LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8406, 23 March 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Fair-ton School has been closed on account of an .outbreak of measles in the district. . .:

The North Canterbury Education Board has fixed the annual meetings of householders, to olect school committees, for April 17.

Thdre a.re at present 104 inmates at the Tuaj'angi Old Men's Home. The largest number e^er in the Home a-t one time was 105.

In the Ashburton Court this morning, before Mr-W. H. Rundlc, J.P., a first offender for • drunkenness was convicted and; discharged.

" Pi--ic.es of "chemicals are going up to fabulous rates," writes a merchant to an Ash burton client. The client was enquiring about the price of; potash, which before the war was 8d: per lb. The price how is Is 6d per lb,

"There are-two clauses; in disputes in which unions arc always very interested," said the Conciliation Commissioner at the sitting of the Council this morning. "If they-can get a 40-hour week instead of 44, and a 25 per cent, increase in wages, they are' all right.*'

The total sum realised at the sale of the Beumore run subdivisions was £5720, being a gain of £2270. Robert Campbell and Sons held the unexpired lease of the Otago endowment portion at an annual, rental of £3000, so the .University gains £2250 a year (says the Dunedin *"Star">. ■

A Dunodin Press Association telegram states that tho Westport Coal Company has given notice to withdraw from the Coalmine Owners' Association, in consequence of being unable to agree to certain resolutions passed at a special meeting of tho Association held at Wellington on tho 17th inst.

At the meeting of tho North Cantoi'bury Education Board yesterday tho following appointments wore made: —Miss M. Claiko, assistant mistress, Highbank; Miss A. P. Smith, mistress, Carow. Tho following resig--nations were accepted:—Miss S. KeysWells, mistress, Xi Helton; Mr J. Gillanders, master, Mothven;' Miss M. Pointon, mistress, iliversido.

At the camp of the 2nd South Canterbury Regiment, now being held at Baling" the Church of England Men's Society 'have one of their regimental institutes in full swing. The largo marquee stands at one side of the camp ground and in it are provided full facilities for the Amusement and recreation of .the men.. Tables for reading and writing, together'with numerous games, go toward making tho C.E.M.S. tent a very popular institution.

A hale,,well-built applicant appeared on Monday (says the Palmerston North "Standard") to interview the recruiting committee. - He had quite obviously plied a safety razor, a cake of soap, and'»': clothes brush in support of.'his claim to serve his country. In reply to questions, he calmly acknowledged a wife and a number of children; health, excellent; ijige: "Well, I was born on, March 28. 1840, "arid am not yet quite 7,6." " What an example for bur single shirkersj !" comments the "Standard." . ! .

At the "Suprcmej Court at Nelson I •yesterday a case was concluded, before Mr Justice Denniston and a special jury in which Joseph Kaye claimed £1000 damages from the Westport Harbour Board for loss of a foot, as the result of an accident in the Taurango Bay tunnel at Cape Foul wind. The" jury.' awarded £750. Argument on a point raised by the defendant, that the Workers' Compensation Act limits the compensation payable to £500, will bo heard at Wellington next week. ' '' ■■■■ _ ■■' .■ ■ • '■ ■ - The following sales of stock Were made at the Addington yards yesterday on account of Ashburton County farmers : —Fat Sheep—Wethers: For T. Blackley "(Rakaia), 56 ,at 24s lOd to 26s 7d; S. Robinson (Methven), 64 at 20s 6d to 22s 9d; D. McMillan (Done),. 58 at 22s 2d to 22s 3d.' Ewes: For J. W. Drummond (Lauriston), 24 at 21s 3d to 24s 6d; A. Drummond (Lauriston). 16 at 23s lid; H. Reesby (Lyndhurat), 3.1 at 17s 6d to 20s; 6d; T. Blackley (Rakaia). .11 a.t 23s 3d; W. x Loehhead. (Buccleuch). 53 at 18s 3d to 18s lid; E.Sliir%;(Lauriston). 115 at 17s to I,Bs'Bd; W; Breading (fiakaia), 40 ab 155.! Fat'Lambs—For J! W. Drummond '(Lauriston).- 22 at 20s 4d to 22s 6d; W. F. Magson (Rakaia), 48' at' 10s 9d to 22s Id; G. Butler (Kyle), 40 at 17s Id to 21s; J. C. Lochhead (Rakaia). 140 at 17s 9d to 21s 7d; W. Breadins (Rakaia), 112 at ISs to 20s: E. IT. Shirley (Lauriston), 19 at 18s 3d to 18s 7d. '

