LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLII, Issue 9601, 8 September 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Press Association message from Wellington states that a house occupied by Chinese gardeners at MTramar was destroyed by fire yesterday and £400 m notes lost. It is probable that the Hon. W. j Downie Stewart « ill take the portfolio i of Finance from Sir Brands Bell early; next week, m order to prepare for the opening of Parliament, says a Wellington message. • Mr Stewart will hold the portfolio only for a few weeks, until Mr Massey's return. i The inmates of Tuarangi Home were entertained last night by a concert party from Ashburton, and later an j impromptu dance was kept up till 11 ! I p.m. The concert programme was as t (follows: — Orchestral items, by the ; Misses Claridge, Mr and Mrs Aling- \ I ton, and Mr Russel Rendle ; songs, : I Mrs Russel Rendle, Miss Claridge, and the Rev. J. F. Wiseman; piano solo, Mrs Russel Rendle; violin solos, Miss E. Claridge and Mr P. Russel Rendle; recitation, Mr A. L. Tresidder. The number of idle U.S.S. Company ; boats is gradually increasing. It was ' stated yesterday that two more Red j Funnel steamers will pay off their crews at Wellington within a day or i two. These are the Kowhai, which is I discharging coal from Greymouth, and the Kaikorai,. which is due at Wellington on Thursday afternoon from Newcastle. In addition, the future movements of the Kamona, which is •at present discharging coal from Westport at Wellington, are uncertain. Referring to the article entitled "Thirty Years Ago," appearing m the "Guardian" yesterday, an Ashburton dentist took no small pride to himself that the prices for dentistry were the only ones which appeared not to have risen enormously since 1891. He said it still cost "the same old half-crown" to have a tooth extracted and the price of a false set of teeth had increased only 20 per cent from £10 10s to £12 12s. Although the price of nitrous oxide gas had advanced m 30 years by over 400 per cent, the charge for its administration had been raised only 50 per cent, from 5s to 7s 6d. * In the course of remarks at the Te Awamutu High School, the Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister for Education, stated that there was a probability of a different system of post-primary education being adopted. The primary course would finish at Standard V. Boys would be drafted to the technical school, high school, or agricultural school, according to their likes or abilities. Girls would be drafted to the domestic science school, where they would receive instruction m home science, including scientific household management, household accounts, and the best methods of marketing. Encouraged by the success it has achieved at Timaru, the New Zealand Aero Transport Company, after several conferences m Wellington, . contemplates extending its operations as far as the capital city (says the "New Zealand Times"). Suitable machines and men are to be sent to Wellington during the coming summer. Mr R. L. Wigley has been m Wellington conferring with the New Zealand Air Board. It is said that the company contemplates erecting a permanent home, -probably '.n the Hutt Valley or at Lyall Bay, and aims at commer- * cially linking the. North and South Islands by flights to and from Wellington and Blenheim, m suitable machines to be approved by the Defence Department. Regular flights to the Manawatu and Wairarapa are also m contemplation. A tribute to the action of the master of the schooner Cecilia. Sudden m putting into Auckland when his boatswain, Mr Meryyn Lloyd, met with an accident, which afterwards proved fatal, has been paid by Mr . W. Poynton, S.M., who conducted the inquest. Writing to the master, Captain E. W. Jay, Mr Poynton says: — "I desire to place on record my appreciation of your fine action m retracting your voyage' from Newcastle, New South Waies ? to Callao, Peru, when about 50~0 miles to the eastward of New Zealand, m order to get surgical aid here for one of your crew, the late Mr Mervyn Lloyd. It is to be regretted that the poor boy did not survive to reach his native land, although there appears to have been little hope of his recovery, his injuries being too severe. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you did all possible for the injured man and were m no way to blame for the accident. It is a pity that the sacrifices made for him were m yam. I thank you m the name of humanity for what you have done." Replying to criticism regarding the last New Zealand loan raised m London, Sir Francis Bell points out that an equivalent sum has already been taken out of the Consolidated Fund Account and used for public works m the Dominion, so that the loan money recently made available m London has had to be used to meet engagements m London which, under ordinary circumstances, would be met by the credits m the Consolidated Fund. New Zealand's; engagements m London, said the Acting-Prime Minister, exceeded £5,000,000 for the present year. The loan money had been left m London to meet these engagements, which included interest payments and payments for rolling stock and plant. Had the loan money been brougnt to New Zealand it would simply have meant that an equal amount from the Consolidated Fund would have had to be sent to London from the Dominion, involving a useless payment of exchange. It was true that the raising of the loan had enabled a greater sum from the Consolidated Fund to be set aside for public works, but against this had to be set the fact that the revenue was coming m very slowly, as it did at this time of the year. i Upholstering as a speciality has been somewhat neglected m Ashburton. The residents are now to be congratulated on having at their disposal the services of Mr H. S. Davis, who has started an upholstering and furniture business m Ashburton: Mr Davis was for some years Foreman Upholsterer at Strange and Co.'s, Christchurch, .and has had a lift? experience m the best class of work. He Re-covers and Renovates Old Furniture, and makes it look new. His prices more than bear comparison. The public are cordially invited to call and inspect ' his showoom and workshop at 85, Victoria Street, the Triangle. 7x For Coughs and Colds, never fails. Woods' Great Peppermint Cure.

