LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 9263, 8 April 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The rivor report issued to-day shows the Rakaia to be dirty, Rangitata clour, Opihi clear, and "Waitaki clear. The Cabinet has decided that AnV.ao Day (April 2-5) shall be observed in the same way as last year, namely, a holiday throughout New Zealand, with religious services in the churches. The Hon. W. I). S. Mac-Donald. Minister of Agriculture, will meet; representatives of the; Farmers' 'Union throughout Canterbury in Christehur:h tomorrow for the purpose of re-dis-cussing the price to be offei'cd for wheat next season.

The Dominion Meteorologist's forecast for to-day was as follows : —The indications are tfor southerly winds, strong to gale at times. Tho weather will prove squally, with heavy showers, and probably become colder. Barometer' rising.

Is beer luggage ? Our Rakaia correspondent reports that recently, at a country station, the stationmaster obs<irved a passenger with a parcel of two bottles of beer, and promptly demanded payment on the " excess.' 1' The" request was supported by departmental regulations, and the thirsty one was mulcted in the sum of Is 2d.

There appears to be a slump in booths on courses in Victoria, as the following paragraph shows:—The prices offered for the booths on the hill at Flcmongton (luring the currency of the V.R-.C. meeting were so unsatisfactory that no sales were effected at auction.., The booths were all "withdrawn, and subsequently isold privately to one 'Ihiyer.

When the Chairman of the Hospital Board meeting to-day wa-s in this midst of re-ad ing a large number of letters which had passed between Dr. H. dies son and tho local health inspector, a member suggested that it w;i.s wasting the time of -members listening' to the contents of the various documents. "Yes," remarked another,"To, say nothing of the waste of paper." ' : . ■"'■■.! .'/.. ;• „......■■: '..-,.■' i V

The Matron of the Ashburton Comity. Hospital acknowledges with thanks the following gifts:-I—Books and magazines i'rotri Mr G. H. Buchanan, also a cake for the soldiers, flowers, and a case of quinces and apples from^Mrs E. Grigg, Eiffqlton; a case of apples from Mr Evans, Ashburtorf Forks; flowers from Mrs |Lee, Alford Forest Road, and Mrs A/'Draytou, Allenton; old linen from Mrs] C. J. Norton, also fruit ,for sol- : dier4; a- rabbit from Mr E. Johnston; and illustrated papers from Mr Craig, Bank of New Zealand. " '

A London cable message to tho Australian papers states that Chung Ling Soo was accidentally shot during a i>erforniaiice at the Wood Green Empire Theatre, and died from his injuries. Chung Ling Soo appeared in New Zealand some years ago, and, in the ordinary course of events, ho would have been here again soon. He was a most remarkable man, a, conjurer of raro merit, and it is said, notwithstanding ■his successful posing as a Chinese juggler, was an astute Scot.

A man who is able to climb tho most mountainous country in Taranaki mustering sheep; who sleeps lHce a top, eats three or four big meals a dayy and is-fresh as paint for. his work <\rery morning, looks like a good type of man to send to the front. But a Medical Board tells him that he " lias a heart " and must stay at homo (says the Eltham " Argus"). In spite of his strenuous mountain-climbing, he never knew he had a heart before the Medical Board told liim so. """^

At the Hospital Board meeting today Mr T. ■Doherty asked what was the. position of Methven township in regard to sanitation now that the proposed Hospital Board's .by-laws- had been found to be ultra vires. He also stated that Methven had made preparations to carry out its new sanitary scheme. The chairman said no doubt the board would take into consideration tho drawing up of by-laws not so drastic as tho previous ones, which would serve the country townships, and ..these.'would be submitted, to the health,, authorities in duo course.- . ..

There is groat dissatisfaction among our boys at the front over the markedly preferential treatment given to.German*" prisoners, says a writer in the " Daily 1 'Sice teh" (England). Recently some prisoners wore halted neap -a wood a lew miles back from the front line. They were allowed to smoke, but our hoys were not. Here is another case lor which I can give chapter and verse. A British Tommy, as part of his job, took a sheep's carcase to a prisoners' camp. According to regulations, all food has to be " passed " by a sort of foreman —one of the prisoners,. and elected by them. This man, a German, rei'used to pass the meat, and declared it was unsound. And so our own boys had to eat it.

Mr E. N. Jolulson, Health Inspector, reported to the Hospital Board to-day that he had visited tho Hampstead Town Board's night-soil depot, . and found that'the night-soil, was being disposed of in a. very unsatisfactory manner from a public health point of viow. The trenches in use are four or rive feet wide and about 60 feet long. The cart i.s backed at one end, and the trqnch is filled from there, no attempt being made at covering until the- trench is full. When the inspector visited the locality a new .trench was being dug, the bid trench being full almost to tho ground surface level. The state of.. the depot constituted a grave danger to public health, especially as so many children■• frequented the river bed.—Mr Friedlander reported that the To#h Board was taking the necessary "steps.

The adjourned hearing of t!ie creditors' petition o£.,Bowron Brothers and T. . Kincaid, Ltd!, calling on Jumes MeCombs, M.P., to show cause why he should not be declared iirbankrupt was taken before Justice Stringer to-day at the Cbristehurch Supreme Court. Mr MeCombs did not appear, . but Mr Wright, for the petitioning creditors, said that the full amount of judgment, together with all costs, had been navel into: Court. They did not wish, therefore, :to proceed, and counsel asked permission, to withdraw the petition. He f added . that it was understood MeCombs had settled with all his creditors. His Honour said the petitioning creditors were entitled to accept payment if they chose, though they wore, not bound to do so. The petition would be withdrawn by leave i)l the Court. —Press Association.

A draft of Cl recruits IVotu Ashburton and district left for cumn by the express this afternoon. Prior to entraining, the men were entertained at lundi by Mr C. J. Harper iii the, Drillshed. After lunchoon, brief speeches appropriate to the, occasion were made by the Mayor. Mr R. Galbraith, who on-sided, and the Roy. H. N. Wright, followed by throe cheers for' Mr Harner, the singing of the National Anthem, and three cheers lor the King. The 15 departimi Cl recruits, who wero escorted to the railway station by members of the Bth (South Canterbury) Regimental and Salvation Army band's were:-—Q. E. Blee, M. F. Brown, ,T. T. Bull. L. G. Colville, (i. L. Copland, .1. Dowling. C. T. A. Tlight, R ,T !S Toble, B. V. Pearce. W. '.SteviMm F, ■1". Steele. F. 0. Turnbull, J. ' W Witliell, 1). ]■]. Willotts. and J. V.. Fat on. , '