LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9498, 23 April 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The flag was. flown from the post office tower to-day m honour of St. George's Day. Local banks were also closed. v

The following weather forecast was issued to-day: — The indications are for variable and moderate breezes, but westerly moderate to strong prevailing. Weather probably cool and changeable. The night will probably be very cold. Barometer unsteady, with a falling tendency.

A communication has been received from the secretary of the New Zealand branch of the Navy League, stating that the prizes offered m connection with the essay competition on "National Empire." Builders," m December last, have been awarded to the scholars of the Wakanui School as follows: — First prize certificate, Beryl L. Butterick; second prize certificate, Alice Bonnington. —

The progressive firm of G. Hefford and Co. are keeping pace with the world's doings by offering to the Ashburton public goods at prices which were quite unheard of six. months ago. All-wool Doctor flannels at 3s 6d, and navy 3s 9d. 54-inch white sheeting 3a 3d, 72-inch 5s lid, 8-inch 6s 6d. Single bed flannelette sheets 9s 9<? each, double bed 13s 6d. Line white calicoes Is 6d, Is lOd, grey calicoes Is 3d, white flannelette Is 6d, black Lisle hose Is 6d pair, ladies' white cotton vests Is 6d each, white' cotton combinations 3s 6d. We fefiAconvinced that these lines will have W good run at these slump prices. G. Hefford and Co. will be delighted to show them to you. ' 4x

Some late home-goers iir rather merry mood, which extended itself to destructiveness, upset a stack of drainage pipes m Wills Street East last night, four or five pipes being broken. The pipes are the property of the town, and damage to them spells loss to the community, m which the mis-chief-makers of last night probably share as ratepayers. '.

Several lads were before the Wellington Magistrate's Court on charges of theft. The evidence disclosed that the lads had refused to work, and adopted the life of vagabonds, taking to the bush and living m tents and caves. They had stolen rugs, food, and cigarettes. /Once they tracked a drunken man to a quiet spot and robbed him of a sum of money. The leaders of the gang were sent to a reformatory home.

A programme of music will be played by the Bth (South Canterbury) Mounted Rifles Band at the Ashburton County Hospital to-morrow afternoon. The programme will be as follows : — March, "The Winning Fight" (Holzman); selection, " The Golden Star " (Greenwood) ; ; waltz, " Destiny " (Baynes) ; hymns, " For All the Saints," "O God, Our Help m Ages Past" ; triple tonguing cornet solo, " Black Deke" (Rimmer), soloist, Lieutenant W. H. Osbornej "God Save the King."

The results of the census taken last Sunday are already being issued m preliminary form to the Census and Statistics office. The earliest returns relate to certain boroughs and town districts, and they "have some general interest. Two southern boroughs — -Naseby and Tapanui — Bhow small decreases m population, and Taradale town district also shows a decrease. Kawakawa town district, m" North Auckland, has increased from 327 to 374/ since the census of 1916, and Wliakatane borough has grown from 900 to 1705. This is the only big alteration recorded m the first half-a-dozen returns.

A complaint was made m the Magistrate's Court yesterday by Mr A. Christie, traffic inspector to the Ashburton County Council, that some persons whom he had apprehended on charges of breaking the by-laws had become abusive when he requested them for their names and addresses. The' Magistrate (Mr E. D. Moslev, S.M.) said that such incidents should not happen, as, even if persons had a reasonable defence, they would have to treat the traffic inspector with the respect due to his office. The Magistrate added that m future if people came before him and had been abusive to the traffic inspector they might expect to "get it," and "get it hot,"

The total eclipse of the moon last evening was somewhat obscured m the earlier stages by clouds, but was very plainly observed at Ashburton during* the later stages. The moon was due to enter the outermost fringe of the earth's shadow at 4.27 p.m.,' but as the moon. did not rise until 5.4 p.m., the beginning of the phenomenon was not noticeable. The moon entered the earth's umbra at 5.32 p.m., and was totally eclipsed at 6.53 p.m. The last particular stage lasted for 4J2 minutes only, after which the illuminated disc was at times plainly discernible, gradually growing until the most ordinary eye could see that something out of the usual run was going on.

