LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9657, 14 July 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Three points of rain was recorded At the Domain weather station last night. The maximum thermometer reading yesterday was 65 degrees, and the minimum 48.

The accessible coalfields of Spitsbergen are estimated to have a content of at least 4,000,000,000 tons of good steam coal, and this region is destined to become one of the chief coal-pro-ducing countries of Europe.

Out of this year's wheat crop the United States, with 110,000,000 people, will consume about 650,000,000 bushels, including 75,000,000 bushels for seed, leaving an estimated surplus of about 450,000,000 bushels for export.

The' Dominion Meteorologist's fore r cast for to-day was as . follows:—The indications are for westerly winds, and backing by west to south after about 24, to 36 hours. The weather will probably prove squally and changeable. Weather clouding over; rain later. Barometer falling, but rising after about 24 hours; then the weather will probably become very cold.

The Minister of Public Health states that a scheme is to be inaugurated under which advice sis to outbreaks of infectious diseases will-,be received by cable from all parts of tho. Empire: Certain information is already being received, South Africa, for instance, haying advised that during the week ended July 5 there were 5706 cases of influenza within her borders, and during the same period 196 deaths.

At the Hospital Board meeting to-. day, ty.. was reported that the Health Department had now paid -a, number of epidemic accounts. -The, Board .decided 1 to write to the 'Department pointing-out that it considered it was only fair t/hat the local doctors should al'ao be paid for their sej-vices during 'the epidemic. ' ' ' ■'■.; '

Preaching .at.St. Stephen's Church, yesterday morning, the Rev. H. N. Wright; referring- to the leading^article in Tuesday's "Guardian," - on "*" "Nation's Religion," said that, the editor instead of attributing the small attendances at church to the people's desiro to play golf, build fowlhouses, or go to picnics, laid the blame at the parson's door. He (the speaker) said that he always had the idea that parsons were made a sort of Aunt Sally, but he never, thought the small attendance at church could be laid at the parson's door. He would like the critic to take the parson's place.

The Star of Ashburton Loyal Orange Lodge, No. 23, members held their' annual. church parade yesterday, thewv being a largo muster of brethren. The procession, headed by the Eighth (South .Cantei^bury) Regimental Band, marched from the Orange Hall to the Theatre Royal, where Divine service, was held. -The sisters of. Lodge No. 14 were also" in attendance. The preacher was Pastor C. S. Matthews,' who de-; Hvered. an appropriate address, pointing out the freedom of religion that ; had accrued as the result of the Reformation. He advised >3iis congrega-' tion to make full use of' and appreciate > that freedom for which their forefathers had • fought so strenuouslyr The qualincatiqnif were read by Brp. G. W. Leddleyr!' The Baring Street' Methodist ,in attendance, and, under the ''-'direction of Mr H. Humphreys, rendered an anthem diir- ; ing the taking *of the collection. At' the termination of the. service the procession returned, via East Street, to the Orange Hall.

Two New Zealand histories •of the war are to be published, one of a popular character and the other an official record. The popular history will 'comprise four volumes, dealing with' (1) Gallipoli: (2) Palestine and Egyptian campaigns; (3) tho New Zealand Division in France and Flanders; (4) the raising and .training of the force' and the reinforcements in New Zealand, the hospitals in England, and all -the work of the Command in the United Kingdom; the finance of the war; and last of all New Zealand's part in the peace negotiations. There are to be 17 chapters in this last volume, every chapter dealing with a particular phase of the war activity and work of New Zealand. The official history will be for record with the Defence authorities, and with the Imperial authorities. As affecting the fighting it will deal with strategy and tactics, and it will also detail the measures, taken by the Government to meet the exigencies of war, possibly with an account of the success or failure of expedients tried. .-■•,;/•;

At a recent meeting of the; Waimakariri River Board reference was made to the early history of, waterraces in the Selwyn and Ashburton counties. Mr A*. Freeman stated: "As the result of the opposition in the then Selwyn County, nearly all the race's'were made on the roads, while in the Ashburton County the races were not seen except when they crossed roads. The explanation of this last-named feature was that the races in the Ashburton County were made after those in the Selwyn Coujity, and the Ashburton County benefited by its experience." In discussing this matter with a " Guardian " reporter to-day. Mr C. Morrison, County Council Engineer, stated that in 1880 the first of the County \yater supply from Pudding Hill was completed, and the race known as the test channel, extending from Methven to Dundas, a distance of 35 miles, was opened. The water took 48 hours to travel that distance. The race was constructed entirely, or mostly so, on private property, the roadlines being avoided. Mr Morrison was present at the turning on of the water from Pudding Hill, and also witnessed the first flow of water through the race to Dundas. To tho best of his knowledge, the race was constructed previous to any in -tho Selwyn County. The council had avoided as far as possible the construction of races on roadlines.