LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8201, 26 July 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A London .message says that .the Convocation of York has decided to; add a note at the end of the Prayer Book permitting hymns and anthems at any time in the service, provided they do not interfere with its structure.

The Ashburton Salvation Army Band gave one of its monthly concerts to the inmates of the Ashburton County Hospital yesterday,-■••The-music was bright and cheerful and was greatly appreciated. . . . ..

Over 300 players of football and kindred sports paraded in Latimer Square, Christchurch, yesterday afternoon and marched to Lancaster Park, where a service was held in honour of the memory of those players who have fallen in the war.

During the last fey; days about 10 Ashburton County members of the Expeditionary Force have visited the Red Cross Committee's rooms in the Arcade. The visitors have each been presented with two pairs of socks, underwear, and a Balaclava cap. The ladies of the committee would be very pleased to see other soldiers at the rooms.

At the Magistrate's'•Court this morning David Brown appeared on remand to answer'a' charge of being found helplessly drunk in East Street. SeniorSergeant Emerson said the present was Brown's second offence during the present month. The offender was convicted and discharged,, as he had already spent thoc week's remand in Lyttelton. A first offender was fined ss, in default 24 hours' imprisonment. Mr R. Clark, J.P., was on the Bench.

If all,'Ashburton County farmers acted similarly to one in the Rakaia district in regard to the bird pest, less would be heard of the ravages caused in crops by the feathered tribe. This particular settler purchased a trap at a cost of about £4. or £5, and in one week he had secured enough heads of birds to pay for the trap. He did not employ a man to constantly work the trap, but undertook this himself when going round his farm once, twice, or three times a day, as the case might be. The season for purchasing birds' heads commenced in April last, and the number paid for by the County Counci^ is about equal to the total for the corresponding period last year. From the present time onward to October are the best months, however. The rate of payment is 9d per dozen.

The Lyttelton Harbour Board Elections Bill, introduced in the House by Dr. Thacker, is a lonp^thy measure'with 24 clauses and two schedules. It provides that the Board shall consist of 13 members, who shall be elected by the votes of a harbour" district, comprising the City of Christehnreh, the Boroughs of Kaiapoi, Rangiorn, Ashburton, Riccarton, Spreydon, New Brighton. Sumner, Woolston, Lyttelton, and Akaroa.: the ■Counties of Amuri. Cheviot, Waipara, KowaL Ashley, Oxford, Eyre, Rangiora, Tnwera, Selwyn, Malvern, Paparua. .Ellosmore, Springs. Hoathcoto. : HnJswell. Waimniri, Mount Herbert, Akaroa, Waire wa, and Ashburon: and the Tnwn Districts of Mackenzie and Ambo.rley. The first s;eneral election shnll take place on the last Wednesdny in April, 1916, and every three.' years . subseq\iently. ' The Bill; contains ■ several clauses affecting thiv,details, of, voting;.;

About a week ago many residents of the Treyorton district..-,were alarmed about lunch time by the sound of a number of guns being fired off almost simultaneously and with two or three repetitions. Judging by the manner in which the people-hurried into the open, it might have been ' conjectured that they had visions; of a German'invasion from the direction of Wakanui Bench. Anxiously scanning the sky and the surrounding country, at last they descried, on the bottom of the terrace towards the Ashburton* River, over a score of men with guns shooting at two moving objects in the air. When the latter circled round they were soon to be geese, and not aeroplanes or Taubes, as first thoughts would probably have labelled them. It appears that the geese belonged to a certain gentleman who lives in the neighbourhood of Beach Rand, and who holds n- civic position. Tlie birds, which-had been destined for the dining table, had somehow got out of their confines, and hnd taken to the " wing" towards tho river. In almost the twinkling of an eye they wore discovered, and all the residents of the vicinity immediately secured guns. As the geese-flew round, "bang" went the guns, but in the excitement all the shooters missed. Lined up.; they waited for the geese to' circle again, and when they did so the guns spoke, and both birds name down, bundles''of quivering feathers. There was some talk of tho successful shooters keeping the birds, but they were eventually returned to the proper owner.

Buyers of Motor Cycles should see Cx. IT. TV-on's .Stock in Tanorod Street. Ko is r -)y ■ offering the following reliable nv^inos: Triumph, free engine, just uvornanlod, £30; Humber, 3-speed and sidc-ohair. £75; Rover, S-spped and side-chair. £110; Douglas. 2* 1911 model, £25; Lincoln Elk, £15; L;M.C, free on.;rino. £30. Terms may be arranged with any of these. ." C 00