LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8303, 23 November 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There is still a steady demand 1 for labour in the Ashburton County. .So far the supply of shearers is, equal to the demand, but it is anticipated that during the next few weeks,; when shearing is in full swing, there will bo several vacancies to be filled.

When tho Minister of Justice, the Hon. Dr. McNaty was in the Methven district yesterday, a request for further police assistance was made by Mr W. Morgan, representing the local bodies of Methven. The Minister said that tho matter was outside his department, but' he iwould be most happy, to!lay it before the lioni; A. L. Herdman. ' •"■■■■'

A notice issued by the Defence authorities states that all soldiers of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and Reinforcements mjist wear their uniforms while oh sick or ordinary leave.

Tho Defence authorities have advised tho local Dofenco Office that any intending recruits for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force suffering from varicose veins, etc., who would otherwise be rejected, may now be treated and maintained whilst in hospital free of charge in the Ashburton Hospital on production of ah order from the local office. The 'office has been asked to make this known as widely as pos-. sible throughout the area, with a view to stimulating recruitng.

A. little girl named Phyllis Wheatland, residing in Castle Street, Dun- j edin, who sent a doll to England some months ago as a contribution to tho . relief of the distressed Belgians, says the " Otago Daily Times," has receiv-. ■ Ed a grateful letter of thanks. The father of the recipient (a little girl ; about .10 years .of age) states that he j and his family have been in London ! since the outbreak of ; the war. They■•; are quite destitute, having lost-every " thing thoy possessed, and \voiild like an opportunity of making a fresh start in j N\\\v Zealand. . j

Nearly 11 degrees of frost was registerod in Christchurch yesterday morning, with, a result ' that havoc vrm wrought among tender vegetables and fruit. Thousands of tomato plants worn cut down, also potatoes and French beans. The beans and potatoes can bo replanted; but in the case of tomatoes* there will not, be sufficient plants to replant, and if there wore enough, the season is now too late for them to ripen. Consequently, there will be a scarcity of ; outside-grown tomatoes, and prices should rule high. In the Cashmere Hills area quite 20 acres of tomato plants were cut down.

The physical drill of a certain wellknown Territorial regiment is performed},at a very early hour of the rnorning, and it is permissible to attend in loose, dress, which, generally consists of shirt'and trousers. The other day the Bi.TgoaHt*mstruct6r was greatly annoyed by tho ungainly movements of one of tho 1 men, .who came on parade in blue, silk pyjamas. The culprit was the object,of a great deal of biting sarcasm and not a little personal abuse. Later in tho day the instructor learned that th<> offender was the adjutant, who had had the idea of improving his physique. He has not been on pnrad<i since-.

A Ihinedin Press ■ Association''.fcck'grap says that the Otago Patriotic Association, at a special meeting to-day, [decided to grant £2000 for provisions and comforts for they wounded and sick soldiers in the Mediterranean and English hospitals, and to accept the offer of tho V.M.C.A. to distribute tho comforts in Egypt. Of tho total £200 is to bo sent to the "War Contingent Association in London. It wits also decided- to grant £250 to'" assist the Salvation Army work at all tho military camps in the North Island.' This■ was opposed keenly by tho ' representatives of the Anglican and Catholic Churches on the ground that all denominations were doing similar work.

I A case of diphtheria has been reported to the Avshburton Hospital and Charitable Aid Board from the west side of the' town.

! In regard to the petition praying for the remission of the sentence on Alien Parkinson, who received a lifo aentenco on a. charge of murder... at Napier, the Wellington "Post" understands tlnit, the Executive, after reviewing the Chief Justice's report, decided to Uil<e no. action.

Men who consider tht-'mselvos physically fit often find that when they i'aco tho medical examination for enlistment, they!are unable to p.'iss tho tent, This niton 'hurts their- foclings. One disgi'imtled individual who was found to have•'an over-tupping toe, was iriformod by tin; Ashburton Dofencn Olfi(?e that having the top joint of tho off ending member removed would qualify him for inr-lusion in tlie forces. His reply was brief, but to the, point: " W)n'i-e"l go my toe goes nlso. Jt lijib m.'.ver troubled m? so far."

■An example of tho inconvenience of puttees occurred the other day when ;« 'I\mritoiial, who had inadvertently put his puttees on wrong found one oi thorn becoming loose while ho was making a call on some ladies. An obtrusive Pomeranian saw its.-chance, for mischief, seized'■'.the-,"tag which 'w.iis visible, and.straightway the whole edifice became -a, ruin, disclosing-a sotnewliat. attenuated calf! The- ladies' were highly; amused, but not so the discomfited Warrior.

An Ashburton resident at present .considers himself a very lucky man. He had driven his mot^r, car down to Tiinaru'.on Sunday, and -after-an argur ment with a friend as to whether ho .should put it. into tho garage, or, not, ho. decided to leave it outside a shop while they went in to have some tea. Upon coming out. they found that the garage in which it had been. intended to put the car was ablaze,, and., that several of the cars therein'.hnd-.-..>bben destroyed or badly damaged. He assorts that his next investment will Urn, ticket in " Tatts."

