LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXI, Issue 8443, 10 August 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

: Two black swans were liberated on the Domain lakelets yesterday.

I A charge of sly grog-selling will be preferred against an .Allenton resident at the Magistrate's Court to-morrow.

! A Duncdin telegram states that an j, anonymous "donor given .£soo* towards the completion of i±lie Corona!tk>n. ;wing of the Public Library. : .

*- I Sitting in Chambers in .'-Wellington yjastjerday,. his Honour Mr Justice DennjisiJoii granted a motion for "executor's commission in re Meredith Wilson; deceased (Mr Buchanan).. ;

; A'proposal submitted the.-, the. ratepayers °f Mataura Borough oil Tuesday to borrow £2000 for supplying electricity for light and motive purposes was carried by 86.votes to 43.

As denoting the approach of spring, it may be mentioned that tlie buds of several of the willow trees in the Domain are beginning to burst. Spring bulbs are also beginning to show up very strongly.

Mr R. E.N. Matthews, a young Aucklander, has prepared plans for an aeroplane embracing several new and important features, one being a contrivance by which it is' believed that it will be almost impossible for the machine to capsize.

The Arawa, which arrived at Wellington from London yesterday, brought 250 passengers in the third class. The immber of assisted immigrants was 73, comprising 45 adults and 28 children. The. passenger list included twenty-seven domestics and two farmers, one of the latter bringing with him £900 in capital.

The Otago University: Council has, re-

ceived thirty-four applications. for the Professorship of Chemistry, from which position Professor Black, after very leikgthy service,, will retire;next April; Twenty-seven applications were received from England, three from New Zealand, two from Australia,;, and ,twp from Africa. •

Speaking, to one* of our reporters, a farmer said.that, a continuance;,.of* the weather experienced to-day would soon have the effect of promoting a vigorous growth of vegetation and relieve a position that was causing farmers considerable anxiety. It. is pleasing to note that the' snow is disappearing off ■the • hills in a very rapid mariner, wliie'h. while lessening the risk of further frosts is indicative of ■the approach of spring.

Sales effected at the Addington market on Wednesday on account of Ashburton farmers were as follows:—Fat sheep: Hoggets—For F. lleesby (Lyndhurst), 46 at 13s to 13s 6d. Wethers: . Ashburton client, 60 at 20s; W T. Drumm'ond (Lyndhurst), 27 at 19s; A. Orr (Mothven)/175 at 20s Id to 26s 9d; C. M. Jackson (Eakaia), 64 at 18s 6d to 21s 3d.

Speaking to one of'our reporters today, Mr George Glephane, of Omihi, North Canterbury, said that agricultural prospects were distinctly better in the north than they are in the Ashburton County. Mr Clephane-remark-ed'that the autumn-sown grass ■ seed had." struck " well and feed was.by.no means scarce. All the winter cereals were now sown, and there'had already boon a spring growth of vegetation*. ■Stock were in good condition and the grass grubs wore conspicuous by their absence. Mr Clephane disposed of his farm at Omihi a "few'weeks ago, and will probably take up his residence in Ghristchurch. b .%.,•.•

In view of the movement to have provision made for boarding pupils in connection with the Ashburton High School, a statement made in ,th,e Hoxise of Representatives yesterday "is of interest.' The Minister of Education, in answer -to Mr' : Taylor, stated*.* that -in his; opinion , every secondary school which has a considerable area\of agi'icultural or pastoral land around it should have recognised boarding houses, where the pupils could be lodged under proper supervision at reasonable rates. ; The Minister suggested that the system of boarding scholarships given by tho ■ secondary schools might be extended.