LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7830, 24 June 1909, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr Robert McNab passed through Ashburton on his way to his home at Knapdale, m the Mataura district, by this morning's express. He will take passage from the Bluff on Monday week for Hobart, en rout© to England, which he expects to reach at the end of August. His visit Home is mainly m connection with the research work on which lie has been engaged since last November. Mr McNab also hopes to obtain at first hand some information regarding the working of the Swiss system of military training, and with this object m view I will endeavour to be present at the annual Swiss manoeuvres which take place m the autumn. He will return to Now Zealand m February or March. i'he advance copies of his book, "Murihiku," have just been issued, and the publication will- probably be completed next week. Mr McNab asked our reporter to convey his cordial good-bye to the numerous friends which the exMinister has m and about Ashburton. It is understood that the Savings Bank deposits for May show an increase of deposits over withdrawals of £64,000 compared with the previous month. A fairly large number of farmers and farm labourers were among the immigrants for Lyttelton by the lonic, but very few called at the local labour bureau, and it is presumed that they had found employment by the time the boat reached Lyttelton. A conference of delegates representing the cycle trade m Christchurch, Dunedin, Timaru and Invercargill was held at Dunedin yesterday, when it was decided to form a South Island Cycle Traders' Association, Several matters relating to trade union disputes and tyre guarantees were discussed. The membership of the Association is reported to be 150. At last evening's meeting of the Ashburton Debating Society there was a debate on a motion—" That the Empire would be justified, m case of emergency, m utilising its coloured soldiers." The affirmative side was introduced by Mr McFarlane, and the negative by Mr S. S. Choat; and, on being put to the vote, the motion was carried by a majority of one. The Rev. E. Elliott Chambers (president of the Canterbury branch of the Navy League) will probably, by-and-by, lecture before the Society on * naval affairs. The Government Printing Office is shortening hands, owing to tho decrease of work. Six compositors and twenty girls left on Saturday, and some machinists will leave at the end of this week. Tho amount of work at the office during the past two years has been quite abnormal, says Mr J. Mackay, the Government Printer, and the staff has been unusually largo. The Consolidated Statutes and the main electoral rolls for the whole dominion have been the chief causes of the prossure, and now, with those jobs out of hand and Parliament not sitting, the I staff has to be reduced. Most of the Government Departments are cutting down their requirements m printing and stationery, and this process will affect the Government Printing Office. Cheap Motor Cycles.—G. H. Carson's stock-taking sale commenced on Friday. June 11th. There are, among other bargains, several good motor cycles at prices to suit all buyers. One . or two of these are, Triumph, 2 h-p., £10; Clement-Garrard. 2 h-p., £10; Minerva, 2 h-p.. £20; Minorva, 2f h-p., £27 10s; Bichrono, 2 h-p., £27 10s; F.N. 4-cyl., 4J h-p., £57 10s, (cost £75). See the new N.S.U. 3 h-p. latest model, £65. Wo have also an old stylo Bcnz Car, £25, with really good engine, 5 h-p., water cooled; I suitable for portable for driving shear- i ing machines, etc. Come m early and see these bargains.—parson's Garage, Tancred Streef. ' 6 116

Six degrees of frost were registered at the Domain weather station for last night, and the gauge showed that eleven points of ram had fallen on Wednesday. Mr Bates telegraphed to-day as follows: Southerly moderate to strong winds; the glass will fall; rain is probable; there will probably be frost tonight; expect a change m the weather i after twenty-four hours. I The children of the St. Stephen's and Hampstead Sunday schools will give a concert m St. Stephen's schoolroom to-night, m aid of the Church Fund. The triennial election for the City Tramway Board is proceeding m Christchurch to-day; also a poll of the ratepayers to authorise various loans amounting to £C 5,000 for tramway extension. The ordinary weekly meeting of the Ashburton Good Templars' Lodge was largely attended last evening, with) Bro. H. Rands, C.T., m the chair. Five new members were initiated, and i two were proposed for membership. There are now seventy financial members m the adult lodge, and between thirty-five and forty m the junior lodge. After the transaction of routine business, refreshments, provided by the members, were handed round. During the dominion's prosperous days, from 1900 to 1908, a man carrying his swag m any part of Canterbury was an uncommon sight. However, for the past month—and the number is increasing—a good many men have been moving from one part of tho country to another m search of work. To-day nine men carrying their swags passed through Ashburton, and some of them, judging by their advanced years, would be better resting m the shelter of an old men's home. The men, as a whole, looked respectable and hard-working labourers, and one of them informed one of our reporters that he had been unsuccessful m getting work since leaving Christchurch over twelve days back. In his | own words: "I have been through the whole of the country districts between* Ashburton and Christchurch, and have called at the majority of the farm houses; and while the farmers have been kind m giving me food and lodgings for the night, I have not been able to strike a job; and there are scores of men on the road, m the same predicament." " I suppose you often overhear very confidential conversations between subscribers ?" asked Mr Webster, M.P., of a telephone girl hefore the Postal Commission at Sydney last week. "Yes," she replied; "sometimes on faulty long-distance lines we have to repeat the conversation from one subscriber to another, and that frequently leads to delicate situations, as, for instance, m the case of a domestic quarrel." " You learn a good many secrets, then ?" "Oh, when we hear secrets coining between subscribers we pull back our levers, and don't listen," naively replied the witness. "But supposing—by accident, you know—you do overhear secrets ?" persisted Mr Webster. " Then we respect the regulations, and keep them," said the girl promptly. "So the department has done what no one else m the world has accomplished—made a woman keep a secret ? How do you manage it—do you just forget what you've heard ?" "Yes; just forget," said the witness with such modesty that the Commission simply had to believe her. Tho following sales were made at the Addington market on Wednesday on account of Ashburton farmers: Fat Sheep.—Wethers: Strachan Bros (Rakaia), 329 at 14s lOd to 15s lOd; R. Campbell (Chertsey), 60 at 14s 9d to 15s 3d; P. C. Threlkeld (Methven), 63 at 13s 6d; J. Lambie (Rakaia), 19 at 13s; Breading Bros. (Rakaia), 16 at 8s 4d. Ewes—T. Richards (Rakaia), 62 at 11s lOd to 12s 7A ; H. J. Harrison (Rakaia), 121 at 10s 5s to 12s 2d; H. Drummond (Lauriston), 65 at lls 9d; G. Giddings (Tinwald), 28 at 10s 6d; H. J, Harrison (Rakaia), 88 at 13s Id to 14s sd; J. Lambie (Rakaia), 32 at 13s 7d; Breading Bros. (Rakaia), 50 at 13s to 13s 7d; G. Giddings (Tinwald), 25 at 13s 4d; J. McLean (Rakaia), 70 ai 13s 3d; P. C. Threlkeld (Methven), 146 at 13s; L. Smith (Rakaia), 59 at 12s 6d; W. Irwin (Rakaia), 27 at lls. A Watch that gives its owner entire satisfaction —L. S ; McClurg's famous Nickei Lever, full jewelled, keyless, dust-proof case. The ideal watch for rough wear. Guaranteed for two years, 30s. T 11