LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIII, Issue 9747, 13 December 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

' There was a scene of wild excitement at Kaitaia on Thursday night when the result of the poll was made known, and Mf Allen Bell was elected member for the Bav of Islands. The crowd rushed his/ office, and many ladies saluted the new member with kisses. Mr Bell was carried shoulder high up and down tho street, amidst cheers and song. It was midnight before the crowd dispersed.

A remarkable tesimony to the intelligence and efficiency of the Postal Department was received by a Hastings business man in the form of a letter from London addressed in the following vague terms:—“Mr Parker, The Bookstall, New Zealand.” The lettei was not only delivered, hut it was delivered without delay to Mr H. G. Parker at the Hastings railway station bookstall.

The official recount of the Parliarmentary election votes and the scrutiny of the rolls in Ashburton is proceeding, and the officers engaged on the task expect to finish the count by to-night ort to-morrow morning; The writ is returnable by to-morrow. The scrutiny has been carried out under the supervision of the officer (Mr A. L. Tresidder).

The Ashburton shopkeepers Jiave agreed to observe the late night (or Christmas Eve, shopping night) on the Saturday instead ;of Friday of next week. The half-day has accordingly been changed from Saturday to Monday (December 18). In Christchurch the late night will he on Friday, and the half-holiday on Saturday, as usual. In changing the late day the local shopkeepers acted under the powers conferred byrthe Shops and Offices Act.

The lack of facilities for the conveyance of children from the country districts .to the Technical School was referred to by Mr T. Bullock at the “break-up” ceremony yesterday. He suggested much of tho difficulty could he overcome by the parents clubbing together and motoring the children of the outlying places on certain days of the week. There were perhaps certain isolated families who had no motor facilities, and these could be catered for. Mr Bullock further suggested that the Board of Directors might see some way of subsidising such a scheme.

A difficult position is threatened in connection with the immense losses incurred on settlement of soldier-farmers in New South Wales (states the Melbourne "Age”). The Parliamentary Committee whiclT" inquired into this subject has made recommendations affecting 295 poultry farmers which, if carried out, are expected to involve the writing off of £BOO for each farmer, or a total loss in this one group alone of £200,000. If the recommendations are applied to other soldierfanners in similar straits and suffering from parallel lossos, the principle vof writing off 1 losses is estimated to involve a total sum of at least £2,000,000. Waste of public money appears to have proceeded in characteristic fashion. Astounding sums paid for sustenance are regarded, as, properly speaking, a loss of the Federal Government. Some men owe as much as £IOOO under this head, while others, according to the Now South Wales Minister for Lands, _ had, by thenenergy, economy, business acumen, and the assistance of their wives, remained under the necessity of drawing only a few pounds.- The question of writing off these huge losses will provoke lively discussion.

'* Difficult to choose Christmas presents? Not this year. _ The choice is more varied and beautiful than ever before, as may be seen by the window display at R. Totty’s, Chemist, Burnett Street. There may be seen exquisite caskets of Perfume anr Powder from fbe Best Loudon and Paris Perfumers; Mirrors, Brnshware, and Manicure Sets from the Best British Manufacturers: Bn thin."' Ca ps in Dainitest Fashions and Colourings, and Best Gift of all a Camera for the whole family from grand-dad to the wee kiddies. All this beau tv to eboose from, and . . . prices are down. Come and: See.—Advt.

Although the date has not been definitely fixed, the Borough School will probably “break up” f ,for the Christmas vacation on Wednesday, December 20. On Monday, December 18, the annual school concert is to be held in the Theatre Royal.

A Nelson message says that a Unionist formerly on a vessel trading to Nelson assaulted one of the voluntary orew of the vessel on the Port Road; The Magistrate took a serious view of the offence, and a fine of £3 was imposed.

The > attendance at the Borough School over the last few weeks has been particularly good. The average last week was 511 out of a roll number of 537. If the attendance continues good for the rest of the term, the school will be entitled to an increase in staff, and will be placed in the. highest grade.

A striking illustration of the difference between cattle values and sheep values was afforded by gn auction clearing sale at Rakaia on Monday. Weaner calves sold for 3s 6d each, and 23 cattle, ranging from calves to two-year-old heifers in profit, averaged out at 15s 4d each. At the same sale a line of sheep and lambs, all counted, sold for 24s 6d per head.

Some sections of the Main South Road are in a very bad condition, with loose shingle, deep ruts, and pot-holes. One such part is between Bankside and Chertsey. Part of this can he avoided by motorists coming from Christchurch if they, turn to the right at the Bankside station and then take every turn to the left till tho Rakaia Bridge is reached. This is i slightly longer, but a very much better road.

Arrangements have been made for the pupils of the Ashburton Borough School and Harppstead School to visit the Dominion Industrial Exhibition at Christchurch. Thursday, December 21, has been fixed as the day. In all probability some of the country schools will make the trip in conjunction with the town schools. All will travel by the ordinary mornjng train and return by*the ordinary service at night .

“ You can’t die cheap,” remarked a member of the Pahiatua County Council when social welfare matters were .under consideration and assistance had been asked for funeral expenses of a former resident who died in another district (reports the Pahiatua “Herald”). Then there followed d little discussion on undertakers’ fees. Not only was the cost of living high, but also ; the cost of dying. Someone said that £25 sufficed for only an ordinary burial. The request for financial aid was referred to the Hospital Board in the district where the funeral took place.

Spectators at the Hamilton Supreme Court on Wednesday received a rude shock when the doors were locked and some of them had to serve on a jury (remarks the “New Zealand Herald”). The juries were deliberating, and, after counsel had made several challenges, the panel was exhausted. The door was then quietly locked, and the Registrar took the names of sufficient men to form a jury.. After one man had been sworn in and had taken his seat, he asked what was going to happen to his lorry, which, he had left outside. Mr Justice Herdman ordered the police to take care of it.

It is not generally known that a prize-fighter is buried in Westminster Abbey. Some time ago, in a lecture in London, Mr C G.“ Webb referred to a remarkable arm of one of the groups of statutory near the north door of the Abbey. Mr Webb said people might imagine that the arm in question was an exaggeration, but it was actually modelled from the arm of a verger at the Abbey named John Burton, who was also champion prizefighter of England. Burton was the dean’s verger, and he was asked on one occasion if he would like to be buried in the Abbey. Burton said lie would, and asked that the fact of his championship should be inscribed on his stone. To this the Dean consented, blit the proposal was too much for the chapter, and Burton’s t° m k has a blank space on it in consequence.

The cowardly ruffians who hunt the northern suburbs of Melbourne in packs', attacking unfortunate persons who they consider have given offence, are easily put to rout, states the ‘i Age.” On Cup night a rowdy crew of pot-valiant youths on their way homo from the races picked a quarrel with two chance acquaintances whom they met on the, road. In their characteristically playful way they knocked the men down, and proceeded to kick them into insensibility. The residents of the locality took very little notice of the affair; not so Policewoman Davidson. Although not by any means a strong woman, she called two others of her sex to her aid, and the three made a sortie against the hooligans. It is understood 'that hatpins plaved some part in the attack, but, be that as it may, the youths broke before the determined onslaught of the women, and left their battered victims in the hands of the enemy. Miss Davidson, having effected a timely rescue, had the injured men taken to a hospital and treated for their numerous cuts and bruises.

Once more the whirligig of time brings Christmas near. Thoughts bend toward distant friends. What better gift for them than your photograph ! Personal, inexpensive, and convenient, your photograph is the ideal solution of the problem “What shall I send.” — Bunz Studio, Burnett Street.—Advt.