LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 9212, 5 February 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The criminal sessions which open today at Timaru and on Monday next at Christchurch will be taken by Mr Justice Chapman.

A Press Association telegram states that it is reported that the outbreak .of measles at Trentham appears to be in hand. The only additional cases reported are among contacts. The .Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth are the drafts involved.

Masterton is like Dannevirke. A visitor-who wished to open in business there was so disappointed in his search for a. house that he at once ceased negotiations which were in progress, anil left for fresh fields (states' the "Age"). In: Dannevirke the demand for accommodation, is growing daily and the housing problem is becoming very acute.

A rumour is current (says the Timaru "Herald") that a case is pending about alleged misrepresentation on the part of a soft-goods traveller in South Canterbury. :A good deal of interest is being taken in the matter, and the 1 amounts involved are said to roach a considerable sum.

Jfapier'is how trying- a footpath experiment ;which promises to. be'- an entiro success. Instead of tar and sand, concrete' stabs are being made in situ, and rapid progress can be made with, the work, the paths being ready in from two to three days after being laid. Concrete mixers aro used, which facilitates the operation, and the slabs can be coloured whichever shade is desired.

Among those in the First Division who failed bo pass the medical test was a well-known sawyer and chopper, who has won big events in Southland and also distinguished himself as^ a Cumberland wrestler. Another is NewZealand's professional mile champion, a resident of Southland, who has shown himself capable of breaking 4.30 for the distance.

A chemist carrying on business in the Otago police district is to be prosecuted under the Social Hygiene Act of last session, which provides that any person other than a registered medical practitioner who undertakes for payment or reward the treatment or cure of any social disease, commits an offence. This will be the first prosecution under the Act in the Dominion.

Charles Timmins, Beresford Road, Gillingham (England), who would have been 15 in December last, went into action with his eliip in a recent tussle, and as bugler sounded the alarm. The Admiral has written to his mother: " This was his last act, and he seemed to be enjoying himself. We buried him at sea at night on Sunday, and sang, 'On the Resurrection Morning.' In a few; days I hope "to send you his bugle." Ti.mmins's : father was also, a Royal Marine, and went down with the Hogue.

Sir Alfred Keogh, Surgeon-General of the British Army, in a recent interview revealed the close co-operation between the American and British medical services, and stated that ho had given and is still giving the medical men of the U.S. Army the benefit of the English experience in keeping healthy its enormous army. The first essential for an efficient army; is that it be well fed; the second that it be ikept free from epidemics; and the third that great care shall be exorcised as regards rural sanitation.

In the Rakaia district there is one highly respected resident who has lost one son at the front, and another son is a prisoner of war in Germany. Lately the father had a large area of dead-ripe wheat, labour was scarce, and on account of advancing years he was not able to do much himself. He is an early riser, but nevertheless other people evidently got up before him, for on coming out one recent morning to make a start, he found several imnchines of neighbours already at work on his crop.

"There is no doubt that the status of women in China has improved greatly of late years," said Dr G. E. Morrison ,of China, in an address to a

Ka*f4|ering of Wellington journalists. There had been a movement in China, organised by an English woma named Mrs Little, against foot-binding, one of. the most pernicious customs ever forced upon a people. They would bo told that foot-binding had been abolished, but that was not the case. A very - considerable improvement had been effected, but in some of the provinces the evil continued. Toot-bind-ing was a form of servitude which had proved a great evil ;its abolition would mean that the women would be allowed to pursue their occupations and enjoy the freedom to which they were entitled.

" The property market in Wellington has not been so good for ten years as it is at present," said a well-known house and estate agent to a " Dominion " reporter on Friday. He went on to say that during the past year business-.was excellent from the agent's point- of view, which means lively buying and selling, and that the sales during January far exceeded those for January of twelve months ago. Values had never receded ono jot. since the outbreak of war, and instead "of easing, as was thought likely, they were higher now than ever^ and the demand was still unabated, ".without any exaggeration," said theagent,; "I can say that the difficulty. is not to find buyers, but to secure the; properties for them. - I don't say 'that .{extends to business premises .in the i city, but it certainly, does to residential sites almost anywhere, and small farms in the district."

Akaroa, where sea-bathing by electric light, motor trips,on ita beautiful harbour, bring rest and happiness to tired humanity. Two and a-half hours' motoring from Christchurch. 0

Petrol Economy and the Saxon Runabout.—Petrol economises are in such demand at the present time that the. performance put. up by the Saxon Roadster belonging to Dexter anil CVoaior, of Chri.stehureh, last Saturday, will be of considerable interest to afl motorists. The ear was a Standard Model taken from .stock, and not fitted with, any special gadget to assist it in its record-breaking performance. The Saxon covered the 172 miles to Hannier and back on 3 gallons 5J- pints. Messrs Dexter and Crozier have appointed C!. H. Carson to iwl as agent for Saxon Cars .for Ashburton territory. A few of these line cars are available for early delivery. • Full particulars und trial spin may bo arranged for with Mr Carson, T:iacred Street, next Picture Theatre-. ' 24

,-- A case of scarlet fever, within the ■Borough, was reported to the Hospital authorities to-day.

In the roport published yesterday in the "Guardian" in connection with the Hospital Board's by-laws, Mr C. W. Purnell was inadvertently referred to as Mr Pinwell.

