LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLII, Issue 9374, 1 November 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The following are the vital statistics for the Ashburton registration district for the month of October: — Births 28, deaths 12, marriages 6. The figures for October, 1920, were:— Births 43, deaths 20, marriages 17. A Wellington telegram sayß that Mi R. Masters, M.P., is objecting to the order of reference of the ' Commission of Enquiry into the cement allegations, wherein it is stated that the Board of p Trade sanctioned the maximum retail E price of cement at £9 13s 6d per ' ton t ex store at' Wellington. Mr Masters says he never used such figures, and J quotes "Hansard" m support. He 1 wishes to have substituted, an ..enquiry j as to whether the Board of Trade , sanctioned a further i rise of ; 36s net f ton. He also wishes to have the words * for m restraint of trade", added to - Clause 3, on the ground that he said » the agreement was m restraint of b -trade. A Press Association telegram from j Wellington says that it is .stated that c the suburban school m which certain children have refused to salute the flag * is the Normanby School, near Lower 3 Hutt. A circular, is being addressed to . all schools m the Wellington district by the Education Board, enquiring ~ whether " effect is being given to the 1 requirements of the regulations re- » garding the inculcation of patriotism." The board further wishes to be' informed confidentially, states the 'circular, * " whether you have encountered any j difficulty m connection with the m P structions contained m the lafit^ three * -sentences of the extract, and if any ' difficulty has been encountered, its - nature, and how you have dealt with t H." At Temuka yesterday, before Mr E. c D. Mosley, S.M., David Thomas Todd, - aged 56, schoolmaster at Clandeboye, ) was charged with a criminal offence against, and four indecent assaults on, ' a schoolgirl aged between 13 and 14, ■ and similar charges m f respect to . another girl of the same age, between j August 1 and October 6. The criminal assaults, the girls said, took place m r a spare classroom while the school was * m session, and the indecent assaults , when the girjs were m class m school. . Numerous boys and girls testified to J fr.equent acts of indecency towards the ■ girls m class. A medical witness testi- [ fied that both girla had been criminally , tampered, with. After hearing evidence one charge of indecent assault 1 m each case was withdrawn. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial on each of nine charges at the Supreme Court at Timaru m February next. Detective Abbot conducted the case for the prosecution, and Mr W. D. Campbell appeared for the accused. Bail, fixed at £300 and a surety of £300, was forthcoming. New Motor Cars.— -Several profrressive farmers and business men m this county are considering the purchase of a new car this season. .The recent, reduction m prices will induce many to purchase who have been waiting for prices to drop. The Oakland Six Now Model, which has been listed at £625, has now been reduced to £590, a saving to buyers of £35. G. H. Carson has a limited number to offer for immediate delivery at this price. Intending purchasers should insist on seeing this fine example of the . latest product of Oakland Co., whose cars are famous for reliability, comfort, and economy. lOx

" ■ f A request for the installation of an electric bell system for firemen's residences came before last night's meeting of the Borough Council. It was decided that owing to the present state of the Borough's finances this work could not be undertaken. A copy of the report of the Department of Internal Affairs dealing with the alteration m the boundaries of the Ashburton Borough was read at last night's meeting of the council. Full particulars of the alterations m question appeared m the "Guardian" of October 22. p When the criminal sessions of the Wellington Supreme Court opened yesterday the Grand Jury, m returning true bills m ( 13 cases submitted $o it, recommended " that, m view of the large number of sexual offences lately, and without a bearing on cases on the calendar, we are of the opinion that a more severe penalty should be inflicted m the form of flogging, if necessary." Mr Justice Hosking said he would note the recommendation, which was quite proper. It indicated the extent to which public opinion went m regard to such cases, and would also assist the Court to decide a difficult matter m making the punishment fit the crime. Leave to withdraw charges of obtaining jewellery valued at £400 by false gretences against Robert Munro and Roderick Munro was granted m the Wellington Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, A Maori