NORTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18892, 6 January 1927, Page 3

NORTH CANTERBURY.

—«— RANGIORA. Tho staff of the New Zcalaud Farm-. cits'' Co-op; Association took the opportunity on Christmas Eve- of making a presentation of a pipe and tobacco pouch to Mr W. ll.' Barwick, who was recently promoted to the charge of the Seeds Department at Cliristchurch. Tho vital statistics for tho ltangiora registration district for the month of December are as follows, figures for the corresponding period last year being mentioned in parentheses:—Birtlus 16 (10), deaths 4 (1), marriages 1 (4). The totals for the year arc:—Births 151 (141), deaths 37 (30), marriages 26 (34).

CHEVIOT. The rainfall at Cheviot for 1926 I with the averago monthly rainfall for the past five years in parenthesis is as follows: —January, 1.42 in (2.97iu); February, 3.73 in (2.17 in); March, 1.71 in (2.59 in); April, 0.46 in (1.16 in); May, 2.63 in (s.4Sin); June, l.OOin (2.3oinj; July, 2.83 in (2.60 in); August, I.BSiu (2.26 in); September, 0.58 in (1.89 in); October, 5.16 in (3.55 in); November, 2.73 in (2.44 in); December, 3.25 in (3.2G in); total, 27.38 in (32.67 in). LEITHFIELD. At tho meeting of the Lcithfield Swimming and Life-Saving Club Committee, held on Tuesday evening, there were present—Messrs W. A. Kelchcr (chairman), J. Fitzpatrick, Misses A. Marnier and A. C. Lloyd, Messrs 11. May, J. Busch, J. AV. Sarieh, J. 8. Russell, 111 May, D. W. Palmer, L. O'Malley, F. Penfold, and D. McLean. A motion of sympathy with Mr A. Cameron in his illness was passed. It was decided that the following races be contested at tho February Inter-club Carnival: —25yds Kowai Schoolboys' Handicap, 50yds Men's Inter-elub Handicap, 7oyds Brcaststroko Inter-club Handicap, 50yds Lirfies' Inter-club Handicap, 100 yds Men's Inter-club Handicap, Novelty Event, Inter-club Diving, and two Inter-club Championships. The weather since the beginning of the year has been line and harvesting is fairly general.

BURNHAM. At the recent university examinations Miss Nancy Poynton was successful in passing her first section for B.A. At the Dunsandel sports on New ieai's Day S. A Kni-lit was m the prize money in several events. He was urst in 440 yds handicap off the lovds mark, second in i'2oyds handicap off the 13yds mark, and second in the 100 yds maiden handicap.

During the month of December rain fell on eleven days, the masimum fall being on December 24th, when 85 points were recorded. On-Christmas Day there were 72 points The total rainfall for the month was 369 points During the last sis months 13j inches of rain has fallen, and in the last three months 10J inches were recorded Feed is still plentiful, but a spell of fine weather would be welcomed for harvest operations.

SEFTON. Oh Js'civ Voar's Evo tho Sefton Jazz Club lielil a .successful carnival dance in the llink Hall. An energetic committee hail decorated the hall and made full preparations for extra catering. There were many novelty dances, prizes being awarded as follows: Lucky spot Valletta, Miss Marsh and partner; Monte Carlo waltz, Miss M. Fleming and partner; snowball sehottischc, Miss Wilson and partner; balloon dance, Miss M. Ke Ichor and partner. Music was supplied by the Sefton Jazz Band, extras being played by Misses D. Hales, P. May, and A. Fitzpatriek. On the stroke of midnight the music stopped and 12 chimes' were struck, after which all present 3ang Auld Lang Syne. . On Monday evening, about 8 o'clock, a house belonging to Mr J. D. AVyllie, and occupied for week-ends and holidays by Mr and Mrs Haycroft, of Christchurch, was seen to be on fire. As the holiday-makers had left • for Christchurch that evening, the house was well ablaze before the first helpers arrived, • and so nothing: could be saved.

At a meeting of the congregation of the Sefton Methodist Church it was unanimously 'decided to ask the Kowai Sports Club for tho privilcgo of supplying the luncheon and afternoon, tea at ihe annual gathering on Easter Moriday. It was further decided to allocate twenty-live per cent, of the net proceeds to the Woodend-iSeftou Circuit Fund and the balance to the fund towards a new church.

OKAIN'S BAY. The herd-testing averages for the 30day period ending December 30th are as follows: —Best herd, 16 cows, averaged 1297-.441b milk, 3.87 test, 50.271b butter-fat; worst herd, 41 cows, averaged 1297.411b milk, 3.87 test, 50.271b fat; best cow, 13501b milk, 7.0 test, 94.50 butter-fat; wqrst tow, 2401b milk, 2.2 test, 5.281b butter-fat; highest individual test, 7.5; lowest individual .tfst, 2-0; total number of cows tested, 1205. Mr and Mrs S. H. Thomas and Miss D. Thomas, who have returned from Fiji on holiday, are at present staying with Mrs T. Ware. Miss I. Davidson (New Brighton) is on a visit to Mrs G. Choate. Miss 11. Rowland and Miss M. O'Connor are the guests of Mrs P. E. Moore. Mr and Mrs J. Haines are spending a holidav with Mrs A. H. Mason (Halswell).

HALSWELL. On New Year's Night a progressive euchre party and dance were held m the local hall under tho management, of the Entertainment Committee for the oval track improvement fund. The prize-winners for the euchre were:— Ladies: Miss XI. Kelly 1, Mrs F. Eolkman -2; men: Mr R. Gardiner 1, Mi W. Wilson 2. The music for the dance was suoplied bv Miss D. Moore, extras beins played by Miss L. Pickering Mr N. Gardiner was M.C. Although the weather for the holidays has heen very changeable, several picnic and camping parties Wave been visiting the district

CYNICS MENTION THE "PLEASURES OF REMOVING." . Moving house always occasioned much amusement at the espense of the movers prior to the advent of the X.&Express Company, but now our service makes short work of shifting a ' houseful" or a "roomful "' and weilana everything in first-class order. Phono us or call on us and get our estimate. N.Z. Express Co., Ltd. -*