LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLII, Issue 9473, 4 March 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A good deal of interest centred in the decorated tables which were judged by public vote at the Horticultural Society’s show yesterday. Airs K. D. Cochrane secured the verdict by a majority of six, the total votes in her favour being. 121, Airs Weatherall being second with 115, and Mrs Jackson third with 90.

The hopes of Ashburton anglers that the river at Hakatere was again going to assume its old course along the front of the huts have been dashed by a recent fresh in the stream, which has again caused it to run straight out to sea. There is now no place for the hsh to lie, so that a great deal of sport cannot be expected until the river is again diverted down its oldU'hannel.

A Wellington telegram says that Messrs Sehneideman and Sons, tailors, workroom was broken into on Thursday night. The door was burst open bodily, tremendous force being employed. Clothing to the value of £l5O was stolen. In the early hours a second visit was paid to the Cuba Street bootshop of Messrs Hannah and Co., but the burglars were unsuccessful in gaining an entrance, though great force was brought to bear on the rear door of the premises.

Mild excitement was caused in East Street yesterday through the antics of a man who was obviously mentally affected. The ..unfortunate man occupied the afternoon giving an exhibition of shadow-sparririg under the trees. Constable O’Grady arrived on the scene, and after 1 a brief struggle managed to secure a hammerlock on the man: Constable Excell arrived a few minutes later and gave assistance, and the demented ! person was taken in charge. This morning lie was committed to a mental hospital.

Yesterday’s “Otago Daily Times” has the following: is rumoured that overtures are being made to Sir Joseph Ward to assume the leadership of the United Progressive Liberal-Labour Party. Point is given to the rumours by the fact that on Tuesday last the “New Zealand Times,” the organ of the Liberal Party in Wellington, based its leading article on the reception which was given to Sir Joseph Ward in Invercargill several weeks ago, ana expressed a strong desire that he would return to political life.

The discrepancy between the census record of the number of Methodists in New Zealand and the Church, amounting to no less than 46,000, was referred to by the Rev. C. H. Laws at the Methodist Conference in Auckland. According to the census returns the number was 121,000, while Church returns gave the number as 75,000. This discrepancy was partially explained by the fact that the Church had taken no account of children under five* totalling 15,000, who did not attend church or Sunday school, and by the fact that many people described themselves as Methodists who never attended church.

A strong point, was scored by Canon Haselden in a speech at the Methodist Conference in Auckland, advocating increased unity between the churches. “ Out at that very desirable suburb of Mount Albert, measuring about one square mile apd populated by a few thousand people,” lie said, “ there are no fewer than six churches, six Sunday schools, six parish halls,, six vicarages, and six unusually able ministers ! They could not all manage to live in the same locality, in fact, unless they were very able ministers, for the people they look after are within a 10-minute motor run to Pitt Street Church itself. Now, it is just such facts as these that will force closer unity between your Church and mine. You are wanting more men for God’s work, we are wanting more, yet we have six ministers in this one district, while other < districts are sorely in need of workers. We. must leave off spoiling laymen by giving them too much of these good things, and try to get nearer one another in the matter of promoting Clntrch unity.”

HAIR-DRESSERS VALUE Q-TOL. Mr McElhinney and other Leading Hair-dressers now use Q-tol daily in their Saloons, as they have personally proved its intrinsic merit in making the skin smooth and supple. Make sure of a safe and easy shave by asking your barber to rub in Q-tol before, lathering. Large bottle 2s. lx

Studies of Men. Siklful arrangement of light, easy and characteristic posture, and the latest photo processes, all help us to produce portraits of the kind that men—only men—like. Como to the Studio and see them. — Bunz Studio, Bfrnett Street. 2x

The Ashburton police last night raided premises in East Street where they suspected an illicit sale of liquor was going on.

The barometer at the Domain weather station to-day read 29.24. The maximum temperature was 66 degrees. One point of rain fell between 9 a.m. yesterday to 9 o’clock this morning.

The following weather forecast was issued to-day: —The indications are for westerly winds, strong to gale, and backing by west to south. The weather will probably prove squally and changeable. Weather clouding over; rain later. Barometer rising.

The new award relating to the Otago and Southland harvest hands, thresh-ing-mill hands, and chaffcutters provides for a wage of Is 7d per hour and found, with a bonus of 3d an hour. The Arbitration Court, in a memo, explains that it" has settled the wages on the basis of the recent North Canterbury award.

