ASHBURTON NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19270, 6 January 1931, Page 14

ASHBURTON NEWS.

A VIOLENT GALE. A nor’-west gale of exceptional ferocity visited the Ashburton County on Saturday afternoon and Sunday, causing interruption to telephone and eleptric services. About forty electric poles were blown down by the wind and branches of trees were blown across the wires. The districts most affected were Fairton, Chertsey, Rakaia, Lyndhurst, Willowby and Hinds. Telephone lines w’ere brought down at Rakaia and Springburn. while party lines were affected at Mayfield Chertsey and Winchmore. Very little damage was done to crops, the majority of which are yet too green to be affected. Outstanding Rates. Of a total of £11,535 19s lOd struck in the borough for the 1930-31 year, only £3639 5s 6d had been received up to yesterday. The last day on which the rates can be paid without incur-, ring the 10 per cent penalty, is January 21, which leaves just over two weeks for the remaining £7896 14s 4d to be received. The sum of £6401 ISs 2d has been received in general rates and water charge out of a total of approximately £27,000 struck for the Ashburton County. Municipal Abattoir Returns. The amount of stock slaughtered at the Municipal Abattoir during 1930 shows a decrease of 91 compared with the figures for 1929, and a decrease of 437 with those of 1928. During last year 12,213 were passed and 22 were condemned. In 1929 the totals were 12,304 and 21 and in 1928 the figures were 12,650 and 23. As has been the case every year the number of lambs slaughtered during December showed a substantial increase, while the number of pigs killed during May, June and July was well in excess of the totals for the other months. The following is the total number of killings, the 1929 figures being given in parentheses: —Cattle, 1543 (1720); calves, 85 (—); sheep. 8899 (8740); lambs, 628 (636); pigs, 1058 (1187); condemned, 22 (21). Personal. Mr G. O. Wake, who has been on the staff of the Public Trust office at Ashburton for two years, and who left fast evening for Hawera, was presented with a leather collar box by other members of the staff.