LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9633, 13 June 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A special article by "Gracchus" on " Falling Prices" appears on page 2 of this issue.

A case of influenza was notified to the Hospital Board yesterday; and the patient was removed to the hospital.

A Napier telegram states that at a meeting of householders held last night it was decided^to form a Consumers' Association, to 'protect their interests,' andv?a resolution was passed calling on the Government to take steps to reduce the cos,t ; of. living. '

General Sir Owen Thomas, M.P.., speaking at Carnarvon, said that while he was raising the Welsh Army Corps, householder, upon whom soldiers lu>d-,been billeted, canW to him with _ a complaint that one of the men had disappeared, "and with him a gramophone. "He fsVgone with my gramophone,'' complained the man. "It was an attraction in.,,my house, which I let in summer! '•■*• The General inquired.if anything else had disappeared. "Yes, my wife," replied the man, "but that gramophone cost me £11." '' ■'"'.

Th£ London " Times " correspondent in Paris states.) that the Paris spring fashions made their first appearance at Longchamp's on Sunday, when the smart world •of the gayest city aired its loveliest and newest frocks and hats. The prevailing modes expressed themselves in skirts that were almost entirely fringe from the hips to the ankle, worn over the revived sheath hips of bqth>«Uk and satin. Dual tones were ranch,in vogue, and the fitting complement to these exclusive modes was the ly>t. of sheer tulle, and also immense Vints fully feathered, and as, a smart alternative, the untrimmed shape of wide, brim 'and shady leaf.

The special train for tho Ashburton Trotting, Club's meeting yesterday was or.c of the largest that has left Chrisfcchnrch for a long time, and it was packed to its full'capacity, many of the passengers boarding the train without tickets. So large was the crowd, in fact, that the railway authorities found it advisable to put on two trains for the return journey. The first, which left the racecourse siding at 5 o'clock, carried passengers for Christchuroh only, made a non-stop run, reaching the ri*y about 6.30 p.m. The second train left Ashburton at 5 o'clock, and, after stopping at stations on the way, reached Christchiirch at 7.20 p.m., so that all the club's northern patrons were home in excellent time. / .

" It would certainly be absurd If, on a recurrence of the epidemic, a tern-_ porary hospital had again to be equipped, as was 60 often the case, with stock at the highest retail price, n runs a passage in the latest issue of the "Public Health Journal." " Fortunately, the Department took an early stand in this matter, and the shopkeepers themselves, generally speaking, showed a most patriotic spirit, with-the result that accounts for bedding, etc., carried discounts, in many cases as high as 20 per cent." In'another passage it is remarked that there should in the case of any future epidemic be no such instance as came under the notice of the Department, of chemists sending in accounts amounting sometimes to hundreds of pounds for stock medicines ivt 30s per gallon, the ingredients of which according to the wholesale prica list cost only 5s Id.

Mr J. P. Smith, of Napier, a veteran bowler and greensman, addressed delegates attending the annual meeting of the Wellington Bowling Club on the method of levelling bowling greens. He stated that four corner sighting pegs were all that were required for surveying, the levelling being carried out by a seventeen-foot spreader working on runners. He did not consider that top-dressing was necessary ' after a green had once been properly levelled, though the soil should be scarified to nurse the grass through. In the winter a layer of half an inch of soil laid in a depression might kill the grass, but in the spring, when there was a strong growth, deeper depressions could safely be filled in by successive layers of filling without danger of killing off the grass. Very few New Zealand greens were \ level, and proper apparatus was essential for the making of a first-class green.

Shearing for Mr R. E., Tqtman, of Omatane, North Island (Main Trunk country), W. Vella, of Matamau, Hawke's Bay, a New Zealander of Dalmatian parentage, established another world's record (says' the Manawatu " Daily Times"). Last season he put up a world's record by shearing 339 Roinney-Lincolns in the nine hours. This year he shore 347 in nine hours, and then he lost 1U minutes in the afternoon. The sheep were ordinary Rom-. neys, and woiild average about 101b of wool a sheep. At- the same time two of Vella's mates put up 303 and 304, J. Hullena, a Bohemian, having the formeij score, and J. Queenan the latter. Six of tlie men on the day Vella broke the record put through 1687 sheep, and on the following day their tally was 1705. For many years the world's record was held by a. Maori shearer, Raihauen. About i 3 years ago he put through 332 Romneys in the day. This record remained till Vella's performance last year.

The Council of the Canterbury Automobile Association met at Christchurch last night, Mr J. S. Hawkes, the- president, occupying the chair. Mr D. RuSvSell (Ashburtcn branch) forwarded correspondence between him and the Wakanui Road Board regarding a dangerous culvert at McConachie's corner. The clerk of the board stated that he could not take action in the matter. It was decided to re-open the matter with the board, drawing attention to the fact that a, fatal accident had occurred down south owing to a similar culvert. It was further decided to ask the Ashburton branch to communicate with the Ashburton County Council relative to a dangerous culvert just §outh of Hinds. The Hon. W. 'H. Semes, Minister of Railways, wrote stating that the association's representations with regard to a reduction of the time limit for vehicles waiting for the- trains at Rakaia Bridge would be considered.

Eight. degrees; of', frost wag recorded at the Domain weather station last night.

Two matches in the Schools' Rugby competition were played yesterday afternoon, High School B team* winning from Borough School C by 38 points to nil at the Domain, and on the High School ground High School A defeated Hampsfcead A by 17 to nil.

The Dominion Meteorologist's forecast to-day was as follows:—The indications are for., variable and .moderate breezes, but 'westerly moderate to strong prevailing., There is a prospect of fair to cjoudy weather. The night will, probably be very cold, with frosts inland. Barometer falling "shortly.

At the present time the demand for labour in the County is not very brisk, except for men for gorse-'vork, which has accumulated on many f.irms during the past few years. There appears to be a difficulty at present to get men to undertake this class of work by contract, the majority of the men preferring the .^/eekly wage. ;.■■■■■■

An Order-in-Council * declares '.that tractors, driven .by gas, oil, or electricity, suited for use in stores or warehouses, or upon /wharves or pavements, or for similar use, shall be charged with, the duty chargeable on motor/vehicles for road traffic, not otherwise enumerated, including' motor-cars and motor carriages. ';

A member of a local auctioneering firm remarked; to a " Guardian " representative this morning that the rabbit- ■ poisoning was getting beyond the limit. In driving a mob of sheep from Mayfield to Valetta the other day, lie said, four or five had died,, and "the only explanation that seemed, to offer wa= that they had swallowed rabbit-poison-ing. "So you see it is as' rough on sheep as on rabbits apparently," ho concluded.

: The* -Ashburton Catholic Club reopened on. Wednesday evening after being closed for. a considerable time on ;account of the war, in which six past members lost their lives. Mr R. J. Nealon, president, occupied" the chair, nnd there was a good attendance, including returned Roldiers. Several new members were pronosed for membership. The programme /for the evening was " An editor's box," when oeveraf topical questions were discussed and an enjoyable evening spent.