NORTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18362, 21 April 1925, Page 3

NORTH CANTERBURY.

HANMER SPRINGS. Hanmer Spring fortunately escaped the worst of the storm last Showers commenced on Thur&daj & n increased in the afternoon with a downpour well into the night. n Friday morning the lulls on t ie side were observed to I* l i;nctei to the foot and those on the north biclc were covered lialf-way down. 1 - Clarence Valley there were four or fno inches of snow on the flats. , influence of » nor'-wester on ha • ■ and sunnv and pleasant condit o • Sundav most of the snow disappeared from the hills. , . . A dance was held on Saturday •- in the hall, in aid of the Catholic Clmreh repairs fund. There large attendance and .a /very en]°>ab!o evening was spent. "Visitors verden included Messrs B. J and R. U. Masters, of the All footballers, and Mrs A. Misses Shirlev and Cockroft, of g Cabin Tea Kiosk, who organised tho dance, are to be on success which attended their eflor

OMIHI. On Friday evening a very enjoyable social was held in the Omihi Hall, tho occasion being a farewell to Mr and 3 rs Humph revs, and Mr and Mis Mow, w O are both "leaving the district. Despite tho inclement weather, and the epidemic, a laige number turned out w bid God-speed to the parting guests. Dancing was carried on in the mam hall, while progressive euchre was Indulged in, in the ante-room—xhe winners being Mrs Brien and Mr Burrows. After supper, Mr J. Baxter, on beha of the residents, presented each or tne guests of the 'evening with a handsome travelling rug. In doing so he expressed the general regret felt at their departure, and wished them all success and happiness in their future homes. Messrs Cameron (Waipara),' and bloss, on behalf of the Sports and Football Clubs, respectively, eulogised the guests as sports and enthusiastic players ot the . popular national game. On J' si n£ to respond, Mr Humphreys said ne would always remember the years spent in the Omihi Valley as some of the happiest in his life. He regretted leaving his friends and thanked them for the present, which he would value for their sakes. Mr Mow also spoke in the same vein, and the singing of lor Thev Are Jolly Good Fellows," brought to a close a pleasant little evening. _ Any spare time is being in preparation for the annual dog trials which are scheduled 1 to take place nexl< week.

LEITHFIELD. The series of fortnightly dances held under the auspices of the local Swimming Club, was continued on Saturday evening, when an enjoyable time was spent in dancing to music supplied by Mrs F. Trail; Extras were contributed by Mr s Franks, of Masterton, and Mr J. "\V. Sarich,. the efficient master of ceremonies, kept the dances following in quick succession. Visitors at the-Royal Hotel include Mr and Mrs H. "Ward and family, and Miss Joan Kennedy. Mrs E. Watson. (Oamaru), who has been the guest of Mrs Jas. Rhodes, returned t,o Christchurch early, this week. "While last week's storm was not so severe here as in many places, the' strong wind caused a fair amount of havoc in some gardens, where young trees were partially uprooted. An exchange of : .vicars .took, place on Sunday, when ,Rev.- J. T.. Paddison,- of \Kaiapoi, preached at St. Paul's, Leitli-. 'field. ■' • . —. ■ OXFORD. At a meeting convened, by tho Oxford County Council, held recently, arrangements were made for the due. observance of Anzac Day. It was decided to follow the procedure held last year, when the ministers of the' several churches took part. Mr H. C. D. Somerset was asked to give the address. In order to arouse the interest of the children of the county, it was decided .to write to the chairmen of the several school com•inittec3 asking them to arrange with the teachers of their schools to give preparatory instruction in regard to Anzac Day, and tho significance of its observance, and also that the children of the several schools make wreaths to place on the monument. SEFTON. Mr A. McNally, president, was chairman bf a meeting of the Kowai Football Club held in the Domain pavilion. ' It was carried unanimously that appreciation of Mr H. P. Mclver's valuable services be recorded. It was decided to' enter both a senior and a junior team for the North Canterbury Sub-Union's competitions. A meeting of the Sefton Tennis Club was held in the Domain pavilion on Friday night. Mr T. Dalzell presided. It was decided to hold championship (singles) and handicaps (combined), tournaments, the championships to be grouped under tho heads of senior and junior players. LOBURN. A very enjoyable dance was held on Easter Monday night in the Coronation Hall, music being supplied .by Miss Aand Mr T. Joyce. Extras were played by Miss I. Pulley and Mr A. Reynolds. A tennis match was played on Saturday between "Woodend and Leburn on the TVooden-d Courts, resulting in a win for the former team. It ..is expected .that the school will, reopen at an early date. In the meantime the correspondence work is being carried on by the teacher (Mrs Webb). Very 6tormy weather during last wee/k delayed tho picking of the late varieties of apples amongst tho orchards. LE BON'S BAY. Winter has commenced in earnest, and t'ho heavy downpour which began to fall at 7.30 Thursday morning continued right through Thursday and Friday without stopping at all. The creek was full and reached the high mark of two years ago. The new bridge sank slightly in one part, "but stood the large volume of water well. At its highest the water was within a foot of the bridge. In some of the bays the bridges hare been washed away. Only one supplier ventured to the factory on Friday morning, others having to shift their cows owing to the creek rising.