princess gave the Munros certain jewels for the purpose of raising some money. The Munros left New Zealand, and after some time had elapsed the complainant, thinking that the jewels had been stolen, took proceedings. It was discovered that the jewels had been left m Palmerston North and that nc money had been raised on them. These facts had not been stated to complainant by means of a letter, and laid the accused open to suspicion ; but aB o • matter of fact four letters, wrongly addressed, had been sent. The case was dismissed. Prices of stock m Scotland and some remarks on the sale of New Zealand . frozen meat at Home are : 'containea to a letter from Mr J. R. Simpson, oj Lismore, writing from Banff., rfc says: " There is certainly, a great contrast m prices here compared with New Zealand. Lambs off the mother, oi what we would call milk lambs, are worth from ,£4 to £6 here, but the * average' - weight of such lambs here would be over 601 b. There, is no doubi • that our frozen meat has for various , reasons lost its former reputation^: and is not advertised so much as formerly ' There is certainly room for improvement here. But unless the New" r Zea , land farmers unite and look after theii , own affairs at this end, it will be sonte time before our prices improve.''., ' The winter poi toning of rabbits ir . the Ashburton .County has^-been fairlj extensive and productive of good re suits, but landowners generally show ! a tendency to slacken off m the spring and summer. It is stated s that there s are far too many rabbits on. the plain! Land # still, and their powers of reproduction, if given full play during. th< '< coming months, will make of them i very serious pest. The blown planta tions of the County Council are i favourite refuge for them, and the3 hold forage parties on neighbouring lands. It is the intention of the Department of Agriculture to wage nn ceasing war ; on the rabbits righi through the summer, and it is htfyec to secure as •/general co-operation as possible from: farmers. • -. .- ■ ; The history of the disappearance oi the indigenous forests of New Zealanc j was touched upon by Mr Mclntosli j Ellis, director of forestry, m his ad- ' dress m Auckland. He mentioned thjrl m the year 1840 there were 30 millioi . apres of land carrying merchantable j timber m New Zealand, while m 1921 j there were probably/ seven or eighl million acres of usable timber. The : question as to what the country hac j got out of the difference was- answered t by the fact that less than! per cent } went into building homes, arid for othei [ "uses, the balance having,.. 'gone up m i smoke. Fire, he said, destroyed ter. , times as much economically valuable ( timber as the/ sawmiller, while lasl . year the value of forests destroyed bj i fire was over- <me! million pounds. | A scheme for Raising, funds for adver- • tising Aucklkrid 1 was definitely taker up by the Auckland Rotary pjub at its 1 luncheon yesterday. Mr R. : ,A. Laid- { Jaw reminded Rotoriaris that at theii . last gathering it had been suggested ' that £500 should be raised for the purr pose named, pending the formation oJ I a Progressive League, and that the t sum should be entrusted for expendi- . ture to the advertising club. . "Ik ', Auckland we do not appreciate oui J climate as we 'hould," declared Mi Xaidlaw, " and we ,!have not only s < splendid climate but other attractions, We ought to advertise m such a waj as to make every southern business \ man decide to spend his declining yean m our sunny city." (Laughter.) Bj ( wise publicity and good advice it mighi , be possible to attract here not onlj , business men retiring, but many of the t bright and brainy younger men of the south. Thus Auckland's prosperitj would be increased, and there would be better roads, better tramway services, and better facilities of all kinds! Dunedin and Christchurch had put oui > columns of advertising" matter which should shame Auckland, said Mr Laidlaw. He moved that the Rotary CluJb , should get behind this motion to raise £500 for advertising Auckland. The idea was to ask 30 business firms tc give £10 each and 40 more to give £5 each. That would aggregate the £500 mentioned. With such a sum to spend, he felt sure the citizens would be made to realise that something was moving to put Auckland on the map. (Applause.). The motion was carried, the president of .the club (the Hon. Geo. Fowlds) remarking that Auckland had been altogether too modest m the past. (Laughter.) Just think hovr happy it would make the whole family to be surprised, with a Bunz portrait of father. There is a lot of genuine pleasure to giving your photo — next to your signature it is the most personal offering you can make to anyone. Call m and see us right away. — Bunz Studio, opposite "GWdian" Offico. 9x In_ modern times we are constantly hearing of the class of work that used to be done m the early days, and it is doubtful if the residents of Ashburton ever had a better opportunity of viewing an up-to-date upholst-enins; plant, rud seeing the work of a specialist m upholstering. This ran be seen at Mr H. S. Davis's showroom and workshop at 85, Victoria Street. Triangle, where all classes of furniture are renovated and recovered at a most reasonable price. Raiiago, time, .arid money can b© saved by patronising the local upholsterer, whoso workznasehip is guaranteed. 9x

