LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8274, 20 October 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

\ notice in tho "Gazette" fixes November 15 as tho day for payment of land tax, and January 14, 1916, as the date for payment of income tax.

A Press Association telegram states that yesterday the Governor officially opened the 'new kiosk erected at Trentham Camp to accommodate convalescents, all of whom now are being removed from the racecourse buildings.

A mooting of the Patriotic Committee is to be held on Saturday next, in the A. and P. rooms, to discuss tho question of welcoming home the Ashburton County soldiers returning on the Willochra and Tofua.

On Friday next, at the Magistrate's Court, a case of interest to fishermen will bo heard. Five men are to be charged with using an explosive to kill fish in the. Ashburton River at Greenstreet. The offence is alleged to have taken place about a fortnight or three weeks ago.

" A man who is in debt ought not to smoke," said Mr McCarthy, S.M., in the Hastings Magistrate's Court on Wednesday when dealing with a judgment summons ease against a. debtor who admitted that ho smoked every month a lb of Havolock tobacco, which cost him Gs 6d. An order for the payment of 6s 6d a month was roado (says the -HawkeY Bay "'Herald"). At this rate it will take- about five years and n half to liquidate the debt (£21.4s 6d), which has already been owing about four years.

"" Regarding the question of finding employment for returned wounded and sick soldiers, the Hon. Gr. W.Russell stated at the meeting of tho Christchurch" Patriotic Committee yesterday that, in addition to the arrangements being made by the Department under the Hon. A. L. Herdman's control, he (Mr Russell) had given instructions that the positions of lift men in connection with all the lifts bolonging to tlio Government throughout the whole public service are to be entirely reserved for wounded soldiers on their return.

A Press Association .felogram from Hamilton states that the two-masted schooner Falcon, 160 tons,, owned by Easson and Co., Kilbirnie, Wellington, in ballast from Wellington to Hokianga, went ashore on the north head of Raglan Harbour at 8 a.m. A .strong gale blew all night, and drove her 60 miles out of her -course. Captain -Johansen decided to try and make Raglan Harbour, and was within a short distance of the bar when the vessel was struck by the wind. and driven on a sandbank, where she-re-mains high ancl dry. The crew landed. It is believed the schooner will refloat.

Chinese, according to a statement made at the Conciliation Council at Wellington on Tuesday, are leaving the grocery 'trade (says the "Post"). Two Chinese only were cited as employing parties to the grocers' dispute, and the union secretary (Mr J. Mcltenzie) stated that these were the only, ones remaining in the trade. The others who had been parties to a previous award had loft the dry goods business shortly after the Saturday half-holiday came into operation, as if they had rot done so they would have been r impelled to eloso their fruit and vegetable shops at 1 o'clock on Saturlay. Now, some of them sold cigarettes, tobacco, sweets, and biscruitfi, bui iiO other lines outside fruit and vegetables.

How tho difficulty caused by the cessation of the supply from Germany of Stosfurht potash salts might be overcome was suggested in a. letter that came before the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce on Friday (says the "Herald"), from Milt. It. Hunt. The writer pointed out that tho price of caustic potash had increased since the outbreak of war. from £25 to £100 per ton. He suggested that the example of- America, might be followed, and seaweed utilised iin tho making of potash. Mr T. E. iChcesoman, F.L.S., had informed him that there were immense- beds of seaweed on various parts ■of tho. New Zealand coasts, notably at Akaroa and Stowart Island, whilst Captain Goertz, of the Northern Steamship-Company, had stated that there was a Inrgo bod off Motiti Island, in tho Bay of Plenty. Mr Hunt suggested that collecting and burning tho seaweed would provide an industry for coastal dwellers, and that other deposits in tho ocean or on other parts'of tho'coast might ho discovered if public attention were drawn to the matter. The council decided thai the mnttor was one for consideration by agricultural and pastoral societies, to whom Mr Hunt was referred. I

The Appeal Court has granted an j order absolute striking William George Somerville, of Taumaruimi, off the rolls of barristers and solicitors. In response to overtures made, tho \ directors of the Feathorston Dairy Company have increased the wages of all the factory hands to the oxtent of 10s per week. The lowest wage- now being received is £2 Jos per week.

