LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8717, 17 November 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Under the, Crimes Act everyone is liable to two years' imprisonment who speaks any seditious words. A seditious intention is donned thus: "To raise discontent or disaffection amongst His Majesty's subjects, or to promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different classes of such subjects."

A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that, George L. Pockett, a'single man, was found dead in bed at. his lodgings at Ponsonby. presumably from heart disease.

A Christchurclv- Press Association message states that a number of spurious half-sovereigns were taken by the totalisator at Riccarton last week. The coins reached the Union Bank, which has warned the public. The police assume that the counterfeits were brought from Australia; they appear fairly good imitations. \

A Press Association message from Auckland says that the detective forcfv -refuses absolutely to make any statement concerning the alleged attempt to wreck tho Main Tru.ur express by putting gelignite on die rail. The story is declared by >fche Strike ooiamvttao to ■be a hoax.

The spectacle was presented this morning jn Timaru (says tke_"-Post" of Saturday:), of a sergeant-major smoking a cigarette marching at the head of a military band. For an officer in full uniform to so far forget military decorum and discipline rather disgusted several old soldiers and volunteers.

The destruction of young waterfowl in the Domain has in the been solely attributed to rats and eels* Hut cats are now believed to be the principal offenders in this direction. Quite a number of domestic cats frequent the Domain^ and it; is on the cards that they will be destroyed if the loss of bird-life continues. A brood of 11 ducklings hatched recently has been reduced to three, while ethers aro missing. ,

A father of two lads, both under 16 years of age, thought he would teach his sons to shoot. He therefore constructed a range in his backyard in Wellington Street, Auckland, and took all precautions, as he thought, to prevent any of the shots from going astray. Some neighbours, however, when they returned home on a recent" afternoon, found a bullet-hole through one of their-, wjndows, and complained to the police. , .The father and his .sons were summoned as a result. His Worship pointed out the danger arising from rifle practice in backyards in' the centre of the city, and ordered tho father to pay 43s 6d fine and costs.

A special meeting of the Ashburton County Council was held « this afternoon. Present: , Messrs C. J. Harper (Chairman), J. Cairns, W. Morgan, H. J. Harrison, H. Friedlander, W. T. Lill, and G. Murdoch. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs J. Sturlholme and W. J. Dickie ; M.P. The Council went into committee to consider the matter of the supply of water from the Wakamri Creek,to the. Canterbury Roller Flour Mills Company, and also the question of the lease of the Mount Somers tramway, whilst several minor matters were also under consideration. The Council was sitting when we went to press.

A Waimate motorist states that the roads from that place to Ohristchurch gave little cause for complaints, except for the water-races. About three miles south of Ashburton, he said, and on towards the Rangitata for 10 or 15 miles, the road was soft in wet weather. A new bridge being erected at the Hinds would bring about a marked improvement there. The engineer of the Waimate County Council, he added, followed an admirable plan of metalling only half the width of a road at a time when metalling was required. The result was that motoi'ists could always get through without suffering the annoyance of riding over.fresh metal. At Oa'maru, he noticed, the full width of the toad was metalled, which was a distinct disadvantage to motorists. The Selwyn was always liable to give trouble on the southern trip. It could be taken now easily enough, because it was low," but if it was at all high it was necessary to make a detour of about 10 miles. The position _ there would never be satisfactory until the river was bridged.

There was curry for breakfast on the steamer John at Wanganui on Monday morning, yet this dish, which is fit for the epicurean tastes of -an Indian prince (and most other people) was objected to by three British seamen, and was the cause of the three refusing duty. The incident is.ludicrous, but it was vouched for by a shipping man, and it shows a typical pin-prick which the employers, have to endure. The three seamen whose palates curry did hot suit protested (says the Feilding "Star ") that they were tired of curry (though they had not had it for seven days previously), but anyhow, they did not like it and would not eat it. As they would not eat it, they woxild not work on an empty stomach. The result of the "strike " was a -lengthy interview with the Collector of Customs, the captain eventually agreeing that to suit the simple tastes of the trio he would keep potted: meat in readiness, should a similar occasion arise, when he was unable to buy steak.

