LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 9034, 2 January 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The New British Pharmacopoeia, operating from January 1, discards 160 drugs, including sarsaparilla, musk and dandelion extract.

There is a talk of motorists in Tasmania having to pay a tyre tax in 1915 for revenue, purposes. The proposal is that motorists shall pay as stamp duty equivalent to 12-J per cent, on the retail selling price on pneumatic tyres, and 15 per cent, on solid tyres. This applies to all new tyres purchased.

An accident, fortunately attended by no very serious consequences, took place near the water tower in Short Street about 7.30 last evening. A taxi-cab owned by Mr J. Newman was proceeding along the road, when something dislocated the steering gear, and the car crashed into the footpath, breaking off one of tho wheels. Fortunately the driver was not hurt.

A Press Association telegram from Waimate states that the Students' Summer Conference at Waimate is to continue until next Tuesday. It shows every sign of, being as great a factor in the students' life as former conferences have been. One feature of this conference has been a series of three addresses delivered by the Rev. J. Paterson, M.A., of St. Paul's Church, on the subjects, " The Reasonableness of Christianity," "Sin," and "Redemption."

The Domain presented a very deserted appearance this -afternoon. There were very few people about, even under the trees, and all of the sports grounds were empty with the exception of the bowling green, where a fair number of games were in progress. The baths were, receiving a good share of patronage, but there was " nothing doing '.' on the Oval, or on the tennis courts or the croquet lawn.

> In many places the oat "crops are looking all that can be desired, and although a little late will be equal to previous seasons (says the Fairfax correspondent of the Southland "Times.'') The weather is a great miisance to thel farmer who wants to get his wool off, but for <ewes with lambs the wool is better on. Lambs are looking extra. } well, and the fat lamb buyer will get any number in February for 20s each. The sheep that are shorn seem to have come out of the wool well. The fleeces are splendid if a little short in yoke.

If is not very of-® 11 that three brothers are seen driving horses in one race. It is still more seldom . that they occupy the first, second, and third positions in that race. Such was the case at Metllven yesterday, however, when D. McKendry, J; P. McKendry, and J. H. McKendry occupied the places in the Handicap Open Trot. Two of; the brothers (D. McKendry and J. H. McKendry) drove their own horses (General Grant and Imperial Ann) into first and third places respectively, while /J. P McKendry piloted Mr J. Dowling's Frontier into the second, position.

What might have been a serious accident was narrowly averted' at Longbeach yesterday,. ■A.-party of 10, who had driven there in a carriage, had passed the homestead and were proceeding to the beach j when a young man in the conveyance noticed the axle-cap fall off; he immediately gay© warning, and the carriage was brought to a- standstill. On investigation it was discovered that the woodwork round the axle was rotten,'and had the carriage proceeded any further the wlieel would have dropped off, and probably the occupants would have been/precipitated to earth with light-ning-like suddenness. The livery stables at Ashburton were communicated with, and later Mr John Grigg very kindly placed one of his coaches at the disposal of the picnickers, who made a speedy return home without further mishap.

A cablegram the other day stated that the Rubber Growers' Association had presented 4000 life-saving rubber collars to the American Navy in recognition, of the exploit of the Sydney in destroying the Emden. These collars have only recently been invented, and they were promptly taken up by the Admiralty and distributed throughout the fleet. The loas of life which attended the disasters of our ships in the North Sea emphasised the nocessiy for some better means for saving life, from drowning than formerly existed, and..■• since the Amphion went down every practical measure suggested has be«ai adopted. Before the inflatablei collars were ordered, all the dockyards 'were directed to ■■•construct large numbers of rafts. These -are of quite simple design, consisting merely of half-a-dozen poles about sft., long, with thick'planks of the same length secured across .them, ropes by which men in the water can keep themselves afloat being attached to the sides. On board British ships only two boats are available in dase of.disaster, the : reason being that the -others are filled with water so that, when struck by shot or shell, splinters.shall'uot fly around and cause as- much damage among the ship's company, as the projectiles themselves. Thus the need for extra life-saving appliances can be appreciated, and so also can be understood the possibilities for. good in the new inflatable collar, which' every man is supposed to '..carry. ■•'