A Press Association telegram from New Plymouth states: Mary Thackcr, ■ Okain's" Bay, Br.nks Peninsula, won the raffle i'or E. G-r iffiths's purebred Jersey hull, valued at 150 guineas. The Patriotic Fund will benefit to the extent or £500 by the raffle. The '..Nelson "Colonist states that the Waiinca County Council, in reply to a suggestion put forward by tho county engineer, decided that tho time was not opportune to lay ,a stretch of concrete road as an experiment. The chairman remarked that, personally, he would like to see all the county roads in concrete.

Several important additions will be made to the Wellington Zoo shortly (says the " Post"). The City Council on Thursday night granted authority for the purchase of a pair of young camels from the South Perth Zoo for approximately £40, and accerited with thanks the ' offer of the Wellington Zoological Society to contribute £10 towards such cost. The Reserves and Public Gardens Committee also acknowledged the gift of ; two hen golden pheasants to the Zoological Society from the late -Hon. John Duthie, M.L.C.

At the weekly stock sale at the Ashburton yards yesterday, the vagaries of the wind were the indirect cause of the sum of £2 2s 6d being added to one of the patriotic funds. There wna a strong wind blowing, and whirlwinds every now and then would lift a man's hat off and carry it into the air. Finally,-ft gust of considerable strength took a '- ninn's hat about 60 feet into the air, afterwards allowing it to come down to earth a f-sw yards from him. The hat was immediately put up at auction by Mr W. Bmith, and it was sold and Vo-sold several times until it once again passed back to its. owner at 2s "6d.

In connection with the probability of prosecutions arising out of a meeting of shearers in Mosterton recently, at which a resolution was passed in favour of demanding 25s per 100 for shearing instead of-20s,..such resolutions being a'contravention of the Act, Mr Laracy, secretary of the Shearers' Association, states that' his executive had nothing to do with the proceedings (says a Wellington Press Association telegram). No few shearers in one district had the privilege of' saying what the whole of the shearers should do. His executive had never boon consulted, and accepted no responsibility whatever for the meeting.

As showing what straits somo farmwere put to in finding freezing space for cattle they could riot feed last summer on account of the drought in the north, it is related that one etockraisor at To Teko (Bay of Plenty) drove a mob overland to Rotorua, and from there entrained them to Hamilton, which place they reached on Christmas Day. They were fed in people's backyards, and wherever there was a shimmer of green on the earth. A.fter n-s long a stay as possible there the poor beasts were entrained to Wanganui, and were finally slaughtered there on May 26, exactly five-months aftor they left home. Another lot from Te Toko' met., their fato at Wakatu (Hastings), the owner registering a loss of £6 a head by the time they were in store.

Somo idea of the popularity of the moving pictures in New York can be gained by the fact that there are 950 picture theatres there, and over 5000 players were represented on the screens, of the various theatres in one month. It is estimated that 2000 of them own their own automobiles. One of the ■reasons givm- by. Blanche Sweet, the Mutual si:ir, lor the success of the motion picture i.s that on the screen scenes in any part of the world can actually by vibiialised,- an asset that places it above the stago in one l'espect at least, and is bound to have favourable effect. There is no need in pictures, continues Miss Sweet, for one to imagine any tiling; everything can be .shown. Therefore, with the proper direction and acting, and the rignt management from a- business standpoint, the pictures will always have a bigger appeal than the stage.

'A deplorable fate overtook 10,wtrout fry despatched recently t-o Te Kuiti by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. A letter was received from the local club, stating that when thefry arrived safely find in good condition they wore left in the tanks on the river bank.for the night, as had been done previously. The next day, however, when tlie officials of the club went to liberate them they found most of them lying dead on tho bottom of the tanks. The fish had a swollen appearance, and ''there is no doubt in my mind that- some evil-minded person hacl tampered with the cans, and had poisoned the. fish." The society therefore regretfully inside an urgent request for a further 10.., h-y. Tho secretary reported that through the efforts" of the president (Colonel Hazard) tho society had been able to send a fresh supply toTe Kuiti.

Nothing like "NAZOL", for roTievinp: colds, just as there's nothing like the sun for making daylight. "NAZOL" is a sound, natural remedy, easy to take, and perfectly harmless. 60 doses Is 6d.