The Rev. John Craig, of Fairlie, has received word from the Public Trustee (says the Timaru " Herald) that by the will of the late Mr William Fraser, of Fairlie, the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand • will benefit to the extent of about £3500. After providing for an annuity to his cousin in Scotland, the deceased directs his trustee, to stand possessed of the property, upon trust for the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand to be applied by the General Assembly in such manner as it shall deem most expedient, with a desire, however, that the said trust property; shall.. be applied in establishing [a fund or in augmenting a fund al- \ ready established in connection with the said church for the maintenance and education of orphan children of Highland parentage who shall be in needy circumstances, or for' the education and maintenance of-other orphan children. The late Mr \V. Fraser was an old resident of Fairlie, and took a keen interest in the Presbyterian fChurch. ■v-v.'.-'-t:'.-.;'■■■■. V

■'•'' . . . . ' '■■' ■ .■'■■'•■■■'•• ' ■ ■' ..:■'"!■ The repudiating .3 of liability in con-, nection with ..insuraiice. claims., on mere (( technicalities was'the'subject of a con;., versational passage beiiween Judge and counsel during the hearing of a compensation case in the District Court in Sydney last week. Judge Rogers said that certain clauses in a policy might be necessary to guard. against fraud, but it would seem outrageous that, a claim, which -was good in other respects-should be contested on such grounds, and if 1 any company took advantage of the circumstances, the publicity of the facts would hardly be likely to lead to an increaso in its business. "Insurance companies aro like Ishmael," said Dr. Brissenden, " their hand is against every .man and every man's hand is against them." His Honour asked whether counsel. thought ;i'n insurance company would fight a claim that happened to be. filed a little later than the period specified after the policy-holder's 1 death. "I don't think they would do ii on my policy," replied Dr. Brissenden. "Oh, that would not bother you much," said. His Honour. Still, I could not rest easy if I thought my executors were having, to sue for the money," declared counsel.

Farm labourers, shearers and others who have long distances to travel will be interested to note that G. H. Oarson is holding a sale of second-hand motorcycles, which have been taken as part payment for L.M.G. and Doiiglas motorcycles. The prices, range from £10 to" £40, and easy terms may be arranged with Suitable purchasers

At tho Christchurch Dog Show, held last week, Mr C. Branigan's Irish terrier (" Larry Doolan," by Tim Vie) secured first prize. Mr Jaihes Cow won a number of prizes with a fine cocker spaniel. . .

A boy iisimod C. Wheeler (says a , Christchurcli Press Association telegram) rode through a plate-glass window in Cashel street, and was badly cut, being removed to the hospital. It is said that he was dodging a pedestr'iaEL . , , ■.■'.'■'. To comply with alterations "made in' the tramways regulations made in the tramways regulations by the Legislative Council will cost the Dunedin Corporation £19,861. Five additional cars will have to be built to provide the seating capacity required.

A return laid on the table of the House the other day by tho Hon. A. L; Herdman shows that the amounts received as death duties during the past 10 years were :—1903, £142,916.; 1904,, £174,805;.1905, £127,173; 1906, £191,508; 1907, £246,031- 19Q8; £260,----238; 1909, £192,014; 1910, £323,783; 1911, £304,723; 1912, £439,820.

A Christchurcli Press Association message states that the Arbitration Court to-day granted Ellen Popplewell £175 compensation, also tho payment of funeral expenses, in consideration of the death of her son, who was killed at' Mina whilst in the; service of the Railway Department.,' ; ,

There are still afloat at least a dozen' sailing vessels which have weathered the storms of a century,/ The record is, or rather was, held by the Italian vessel Anita. She was built in Genoa in 1548, and made her last voyage in 1902, from Tcneriffo to Naples. She was -thus more than , 350 years old. She hag now been broken up. Steamships seldom last more than 40 years. Of those built between 1815 and 1835, there is not a single one afloat. The life of the modern si eel ship is mucfr shorter than that of her wooden predecessor. As for warships, they are usually scrapped at the age of 20, if not before. Only last year the sailing vessel Seal left Bradford for Durham, a voyage of 600 miles. The Seal was built at Southampton in 1816, and in 1823 was. driven from her moorings at Poole in a fearful gale and found in a turnip field.