NORTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18893, 7 January 1927, Page 3

NORTH CANTERBURY.

♦ KAIKOURA. Mr I'yfa Palmer, son of Mr and Mrs C. 0. Palmer, had the misfortune of spending a night on Mount Fyffe during the holidays. He was making his way home when a storm and fog set in, and j he had.to camp at the side of a creek for the night. He arrived home before the search party which had set out to look for him. Tho vital statistics for the quarter ended December 31st, 1926, for Kaikoura, were as follows:—Births 19, deaths 2, marriages 7. Fishing oper.-tions have resumed, afttr the holidays and local fishermen are looking for good catches. The rainfall for December was con'siderably above the average, tho total being 8.27 inches, compared with 2.83 inches for December last year. Kainfcll on fourteen days, the maximum fall being 3.23 inches, on the 27th. The temperature taken at 8 a.m. ranged from 43 to (38, the avera|o being below that of tho previous December. . It.is probable that the heavy rainfall on the 26th and 27th would spoil a good-deal of hay, but has induced a great' growth of "feed Following is tho rainfall for 1926, with that for 1925 in parentheses: January, •3.11 (6.90); February, 8.80 (4.31): March, 4.11 (3.33); April, 1.03 (3.52); May,; 3.74 (12.11); June, .90 (9.60); July, 3.13 (9.16); August, 2.82 (7.13); September, 1.31 (1.98); October, 3.35 (2.16); November, 5.71 (3.24); December, 8.27 (2.83); total for year, 46.68 (66.27).

HANMER SPRINGS. The following are the meteorological records for December, taken at the State Forest Service. Station, those for the same month last, year being given in parentheses;— Barometer, mean for m0nth,.29.78 inches (29.35); maximum for month on 17th, 80.4 (29.44) ;mmimum for month on 4th, 29.0 ,(29-20) > extreme range, 0.9 (0.24); temperature in shade, mean maximum temperature, 6(5 5 (70.7); mean minimum temperature, 43.7 (49.1); approximate mean temperature for the, month, 55.D (59.9);-mean daily range of temperature 22.7 (21*6); extreme maximum temperature on, 13th, 83 (78); extreme minimum temperature' on 4th, 32 (35); extreme range'of temperature for month, 51 (43); exposed thermometers, mean terrestrial radiation, 38.5 (36.6): minimum terrestrial radiation on 4th (six degrees frost), 26 (20); wind, average daily velocity for month, 93 miles (196 miles); maximum velocity for month on 12th, 480 miles (700); mean amount of cloud for month, 6; clear skv, 10:' overcast 6.8 (6.0 V rain, total fall, 3.54 inches (0.63 inch); number of days on whick rain fell, 16 (4); maximum rainfall in any 24 hours on 24th, 0.75 inch (0.33); bright sunshine, 209 hours.(243J); maximum, 13} hours on 17th (13J); days without recorded sunshine 5 (nil); frost on three nights (5); rainfall from July to December, 24.01 inphes; total for year, 44.12 inches. ■ 'For four . previous years, the rainfall was as follows:—l 922, 36.38 inches; 1923. -50.75 inches; 1924, 50.19 inches: ;1920, 52.57 inches; average over five "past years, 46.81 inches. Mr D. D. Dun, Forest Ranger, State Forest • Service, is being . transferred from Hanmer- to Balmoral Station.

WAIKUKU. • :! Owing .to the bad weather all. farm work has-'beeh, at a standi still; for the past fortnight, though nearly every, other day has been fine and generally I hot. On 'Sunday the warm weather attracted a large number of-people tothe. . beach, where a great many entered the surf. • • ■ : "■"". """■'■'"' ;■" The crops in the district are all look- : ing well with ..plenty of., grass. everywhere, though in places it -is rather rank. ... Visitors to Waikuku recently include, !< Miss MeCullough (Christchurch), Miss Dora McMillan (Cave)',' Miss ' Gladys Bunting (Kaiapoi), Miss D. Morriss. i (Hastings), Miss L. Davidson. (Rangi- ! ora), Miss Jeatf Morriss (Christchurch), Messrs Malcolm and Douglas Collid (Christchurch), Mr C. Robb (WellingI ton), Mr J. Bobb (Training Collegd), Mr MeCuUough. (Christchurch), Mr E. Morriss (Wellington), Messrs B. and T. Sloane (Christchurch), Mr T. ; Todd (Wellington). ... The annual picnic of the St. Barnabas Sunday School was held recently, when a large party of . scholars, teachers, parents, and friends journeyed by motor to Hayland's Bush:where an enjoyable day was spent in climbing, and games, etc. Miss Mavis Cross is staying with relatives at Bennetts, and Miss Gwen Mbrgan is staying with Mr' and Mrs G. Brown, Cheviot.' ; The teachers of the Methodist Sunday School have decided to hold the. annual Sunday School treat at Ashley. Gorge on January 12th, when it is expected, a large number will travel by motor- . A -large number of .residents took the opportunity of visiting "Otira with the Friendly Society's excursion , trains. Several took part in the ■ cjimb over Arthur's Pass. Cameras were .greatly in evidence, photos being taken : on.the train journey as well'as when the party had arrived at their destination.

