LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10168, 25 July 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

“I have - had three wives and lio re reared 18 children,” said a judgment debtor in the Hunterviiie Magistrate's Court the other day (says ail exchange).

“ In my opinion, Canterbury to-day is living on its name and not on ils quality,” said Mr Adam Hamilton, a member of the Meat Board, in an address on the subject of the lamb trade to the members of the Southland League. —“ Southland Times.”

The serious position created by the inadequate accommodation in the Opotiki (Bay of Plenty) town school \va6 disclosed at a public meeting. Eighty-five children are crowded into the infant room in a space sufficient for only 40. There is similar overcrowding in other rooms, impairing the health and efficiency of the children. The playground is also not half large enough. Representations oxtencU ing over two years have been met witn repeated refusals by the Minister of Education to arrange the necessary extensions to the building and grounds.

The Full Court at Wellington has given judgment in the Morris versus Morris ease, removed thereto by Mr. Justice Salmond. This judgment is of great importance in divorce law. The case was a defended petition for the restitution of conjugal rights. The Court found that the petitioner was sincerely willing, if nocessary, to take his wife hack, but did not sincerely desire her return, hoping rather that she would not return, and so would provide him with grounds for a subsequent petition in divorce. The Court held this was not the “ sincerity” that the weight of authority as well as public policy required, and dismissed the petition, with costs on the highest scale. •

Keen competition exists among residents of certain streets in the Mount Eden (Auckland) borough, where (states the Auckland “Stax*”) considerable roading works are being carried out, for the possession of surplus soil. In one street in particular the workmen employed by the contractor have hardly turned the corner on tho way home before wheelbarrows, trolleys, and even tins, make their appearance from the various houses, and in a few minutes men, women, and children are working at a jazz pace, all eager to get as much of the soil as possible for top-dressing lawns or making gardens. The competition is so keen that one man is reported to have knocked off work in the city at 4 o’clock in order to be on the mark ready to “get in” when the roadmen leave off.

When he was telling the commercial travellers something about the activities of Auckland, Mr George Baildom, the Deputy Mayor, said he hoped they would not be like the American visitor who was being shown round Auckland by a Maori. When they got to the Municipal Buildings, the American asked how long it took to build. “Three year, I think,” said Hone. “Absui’d,” said the Yankee, “why, in the States we could run her up in a year at the most.” Then when they got down to the Insurance Company’s tall building in Queen Street, the American put the same question. Hone didn’t know, but he said he thought “about two year.” Again the American snorted and said, six months was all they would allow for the job in the States. Then they got as far as the Post Office, “Wal, how long did she take?” asked the stranger. By this time Hone had begun to size up his guest. Looking up at the building with a puzzled air, Hone said, “By korry, I not know; he not there last night 1”

The fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Tinwald Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., was held in the Hall on Monday evening, when there was a good attendance of members. A motion of sympathy I was passed to Mr J. Thompson in his recent bereavement. An invitation to be present at the annual ball was received from the Hinds Lodge. The sick visitors reported three members still on the funds of the Lodge, and sick pay was passed for payment. The halfyearly balance-sheet was presented, and showed the Lodge to Jje in a very sound position. Mr J. L. Soal, on behalf of the Waterton Lodge, replied to the fourth Sentiment of the evening, and congratulated the Lodge on the financial statement. Mr J. Childs responded on behalf of Ashburton Lodge. The

treasurer tendered his resignation, to ■take effect from next Lodge night. Owing to the increase in the membership it was agreed to order a. further supply of regalia. Two candidates were initiated into the Order, the visiting members acting as conductors. The secretary’s wife, Mrs Schneider, was elected a life honorary member of the Lodge for meritorious services rendered. Mr S. Culverhouse, after delivering the Past Grands Charge, referred to the untiring efforts of Mrs Schneider in connection with the social side of the Older, and had much pleasure in welcoming her as the first lady member. Mrs Schneider briefly responded, and returned thanks for the honour conferred on her. It was agreed to hold a debate at a future meeting. Two candidates were proposed for membership. After the Lodge closed refreshments were partaken of.

The Ashburton Mission is making good progress, and the committee is now completing the business of forming it into an incorporated society. [During the four years of Mr Pratley’s ministry £IOO has been paid off the building and all the financial affairs put into complete order. Fortnightly socials are now being held, and funds gathered to enable a “Show Tea” function to take place this year, when it is hoped that the old building will bo crowded again as in days gone by. Mr Pratley feels grateful for the fine devotion of men and women, who have stood by and enabled the “work” to establish itself, and to the people of Ashburton for their sympathy day by day.—Advt.

