LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XL, Issue 9210, 22 January 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

■' «*» ■ ■ ■ AH Canterbury rivers were reported clear to-day.

The Canterbury Aviation Company's flvng display at AsWnirton, arranged for February 10 and 1.1, will almost certainly be postponed to the corresponding- clays a week later.

In a recent issue of "Punch" there is a picture entitled "The New Poor." It shows a Bishop, obviously leaving a country vicarage after, a ' Visitation." The vicar walks beside his .Diocesan, shabby and worried. Are there anypoor- "families in your- parish, Mr Jones?" the Bishop inquires. "Only mv own, mv lord," is the answer.

TJhe war brought one boon to Germany—the almost complete banning of the kaiser-style, moustache. Only a few Germans now wear the heavy mpustache-rrwith a span of 12 inches or more—is extremely rare. T-Vhisuers, too, are^less abundant than they once were, tffough occasionally one meets up with a fine, full set.

The annual picnic of the Church, of Christ Bible School was held to-day at Mr T. Bullock's grounds. The children left by motor lorry at 9 a,.m., armed with pannikins, keen appetites, and the spirit to enjoy. The adult contingent joined' the kiddies at the picnic ground 'Sifter noon, and a most enjoyable day was spent in sports and games.

Speaking on the high prices of bacon, a gentleman who is an authority on health (says the Waikato "Times") ;said, he would make pork such a price that people would not buy it. "Since the pork famine of the last- six months or so," he says, "there has been a marked falling off of disease (especially one), and for the benefit of health it would be better to prohibit'tlie eating of pork than' the drinking of good beer."

One. of the. finest cottons in the world is grown at Fiji. Acording to Mr J. M Connaughton, of Manchester, what he calls "South Sea cotton," grown from Egyptian seed, was of high quality, and capable of extra superfine treatment. Among his samples is a length of what most ladies would describe, as a heavy-bodied pale pink pongee silk. Mr Oannaughton says it is simply cotton crepe made from Fiji cotton. The gloss, the feel, the weight and the colour proclaim it to be a revelation in what can be done with cotton.

Rumours have been circulated in some 'districts- that Sir Robert Stout is to retire from the New Zealand Supreme Court bench to take the place formerly occupied by the late Sir Joshua Williams on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and that Sir Francis. Bell is to become Chief Justice. When the statements were brought under his notice, the Prime Minister said there was no truth in the suggestions made. Nothing had been. considered about the elevation of Sir Robert Stout to the Privy Council, and there had never been any idea in his mind that Sir Francis Bell should retire from the Government to take the position^ of Chief Justice oven should it become vacant.

The Commissioner of Taxes draws -■coijiaou m\% o<\ s\K>.ved:a:q jo uoi-^uoj }h tion apearing in to-day's issue that the due date of .payment of the. income-tax and special war-tax is on Thursday, February 5,,, 1920. Additional tax will accrue if the tax is not paid on or before February 26, 1920. The demands Vv'ill be posted from the office of the Commissioner of Taxes on or about January 29, 1920. 'It should' bo noted, however, that individuals whose surnames, commence with the 'letters C, D. H. I. J, X, Me, N, O, P, T, W, will not receive their demands until some days later. In these eases a new due date—viz., February 26. 1920—will b^ fixed under; section 127. Additional tax will accrue 21 days thereafter.

■A lady plaintiff who is taking: legal actions against two firms of solicitors has to judge from her remarks to Mi: E. Page, S.M.. at the Wellington Court, found it difficult to obtain the services of a. solicitor to appear in tho eases. "I am in rather a peculiar position," she said, "for no solicitor here is willing to- take my case against another solicitor. I have been to three solicitors, and each has given reasons why he docs not care to take a case against another solicitor." Plaintiff 'stated that she had written to an Auckland solicitor who would probably have taken ud her ca-se, but the instructions had beo'i misunderstood, nnd she- would, therefore, have to conduct lier own cases. The'notions are set down for hearing on Friday morn-

An interesting discussion took place at the meeting of boxing delegates, as to whether referees should or should , not be allowed to enter the boxing ring when controlling contests. The Greymouth delegate (Mr J. F. Wilson), urged that a- definite instruction should be given on this point. The chairman read the New Zealand Council's rules on the subject which specifically set out that referees should not enter a ring unless absolutely necessary, the occasions being mentioned. Other delegates said that though tlm rule existed on paper, some referees insisted on controlling contests inside thk ropes. The consensus of opinion was in favour of an adherence to the rule as laid down, and it was decided that instructions should be issued to the associations acordingly.