A Tauranga telegram states that Sir William Herries on his arrival there was publicly welcomed and presented with addresses from his constituents. He announced definitely his intention of standing again for the Tauranga, seat at the next general election. A 17^year-old cchoolboy admitted m the Auckland Magistrate's Court yesterday a theft the seriousness of which lay m its possible consequences. On five separate occasions he removed four wet-cell batteries on the railway signal-post at the new Parnell tunnel. The batteries operated a check signal, showing the position of lights invisible to the signalman. Accused, who used the batteries m experiments at home, was admitted to probation for one year. The vacancy on the Oamaru Harbour Board, caused by the death of Mr Jasper Nicolls, has been filled by the Government nomination of Mr A. E. Lawrence, editor of the "North Otago ; Times." Mr Lawrence, who is ah old Christchurch boy, belongs to that school of enterprising journalists who i take an enthusiastic interest m public j affairs. He is a borough councillor, ,a member of the Oamaru Repatriation i Committee, and one of the town representatives on the North Otago War Memorial Committee. Mr Lawrence :is keenly interested m educational matters. He is parents' representative : on the Waitaki High School Board of Governors, a member of the Oamaru South School Committee, and m addition to being an official of the local centre of London Trinity College , of 'Music, he is actively associated with many smaller local organisations. Two fence fires occupied the attention of the Fire Brigade last night. The first alarm was received at about 6.30 p.m., when a fire was discovered !in a dry macrocarpa hedge m Moore I Street. The blaze was a big one, and j soon spread to a quantity of dry hedge cuttings and cane bushes, etc., which ! were very iiiick about the section. i The brigade succeeded m subduing the , outbreak, It' would be a wise pre- ! caution if the Borough Council's re- j i cently-appointed inspector were to view j these empty sections and have such I quantities of dry inflammable rubbish i removed, as they constitute a danger ;to surrounding properties. The brigade received another call at about 9.30 p.m. to a section at the corner of Aitken and William streets, where a macrocarpa hedge was also on fire. In this case a tool shed and a motor ; shed were m danger, but the brigade I saved these buildings, though not i until the tool shed had been considerably scorched. The fortnightly meeting of the Pride of Wakanui Lodge, 1.0. G.T., was held m the Wakanui Schoolroom on Tuesday evening. Mr H. McLean, C.T., presided over a fair attendance of members. Further arrangements were made m connection with the lodge anniversary to be held m October. The ordinary business having been concluded, the lodge was thrown open to i receive a visit from the Ashburton members of the Sons jmd Daughters of Temperance Society. Mr J, H. Jones, M.W.S., of Christchurch, who was officially visiting the Ashburton division, gave an interesting address on the good of the kindred order. Mr C. F. Horrill, P.W.P., of Ashburton, gave an address on the emblem. Mr J. Hopwood,^ W.P., also spoke on matters of interest to temperance workers. In the course of the evening musical and elocutionary items were given by Mr Horrill. Mr D. F. Keir, JVIr G. W. Andrews, Mr C. G; Andrews, and Mr McLean. Mr W. Butterick, on behalf of the Wakanui Lodge, expressed the pleasure it had been to receive and* hear the members, of the Sons and , Daughters of Temperance Lodge. He hoped more of such visits would take place. Supper, was provided by the ladies of the Wakanui Lodge. A large number of members of the Ashburton Catholic Club attended to hear a comprehensive talk on the correct style of writing, more particularly applied to essay writing, given by Mr H. J. Constable m the club rooms last night. The lecture was really the outcome of Mr Constable being chosen as judge of an essay-writing competition among the members of this club. The subject was " Ashburton under Prohibition." The first prize winner was Mr V. Cullen, and Mr Bryant was second. The prizes were donated by Mr F. K. Cooper. Mr Constable was briefly introduced to those assembled, and thereafter he gave them an hour and a half of "very interesting and instructive speaking, during which he impressed upon them the necessity of cultivating a good style of composing their writings^ based upon a number of salient principles of the art. -He interspersed his lecture by a^ number