SOUTH MALVERN. The rainfall for the ' month" of ' cember at "Steventon," Whitecliffs/ was .6.-14 inches. Rain fell on 18 days, and the maximum fall was 1.93 -inches on December' 14th. The weather ran through the whole calendar of meteorological conditions, from snow on the Ist and 2nd, through Hot nor - west days followed by cold sou'-westers, to showery days and days on which thunder echoed through the hills. The rainfall for the year, was 41.81 inches, and the average yearly rainfall oyer 12 veai-s was 39.82 inches.' At Westley, Coalgate, about eight miles down from Steventon, the December total was 4.37 inches. There were ,16 wet days, and the heaviest fall was .89 inch on Christmas Day. The 10 years' December average is 3.16' inches. The total fall for 1926 was 33.26 inches, and the 10 year average 34.72 inches.

HORORATA. The weather, continues to be dull and showery, and it is hoped that favourable conditions will prevail in order that farmers may get the results of their year's work safely gathered m.-. While cranking his motor-car at Hororata on Monday a back-fire oc-. . curredj with the result that Mr Kirkham, of Glentunnel, completely lost the vehicle "by fire. Miss Phaup, of Ashburton, is visit,»ing her sister, Mrs'-L. G. Hight. Staying with Mr and Mrs M. Thorne, "Uosebank," arc Messrs Gath, Keith, and John' Minson, of Christchurch. Miss Wright returned to Timaro to-day, Mrs. S wanson' and Miss Swanson have returned from Waimate.' ""'

The Misses Fleetwood, of Woolston, arc visiting Hororata, and are staying with Mrs Allen:

Mrs F. N. Wright and children are spending a holiday with Mr 3M. O'Brien, Duvauchelle. Miss Gray, has returned from Duvauchelle.

Mr Round,' Postmaster at Hororata, is annual holiday leave.

AKAROA. The crowning ceremony in connexion with the queen contest was. held on Tuesday evening. The event tpok place in. the Oddfellows' Hall, and as could bo fully expected there was an.iinusi(al.ly large crowd -of spectators..- • The. arrangements of tbe function were car-, ried out by Mf.'H. Sweeney., of Christ-. church. Mr G. Armstrong, Mayor ot Akaroa, acted, as Chancellor. l«e children in their court dresses made a very pretty display as they marched., through the hall to the stage. Miss Joan ; Masefield was duly enthroned as Queen of Akaroa. Being the representative of the Bowline and Boating Clubs, she was attended by Misses Nancy Robinson and Betty Munro,. as Maids of Honour, and Masters Jack Masefield and Ettienne Gray as pages. The court officialsi were:—Heralds: Jack McKenzie and Vernon Armstrong; sword-bearer: Res Davis; crown bearer: Ray Pettersen; sceptre bearer: Gerald Jacobson; orb bearer: Lincoln Armstrong. Miss Ethel Walker', Princess of Football and Advancement Association, was attended bv Misses Mary O'Keefe and Eileen McDonald, and Robbie McKenzie Miss Fay Pilkintori, Princess of Golf and Tennis was attended by Misses Ngairc Armstrong and Natalie Tollan and Teddy Pilkingtou. Miss Lrsulu Brocheric, Princess of Croquet and Domain Tennis, was attended by Misses Coral Williams and Pat Lynskey „and Colin Pool. For meritorious service in connexion with the contest, the Queen conferred the following honours:—Earl of Akaroa: bArmstrong; Marquis of Akaroa: t. R. E. 'Davis; Knight Commanders of Boating and Bowling: C. W. Leete ami W M. Buddie: Knight Commanders or Golf and Tennis: R. Brure and E '-• Lelievte; Lord Controller of tn'Bowling Green: P. J- Ecc'etonj Knight Commanders of Football nnd Advancement of Akaroa :• T. L. iicKenzie and E. G. McXabb: Kmsht Commanders und Keepers-of the K*cords: T. H. Frazer and G. Davidson. Lord Comntroler of the Roval Household :"T, Masefield: Countesses: ne~dames W. M. Bnddle. W Pool- «.«- nrdson...A, H. William.. A. F. AVnlkc.. F. C. Newton,' N. P'' k ' n *,£%„V,ro' Armstrong. T. Masefield * . Mum ?. T. E. McKenzie. A. M shepherd, and. Misses:B. Jacobson, C. Jj!!fbe> j.M. McGuire, A. Brocherie, and-M. Mc>ab.