Baking powder was reduced m Ashburton groceries this morning by 2d j for small tins and 4d for large tins, j following upon a reduction m wholesale quotations, which latter was due to the drop m cream of tartar. Eggs i are now reaching Is a dozen, a lower i ] price than has obtained m Ashburton I ■ for several years. Sugar will be re- : i duced on Monday next, and, as a local : grocer remarks, all the staples of the . baking board will then be down, apart - from flour, which is subject "to Government control. The value of the timber industry to , New Zealand was demonstrated by Mr Mclntosh Ellis, director of forestry, m his lecture m Auckland. Captain Ellis said that the sawmilling industry stood • second on the list of employers for the ' Dominion, over 35,000 people being ; directly dependent on it, and its pay- ; roll totalled at least £1,500,000 per annum. For the last year the total : value of the production was £3,750,000, , and for the previous year £2,200,000. The industry, with its capital investment of £2,100,000, was second on the j list of industries, and its value to the j worker was shown by the fact that the j wages bill accounted for a greater pro- | portion of the production value than that of any other industry m New Zealand — 65 per cent About 10.15 o'clock on Saturday night the occupants of a large hotel m Wellington were startled by a loud ' crash and the sound of falling glass. | i An investigation revealed the fact that a man, who had been walking on the > iron roof of the kitchen, had failed to ' notice a glass skylight, and when he ■ stepped on to it he fell through on to i the kitchen table, a distance of about • 14ft. The impact broke the table, > which, m turn, saved the man from > serious injury. Beyond a cut on one > arm he seemed none the worse for his ■ adventure. A man who was working m the kitchen received almost as great i a shock as the one. who fell. It is ' understood that the accident was due s indirectly^ to the wiles .of that mischievous imp Cupid. | Locally-grown gooseberries, the first 1 of the season, were retailing m Ashbur--1 ton to-day at 6d per lb. This is the .off,. season for, fruits, but apples have i . remained remarkably cheap, stunners " still selling as low as 4d per lb. Cali- _' f ornian lemons are now on the market " at 3d each and oranges from the same , country will follow and should .sell/ a* ' 6d.each. The local .vegetable market is [. already responding to the Carnival jde--3 mand from Christchurch, one example k .being rhubarb, which wfis 4dj per Jb last " week and is now Bd. Lettuce naye been, 1 similarly affected. New Zealand,,. grown _ potatoes' 1 and tomatoes are not on the r Ashburton market as yet, but Rara--3 tongan tomatoes of excellent quality are retailing at Is 6d pea* lb. In a few. we"eks all fruit and vegetables will be-» i come much cheaper and m full supply. 7 ' Abortion m cows is stated to be not v uncommon m the Ashburton County at r present, and no farmer needs informa--3 tion as to the loss which may follow s the introduction of this contagion into . his herd. Experience shows that this » disease is costing the Dominion annui ally from £200,000 to £300,000, an . estimate based on the increased milk i yield which would result through its 7 eradication. The matter is fairly easily y dealt; with if any x of the following ! standard solutions* are used m syringi ing:* — Lu'gol's solution of five parts, of t iodine, 10 parts of iodine of post'as- { sium, and 100 parts of water; Pbtas--3 sium -permanganate solution' containing two parts to 100 parts of water; lysol solution containing two parts of lysol, f to 100 of water. The latter two are' 1 then at the strength 'for using, and of i the . first solution two parts should be . used m 100 parts of boiled water. b i The weather cycle last night was one j familiar to Ashburton residents L through bitter experience. A boisterous t nor'-wester was routed m quick time ; by a southerly "buster" bringing rain I with it and then, before morning, clear 1 skies • aiid a shrewd nip of frost. In . some districts hail fell during the sourr wester and m the higher districts there i was I .a certain amount of snow with it, i snow falling as far down, as Spread- \ eagle. '(Biit it was the frost that did t the damage . to; early potatoes, toma--7 toes, FreVich beans and the like. It seems 1 8. J Have gone m belts, as often happens, and some gardens haye es- " caped while heavy toll has been taken l ' In others. One gardener reports . that J his French beans, just through- the ground, and very tender, were left • scathless while his black; :k|dney^ pota.