MID-CANTERBURY.

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

MID-CANTERBURY.

ASHBURTON.

PERSONAL. Ensign and Mrs Pratt, of the Ashburtou Salvation Army, -will leave for Pctone on Tuesday, to take up their duties in that town. They will be succeeded in Asliburton by Adjutant and Mrs Ransom, of Newton, Auckland, who are expected to arrive in Ashburton on Thursday, January 13.

Magistrate's Court. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr R. Clark, J.P., Colin Munro, a labourer, of Ashburtou, was charged with being drunk and also disorderly behaviour in a public place. He was fined 20s, in default 24 hours' imprisonment.

Magistrate's Court Returns. The annual returns of the Asliburton Magistrate's Court for tho last year, are as follows, the previous year's figures being in parentheses: —Sittings presided over by the Magistrate and Justices of tho Peace, 44 (14) civil, and SO (86) criminal; number of plaints entered, 473 (400), judgment summonses 119 (82); warrants issued, 30 (24); amount sued for, £7323 17s 2d (£5981 10s 2d); amount recovered, £4OOI 8s 2d (£3488 13s sd). Total number of criminal cases against males and females, 332 (306).

Labour Market. The labour market in the Asliburton district has not very bright prospects for some time to come. Crops are not ripening, as the result of the continued rain, and already quite a number have began to show signs of being attacked by smut. There is a large amount of labour offering, for which thero is no demand, and, in the majority of cases, it will be well into February, even with fine weather from now on, until harvesting commences in earnest. Foresters' Lodge. ■\ meeting of the Ashburton Ancient Order of Foresters, No. 0729, was held, on Wednesday evening, when Chief Ranger, Bro. "P. Choat, presided over a good attendance. It was decided to nominate Bro. Ward as district beadle, and, also, Bro. J. Pliaup us district auditor, and appeal committee. The installation or" officers resulted as ioliows PC.R-, Bro. C Bas, acting as »- stallnc officer: C.R., Bro. J. Vard, Subs, Bro. Jackman; Sen or Uoodward, Bro. McCormack; Junior Woodwardi Bro.-Daniels; Beadle, Bro. Lindsay. A Pine Crop. .\ GO acre crop of barley, grown by K wlnui fariL, .has evoke ; d much interest. This crop is one of the bc»t the County for many years , , will, favourable weather conditions is estimated to yield about 00 bushel, to the acre.

Outdoor Sports. Yficr Hie Christmas-New Year break, (ll( \s.burton County Cricket AssocjaAdiborton B»»™« )'" IV , A.htror. iv games will be M'*-

Cricket. The following will represent their respective clubs in the competition cricket matches to-morrow: —Senior—Asliburton A v. Fairfield, on Domain Oval: C. G. Harper, K. Nicoll, C. Judge, B. Lane, M. Keely, A. Millichamp, 11. Lewis, A. Daniel, A. Bentley, F. Pritehard, A. Lane. Junior A Grade —Stephens v. Fairfield at Fairfield: Lennon, Knight, Stephens, Patching, Little, Peez, Cooper, Reeves, Mulhern, Mnyson, Argyle. Reserves: Morrison, Muir. Hakatere Lodge. The meeting of the Hakatere Lodge, was held in the Lodgo room on Wednesday evening, when N.G., Bro. H. Slade presided. The installation of officers was carried out by District Deputy Grand Master Bro. Gray, assisted by D.D.G. Marshall, Bro. Garland, P.G. Bro. Ward, P.G. Bro. Moore, and P.G. Bro. Turnbull. The following officers were installed: N.G., Bro. G. Nielsen; V.G., Bro. W. Osman; chaplain, Bro. F. Leadley; conductor, Bro. C. Stock; warden, Bro. Lusk; E.S.S. and L.S.S. to N.G., Bros. Hughes and Preston; R.S.S. and L.S.S. to V.G., Bro. G Hoskcn and J. A. P. Munro. METHVEN. I

A meeting of the General. Committee of the Methven Caledonian Society was held on Wednesday evening. Mr W. J. Cooksley, president, occupied the chair, and there wero also present, Messrs G. Heney, C. J. Crooks, E. A. Mangin, P. Jenkins, M. A. Stone, J. Mauger, AV. J. Bennett, R. Mauger, R. Ireland, A. Lawrence, L. Burrows, W._ Grieve, N. Mcintosh, J. T. Goodwin, and K. Aitken. The secretary reported on the arrangements he had made in connexion with the catering which were considered satisfactory. The nominations received . for the cycling and running events constituted a record and totalled 330. Mr Jas. Mauger was appointed to take charge of the allotting of sideshow space. Mr Stone reported that tho ruuuing tracks and sites for the jumping events had been attended to, and that the running tracks were in perfect order. The cycle track had received further attention, and was now in good order. The secretary reported that in conjunction with Mr Shaw he had made arrangements for a concert party from- Christchurch to take part in the concert on tho evening of the sports. The members of the Committee arranged to be on the ground on Friday to complete the arrangements.

RAKAIA. A pleasant social gathering was held on Wednesday night in honour of Mr George Shellock, a native of Eakaia, who is employed on a sheep station at Akatio, near Dannevirkc, and who has been on a visit to his |>cop!o and to his native, town. Mr Shellock saw active service in the South African and the Great "Wars, and was highly thought of by all classes in the district. Mr M. Henley presided, and in addition to the guest of the evening there were present members of his "family. An enjoyable time was spent, several toasts were honoured, and a' number of songs were S iven. Mr Shellock left lat-t night for the North Island. The selectors of the Eakaia' Bowling Club '-avc arranger] the following handicaps, and drav for the handicap singles and doubles respectively: Handicap singles, Section A: McXamara 7 Tatterson 3, Eapley 6, Harrison I°' Evans 10, Stubbs (K) 10, Lararaan s! Palmer 4, Duncan 10. Section B: Black o. Spencer 10. Holmes scr, Fagan 10 McCoy 12, Stubbs (J.) 3, Anderson 12* Xickolls 2, Cronin 12. Section C:'

Weaver (A.) .">, Bladsluy IU, Thick 12, Henderson •), Hardy 3, Mng»on 6, Bell 3, Milne 2. Section 1): Newman 2, Cooke 5, Inch 14, Allen 7, Oliver 12, Evison 12, Lee 12, Weaver (II.) 10, Alexander 12, Crossley .14. Doubles — Section A: Weaver and Oliver, Newman and Cronin, Henderson and Alexander, Hardy and Fagan, Tatterson and Shannon, Black and McNamara. Section B: Bell and Magson, Palmer and Rapley, J. Stubbs and Allen, Holmes and Inch, Niekolls and Kvison, Milne and Spencer, Cooke and Luraman. Dr Ella Langley, of Kakaia, who was appointed junior house surgeon to the Christchurch Hospital has commenced her duties.

ASHBURTON FORKS. During December rain fell on fifteen days. The heaviest fall was on the 24th, when 94 points were registered. The total fall for the month was 5.18 inches. During the past year 35.51 inches of rain fell. The average yearly rainfall since the year 1870 is 35.72 inches. It is probable that records have been kept longer on the Alford Estate, whence the preceding figures were obtained, than at any other place in, at least, Mid-Canterbury, and this gives the figures a unique value.