of appropriate personal experiences m journalism, and some humorous anecdotes. l He also referred to newspaper journalism, _ and told of adventurous expeditions^ m search of " copy." At j the conclusion a hearty vote of thanks was tendered to Mr Constable by the Rev. Dean O'Donnell, who exhorted the members, nartieularly the younger ones now coming into the front line of life's 'battle, to profit by what they had heard. The whole meeting testified to this vote by acclamation. Mr R. T. Bickerton, Eyesight Specialist (son of Professor Bickerton), continues to be very busy, and m 6rder to avoid disappointment, clients are advised to consult him as early as possible at Somerset Corner. Friday and Saturday are his last days m Ashburton. 9x An ex-soldier is painting doorknockers m Camberwell, London, for 2d each. Old Fords Made New. — It is possible by the fitting of new spare parts to take up wear, and thereby quieten a noisy machine. There are men who can tell from experience exactly where the noise m an engine or transmission gear emanates from, and approximately what it will cost to repace the worn parts. G. H._ Carson claims to give specialist service on Ford and other cars, his long experience m the trade enables him to give valuable advice to car owners. Consult G. H. Carson about your car; may save you considerable money m ultimate cost. 8x i • What rabbit poison are you using? | For many years Toxa has held the record as a rapid rabbit killer. Unlike phosphorised pollard or traps, it does not cause unnecessary suffering, but kills instantly. No less than 253 rabbits have been collected after the laying of one small tin of Toxa. This poison may be obtained from R. Totty, Chemist. Ashburton, m. large or small tins. For best results it should be laid on dry nights m summer or dry frosty nights m winter. 8x

The following weather forecast was - issued to-day.: — The indications are for northerly moderate to strong winds prevailing, and freshening to gale after about 20 hours. Increasing haze and cloudiness for change only. Barometer falling shortly. A Blenheim message says that Richard Arnst last night confirmed the report from Auckland that the world's sculling championship will be rowed against Hadfield on the Wanganui River, probably on Boxing Day. The champion is looking extremely well, but contents himself with light work and easy exercise. He will do hard . training on the Wanganui. No further light can yet be thrown on the Grey Lynn murder, -in which a youth, Francis Edward Jew, was found mutilated m. a recant section on the morning of July 17. The crime is still under investigation, and it seems that the next public step m this connection will be the resumption of the inquest on the victim. No date has yet peen fixed for these proceedings, but it is understood that a number of the dead youth's associates will be called as / witnesses. A good story is told of a first year bowler who wanted to buy a new set of bowls. He saw an auction sale advertised where the best " willow bowls" were offered. Here was his chance, he thought, to get what he wanted. Not being able to get to the sale, he instructed a friend to bid a high figure for the bowls, not telling him for what purpose he wanted them. The willow bowls were put vp, and, backed by the instructions gif en, the friend continued to bid against allcomers, and got the lot knocked down, for £3. When he brought them 'home, there was consternation m the camp, for they were the willow pattern china bowls and not playing bowls. There has developed m Sydney a writer on criminology who has prepared 250 sheets of matter on the ways • and means of becoming a thief. The manuscript came into the possession of Superintendent Barman, of the Sydney police force, recently. (Superintendent Barman was recently m Ashburton. He has relatives at Willowby.)" The document was found m some property ' carried to police headquarters. Inspector Leary had the sheets collected and put m order. The writing is m lead pencil, on pieces of paper ■ of various sizes. It was the intention of the writer, so it has been learned, to submit the "copy" to a publisher - later, m order to nave a book published. An exhaustive treatment of the work of successfully plundering has been the result of the man's labours • m his well-furnished rooms during the past few months. He has been working hard by days on his story, which treats of classes of thieves, how to work secretly, the strict life a crook should lead, and various other pointsconcerning the calling of a burglar.