50 February ... 1 — 550 5 225 March 1 2500 1 130 April 3 — 2650 2 41 Mav — 1850 7 1832 June 2 — 1225 1 18 July 4 1 3800 3 2020 August 4 — 3625 3 128 September — — — 5 340 October .... 1 — 850 6 593 November — 2925 10 690 December 3 1 4368 1 70