MID-CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18892, 6 January 1927, Page 4

MID-CANTERBURY.

ASHBURTON. PERSONAL. .Mi and .Mrs W. W. Gorton loft yesterday for the north, where they will spend a lew weeks' holiday. Mr and Mrs David Gillies leave today ;u spend a few day? at Per! lores t. Mr W. C. Conuack has been appointed inspector ior the Ashburton Counts-, for the Colonial -Mutual Lite Assurance Soeiety. Ltd. Dr. S. Hunte:- has resumed his duties as assistant surgeon at the Ashburton Couinv Hospital after being on annual leave." As Dr. Bitlcliffe is on annual leave. Dr. Janet M. Grave has to be retained. Infectious Diseases. The statistics for infectious diseases. in the Borough during the last year, show a substantial increase. Notifications totalled 9C, compared with 50 for the previous year. The following are the details -19-3 figures being in parentheses.—Diphtheria 47 (11;. scarlet fever "7 (17), pulmonary tuberculosis 12 (S\ puerperal fever 2 (—), phthisis ] "f_'i. pneumonic influenca 4 ( —). acute pneumonia 2 (4), puerperal septicaemia 1 il), infantile paralysis, negative cases ' M\ septic" cellulitis ~

(l). erysipelas <">), puerperal sepsis

Post aud Telegraph,

The I'ost Office officials have been kept exceptionally busy during the Christmas period. From December -Jtii to December 24th inclusive inward mailbags and parcel hampers totalled 45G. The Telegraph Department also had a busier period than in 192-3, there being a total increase ot 341 messages received and transmitted. The telephone exchange had an increase of 220 distance calls.

Bowling. There was a good attendance of bowlers on the Ashburton greens over the Now Tear when a progressive doubles tournament was held. Some good play was witnesed the greens being in excellent order. The skips' prizes were won bv \V. H. Wiggins and Craighead while F. H. Steele von the leads outright. .Rink matches will be played on Saturday. The Weather. The weather changed suddenly about C p.m. on Tuesday evening, when a south-westerly wind sprang up—bringing with it dark rain clouds. Showers of rain fell during the night, and yesterdav morning brolu dull, rain rain again falling during the morning. Up to U a.m. yesterday 4 points were registered at 'the Domain weather station.

METHVEN. The weather at Methven during the New Year holidays was ol various kinds, close, muggy conditions prevailing for the most part. The condition? oifTuesday were tropical up till about 730 p.m. ivhen a sou'-wester blew up, rain following after dark, 20 points being recorded up to 9 a.m. yesterday. The continued rain showers are mafcine shearing progress very slow. A large number of sheep about the oothills have still to be shorn, as well a3 lower down on the Bat. Unless the weather takes a turn for the better very soon, shearing will be clashing with the harvesting of grass seed and earlv oats. Some exceptional crops are to be seen throuahout the district, but the muggy weather has brought in its trail its troubles of mildew and rust. This, however, will soon disappear if some nor'-westers blow. New Year's Eve was probably the ouietest ever recorded in Methven. Quito a large number of people were in the township, but shopkeepers <oport small business. There wa« an entire absence of anything approaching larrikinism. and even the small boy with the packet of crackers was hardly to be seen. A midnight service was held in All Saints' Anglican Church, and there was a large number present. New Year's Day was hue, and residents were seen in large numbers making lor the various picnic resorts of the district. The big attraction was the annual picnic of the Oddfellows* Lodge, at McLennan's Hush, at which there was a large attendance. . The following are the vital statistics for the past month. the figures for the previous vear being given iu parentheses .—Birth, 6 (6); deaths, nil (1); marriages, nil (nil). On New Year's Eve a very successful and enjovable dance, organised by Mr L. Allred, was held in the Methven Town Hall. About 70 couples were present to dance the Old Year out and the New Y'ear in. The music was supplied by LenalFs Orchestra, and was much enjoyed, while extras were played by Messrs D. and G. Petrie. The following are the meteorological observations for the month of December, as recorded by Mr Jas. Carr, "Rudston." Methven .-—-Rain fell on 17 days, the maximum fall being on the 20th, when 114 points were recorded. The total for the month was 5.14 inches, this being an increase on the 2.61 inches which fell in December, 19215. The total fall for the twelve months of 1925 was '30.15 inches, while that for 1926 was 40.31 inches. Sergeant J. W. McHolm. amateur 'hampinn hammer thrower of New Zealand, has written to the secretary of the Methven Caledonian Society ac-cept-in- Mieir invitation to be present at their annual gathering on Saturday, when he will give nn exhibition of hammer and discus throwing.

DORIE. The rainfall for December was 2.55 inches. Rain fell on 18 days. For December. 1925, the rainfall was 35 points. The total for 1926 was 24.03 inches, and for 1925 29.51 inches. Mrs J. Wightman and family, accompanied Iby her nephew. Master Jack Chambers, who were the <:iiests v of her father, Mr G. T. Smith,''have returned Somers. Miss Haze! "VVightman is spending a .'olidny with her uncle. Mr O. Smith. Gverdale. The Misses Chambers, Highbank. are staying -with Mrs C. Sargent, Newland, liakaia.

MOUNT SOMERS. A day of brilliant sunshine was greatly appreciated on Tuesday, the maximum temperature reaching 81 degrees. Unfortunately, further rain came from the sou'-west at night. .22in being recorded yesterday morning, and crops which had just survived Sunday's storm were again down. Fine weather is urgently needed.

HIS .MAJESTY'S PICTURES, ASHBURTOX. To-night, at His Majesty's Tlicalre. Ashbtirtoii, Reginald Denny in "Kollins Home" ■will be screened for the last time. To-morrow and Saturday night. Lou Tellegen will be seen iu "The Verdict," a -Master picture, produced by Phil Gotdstone. The supporting cast has in it the names of Gaston Glass, Maude George, Paul Weigel, Josef Swickard, George Faivcett, Stanton Heck, and Charles Clary. The picture is one of the best mystery plays ever screened, and in it is shown nn entirely new idea of earner* Btory-tellic;. The supports aro yerjr interesting,