Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1909. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7813, 4 June 1909, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1909. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At ii meeting of the'^ounty, Coimcil this morning a report m regard to the traffic on the Ashburton traffic bridge was adopted; namely, that traction engines be allowed to cross the bridge from 12 noon to 1- p.m. every day m the week except on Tuesdays and Saturdays, m addition to the present hours of crossing as stated m the by-laws'; that tho fee for, traction engine with combine, chaff-cutter and whare be £1, and 2s 6d for all other machines; and that the same arrangements with Mr W. Lindsay be continued. It was decided to postpone the necessary alterations of tho by-laws till next meeting, when Mr S. S. Chapman will bo present. An unexpected change occurred m the weather on Thursday night, when a cold south-westerly wind sprang up, and was followed by drizzling rain. i This will have the effect of causing a delay m farm work, but, generally speaking, farmers are not at present, averse to a good downpour of rain. Tho Mayfield school lias been closed on account of the prevalence of scarlet fever m the district. Tho Methven Public Hall, Methyen, has been appointed a place wherein 1 a Magistrate's Court shall be held, m lieu of the place previously appointed. It was mentioned' by His Honour Mr Justice Denniston at the Timaru Supreme Court on "Wednesday that when cattle are impounded from unfenced land, no damages can be claimed, but only driving and poundage fees. At a meeting. „of the AsTiburfcon County Council to-day, the chairman reported that some of the rate-demand notices had been issued and that the sum of £300 0s 6d had been paid; also that the Geraldine and Selwyn County Councils had decided to buy Birds' heads at Is per dozen, so an advertisement liad been issued that Heads" of birds would now be paid for by the Ashburton Council at that price. The Baring Square Literary and Debating Club was opened last evening with a social m the schoolroom. There was a very good attendance and the gathering was presided over by Mr W. H. Higgins. A programme consisting Of songs, recitations, instrumental items and speeches was presented by Misses Rattray, Butterick, Messrs Woodyatt, Clarkson, Tucker, C. Andrews and vPitt. Missi F. Smith acted as accompanist. Addresses were delivered by Mr F. H. Choat and Miss Butterick, and the entertainment was brought to a close with supper. "It is a noteworthy fact," said the Rev. Mr Chambers on Wednesday night, "that every empire crumbled down when it had no more strenuous work to do." This had been true of Home, Spain and France. As long as Napoleon remained fighting France dominated Europe. Incidentally, the speaker mentioned that 130,000 people m Glasgow paid for admission to witness a football match, and he suggested that tho English people were becoming ridiculous m their devotion to sport. In this respect we differed from the Germans, who were not so fond of sport as we were, and took a more serious view of life. The 36th anniversary of the Loyal Ashburtou Lodge, 1.0.6. F., M.U., No. 6003, was celebrated by a social held m their hall last night. There were about eighty couples present, includ ing representatives from the district lodges and all the Ashburton kindred societies.. The interior of the hall had been nicely arranged for the occasion, the walls being decorated with framed Past Grand certificates and other emblems of tho Order. Excellent dance music was supplied by Terris's band, and the duties of master of ceremonies were discharged by Bro J. Mushet. A sumptuous supper was provided by Mr A. C. Elliott. Interest m the Oamaru attempts at rainmakinp: has died, and the experiments, locally financed, and conducted by the Rev D. C. Bates, have been almost forgotten. Mr J. Patterson, however, has kept m mind the fact that a considerable balance remains over from the experiments, and he recently wrote to Mr Bates on the subject. Mr?.Batesy m his reply, suggested that the balance, said to be between £120 and £150, should be utilised for the erection of an observatory, which would be a better experiment than rainmaking. The Oamaru < Mail says [that the idea has found some favour locally, and if sufficient enthusiasm is shown, Oamaru may yet 'boast its own observatory. If the project is taken up an effort will probably be made to obtain a subsidy, from the Government, No reason, said Mr C. W. Purnell. at the Navy League meeting, could be found for German activity m constructing Dreadnoughts if she. did not aim at naval supremacy. Germany intended to challenge Britain's naval power. To protect her commerce so large a fleet was not necessary and swift cruisers would meet her purposes. If she wished, to protect her colonies these wore so few and unimportant that a couple of Dreadnoughts would be equal to her requirements. It could not bo supposed that her great fleet' of battleships were for protection against France. Russia, or Italy. It was to destroy the British Navy. If England were defeated on the seas Germany might ask for New Zealand and how could wo, oven if we had an army of trained men, offer any resistance to so great a power. The safety of our commerce and of this dominion rested entirely with the British Navy. There was no part of tho British dominions which was so dependent upon the navy as New Zealand. Australia was a largo, continent and the people could move about, but hore we were confined within a. very limited space, which would greatly reduce the effect of our Land defences. Personally, he did not think that peace would continue long and m tho courso of a year or two there would bo a war whiclv would mean tho life or death of tho nations engaged.