A team of tennis players from Timaru arrived by this morning’s tram to play a match against the Ashburton Club on its Domain courts. The courts had dried up quickly after the rain, and, though they were still somewhat damp, the play was of a good order. The ladies’ singles and doubles were contested in the morning, and the men’s singles and doubles combined matches were played on during the afternoon.

The dispute which arose at the Ashburton Swimming Club’s carnival as to the swimming of the relay race was effectually settled as far as the merits of the team’s performances were concerned at the Timaru Old Boys’ Club carnival on Thursday night. Timaru Old Boys, who came second, and Ashburton A (W. S. McClymont,- F- Ray, A. Dunlop, and J. Ramsay), who won the event at Ashburton, again fought out the final at Tmaru.

Another leg with a boot attached to it has been discovered on the beach near the Rangitata River. It will be recollected that at an inquest held recently a man’s leg found on the beach at Waterton, near Longbeach, was identified as that of Arthur Henry Miller, who committed suicide at Timaru. The second leg, which was found at a spot about 20 miles from where the first was discovered, is also believed to be that of the deceased 1 Miller.

Bright sunshine and the freshness in the air following on the rain&nade the Domain a very pleasant place to be in to-day. A large excursion party from Messrs Strange and Co.’s Christchurch branch arrived here this morning, and spent a very enjoyable day among the beautiful surroundings of the Domain. The Oval presented an animated scene. Sports were being held there, while others of a less energetic disposition picnicked under the trees or wandered down the shady paths admiring the bright colours of the flowers, the refreshing greenness of the trees, and the calm beauty of the lake.

“ The daily loss on the railways and the Dominion has been reduced by £1000,” the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister for Railways, said in Christchurch yesterday. “That brings the daily loss at present down to £3000,” the‘Minister added, “and that is after allowing for the payment of interest on the capital invested. Excluding provision for interest on capital invested, the actual revenue for the last fourweekly period exceeded the expenditure by £240,000.” Air ...Guthrie said that the amounts he had mentioned were in round figures only; he intended making a full statement of the present position in respect of railway finance in a few days.

The pound sterling expressed in terms of dollars continue to appreciate (says the “Dominion.”) There were some predictions of an early reaction towards the end of last year, when the rate stood at 4.23, but instead the upward movement has continued steadily, and the quotation cabled on Wednesday was 4.43. At this rate,, the pound sterling is worth 18s sjd in New York, or 3s 9d more than it was worth at the beginning of last year Recent American comments have attributed the appreciation of sterling to big gold shipments and the recovery of British industry, but against this the United Kingdom has recently made heavy importations of American cotton and grain, and is faced by the necessity of transmitting to the United States during the current interest payments amounting to some fifty millions sterling. It- still seems necessary to rely in great part on the rather vague explan ai ton that the disclosed improvementin the exchange position is chiefly based on sentiment.”;. '

A “settling down” process is going on quietly in connection with farming properties purchased at boom-time prices. The Eltharn “Argus” knows of one instance in which a farm was sold at considerably over £IOO per acre. The occupier finds, that he cannot possibly pay the interest on such highpriced land. The vendor has no desire to go back and work the farm himself, so he has come to an arrangement, the practical effect of which is that the occupier now holds' the farm on terms that has reduced his purchasing price to £67 per. acre, at which price ho may “pull through.”' Similar negotiations are on the tapis in connection with other farms, and may be brought into operation about June or July. It is nothing but arrangements of this kind that will save some farmers from having to go back on the land and themselves work properties they thought were disposed of. It is possible that in some cases interest on land old may be on a sliding scale, varying in accordance with the price of butterfat. It is beyond all shadow of doubt that unless mutually satisfactory arrangements are arrived at there will bo _ numberless “Sittings” from Taranaki farms. In many cases the men who sold their farms are well up in years, they are too old to resume farming, and they must compromise with the mortgagors. Service When Needed.—There are several hundreds of motor-cars, motorcycles, and motor-trucks in use in this district which sooner or later will require some expert attention to repairs. Certain owners we know prefer periodical examination before troubles appear, thus saving themselves the annoyance of breakdown on the road and the* consequent extra expense for repairs. An ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure is an old and wise saying. We recommend motorists to avail themselves of the opportunity of having J;beir machines tested, free of charge, by experienced workmen who thoroughly understand their work, provided by (J. TI. Carson at his garage in Tancred Street (next H.M. Theatre). A small repair to-day may save a big bill next j month. x

A very well-grown potato of the Dakota lied variety, weighing 31b 3oz, was brought into this office yesterday. The potato is one of a very fine crop grown by 'Mr J. Allen, sen., Main South lioad, Ashburton.- .