In her 102 nd year, Mrs Maria Sawkins, an Irishwoman, who was buried at Deal last November, cut two new teeth. She smoked a pipe, and for the past two years us<sd over 2oz of tobacco every week. The old lady would have been'lo2 this month.

Members of the Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade were called out at 11.15 this morning to extinguish a fire in a small shed at the rear of Mr Sutherland's resident in Peter Street. The fire spread from the shed to a Imacrocarpa hedge, but was. easily extinguished by the aid of the chemical plant.

A Lismore farmer informed a "Guardian" representative to-day that the majority of the wheat and oat crops in his district will return satisfactory yields this year. Harvest operations were well under way, and there had been no,difficulty in obtainimg< sufficient men for this work. Turnip crops were showing <~ exceptional grOWtll... ■:■.■;'., «■'; "{■'■' ■ "''' "'\ y ;-v ••-..

. At last night's of the Sumner Borough Council the Mayor stated that members of local bodies were very frequently subjected- to much adverse criticism, but it was seldom that they got any praise. This week, however, something quite unusual had happened: a letter had been received expressing appreciation of the councillors' efforts in the interests of the borough, and the writer enclosed a cheque for £20 towards the general funds as a mark of his appreciation. The letter and cheque were received with thanks.

Some splendid crops of turnips are to be seen on Inchclutha at the present time. '' Everywhere a remarkable growth of grass and all root crops is noticeable, and it is plainly evident that the disastrous floods of May have not marred the- success of the year's farming operations. A Balclutha gentleman just returned from a tour of Inchclutha stated that he found blight very prevalent in the potato crops (says the " Free Press "). Potato blight, it is understood, has also made its appearance in Balclutha.

The English farmers have been greatly helped by the tractors of the Food Production Department of the Board of Agriculture. Prejudices against their use are being gradually overcome. In Lincolnshire the matter lias been settled by a public trial. A farmer made a bet of £10 that he would plough with ihorses more quickly and more cheaply than the work could be done with tractors. He was beaten, and, like a sportsman, he paid up, the money being applied by the winner to local war charities.

A non-commissioned officer entering .1 barrack-gate in Dublin ".was' mistaken by a raw 'sentry, who'immediately saluted him. The non-commissioned officer, unaware that his colonel was just behind him, returned the salute, a thing not permissible in the circumstances. Arrived at his quarters, he was surprised to find an order for him to attend before the colonel. On presenting; himself he was asked how he came to return the salute, knowing full well he was not entitled to it. Not in the least embarrassed, he promptly answered: " Sir, I always return everything lam not entitled to." The colonel, taken aback by his ready wit, laughingly dismissed him.

In conversation yesterday with a Timaru "Herald" reporter, Mr JohnTalbot said he was afraid that he was too optimistic a fortnight ago in predicting an average yield of wheat this season. At the time the indications seemed to him to justify the prophecy, but since then the crops had gone off in a surprising and quite unaccountable way, and he did not now think that the yield would average more than 22 to 23 bushels per acre. The berries were small, and the sheaves did not handle at all well. ''The late oats too, were going to be disappointing, he was afraid. In many of the oat fields the heads had broken though the stems were still standing. He did not know the reason for this, but it was apparent that, the yield was not going nearly as good as was anticipated.

"''Coming Home" is a song with a beautiful sentiment for a returned soldier—and home for him is the; only tiling for which he has any sentiment lteft, says an Australian pape?*. Occasionally, though, there is a touch of irony in it, as a returned soldier has ■experienced; From-the time they left England, wireless kept them informed daily as to events of interest, "and as long as news came ,irom behind' the ship it was news of the war—something concerning the great tragedy they had left behind in France. But when they entered the " peace at any price zone, the character of the news suddenly changed. " Jimmy Clabby beat Mick O'Hara in 15 rounds"; "Greasy Heels won the Hawkesbury Guineas." Then' the war-weary. Australian know for certain that ho was V coming home."

• Some remarkably fine pearls have been obtained in the waters off the north-western coast of Western Australia, reports the Melbourne " Argus." There is now being exhibited by Messrs Newman and Sons, jewellers, of Elizabeth Street, a drop-shape pearl, obtained in those waters, which -is described as the finest pearl of drop formation yet brought to light in Australia. Apart from its exceptional size, which is about that of a sparrow's egg, this pearl exhibits a lustre and a hue- which make it""of truly rare value. What that value is in terms of money is not easy to ascertain here. It weighs 100 grains, and experts say that it is doubtful whether. a • pearl of less than half this weight,- which was recently sold in London for £14,000, is better in quality. " Star of the West " h tho name given to the gem which Ls now to be seen in Melbourne.

" Now is the chance for the local manufacturer of footwear," said Mr W. H. Murray before boot manufacturer delegates at Auckland a few days ago. " We are not going to be bothered so much by overseas boots," ho continued, " for in England to-day the labouring classes have awakened to the fact that wages must increase, and they have beou working for too little in the mst, but they are not likely to let them go down again." The chairman went on to say that the one weak place in the argument for local manufac+i'res lay with the public themselves. They did not go by word of mouth, and thiswas as far as their patriotism extended. They would always buy for elevenpence, if they could, what might cost them a shilling, and the steady rise in wages in other lands gave the local Wt and shoe makers a strong ekmeo to make good;