Yesterday, a country resident called at the Ashburton Police Station and reported that he had found the dead body of a man. on Cracroft Road, about 20 miles distant from Ashburton. A constable was despatched in,a motor car, and on arrival found tho alleged dead body enjoying some refreshment in a neighbouring homestead.. It appears that tlie man was tired _ on reaching the locality,, and before visiting the house lay down on the -roadside and went to sleep. The informant came along and §hook him .violently without result, • and being porfedtly convinced tliat tho.maji was dead, reported the matter to the police.

Women are discouraged from venturing too near the iinng line m Franco and Belgium, and are, indeed, iorbidden to go into tho dangoi aiea without a pass. Tho otli,er day a Jamous General motored along h 'road' in the zone oi fird accompanied by Lady . They were stopped by a sciitiy, who, saluting the Geneial, a.slied for the lady's pass. It was "not foithcoming, so, apologising, the man •>.ud : "1 regiet the lady can go no further. It is not permitted without a. pass.;' The lady, instead of being annoyed, spoko to the sentry, remarking he had done, his duty well, and dropped a 20f. pio.ee into his hand.

Many newspapers (says the London 'tNewspapcr World. of. September 18) now announce that in.future thoy can only publish subscription Hats for charitable purposes and war appeals for, j funds,: gifts, etc.,: if paid for as adVerfcisenients. This, it is pointed ,out, -I is in conseqaence of the continued increase in the price .of materials used in newspaper production, in many ■ cases the inci*ease ranging from 26 to 50 per cent. Unfortunately, the majority' of outsiders cannot be made to appreciate j tho fact that "space" is to the news- ■ paper proprietor what meat iS to. the butcher, and to refuse to publish such j appeals as the above gratuitously is to | incur the risk of being dubbed unpn- ■ triotic. " « •! In a short speech at tho ' recruiting meeting at Methven last evening. Mr ,W. J. Dickie, A[.P., expressed the opinion that local camps at Clmstchurch and Dunedin would stimulate i recruiting. (Applause). When a manregistered for service ho should be sentinto.;'canip and not turned out on t-o the road again. He considered tkai the' time had .conic when service should bo' made compulsory, especially when one ; looked round and saw in some cases I whole families having, enlisted, and -.incases of-other families not ; a single member.enlisting. The voluntary system was an excellent one,: but the time j had come when the Government should j bring in compulsion. (Hear, hear). Tkey^ might say the Home Country:'had not instituted conscription, but. we in Now Zealand had not waited i'or;'the Home Country's load in other matters.

I It is not often that police etai4an%; | ai'o mistaken' for anything but what | they arc (says an exchange-), but tho | | liew police barracks at Hamilton, which i | aiv. somewhat pretentious in appear- j i rmeo, • were entered by a Swede named j j Hondrich 'Larson, who, ■ apparently:-! under tho impression that, tho building | Iwwar« r the most modern of hotels, asked for a whisky and soda. He loft somewhat disconsolately when informed that tho law forbade; the sale of intoxicants on unlicensed^ premisos. The same evening, apparently still bearing a hazy impression that tho. building was an accommodation house,; Larsen made his.! wa,y.to one of the cells, where, spreadl' ing-.out the police blankets, ho proceeded to retire for tho night. The bolt was drawn on him, and next morning when tho settling, came up, ho iomid the taufl (10s and costs) .1 JitiK* lughoi than he w 'i^ accustomed to pu,> lot the luxun ol t shake/lown Vn amusing stoi\ is going tho loumk 01 London pohn» cucles A w<*l3----j 1 noun uadf-imn on being enrolled a> i --jxciil const i))l( found hims< It un-I !(i (ho supei\i 1m ol an invpcttoi with whom ho happi iv 1 to he on vi\ up | tuondk touii> 1 lie l.iuei, tlnnl w,x,\ j id pu ofl old moip->, put tho new Iniul on night rhitA iz.u irdmg some \on I loneh iind dil ip'd nod piemiscs nov I iim (I tol siriniir »i]itn\ eqivpTnmt iik] i. u'\ ono nioi n n<i pud him a sin pi im -\ i-.it Hoping tn < ,ix< h bun i^ap I >l71<j: tlu in pc( ioi tautiou^K ap prom-lied a hole in thn fence, but tho ' special proved to br> very mucli awake, for immediately his .superior's'head apnenrod throii'zli 'the opening ho caught him suc-.h a blnw on tho jaw that ho Imd to b<» (Uirried back to the station. The special's excuse, of course, was •ilisi't 'ho had i.nkiMi his visitor for a tln'of, but tin's did not prevent him 'recoiling a stern official reminder of thn danger .of jumping .to conclusions..