LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8743, 17 December 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In connection with the incident which took place at the monthly meeting of the Board of Managers of the Ashbur* ton Technical Classes Association on Friday last, relative to an allege^, disfur-, bance -at the annual "breaking-up'' ceremony, a special meeting of the Board, called by the Mayor, was held this afternoon. The Chairman of the Board -explained 'that he had been.,very wrongly informed, and that he liad made the accusations in-'gqod faith and was, seeing he had made a mistake, only too willing and ready to apologise. Mr Joshua.Tucker mpv.ed— ; f'That the Board' accepts the chair-, man's explanation arid apology/ and that it is regrettable that the statement was made." After each member; present had spoken, some of them referring to the seriousness of such charges being made,, pn ; insufficient information, the motion was carried unanimously. The chairman' thanked the meeting, and stated that he had intended to resign from his position iis chairman had the apology' not been accepted. lie hoped-that everything would be harmonious m the future.

A coalnuner from the State mine, West Coast, at present in Ashburton owing to the strike, states that,; with the exception of the officials and a few fanatics, all the coalminers at the West Coast .would be only too glad to go back to work.

Heavy rain must have fallen on the hills yesterday, for the body of water in the Ashburton River this morning was consider-ably greater than Usual. Since its recent change of counse, the main body of water has kept to the centre of the riverbed, but this morning there was a strong flow in the channel at the north side, which was the main course until/recently. The water is very dirty, 'arid fishing will not be possible for a day or two.

; The workmen have.just about completed the addition to the Tinwald Jttailway 'Station building, which will be used as a post otiice, and the, new quarters are already being" utilised. There is a tidy little office tor the officials, and a space in front of the counter for the accommodation of the public. ■■ . . „,..; .' ■ .. •.;•

According to a return, at the Hon. J. A. Millar's request,^ the Public Service Commissioners^ A-since their appointment, have dismissed 94 persdns, the majority being temporary employees whose services, were no longer required. During the same period 594 appointments were made, 121 being permanent and the remainder temporary. . . •

The footpaths at Tinwald are largely used by cyclists, and, as a consequence, though they are in fairly good order, they are not as good as they should be. 'Until recently a hate-brained motor cyclist was in the habit of riding along the footpath at the rate of about 40 miles an hour, feeling safe, as he knew that Tinwald did not boast a policeman or a traffic inspector. The danger to children from his, thoughtlessness was great, and a Tinwald" resident undertook to stop his little game. Catching the offender off his bicycle he gave him a good shaking, and a promise of a sound thrashing if the offence occurred again has had the desired effect.

Mr Riddell, S.M., gave judgment yesterday (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) in ' the case in which Harry Wales was charged with betting on the licensed premises of the Clarendon Hotel. The Magistrate said the evidence; was sufficient to show that the defendant was a bookmak"er, and had made bets in the hotel through a barman. The minimum penalty for a first offence, as provided in the statute, was £20, 'and defendant would be fined that amount. An appeal is to be lodged.

Good work is being done with the shortening of the Ashburton Traffic Bridge. . All the necessary piles have been driven and the decking partly laid, while the building of the . approaches is well advanced. Some delay has been caused through the bluegum planks necessary for thk decking not being .available, and should these come to harid^s anticipated, the work should be conipleted in a fortnight's time, and, the;, new route thrown open for traffic. The old ppxt of the bridge will riot be closed until the, decking Js considered dangerous j but this will not last Very long, some of tile planks being no more than a couple of;inches thick afc present.

A return presented to the House last, week shows that the Judges of the Supreme Court were paid the following in salaries and travelling allowances last year:—Chief Justice Sir Robert Stout' £2271 (salary £200u), Mr Justice Williams £2271 (salary £1800), Mr Justice Denniston £2275 (salary £1800), Mr Justice .Edwards £2357 (salary £1800), Mr, Justice Cooper £2418 (salary £1800) i.Mr Justice Chapman £2132 (salary:£ 1800),. Mr Justice Sim, travelling expenses and allowances, £2260. , The judges' associates were paid between £200 and £300 travelling allowances and expenses.

A Motorist's Advice to Intending Motorists.—"Why own a car that you yourself cannot drive, and miss the real fun of the going? There is health and joy-giving relaxation- in Ford j driving—because of the simplicity of ' the Ford mechanism and the consequent ease of its control. Think what the price means—for the car that has stood the test. Touring Car, fully equipped, £205; Runabout £190."— G. H. Carson has a new model Touring Car in stock for immediate delivery. Why not enjoy the Xmas holidays in your Ford ? <

The Tinwald School breaking-up ceremony and distribution of prizes is to take place this week. A Sydney cable announces that the School Teachers' Association has decided to affiliate with the Political Labour League. ■In the Wellington Magistrate's Court to-day Samuel Isaacs was fined £30 on a charge of betting on licensed premises, and £20 for publishing a betting card. | ■• •■■■'' '■ Docks and other weeds help to give the town of Tinwald a ragged appearance, but as the Inspector of Noxious Weeds is on the warpath these should soon disappear.. , .:>.■• ' The New Zealand Competitions Society sustained a loss of £460 over tho-recent competition's in Wellington. The strike turmoil must have interfered severely with the attendances of the public at the festival. On a charge of forging the name of W.. H. Atack, manager of the United Press Association, Wellington, to a *proiriissory note for £1(3, a young man named Thomas Ryan was arrested at the Auckland Exhibition. He was ' re-' manded to appear at Wellington:

A return secured by> Mr Hanan, and presented to ' the Jrioiise^./ shows 'that since August I, 1 19X2", tl'.e Government has lifted the reservatiun from.scenic and iorest reserves . totalling 55,949 ■ acres j distributed as-.^pllQws: land:, prbviritie, 17,159 ,acresv;; vHawke's Bay, ;352 acres; Taranaki, 6518 acres; Wellington, 17,225 acres; Nelson, 4430 acres; Marlborough )V ,1135 acres; Southland, 3130 acres. ;

A ■ Wairarapa motoring enthusiast has written to the Auckland Automobile Association suggesting that it should support the proposal to form a New Zealand company to handle a.new motor-spirit, benssol, which is being used to some extent in.-Europe. It is said to be 5d per, gallon cheaper than benzine, and its supporters declare that it will carry a car a greater distance than the latter spirit.

During his visit abroad Mr W. Perry, of Mastertoii, visited Germany. In an interview in Auckland he remarked: "I Avould like to put in a.word here about my experience with the Germans. Much appears in our papers about the enmity of Germany towards the British people. Well, all I can say is that during our touv Mrs Perry and myself received nothing by kindness and courtesies from the German people everywhere. Wemet no anti-British sentiment whatever.",