Satisfactory Motor Repairs.—ls it a satisfactory job? If it is then you are ! oleased. If it is not then it seems like throwing money away. G. H. Carson employs specialists who thoroughly understand their work. Satisfaction is guaranteed with all work entrusted to him. Low overhead costs enable G. H. Garsojv to work very cheaply, henco repairs effectedat Carwn'a are notably reasonable in cost. Try G. H. Carson with your next Repair Order. - Yon •.wi]l 1-tJiereby/encTiro 'satisfaction ' ' Ik

. An excellent programme was rendered last evening in the Rotunda by the Bth (S.C.) Mounted Rifles' Band, under the very capable leadership of Bandmaster Osborne. The night was mild and clear, and there was a particularly large and enthusiastic attendance of the public, which heartily applauded every item.

A cable message from the Secretary of State for the Colonies has been received by the Governor-General (the. Earl of Liverpool) informing him that his Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve an extension of his Excellency's term of office, in order that he may be in New Zealand when- his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales visits the Dominion.

At the Courthouse this morning, before Mr W. W. White, J.P., Joseph James S. Crawford, of Ashburton, aged twenty, years, was charged with unlawfully carnally knowing a girl under the age of sixteen years. Accused was remanded to appear at the Magistrate's Court on Tuesday next, January 27. Bail was allowed, self £100 and two sureties of £50 each.

For some time past the siile of second-hand pea rifles to rifle * club members at a nominal price has been suspended, owing to the exigencies arising out of the' war. The defence authorities have now resumed the. sale, which is expected to enable, many more competitors to get in -practice for the big meeting at Trentliam in March. ■ .

A message from London' says that the Mackie Ethnological Expedition, reports that owing to the rinderpest causing a great scarcity of wild animals and cattle in South Africa, maneating lions are becoming more., dangerous. One entered a hut, and '•dragged out a man by the leg,; badly injuring hrm. His companions rescued him in the nick of time. In another case a, lion ate a woman, leaving only the skull and a heap of bones.

Even Spain is waking- up to the fact that women have now to be politically considered in the scheme of things, and on November 6 (states the New York "Evening Post") Cabinet finally approved the Electoral Bill for introduction to the Cortes. The Bill would give the vote to women over twentythree years of age and increase the number of deputies from 400 to 470. The measure also provides for holding the olections on two days, women to vote the first day, and men the second.

At the Addington stock market yesterday, the following were the principal sales by Ashburton ■ County vendors:—Fat Cattle. —H.* L. Armitage (Eiffelton), 2 cows at £11 2s 6d; F. Redman (Chertsey) 1 cow at £14 2a 6d. Fat Sheep—Wethers, T. Blackley. (Itakaia), 46 at 36s to 425; Gill Bros. Chertsey), 64 at 33s 3d to 36s Id; ewes: T. E. Upton (Ashburton, 50 at 395; D..R. Spence (Rakaia), 12 at 31s, lid; T. Blackley (Rakaia), 16 at 33s lid-; *F. Dunn (Lyndhurst), 108 at 26s to 29s 6d. Fat .Lambs—D. Spence (Rakaia), 59 at 28s 4d to 29s lOd. .