It has been pointed out that a paragraph whch appeared in the “Mercantile Gazette,” and which was subsequently copied into this paper yesterday, relative to the newly-registered company of Harry Childs, Ltd., was wrong in some particulars. The capital of the company is £3500, divided into 3500 shares of £1 each. The subscribers are the following:—Harry Childs £3OOO, Ernest Harry Childs £IOO, William Payne Childs £IOO, George Leonard Childs £IOO, Cyril Herbert Childs £IOO, Alfred Reginald Childs £IOO. The objects of the company are to acquire and carry on the business of general blacksmiths, wheelwrights, coaclibuilders, engineers, etc., lately car ried on by G. H. Childs.

A fine sporting film featuring Bombardier Wells, the ex-champion heavyweight boxer of England, will be shown in the Orange HaU to-night. Rarely indeed has such an opportunity presented itself to screen a film that will appeal to all classes of the community. In “ Kent, the Fighting Man,” they will see Sergeant-Instructor (Bombardier) “ Billy Wells,” heavy-weight champion of Great Britain, in a couple of joyous fights. It is a film to grow enthusiastic over In a production such as this, the boxing of the Bombardier —to give him his familiar title—would be good, as he is easily the most graceful and accomplished heavy-weight boxer the country has ever produced. But it comes as a revelation to find that he is equally good in the role of a film actor.

A Greymouth correspondent telegraphs : The report of General Sir Andtew Russell’s Ashburton utterance regarding the Returned Soldiers 7 Association on the West Coast and “ cheap billiards and beer” has aroused some indignation locally. Mr H. Trouland, secretary of the Grey Returned Soldiers’ Association, in an interview, said: “I do not think Sir Andrew Russell meant just what the report implies as far as our association is concerned, for he is aware that the club’s rules only permit of liquor being on the premises" on four occasions in the year, and these must be with the consent of the full executive. As far as the aims and objects of the association are concerned, the public no doubt is aware of the efforts made in recent cases, besides active representations at Pensions Board and Patriotic Association meetings, repatriation applications, Land Board business, and the finding of work for returned soldiers I am now in communication with Sir Andrew Russell regarding confirmation of the report.”

Some interesting comments upon the economy methods of New Zealand are published in the December number of the “National Review.” The “Review” states: —We observe that the Prime Mniister of New Zealand, Mr Massey, one of the soundest and straightest men in the British Empire, in declaring his determination to make both ends of the New Zealand Budget meet, announces that economy will begin with Ministerial salaries; the GovernorGeneral of New Zealand (Viscount Jellicoe) expresses his anxiety to share the sacrifice. We regret that the Mother Country did not set this admirable example. Unfortunately, there are no signs of anything of the kind here. The King, as always, has done his best, and during the war surrendered £IOO,OOO of his Civil List pour encourager les autres. Not a politician responded .so far as we recollect with the solitary exception of Lord Finlay, who accepted the Lord Chancellorship minus the pension of £SOOO a year enjoyed by every occupier of that office. We fear the present Lord Chancellor has little sympathy with the cause of economy, because he inopportunely indicates an early increase in the salary of Judges. At any other time we should have sympathised with this suggestion, but a penurious country cannot afford the luxury of paying what it has not got. I To-day Britain does not possess the| wherewithal to pay any larger salaries to anybody. People of all classes are pinching and scraping in order to pay the price of spendthrift government. The Lord Chancellor’s proposal at such a moment is hardly decent. Not only do no Ministers show any sign of following the lead of New Zealand, but some Ministers are taking unprecedented steps to increase their income by excursions into which, though lucrative to the individual, sugcrests that their offices are not wholetime jobs,” and therefore not. unsuitable fields for the exercise of the activities of Geddes’s Committee wielding the super-axe.