ASHBURTON NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18985, 3 February 1930, Page 5

ASHBURTON NEWS.

DEER STALKING BLOCKS. The draw for the various blocks in connection with the twelve applications received for deer-stalking in the area under the control of the Ashburton Acclimatisation Society will take place to-morrow evening. TINWALD TOWN BOARD RATES. Out of the total of £628 of rates struck by the Tinwald Town Board, there was a balance of only £37 outstanding on Saturday, when the 10 per cent penalty was imposed. FIRST LOCAL AUTHORITY. It is now sixty-six years since the first local authority for the district of Ashburton was established. The meeting was held in Mr William Turton’s hotel, when the following were appointed a board: —Messrs Ben Moorhouse, C. Percy Cox, R. Park, E. Chapman and A. M’Lean. The boundaries were then the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers, the sea and the hills. PERSONAL. Mr R. Carleton, who was teaching at the Wakanui School for eighteen months, and for the past year at Dun sandel, paid a brief visit to Ashburton before leaving for his new appointment at the Waimate School on Saturday. Miss I. M. Duff, who has been connected with the teaching staff of the Ashburton High School for the past four years, has accepted a position on the staff of the Hamilton Technical School, where she will commence duties in March. The Rev A. G. Ir\ T inc, of St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, and Miss Irvine, who have been spending the summer vacation in the south, returned to Ashburton on Friday evening. During Mr Irvine’s absence, services at the church were conducted in turn by the Revs G. Miller (North-East Valley, Dunedin), F. M’Donald (Kaitangata), and T. Stinson (Peel Forest). RAKAIA. Much more settled weather is being experienced at Rakaia, and farmers are taking every advantage for harvesting. Crops, on the whole, are turning out much better than was anticipated after the heavy winds and rain. In the Barrhill district the heads are filling up well, although there is not so much straw in some parts as in former years. A field of Western Wolths, harvested recently at Mr L. Oakley’s farm at Hatfield, yielded a return of 60 bushels to the acre. The rainfall at Rakaia for January was 4.SBin, compared with 4.44 in for January, 1929. Rain fell on fourteen days, the heaviest falls being on January 14, when 1.14 in was recorded, and on January 28, when 1.12 in was recorded. METHVEN. A meeting of the Methven War Memorial Committee was held on Friday evening in the Mount Hutt Road Board’s office, Mr Jas. Carr presiding. A letter was received from the Ashburton Power Board replying to the committee’s application for the installation of flood-lighting the memorial free of charge, and regretting that they were unable to accede to the request, as the law did not allow them to supply power free of charge. It was decided to ask the Mount Hutt Road Board to make application to the Ashburton County Council to make arrangements for the flood-lights as an addition to the township lighting. A telegram was received from the Hon J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Defence, stating that Tuesday, February 11, would be suitable to him to attend the unveiling ceremony. It was decided to unveil the memorial at 2 p.m. on that date. The secretary read a statement of the financial position. This showed that the total cost of the memorial was £640, and the sum of £l2O is still required so that the memorial will be unveiled free of debt. The question of the programme on the occasion of the unveiling ceremony was left to the chairman and secretary to arrange. Mr H. Green and the secretary were appointed* a deputation to wait on the tradespeople with reference to the closing of business premises for the afternoon.

The following are the meteorological observations for the month of January as recorded by Mr Jas. Carr, “Rudstone,” Methven: —Rain fell on 17 days, the maximum fall being 3.31 in on January 14. The total fall for the month was 8.95 in, as compared with 3.42 in for January last year, when rain fell on 11 days. The highest value of the barometer was 30.26 on January 5 and 10, and the lowest 29.30 on January 4. The highest reading of the maximum thermometer was 85deg on January 23, and the lowest minimum was 36deg on January 9. The lowest minimum on the grass was 26deg on January 15. It may be mentioned that on five occasions during the month the temperature recorded on the grass was below freezing point. PENDARVES. The following are the meteorological observations for Pendarves for the month of January, 1930, as recorded by Mr A. P. Bruce, “Kaikoura”:—Rain fell 'on thirteen days, the maximum fall being 1.40 in. on January 29l The total for January, 1930 was 4.66 inches, for January, 1929, was 3.56 inches; for January, 1928, was 1.09 inches; for January, 1927, was 1.35 inches; for January, 1926, 2.51 inches; for January, 1925, 1.98 inches; for January, 1924, 2.06 inches: for January, 1923, 3.71 inches. As will be seen, the rainfall for January, 1930, represents the heaviest fall for at least ten years, while old residents consider it is the worst harvest weather known for the past forty years. The heavy gales of January 19 and 20 did much damage throughout the sea-board districts, especially in oat crops that were in the ripening stage. In some cases losses are recorded up to 50 per cent. As the result of the abnormal rainfall, a second growth is observable in the Garton oats. In the wheat crops it is noticeable that the heads seem, in some cases, to have matured unevenly, the top grains being ripe, while the lower ones are still green. While the wheat is apparently ripe, there still seems to be a considerable amount of moisture in the stems. At the present time a great amount of wheat is waiting to be cut and fine weather is more and more urgently needed. Last Wednesday evening a welcome home was given at the school-house to Mr and Mrs Bush on their return from their wedding trip. There was a good attendance, and Mr Cecil Hampton, on behalf of. all, extended a welcome to the district to Mrs Bush. He stated that Mr Bush, since he had held the position of master of the Pendarves School, had taken part in many social affairs, and had been the means of forming a Bible Class amongst the

young people. His work was appreciat ed, and in recogntion they asked him to accept the gift of an aluminium ket tie, and they wished him and Mrs Bush every happiness in the future. The rest of the evening was spent in cards and music.