Dr. Makgill, ■ Acting Inspeetpr-Geri-aral of Hospitals, conferred with the South Canterbury Board in reference to the erection of a consiimption sanatorium for South Canterbury. The Board advocate's a site at Lake Tekapo, but Dr. Makgill said that he could not approve of this on account of the difficulties of administration} it being so far' from the railway. All the local medical men favoured the Tekapo site or an alternative one near Fairlie. Dr. Makgill said he would approve of a site at or near Fairlie. and he asked the board to get several sites under offer, promising to visit the district next month to select oae.

The advantage of haying uniformity in the systems of judging boxing contests in New Zealand were urged at. the Boxing Conference by the Dunedin delegate (Mr Jacobs.) It seemed, at' present, he said, that each roferee had his own system of alloting points, and some did not work on the points system at all. He suggested that judges be asked to übmit their ideas to the governing, body, with the object of arriving at some system of uniformity. A delegate (emphatically): "They* won't do it," Another delegate: "I'm quite sure they won't." This seemed to be the general opinion, but, after further discussion, it was decided to endeavour to secure the desired information.

Complaint was made at last week's meeting of the Waikato Hospital Board by Dr. G. W. Gower, the new house surgeon, of the inadequacy of the accommodation for the nursing .staff at the institution. At present there were, ho said, ten nurses sleeping, or lie should say, "existing," in a tent in the grounds, and he understood they had been there.all winter. How they had managed for so long he could nut really understand. The Nurses' Home at the present time contained 39 single and lour double rooms, and in these were accommodated 63 women. He thought tho board would have to take into consideration a big new scheme ol accommodation. Councillor C. Johnstone thought the doctor had been very modest in his remarks. The conditions weje highly -unsatisfactory, and he believed that several times , during storms the tent had been blown down and the nurses had to make their escape through the rain. The matter was referred to the House Committee, together with certain other alterations and improvements suggested by the doctor. " '

• In view of the great scarcity of men clerks in Auckland/ it cann6t bo said that the women employed in offices are ousting men (says the "Herald") This was the view expressed recently by the head of ono of the oldest established .firms in the city. In support of the assertion, he stated that he had the greatest difficulty "in filling vacancies. To a recent advertisement for a male clerk he had received only four replies. From further inquiries it appeared that the practice ot;. employers had been to reinstate all returned men, but some of those whose places had been kept open had refused to return to the .office stool, preferring to, go-.on to the land. The scarcity of efficient men clerks was commented upon by the insurance company officials. In a number of cases, it was stated thero was a difficulty in getting even office boys. With the, insurance people the trouble appeared to be that a man was! of no use unless lit had experience of the business. Generally the inferior women clerks were being dispensed with, but the- eleven 1 business woman was too valuable an asset to lose, particularly aa there were no men to fill her pl&cc. The head of the firm spoke somewhat chillingly of his experience of women in business. He declared that they had no initiative, and, in fact, that there was no such person as "the business woman." ■ I

f The Government Meteorologist's I forecast to-day was :g—The indications are for freshening northerly winds, 1 moderate to strong, and backing by N.N.W. * Expect warm and humid conditions, but change shortly, and the weather appears likely to be cloudy and unsettled with rain following. Barometer falling.

Soap, in accordance with the prevailing fashion, has gone up in price, by £5 per ton. This will mean a penny rise on the retail price to local consumers.

Eight men at Granity were fined £10 each, to-day, for playing "two-up," by Mr Maunsell, S.M. The case was on all-fours with the recent Wanganui case. Constable Kidd lived in a dugout at Granity tocatchthe men.—Press Association.

A party of motorists recently made the trip between "Wellington and Auckland in a three-seater car in excellent time, although not attempting to put up a record. The distance between Auckland and Wellington, via Napier, is over 500 miles;and this was covered in 22 hours.

Hundreds of giant rats have been exterminated in the Lancashire campaign (says the "Daily Mail") Five hundred weighing more than lib. each -are among the slain in the Widnes district■■where 600,000 poisoned baits were devoured, each meaning a dead rat., 'A house rat in . Urimsargn weighed l^lb. and measured 18in. from tip to tip. Thousands of bodies have been thrown up by trie tide in the; Mersey and Ribble, proving that the rats having devoured "the corrosive poison, sought relief in the water.