The Maddison column trophy,... for the single-handed bowling championship of Canterbury, which was won '-by Mr D. Campbell, is on view at Mr h. S. McClurg's shop m Burnett btreet. A Press Association telegram from Napier states that Miss Spencer, headmistress of the Napier Girls' High School, has resigned. ■">...,.; The public library erected m TimarU at a cost of £3000 by means of a grant ■, from Mr Andrew Carnegie was-formal-ly opened yesterday afternoon bsfrthe. Mayor of Timaru (Mr J. Craigie, 51.P.) so far as the reading-room is concerned. The library section is not yet ready. \bout seventy papers and magazines will be supplied. For the library,; a lithe books m the Mechanics' Institute are to be 'taken over, and the valtie of the Institute, assessed at £1500,, ,w c ill be spent oii new books at the rate or £500 a year. The returns supplied by Mr G. E. Owen of stock slaughtered at the Ashburton public abattoirs at Fairfield during the month of May are as follows: Cows—23 slaughtered, one partially and one wholly condemned and 5 passed' for canning purposes; bullocks and heifers—Bß, one passed' for canning; bulls —3 slaughtered, and 1 passed for canning; calves—2 slaugtered, none condemned; pigs—4§ slaughtered, none condemned; sheep—B4l slaughtered, one wholly condemned; lambs —45 slaughtered; none condemned. A social gathering was held last night to enable the electors of the Timaru district to bid good-bye to Mr James Craigio, on the eve of his departure to attend his first session of (Parliament. The gathering was a large one,.,aiKLthe Ministry was represented by, the Hon. T. Mackenzie, Minister of Agriculture, -while the Hon. J. Anstey, MiL.C., and Mr T. Buxton, M.P., were among those present. Mr Craigie was presented with an illuminated address and a silver afternoon tea. service was presented to Mr Craigie for Mrs Craigie by the- ladies of the committee. . ' ' . . The annual social m connection with the Tinwald Presbyterian Church was held last evening, when there was a fair attendance, and an excellent programme was submitted. The chair was taken by the Rev. J. A. Brown, and the meeting was opened with singing j psalm 100, and prayer. The following contributed the programme: Solos, Mrs C. Wilson, Miss Rattray, and Messrs E. G. Craighead, C. Wilson, and C. E. Manchester; duets, Miss Rattray and Mr C. E. Manchester, Messrs C. Wilson and Gardiner; violin solos, Mr L. S. McClurg; clarionet solo, Mr A. J. Clarkson; trio, Mrs L. S. McClurg (piano). Messrs A. J. Clarkson and L. S. McClurg (clarionet and violin); recitation, Mr R. Blair. Addresses were given by the chairman, the Rev. J. J. Bates (Lyttelton), and Mr R. Blair. Mrs L. S.* McClurg and Mrs Wilson played the accompaniments. Mr W. McKay moved yotes to all who had helped with the . programme; after which the chairman pronounced the Benediction, arid refreshments were handed round. Mr T. De Spong's second entertainment will be held m the Oddfellows' Hall, Ashburton, on Thursday-next. In addition to the bright artd attractive work done by various versatile entertainers, Madame Padderi will sing some of her favourite songs, which are also favourites with the public. , Entries for the Ashburton . .boxing carnival, to bo held m the' Oddfellows' Hall on 11th instant, will close 'at 8 o'clock'this evening. i: