LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9126, 23 October 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Ashburion bowleib who visited Timaru to-day played an eight-rink game with the Timani Club, and won by 20 points. „,■■

Owing to the high price ruling ior iron, the Masterton liorough Council has decided temporarily to suspend, the by-law prohibiting the erection of buildings in the borough with shingle roofs. . v->

What must be a: record lambing iB the increase in the flock of rMr James Milne;-of Rakahouka, this season (states the Southland "JN"ew.s"). There were 1000 oweß, and the result of the counting showed 133 per cent, of lambs.

Various district branches of the Farmers' Union, including Knapdale and Wendonside, have passed resolutions favouring a return to the former system of disposing of sheepskins (says the Mataura "Ensign"). There appears to be a consensus of opinion that poisoning is the best method of, dealing with the, rabbit pest and a -general agreement that one competent man should be left on one farm.

A Reuter message of September 15 to the South African papers states that Mr Churchill, Minister of Munitions, has ordered the building of-1000 houses at Barrow. This drastic step has been brought about by revelations of the scandalous conditions •■ of overcrowding which have prevailed at this munitions centre i'oi" some time. 1 There have been cases where births and deaths have occurred in a common family room, and in one instance a family actually ate meals from a table on which lay a corpse.

: The first of a series of Intercessory and Gospel services was held in the: Church of . .Christ, Wills Street, , last; • night. Considering that yesterday was a holiday, there was a splendid attendance, and great onthusiasm- was shown in supplication for a deepening of the spiritual thought and life, and for deliverance from this terrible war. Mr Innes introduce*! Evangelist; Long to the audience, arid speaker arid hearers ,were soon at home with,one another. He spoke on the " Love of God," the proclamation of that love by His apostles, and living the life of love here and now, as lights shining amidst the darkness and glooita of the present age. The services will be continued every evening.

It has long been recognised that when Bordeaux mixture was prepared it would not retain its fuugicidal properties many hours, and consequently when any spray was left over it was invariably thrown away. Chemists have been experimenting for some years to try to find'a way to prevent this waste. In a recent interview, Mr J. Grant, of the Agricultural Department, stated that the simplest way to overcome the difficulty was to add a small quantity of sugar to the spray it was desired to keep for a. week or two. The amount of sugar recommended was, about one gram to one quart, or just, under halt a pound to 50 gallons. -The saving of the spray was more imjjQi'tant now than it had ever been, owing; :tb the increased price of copper sulphate.'

The money market is tight (says the Auckland ••.'Herald"),- and this condition will, it is stated, . continue, for some time to com©.: Owing-vtp heavy demanda; in/connection' with., the recent, war; loan, and the financing of produce which: is detained in the Dominion be^ cause .-of shipping difficulties, the banks are conserving their finances for. these" purposes, and also lor legitimate business requirements. Advances are not being made by the banks for the purchase of land, the erection of buildings, for investment or speculation. Some of the principal, lending "ihstitu--.tions...-; outside the banks are now charging 6|, per cent, for loans on first mortgage, an advance of £ per cent, on the, recent rate. It is very evident that the present tightness of money will, continue, owing to the demands the Government must make in connect tion. with further war loans. This being so, ther-e. is every necessity for the exercise of caution and economy.

Gertnan atrocities in war are caused by the German diet of pork and beer, according to the United States -Medical men at the annual convention of the New Jersey Osteopathie. Association; It was . held that science v has proved that; fopd not only, keeps .the body ;aiive;buV'Affecta^tiiu- : 'min'4t :.'.It;:KaB also been proved, that the •. mental characteristics of human, or animal food produce cellular change, and that human beingg. have absorbed with .that -food the characteristics of. the animal consumed. Germans have always been partial to pigs' knuckles and sausages. Their soldiers eat sausages daily. Dr. Karl H'elfferieh declares that Germany is the largest consumer of beer and swine in tho world. Alcohol is known to undermine the moral fibre. Its effect mentally, tends to produce a bully. Germany is the largest consumer of this liquid,' and has shown in her- conduct its effect.

The Ashburton..ltiver was reported to be clear to-day, the Rakaia was dirty, and the Rangitata in flood.

Cabinet decided yesterday to grant Dr. Truby King 12 months' .leave of absence from Seacliff Mental Hospital, without pay, in order to permit him to go Home to take up the post offered him at the Maryborough. School of Motherhood.

The annual run for owners of Ford motor-cars was Ueld yesterday. Six cars, carrying 30 people, made the trip to the Ellesmere Domain. The party visited the mouth of the Selwyn River and the fishermen's .'huts. The outing proved to be most enjoyable.

The Public Petitions Committoe reported to the House of Representatives yesterday on the petition of E. A. Wilson and 53 others of Waikeki, praying for the conscription or internment of all alien onomy labour. The Committee was of opinion that the petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration.

The gardens in the Ashburton Domain are at present looking in very good condition. Some' of the flowerbeds are coming out in full blossom, and they present a very pretty sight. The'lawns are, also in beautiful order, and much credit is due to the curator (Mr Clayton) and his staff for the good results of their labour.

At the Tinwald Yards to-day there was a yarding of 5911 store sheep and 364 fats/, an unusually large number for this season of the year. • Last Tuesr day, at the Ashburton Yards, oply 3566 sheep 'were penned. There was a decided decline in the price of stores today, and more 1 than half the yarding ■was passed.

At the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., Mabel -Loach was charged that^ on April 2, at Tinwald, Bhe did fail to stamp a receipt for the sum of £2. She was further charged with committing a similar offence on JV.ugust 31. Defendant, who waa represented by Mr Buchanan,; pleaded guilty, and was fined 20s on the first charge and ordered to' pay costs "on the second.

During September, 48' persona arrived in the Dominion from the United Kingdom—all women and children. There were ho departures. Three hundred and sixty-six persons arrived from Australia, of whom 225 were men; 220 left for that country. One hundred and thirty-four jjassenr gers' left "for Canada, and 85 arrived from that Dominion. The number of immigrants exceeded the emigrants by 199

Not for a great many- years has the whole country looked so well in October as it does to-day (says the Alexandra "Herald"); Turn where one will the promise of'a good return for agriculturists is particularly bright. This is due to the recurrence of mcerer; freshing showers at intervals, Tiie growth ,pf grass-in the early spring was slow, but of late it has .been lux-' uriant, and feed is abundant and good: . ... / „.*:'

The speed with which • casualties on the Western front'! are dealt with is shown in the British Medical Journal. On June. 7, the day ;,,the Messines Ridge was 1 earned, ambulance ; trains were entering Charing Qross at 2.15 in the afternoon.' The action'began at daybreak, and people in London returning from luncheon saw the casualties from the battle, On Easter Monday Viiny Ridge was attacked at 0.30 in the morning. Within an hour the wounded ;were coming down. -Shortly after noon the battle was over, and by 4 o'clock the field 'was clear. In one case the feat was performed by the R.A.M.C. and in the other by lEhe Canadian A.C.A. !

The muchrdiacussed question of the shooting of native game out of season by Maoris or half-castes came before the Auckland Acclimatisation Society at its last meeting, when a letter was received from the Under for Internal Affairs stating that the Crown Law officers confirmed the statement contained in the Minister's letter of July 13 last, that the provisions of the Animals Protection Act are general in their terms, and apply to all persons whatsoever; consequently if a Maori or half-caste shoots native pigeons during the close season for native game he commits an offence. Ex-Police Commissioner J. Cullen, 1.5.0., honorary warden of the National Park, who was present at--the meeting, said a case of alleged pigeon shooting out of season against some Maoris and a European would\be'heard at Taumarunui. It Was decided to forward a certified copy of .the letter to.- the police at Taumarunui.

A London correspondent writes that the Master of Balloil, Oxford, has put forth a number of practical proposals for the education of masters. Thus, he says, he would send out parties of working-class students to the Dominions, and from the Dominions ' to the Home Country, freely and - regti' larly, as a recognised branch of education ; stir ,up local education authorities to this work, and many otrher forms of education in the duties of the Empire; establish a system of exchange of professors with the Dominions, and especially . exchange of teachers in working-class centres and tutorial clas&es; make -ample provision of books by the best writers, cheap and up-to-date; deal frankly and boldly with the demands, of India before working-class audiences; let the universities make the Empire a leading featuro in extension lectures and tutorial classes;, above all, enlist many voluntary helpers in educational work —helpers who must .not be too academiu, but must be prepared to learn as well aa to teach.,,

: Akaroa, where every, • prospect pleases.-—The Ideal Holiday, its Beau-, tiful Harbour, Boating, Fishing, and Sea Bathing.—Cars from Broadways daily, and Little River train. 00