LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8965, 12 October 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

About 8.45 .pan, on Saturday, a brilliant meteorite ' was seen to fall in the North Canterbury district. .

Before Mr Alfred McClure, J.P., at the Magistrate's Court this morning, George Ewiiig was fined £3 for using obscene language, and was convicted and discharged for drunkenness.

The Ashburton Borough Council ;iroposes to re-open the abattoir quesc'un at its meeting this evening, when. a. report from the Abattoir Ci.ir.niittee will be discussed..

The Alexandra correspondent of the "Qtago Daily Times" says:—"l am informed on all hands that the damage done by frost to the -early varieties of apricots, peaches,, and even cherry plums is widespread and very serious."

A 4 Press Association telegram from; Christchurch states that the various sports opened i\m season on Saturday in'fine though uncomfortable nor'-west .weather. Nevertheless there were good attendances at the opening of the'rowing, bowling, .tennis, and cricket seasons.. ' The Automobile Association held an opening run to Mount,: Bleasaut.

■ A-fire ocuiTed at a general store, the.property of J. .Martin, and situated [at iairnekl, near' the Freezing Works, on Friday night, resulting in the total destruction or the .property. A,strong nor'-west wind was blowing at.. the time, and the flames spread so rapidly nothing whatever could bo saved. JA number of residents were quickly iat the scene, and with much difficulty they prevented the fire spreading, to a stable at the back.:of .the store, and to a dwelling-house whicli vvas only a, short distance ' away. .The store and stock were insured, but .Martin estimates his loss at fully £150 moro than the insurance will covor.

"It is with satisfaction we realise that our Government is determined to give* this important .matter the necessary attention," stated the committee of the Wellington Provincial Industrial Association in referring to afforestation in its report presented at the an-; nual meeting of that body. "Unless we prosecute a vigorous policy of treeplanting, it will not be very .many years before we shall be compelled to import practically .all the timber required for furniture ;making, etc;" The committee then referred to the great waste taking place in timber known as " shorts," and the agitation for the reduction of railway freights f in connection with the carriage of same. The committee stated that it would be difficult to provide If or a system of declaring that certain timber carried was for any specific purpose. 'It was contended that instead of a'loss, in revenue the reduction of 'freight charges on ' 'shorts'' would mean an i hcr'ease. Th c decision of the''Minister was awaited.

An Okaiawa settler has great faith in the virtues of raw linseed oil for most maladies among cattle, and certainly his experiences recently have justified his faith (says the Hawera "Star"). A few months back his young stock began to- die. They were in splendid condition, and there were no premonitory symptoms. Four of the very. best, were found" dead," the bodies being .distended with gas, ex■.actly'ithe .same as in the case of a, beast which has been f'blown." The trouble was apparently what is known as gaseous indigestion. The remainder of the young stock was,rounded up and dosed with oil, and there was no further trouble among the,in.' Then a week or two ago the same,farmer found one of his cows down. She could get up with assistance, but could not stand long. She was given the usual remedies, but gradually got worse and too weak to move. The settler then thought he would try the oil, and the cow was given a bottleful. The next day she got up without assistance,, and the day following was as well as ever.

•^Referring to the proposal that townspeople go out into the country and assist the farmers in the /direction of growing as much wheat aa- possible, Mr J. G. Wilson, Dominion president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, in a letter in the last issue of the Farmers' "Advocate," states that he has been assured that practically' evjery team in the Dominion is at present either engaged turning over the lanll or getting, crops in, including much iextra wheat, and as there is no work vilbich can be done otherwise than by " pur faithful friend the horse," it is impossible to employ more men in the process. "When harvest time comes, however," continues Mr Wilson, "it will! be another thing; all hands and the cook can be engaged then, and it woiild facilitate the garnering of the grainj which may be so precious, if townsmen, would help at that time. In fact, I -have taken upon myself to say to the farmers that

they will do so. . . . Hay is another necessary production, and probably we shall require assistance with that, for in our moist clinia'te speed .is often the only way to'.ge^ hay,in, in good .order. ■ \ . ,

. ■:■,'■;■■: I ■"■ ■ ' , ■' i' ' ' Rise in Prices.-~"Tho;Fp|-d .Company's agents, have been officially notified that on and after the :9th :inst:, tlie price of Ford Cars will be increased £10. There are a certain number of Ford Cars in stock throughout ;New Zealand, which are being sold this month at the usual prices. No dovibt a large number of these will be sold 'before the new prices come into force. Mr'"'Carson, the District A^ent for the Fjotd Company, anticipates' a rush of 'business, und will deliver orders only in rotation.