.Since the advent of no-license into the. Bruce electorate, the old White Horse Hotel at Milton has fallen upon evil days, and the last stage in its career is how taking place. The surplus furniture was sold by auction on Saturday afternoon, and a start made Monday morning with the: demolition of the stable and corrugated iron hotel, the buildings and ■contents having been purchased by a". Dunedin syndicate. This well-known hostelry was erected in 1861, during the gold rushes, and will be remembered by many old-timers throughout"the Dominion. It served as a stopping place at Milton in the early coaching days of Otago. '

At the Oamaru Magistrate's Court yesterday, J. A. Sutton, of Waitaki Station, was fined the maximum penalty, £100,. for failing to destroy rabbits. The amouq^t' constitutes a record, the previous heaviest, £70, being inflicted in the North Island. The Magistrate said the maximum was hardly sufficient. The defendant was probably making a large profit from skins. . The station comprised 56,000 acres, and the inspector stated it was overrun with rabbita. The Magistrate stressed • the fact that the lease was falling in at the end' of March, ■ that soldier settlement on the section was proposed, and the incoming tenants .would be handicapped. —Press Association.. .

An inquest* was f opened at Dunedin to-day, on the b6dy of the newly-born infant found in a sack •on St. Clair beach on Tuesday, with a piece of linen tied tightly round the neck. Dr. Evans said that the body was fully ] developed and well nourished. There was a circular pressure mark on the 'neck, and he was of opinion that the child had lived, and the cause of death was asphyxia. There wa,s no water in the lungs, showing that it had not been drowned.-' There mtfst have been some- interference with the air supply. A constable said the bag had apparently been in the sea, but could not havo been there long. It was found at high-water mark. The Coroner adjourned the inquiry sine die. — Press Association.

Following close upon the suggestion made in the "Popular Mechanics' .Magazine" for October comes the announcement, in its November issue, that an airplane has now been used as a hearse, and exactly as earlier rescribed. The occasion was the funeral of a child in Toronto, Canada. The littlo coffin was placed in the observer's cockpit of a biplane machine. Rising from the scone of the service, the plane quickly reached the place of interment, three miles away, while parents and friends followed more slowly on the ground. This is believed to have been the first funeral of its kind in America, and probably on either side of the Atlantic. With the precedent established others may be expected to follow.

Many West-end residents have been making a practice of crossing the railway line opposite the Post Office. The railway authorities are determined to put a" stop to the habit. They point out that trespassers are liable to prosecution, and this' provision will be put into force if people do not take notice of the repeated warnings given by officials during the last fortnight. The.. stationmaster (Mr T. J. Bell) states that he has had complaints from the shunters of the danger run by careless pedestrians, especially during busy hours in the yard when trucks are kicked off along different lines simultaneously. Several accidents have recently been narrowly avoided. The signal Mrcs have also been put out of gear b5 T people stepping on the wires or perambulators or cycles being wheeled over them.

On the ground of desertion, for five years, Mrs Reginald Vanderbilt, formerly Miss Cathleen Neilson,-\vhq was married to Mr Reginald Vanderbilt in 1903, has obtained a divorce in America. Her wedding was one of the most lavisn even of American Society alliances. Mr Vanderbilt asked for the services of the whole of the New York police force to guard the presents, worth £200,000, which filled the safe deposit vaults ./of the Newport Bank. For a week twenty florists were hard at work decorating the bride's home. There were 150 wedding guests, most of whom went to Newport in special trains. "Everything passed off without a hitch at the ceremony," stated one account, "because there had been an elaborate rehearsal of the whole thing the day before." . The bridegroom was then 22, the bride 21, and the.engagement had lasted more than two years.

Enquiries having, been mad© as to the nature of the social to.be tendered Hon. W. Nosworthy, the., committee vdsh. to point out that as. the social will take the form of a- smoke concert, they take it for grantedl that it will be for men only. Jx