" Our men are an everlasting source of interesting study to me," ; writes an officer, of the Ist Battalion New Zealand Rifle Brigade to -his father in Wellington. " Some of them;are'weak. You will see the whole column marching along dog-tired, dirty, hungry, and thirsty, with nothing to look forward to except a fold night on bivouac, with very little water, and yet not a man falls' out. Perhaps two hours later an ambHlance . waggon comes ,alohg. ' One man 'will fall out, immediately another 10 will fall out; and the funny part of it is that yon know, without looking the soiL ot men who have fallen out,. It is will-power and pride—pride above all tilings—that keeps men going. Take, [or instance, ; he is a chap with poor physique, :mcl yet ho did not fall out once, and, nhat is more, volunteered to come with me on January 1. It _ was pride and will-power kept him going. Of course, nobody who has not been through it can realise what a strain it is. One also notices the selfishness of some men. They will drink what is in their water bottles and then calmly borrow from their comrades who have saved theirs; and the chap who has saved his is the sort of chap who will give the other blightelr part of his., Still the majority of the men are great. They are cheerful, and laugh at their hardships."

■ An interesting tribute to the upkeep of the Ford is contained in a letter received some time since by Mr Carson: "Yo\i will be pleased to hear that my recent run to Mount Cook and back was somewhat of a record, the average petrol consumption being 1 gallon, for every 35 miles. This is not guess work >buV. an. accurate measurement by myself. T Irave now hod four different .makes of ■ cars, and for use over rough roads, etc.. I know of no car to equal the Ford, both for readability and economy of running." C4l

.Another .case of diphtheria, lias boon reported in the Ashburton Borough.

The Ashburton and Rangitata rivers were reported to bo dirty to-day; the Rakaia was clear.

The .Maori, has resumed running in the ferry service. She left Wellington for" Lyttelton at 7.5-3 last; night.

A JTairiiold bvitL'hor Informed s a " Guardian " reporter )usz evening that the butchers at the Kauiield Worlds are now uoikiug lull time.

'L'he'Lender oi Air W. K. Olson (£630) has been accepted lor the erection oi' a new church on the corner of Cass and Wills streets lor the Church of Christ. The new building will be completed by the end of July.

On Tuesday evening tiio inmates oi* the Tuaranjn Home were treated to a most onjova-blo concert given by the Rev. W. C. and Mr* Uloiv and Mr Robi. Wan.-. Owing 10 the \ery wet night, tuber members o: the concert party did m;l at, Lend, but nevertheless the concert was very bright and greatly appreciated.

A letter friim the Cbristchurch City Council was received at tho meeting ol' the Norili Canterbury Education Board yesterday, suggesting that school teachers should instruct children what to do in|',order to minimise tho dangers of motor traffic. The board docidod ro give the information supplied to. ceachers of city,and suburban schools. ■:

One of the recent recruits to enlist at Dannevirke is a married man with 12 children alive (one of them married to a returned trooper), while eight other children born to him have passed away. When asked by the enrolling officer whether his wife was willing that he should go he replied in the affirmative." and had his better half in attendance to .substantiate his statement.

xVt tlio meeting of the Hampstead Town Board la^st evening, the sub-com-mittees were ,re-arranged as follows: — Water: Commissioners W. H. llobin-^ son, W. Thompson, and AY. J. Cunningham : reserve*: Commivssioners H. A. LlVryd". W. J. Cunningham, and P. Baker;'lighting,: Commissioners W. H. Kobinhon, H. A. Lloyd, and W. Kerr; sanitary: Coimni^ioners t W. Thompwjn. P. Baker, and H. A. Lloyd. Accounts araounting to £40 los^ 2d wore pas>rU for payment.

At tho mejTting of tho County War Relief Kund Committee last evening ,tho Mayorl (Mr Galbridth') said he had been approac-imc] by a soldier who stated Urn soldiers' were charged full faro on thf railways when_ on special leave. Mr' t\ I'Vrrimau said that ono soldier had told him that racehorses were carried froo ono way on tho railway whilo soldiers were charged full fare.* On tin.- motion of the Mayor, it was deeidfc\d that the Minister for Defenco Ik* iuskorl' fo provido free railway passes for soldiers when on special leave- from a training camp.

When -discussing tlio case of a woman whose hubbund had gone to. the war, at the mooting .of the Ashburton County War Relief Fund-Committee last evening, the 'question of administration of funds was mentioned. Mr T. Hayes avid the money was collected for a definite purpose, and that if the committee went on as it was at present the funci^ would accumulate and. the object for which the money was raised would bo defeated., He felt that the Ashburton Committee should work along the same lines as were adopted in Christchurch. Mr- C. W. Nicoll said that although Christchurch had a scale set down, each case was considered on its merits. He thought this the fairest way. When the accounts for payment were read out, Mr Hayes mentioned that more money had gone out in ordinary expenditure than in assisting wounded soldiers or soldiers' dependents. The Mayor pointed out thai ihis wns only to bo expected at this stage. The- matter was then dropped.