LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7815, 7 June 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the close of Friday's meeting bi the Canterbury Land Board; the Commissioner (Mr E. C. Gold Smith) said that that was the last meeting over wfrich he would preside, owing to his removal to Auckland. Members of the Board expressed regret at the severance of Mr Gold Smith's connection with the work of the department m the Canterbury district, but congratulated him upon his promotion,. 6hd wished him many years of health and prosperity. The ordinary weekly stock sale.will be held at the Tinwald yards to-mor-row. ■'„■•■' ; .. As was expected after the heavy rain that fell on Friday night, frosts'have ocourred. The' register, for Sunday night, was 12 degrees, which were, recorded at the Domain weather station; Early lambs have begun to • make their appearance m some pafts of Canterbury, .and Mr George Seatp.il, of Kirwee, has twelve m his paddock, which are about a week old, and which are doing well. In the orchard of Mr A. K. Cailaghan, Highbank, there are two. apple trees, each of which is carrying a second crop of fruit. The apples are well-formed and of considerable size, .and some of >■ them measure 5 inches or more m circumference, says our own correspondent. A charge of aggravated assault has been, preferred against a young man by an elderly tradesman m East Street, and tho case will come up for hearing at the next sitting of the Magistrate's Court. At Rotorua on Saturday at the Magistrate's Court, A. C. Norris, postmaster at Whakatane, pleaded' guilty to embezzlement, and was committed for sentence. Bail was allowed: James Simpkins, messenger at Whakatane Post Office, also pleaded guilty to embezzlement, and was committed for sentence. Bail was allowed, v The rapidity with which the Maori songs and poems are being forgotten was referred to by Di Buck, M.P., m a lecture ill Auckland recently. He said that it was Very difficult for: pre-sent-day Maoris, who had not the musical ability of their ancestors, to learn tli<} tunes of those songs, and lie suggested that while there was yet time the yoiing Maoris should get phonograph records of their race's typical songs. A meeting of the Senior Bible Class at Mayfield was (says our correspondent) held on Thursday, 3rd instant, the subject for the evening being a mock Parliamentary election. There was a very fair attendance, with Mr W. Oakley m the chair. Mr H. Hawke stood for the Conservative party, Mr, It. Oakley for the Labourites, Miss F. 'Brannan as a Socialistic. Liberal,;and Miss A. Withell for the present Government. The candidates played their parts m a very satisfactory manner, and the ballot resulted thus: Liberal'(present Government) 14 ( votes; \\ Socialistic Liberal 7; Labourite S; arid Coliservative' 2. The local option vote was also taken arid resulted m 26 vote's being polled for No-license and 3 fpr:,License. After the customary votes had'been accorded, tha Rev. J. Wilson pronounced the Benediction. . ■. ; At the last meeting of the! Canterbury Land Board the following business of local interest was transacted: W. H. Lylian applied for a portion of Run 103, Alford Forest, to give access to his. tenancy m the Forest; reserve. The applicant stated that originally he had applied for the run for the same purpose. tHe had fenced m a bpart of the fun m errof, but he was veiling to pay aily at reas m rent -if nijcessai'y. The matter was deferred, pending a report by the district surveyor: The Highbank Library Committee; applied for Lot 8, Highbank Village for. a library site and Mrs Graham* applied for a temporary tenancy of Lots 2^and 8. It was decided to recommend to the Minister that Lot 8 shpuld be granted to the Committee. The temporary lease of Lot 2 was granted; to Mrs Graham. The Board decided to'obtain a grant of £13 10s from the Governrrient to effect repairs to buildings on Reserve 1667, Rakaia township. Leave was granted to C. H. Oakley,-to move buildings on Lots 13 and liv/ Reserve 1-.66, near Rakaia. Mr R. F. Lewis «>ml tho Wakanui Road Board t applied fn* parts of the Ashburtoir/fiv.erbed. The application of Mr *Lewis ' was craiited and that'of the Road Board "■a? 'leforred pending the'-'rejbe'ipt' of further information. , ■„-, ,'