-, toes, are completely cut down. The P register at the Domain .weather .station, was five degrees, but the frost was much more severe up-country, where [ pumps were frozen m some caseß. The r rainfall was 15 degrees and was welp come as a freshener after the two days' t nor'-wester. The barometer was 29.40 ins. thi<s morning, but showed a rising \ tendency. 3 J An Ashburton County farmer reT cently reported ihe loss of two cows to t the Stock Inspector (Mr C. Branigan), T the cause of death being unknown. i Investigation showed the existence on J his land of the celery-leaved buttercup, t and it is presumed that this plant proi duced the lethal effect. A Depart- , mental leaflet states that all the • species of buttercups are specially in- '" jurious to the pasture intended for the i use of dairy stock, as during the spring - months they give an unpleasant taste > to the butter. In most cases their » juices are extremely acrid, and numbers of cases have been reported where > stock have suffered severely from in- > nomination, caused by the juices of these plants. This is especially the case with the celery-leaved buttercup, or, as it is called m America, the cursed crowsfoot. The fresh leaves will quickly cause unsightly sores, and are sometimes used by beggars m Europe to produce artificial sores m order to induce aid from charitably-disposed persons. Honey gathered from certain species of buttercup will, if eaten new, sometimes cause serious illness, if not death. The poison is, however, volatile, and old honey from these sources is quite harmless. The same applies to the plant itself, which, m the green state, will frequently injure stock, but j when dried m hay is harmless. When I buttercups are first seen m a pasture | it will pay to destroy them. The work willthen be light, but if left will seize large portions of ground. The oldest tree m the world is T>robably m Ceylon. It is now m its 22nd century. It is . good to learn by experience, but it is often wiser to profit by the experience of others. This is especially tjrue of the amateur photographer. If the photo did not turn out quite right take it along to the Kodak Store m Burnett Street, and Mr Totty will explain where the trouble is. He develops hundreds of films, and finishes off . prints for amateurs, and will be pleas- ■ ed to help you from his wide experience. 10x

The London Orphan School, Wat-^> ford, has received stock value £100 from an Old Scholar m New Zealand. The following weather forecast was issued to-day: — The indications are for land and sea breezes, southerly 'strong, to gale prevailing at times. -Expectchangeable and showery weather. The night will probably be very cold. .The barometer is unsteady, with a rising . tendency. • The psychology of those people who ' set out wantonly to hurt their fellowhumans is hard to understand. An example occurs m the case of the Domain baths, which were recently cleaned out m preparation for the swimming season. A bottle has been broken on the diving platform, and the pieces now lie at the bottom of the pond waiting for some barefooted individual to make an unpleasant discovery. Fortunately the Domain Curator happened to notice fragments of glass left on the platform, and intends fishing out the bits m the pond " immediately. This malpractice cannotbe set down to the small boy, as lately •he has had no bottles to spare for breaking, but turns an odd penny by peddling them to local shopkeepers. "This will give you an idea of the sort t of news which goes the rounds here about our fair land," writes Mr J. R. Simpson, from Banff, Scotland, m en- - closing the following cutting from the "Aberdeen Dail^ Journal" :— " The officers of a liner Just arrived from New Zealand give startling details of meat ■ prices there m comparison with London. She brought some 200,000 carcases, but has been unable to discharge them owing to all the cold stores being full. At Timaru they have stopped" killing owing to the glut m the British market, and anybody who cares to do - so can buy a live sheep for sixpence, but has to pay a shilling when he gets • on to Poverty Bay. There are many m this country who are forced to do without meat on account of its high . price, yet it can be landed m London with all charges paid at a little more - than, a third of the price asked m the shops."