LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 9155, 1 June 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Melbourne cable sfeites that tho price of milk has been raised to Is 8d per gallon.

There is to be an election to fill the ■vacancy on the Ashburton County Council caused by the retirement of Major J. Studholrue, who represented the Rangitata Riding. Two ratepayers have been nominated —Messrs John C. N. Grigg and J. M. Hampton—and a poll'will, be taken on June 7.

A New.. Plymouth. Press Association telegram states that a public meeting last night sot'up a, committee ■ to organise town lu-bour to assist farmers at harvest time, with a. view to encourage the increased growth of cereals. Tho hope was expressed that a similar movement will be made in other parts of the Dominion.

The Christchurch detectives have not yet managed to lay hands on the man Thomas Williams, who escaped from custody 'at the Christchurch Police Station on Friday night. It is said that, certain information points to the fact that Williams' was seen riding a bicycle through Islington, but the officer on -the trail unfortunately followed another man who answered very much to the same description, and for the-timo, at any rate, Williams has got away.

A Christchuroh Press Association message states that the local committee representing the; meat producers and meat exporters; which met to fix the price of moatj after the recent conference in Christcbjurch, laid down prices which were to remain in' force until yesterday. Then it was said that a further meeting! would be held to make another rearrangement of prices. This meeting will take place on Thursday, and in all probability there will be a general rise in the price of meat.

There are increasing signs that Methven is one of the most go-ahead townships in the South Island. At present town sections are being-eagerly sought after in Methven, and high prices are ruling. In addition to the large number of buildings that, are being erected at present, several others, principally dwellings, are contemplated, and will be started within the next few months. Houses are:, practically unprocurable, and rents are extremely high, four-roomed cottages letting readily at 15s a week. This scarcity of buildings also applies to shops. There is not an empty shop in the township.

•Anastasio Chelotti, a newsvendor of Sa'vona/ recently celebrated the birth of his 31st child, oh whom, he bestowed the name of Candido. Chelottt, who is just"6o years of age, remarked at the christening:—"At ,21 years of age I married' a girl of 19, who made an annual present of a male for 19 years running. Then she died, Before I was out of my 40th year ;I married again, and my second wife added another dozen to the family. ■ I. have 19 sons living, all healthy arjd strong. The 20th fell fighting in the Libyan desert with the words, "Viva Savoua!" on his lips. Eight of my boys are married and have married'children of their own." \ ' •■ . .

Mrs George ■ Morgan threw a side-

light,; on-. .onbf of.; the" tragedies of the war when speaking at the Free Church' Council., There will bo many" illegitimate children born in Gr,eat Britain this year, - the offspring of British soldiers, and Mrs Morgan made a passionate appeal on behalf of the mothers of thousands and tons ,of thousands of l' unblessed infants" who would, during this year, be brought :into the world. ". Within the next few months," 1 she said, "we shall have in our midst, not by tens or even by hundreds, but by thousands, a new generation which will be' unblessed by their father's..name. If the Church does not regard this as its problem, if the Church says it is a matter for the State to deal with, it will mean that these broken flowers will have perished before they reach maturity, and not only will they be without hope for themselves, but they will be a menace to the honour of the nation in the future." Mrs Morgan urged the delegates to make it their duty to find out thq facts of the case in their own district, and ,to throw open hostels and homes in-which erring girls might be cared for and won back to virtuous life.

A tax on bachelors, which has been advocated, half .seriously, for half a century, the other day came within the sphere of. 'practical politics (says the Melbourne "Argus"). Mr Sharpe, of Queensland, who, is not, a. bachelor, suggested the ftnpost, and it was debated at some length. Mr Sharpe demonstrated that an 8 per cent, tax upon all bachelors-' incomes exceeding £200 a year would produce £2,000,000. It would be more likely to produce 1,000,000 benedicts. .Mr'Sharpe has a very ;synimotri-?nl system in his mind. The bachelor,. :ho-assumes, supports no "children j 'he ought to support someone ; '^therefore the best.use to make of him is to compel him to support .pensioners. ..For Mr S]. a rp(i-'s idea is to raise money i'or pensions.l' Womankind will welcome a. Bill embodying the scheme, but injustice lurks beneath it. Is the man who bus pleaded year in and year out with an obdurate woman, who has vyoni himself to a shadow by nightly walking home after the last train, to be. taxed siirmly because the woman : is .whimsical?. Why not tax the whimsical' wonihi* ? ,■ . "

Winter is, Here.-—Your Piano is more, used than formerly. No doubt it needs Timing. Our expert, Mr A. H. Brooker, from England, will give you his advice (Yee. Orders at the Bristol. 5 4(,

Reduction in Price of United States Motor. Tyres.—The new price-list of U.S. Motor Tyros appears in this issue m Mr G. H. Carson's advertisement. The reduction, jri price is most noticeable in the nip'st popular sizes. For instance the new price of. 30 x 3J ' Nobby Tread Covers, is £4 7s 6d, as against the previous, 'list price £6 7s 6d, ;a■■''reduction..or'. two.., pounds per coyer. Tsie.chain tread is, a new type of non-slipping tyre, and,his the same heavy, wall of canvas as \ <sic famous nobby tread. Tt sells at £& 12s 6d in the Ford size 30 x 3-J-d. ;The plain' tread, 30 x 3J-. at £3 2s 6d, is certinly marvellous value. Large stocks arc being hold by the distributing agents for the United States Co., and Mr Carson will be pleased to forward price-lists on application. 5 00

The safest, quickest, cheapest remedy for coughs svud colds is "NAZOL." .'Ready for use wboti bought, Takp a bottle Jsmuo to-night. .