Practically all the surface of the Domain ponds is covered over with a thin layer of ice, a relic of the keen frost of 11 degrees experienced this morning.

The work of enlarging the Croquet Club’s pavilion in the Domain appears to bo well on its way to completion. Many extra square yards will he added to the pavilion by the present work.

“ Do you know that whisky is sold at £1 per bottle in Ashburton - asked counsel for the defence in the sly o-rog case at the Magistrate s Court to-day. “Yes,” replied the witness (a police constable), “ and after the police make a raid it goes up to 2os.

Bail was refused by the Christchurch Magistrate this morning when Gertrude Grace Bell, a married woman, was again remanded on a charge of unlawfully using an instrument. The police said the patient was dangerously ill.

At a meeting held last evening of the provisional committee' appointed to outline a programme of the Labour Day Gala and Fire Brigades demonstration various recommendations were put forward, and will be submitted to a public, meeting to be held later. It v-as resolved to ask the Mayor to call this meeting for Wednesday, Atigust o, at the Borough Council Chambers.

The Chamber of Commerce has now been installed in the Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s rooms, which have been lent free of charge to the Chamber by the association. Pamphlets and periodicals necessary for reference have been secured. The rooms are open to members, wlio will thus be afforded an opportunity of keeping m touch with the doings in the commercial world. - >

The unenviable life of the commercial traveller in New Zealand in winter time was aptly epitomised by Captain R. C. Hammond, manager of the Northern Steamship Company, at the annual dinner of the Auckland Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Associations. “The commercial traveller,” he said, “lives practically in a suitcase, he is up to the knees in mud he travels where he can and puts up with the very worst of accommodation ; in fact, his life is worse than a sailor’s.” The speaker paid a high tribute to the unselfishness of the commercial traveller in organising benefit entertainments, particularly in the country districts.

The Ashburton Miniature Rifle Association lias secured another post match against a team far afield. Some time ago the Ashburton Club wrote to_ the Manawatu Association enquiring whether arrangements could be made for an association match with the Manawatu Association on the home and home principle, and a post match between the Palmerston North _ R.S. A. Club and the Ashburton Miniature Rifle Club. Yesterday a communication was received from Palmerston North agreeing to fire a seven-shot club match with Ashburton, and a ten-shot association match, the dates to be August 7 for the club match and August 13 for the association match. The Palmerston North Association expressed pleasure at the arranging of the shoot, and stated that this would he the second interprovincial shoot of the association since it had been formed. In the last match Wellington defeated Manawatu by 1938 to 1914.

Yesterday afternoon at 2.30 J. Robinson, a slight young man dressed in flannels, began an a tempt to break his own world’s record of continuous piano playing for 100 hours 10 minutes, says the “Lyttelton Times.” Robinson. who is a. New Zealander, was horn in Wellington, and in that town some weeks ago lie put up a record which stands at present. Before that in Auckland, lie established a record by playing ragtime music for over 50 hours. In a room opposite the Masonic Hotel, Robinson is sitting at his piano now, and if his record is to be broken he must go on playing without stopping until Monday flight. There is a small electric heater at his side, and at a nearby table there are many mysterious bottles which contain stimulants and embrocations which will be called into use before the long journey is finished. Punctually at 2.30 Robinson sat down nc, tho piano and struck up the National Anthem. There was a brief pause, and he began with a ragtime melody, and. for the rest, he will go on for over 100 hours if his strength admits. There is little doubt that his spirit is willing.

t. What would have been a tow of ?- about 1060 miles, from Sydney to >r Noumea, was frustrated recently, when, e after being one day at sea, the towg boat and its charge returned to the e New South Wales port. On June 16, s fully laden herself and with the big P Norwegian windjammer Sandvigen I - (also down to her marks with a cargo ! r of coke) in tow. the French steamer , 1 > Saint Vincent de Paul sailed from I Sydney for Noumea. On arrival at , the New Caledonian port the Sandvigen was to be converted into a coal hulk. Shortly after leaving Sydney, however, the vessel ran into a cyclone, during which very heavy seas were shipped. One particularly heavy sea, which broke on board, tore away a small tug, which was bolted on to the deck of the Sandvigen, and washed it overboard, 50 feet of the Sandvigen’s starboard bulwarks amidships' going : with it. To make matters worse, a j large hole was torn, in the deck from where the tug was wrenched, allowing large quantities of water to get down below. The pumps were at once brought into use, but the big one broke, thus making the task of getting tlie water away much more difficult. <m> position growing more and more difficult, it was decided to put back to Sydney, the vessels reaching Port Jackson after a most trying experience. I