PICNIC PARTIES FLOCK TO COUNTRY

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19268, 3 January 1931, Page 6

PICNIC PARTIES FLOCK TO COUNTRY

BIG EXODUS FROM ASHBURTON CENTRE.

The ideal weather experienced on New Year’s Day and yesterday caused many people to visit picnic resorts in the county, while large numbers visited the mouth of the Ashburton River. Picnic parties could be found for miles up-stream on this river. Others visited Peel Forest, the mouths of the Rangitata and Rakaia Rivers and the Hinds River, while some even went as far afield as Timaru and spent the time at the seaside. As is usually the case, a number held picnics in the Domain. The races in Christchurch on New Year’s Day and yesterday attracted a number of Ashburton residents, 115 travelling by the 8.15 a.m. train on the former day and thirty yesterday. The special tram to Timaru on New Year’s Day, on the occasion of the annual athletic meeting, was taken advantage of by 145 residents. Large numbers also travelled to both centres by road. Smallest Rainfall for Years. With one exception, the total rainfall for 1930 was the smallest recorded at Ashburton for the last ten years. Last year’s total was 28.15 in, while in 1929 32.10 in were registered. The heaviest fall for any one month was recorded in January, when 5.38 in were registered, and the lowest was in June, when only .57in were recorded. The following figures show the fall in inches in each month, the previous year’s figures being given in parentheses:— January 5.38 in (3.60 in), February l.Olin (.13in), March 1.06 in (2.51 in), April 1.77 in (2.20 in), May 1.47 in (1.07 in), June .67in (5.32 in), July 1.40 in (5.91 in), August 4.94 in (3.07 in), September 4.09 in (2.30 in), October 2.28 in (.38in), November 2.61 in (2.lliri), December 1.57 in (3.50 in). Ashburton Bowling Club. Twenty-four players took part in a progressive doubles tournament held by the Ashburton Bowling Club yesterday, when the weather was again perfect. Five games were played. A. Lane won the skips’ section, with five wins, while the leads’ prize was won by E. J. M’Eachen, with four and a half wins. The following will represent the Ashburton Bowling Club in a pennant match against Allenton at Ashburton next Wednesday evening:—Russell, Woods, Doherty, Higgins (s)M’Elhinney, Sawle, Christie, Easterbrook (s); Hardy, Percy, Madden, M’Lauchlan (s); Moore, Dunn, Milsom, Acton (s). Hedge and Stack Burnt. The Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade received a call about 9.45 last evening to an outbreak of fire in a large macrocarpa hedge which bounded Trevor’s Road on the property of Mr W. Dawson. Before the brigade arrived a hay stack in the paddock which the hedge fronted had caught fire. A large gap was burned in the hedge and the stack was destroyed.