A successful drawing-room afternoon, under the auspices of the Ashburton W.C.T.U., was held m Baring Square Schoolroom on Thursday afternoon. The room had been tastefully decorated with autumn flowers and foliage, and presented a pleasing appearance. Mrs W. T. Lill extended a welcome to all the new , members enrolled during the recent. Convention. Vocal and instrumental items were contributed by the Misses Oakley and Higgins. Mrs W. H. Higgins kindly acted as accompanist. A recitation ■was also given by Miss Broom, which was much appreciated. Mrs J. Baker and Miss Fechney gave brief "but interesting reporte of the recent Dominion Convention. The reports were adopted, and a hearty vote of thanks to speakers and performers was carried by acclamation. The question of reforming the "V" Branch was "referred to by Mrs Lill. Suggestions were received, which it is hoped to carry out m the near future.

The method of voting at the municipal elections has been the subject of inquiry by many local residents. It should be clearly understood that it varies from the procedure m the Parliamentary elections, where all names but that of the preferred candidate are cancelled. In the municipal elections a vote is denoted by a cross placed opposite the name of the candidate for whom it is intended to vote. For the Borough Council there are 11 seats and 17 candidates, but a valid vote can only express (by means of crosses) 11 or less preferences. Thus an elector can vote for any number of councillors up to 11, but to record preferences for more than 11 will invalidate the vote. The same method is followed with the Hospital Board elected, but as there is only one seat, only one preference must be denoted by a cross on the paper. On the weekly half-holiday question there is a choice between six days, but an elector must not record his vote for more than one day. Some electors have the mistaken idea that they are permitted to vote on the halfholiday question alone, but, except m the case of Tinwald residents, all those on the roll may vote on the $hree issues — Borough Council, Hospital Board, and half-holiday. The noil closes at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, and it is hoped to have the results from all booths complete by 9 p.m. The results, as they come to hand, will be posted on an illuminated board outside the Council Chambers m Havelock Street.

It is understood that the Ashburton Hospital Board, acting on the advice of the Health Department, has purchased the Malvern Horne v as a maternity "hospital. Nothing definite was obtainable regarding the matter on inquiry being made at the board's office to-day, although there does not seem to be any doubt as to the accuracy of the report.

An old man, Richard Tubman, appeared before Messrs R^ Galbraith and R. Clark, J.'sP., m the Police Court to-day, on a charge, of indecently assaulting a girl of eight years. The accused pleaded not guilty, and the information was dismissed on account of the difficulty of .getting evidence" from the child.

Two men prominent m Labour circles are to be prosecuted m Wellington on April 29 on a charge of circulating seditious literature. The miners' unions of the Dominion are said to be indignant, and, by way of registering ther protest, each unon has decided to hold a stop- work meeting on the day the .case is heard, and pass resolutions regarding the matter.

A Reefton telegram says 'that 'Mr Downey, Inspector of Mines, has just returned from an inspection of the new quartz reef found four miles from the Maruia Road and 18 miles from Reefton. He confirms the richness of the quartz, which is m good solid country From samples brought to Reefton, it lsestimated that the yield will be over 100 o& to the ton.. AU the quartz shows rich gold. The reef, which is five to seven feet wide, has been opened U P Jot two chains. Two other reefs of 14ft and 3ft 6in respectively have been found a little distance away, but they are not so rich, though highly payable. It is considered that the find contain:: the richest stone south of the line. Other claims have been pegged out and applied for. The find is m new country where quartz was not supposed to exist. .

The recent fatality at the Mount Jjinton mine had a sequel m the Invercargill Magistrate's Court, when Glover Gray, David Baird, and William Munt were charged under the Mines Act regulations with firing a shot without first ascertaining that all persons m the vicinity had taken shelter, and, further, with being guilty of negligence m firing the shot by which Reid, a miner, was killed. The accused pleaded not guilty. Gray was convicted and nned £5 and costs on the first charge and Baird was convicted and discharged. The other information was dismissed. The charges against Hunt were dismissed, leave to appeal being granted. Arthur Morris, manager of the mine, was charged with failing to see that the working of the mine was carried ont with reasonable provisions 'or the sa' : ,y of the persons employed, and also with negligence. Both information were dismissed.

Surprising displays of ignorance are being encountered by the Ashburton census enumerators m the process of cheeking the census schedules. There are very few correctly filled m schedules, and m most cases the subenumerators have practically to rewrite the particulars. A great lack of ordinary intelligence was displayed m providing the particulars of occupations, for which two columns were provided. In one column the description of the industry or establishment ~ was required, and m the other the actual nature of the employment, the two columns being provided to distignuish between the various departments of industries. In a vast number of the schedules, however, no such distinction, was shown, and the same word was written jn both columns. The difficulties experienced m this and other ways made the collection of the schedules very slow, though practically all the Borough sub-enumerators have now completed their rounds. The difficulties are also being encountered m the country districts.