AKAROA. Vincent Davis, the four-year-old son of Mr F. E. Davis, of Akaroa, liad a narrow escape from drowning on Saturday morning. With some other children, he was fishing from the main wharf when, in the courso of 6omo sky-* larking, he was accidentally pushed over the side. The alarm was given, out the little chap had gone down twioe before one of the bigger boys, Sid Lung-. rope could reach the spot and effect a timely rescue. Tho Peninsula, at the beginning of this week, presents a well-washed appearance. "With over 8 inches of rain within tho two days the storm lasted, the hillsides have received such a soaking as even the most optimistic of our farmers did not anticipate. The supply of winter feed is assured. The damage done by the exceptionally heavy downpour, in the way of washouts, sups, sundry inundated houses in the low lying localities and so forth, may be regarded as practically insignificant, when compared with the immense benefit accruing to the whole district of having it s sub-soil saturated so thoroughly. Comparatively mild autumn days have followed the storm, with genial sunshine, all of wßtch is desirable just now for the sake of the stock and the land itself.

On Friday evening it looked as if there would be no chance of the Service cars running through to the city on the following day. But early on Saturdav morning Messrs Pilkington's Ltd. and Mr Alt'. Read, the latter the mail contractor, sent gangs of men through, who worked to such good purpose on the slips between the Hill Top and Little River, that the regular service - cars were able to complete their journey. The through cars from the city were very little behind their schedule time in reaching Akaroa, two days' mails being delivered at. the local Post Offioe shortly after noon. The flood waters in Little River had, fortunately,, subsided t® such an extent that tho journey along the flat to Birdling's presented no difficulties. The Eastern Bays mail car, Mr Alf. Read, contractor, managed Its round trip successfully with the exception of the run down into Little Akaloa, where a bridge swept away and some slips barred progress in the upper portion of fhe Bay road. The driver ran along the Summit road and down into Okain's Bay instead, whence he reached, the Little Akaloa Post Office, via Little Stoney Bay and Chorlton, returning thence_ to Okain's. From this place the run, via the. Summit road down into Le Bon's and then via another portion if the Summit road and Long Bay road to Akaroa, was negotiated in fairly good time,_ the mails being delivered, under the circumstances, at quite a reasonable hour.

SPRINGSTON. On Thursday and Friday there passed over Springston one of the severest storms experienced for years, about four inches of rain falling in 36 hours. The rain will do an immense amount of good. Newly-sown oats and grass, etc., "were beginning to look very sickly for want of moisture, and ploughing in most instances was out of the question, as the land-was so very hard. Given a spell of fine weather, the farmers will be' able to make good headway with their work. There seems to be a good deal of wheat still in flie paddocks, as farmers, are not disposed to accept the price at present offering.

The first football match here this season was : played !on Saturday on the Springston ground .between- teams representing Eicarton B and the United team. After a very even game the visitors .won by 11 points to 9. Mr J. S. Simpson very ably controlled the game. The .visitors wero entertained to afternoon tea by the local ladies.