LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10337, 26 February 1925, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Blackberries are not a pest in North Otago. The berries are being sold in Oamaru fruit shops in considerable quantities for jam-making purposes.

Another trial run of the Railway Department's motor train was conducted yesterday, when the car was taken from Christchurch to Timaru and back.

The hawk nuisance is becoming very bad in tho Tikpkino district, where the pests l are causing great havoc in the poultry runs (says the Napier "Telegraph"). Recently two j'oung lads captured no less than eight of these birds in four daj's by means of a rabbit trap.

An unusually large stock train passed through Ashburton yesterday afternoon. It comprised 56 trucks of sheep, from the Tinwald yards to consignees in the north. The sheep were part of the yarding at the stock sale on Tuesday.

Last evening's annual meeting of the Ashburton Golf Club was a record in attendance and enthusiasm. Twenty new members were elected, a state of affairs previously unheard of at the start of a season, and in spite of resignations the jnembersbip stands at 140.

»A Waipukurau resident, whilst visiting Porangahau beach, discovered on the beach a 15-pound lump of what he thought was embergris (relates the Napier "Telegraph"). A small portion was forwarded to Wellington for analysis. Visions of a trip to Wembley were' shattered on the report being received: "Mutton fat," apparently from some passing vessel.

Will the tractor oust the horse for farming operations ? This is a muchdebated question with the farmer, and it would appear that the petrol-dnvon machine is finding more and more purchasers as the months pass by. Three new tractors have made their appearance in the Wakanui and Seafield districts in the past week or so, and are reported to be doing good work.

It is estimated, says the Greytown " Standard," that between 10,000 and 12,000 cases of apples and 1000 cases of pears were blown off in the Greytown commercial orchards by the gale last Wednesday. In one orchard alone the loss was approximately 7000 cases. Most of the orchardists had only just commenced picking the mature fruit for export, and a Government grader was in the district to supervise the grading and packing.

At present the acclimatisation societies of Ashburton, South Canterbury, Waimate, and North Otago are paying difforent prices for shags' heads and eggs, and a suggestion by the Waimate Society that a conference between the four bodies should be held to arrive at a uniform price has met with the approval of the Ashburton Society, which has appointed a delegate lo attend a conference.

"It is very sad, in going overthe back-country roads, to see the number of vacant farms," said Mr H. M. Skeet, formerly Commiosioner of Crown Lands, when giving evidence at the Auckland Supreme Court. Questioned as to the cause of abandonment, Mr Skoet said he took it to be that the holders had paid too much for the land and could not find sufficient capital to stock and farm it properly. Want of stock, and of adequate top-dressing of the pastures, was the direct cause. — Exchange.

"A good fall of rain would be welcome now," stated a Wakanui farmer to-day. The north-west winds of the past week or so have dried up the districts bordering on the sea coast, and a fall of rain would freshen up pasture.! and bring along the autumn and winter feed. Harvest operations in the Seafield and Newlands districts are practically over, and a large portion of the grain has been carted away. Paddocks are now being prepared for autumn sowing.

Practically all the crops in the Ali'ord Forest, Methven, Springfield, and Winehmore districts have been cut, and, in the majority of cases, stacked. Little threshing from the stooks has been done in these parts, farmers evidently realising that, after the wet weather during January, crops will be in better condition if stacked for a period. The countryside is looking fresh and green after the recent drying winds, and everything points to the autumn feed coming away well.

Regulations are gazetted covering the conditions for licensing motor drivers. The licenses will be issued from March 1 for twelve montlis. Application must be made to the local authority in whose district the garage is situated. Local bodies may conduct a pooling system of licenses. Applicants already licensed may obtain a license under the Motor Act without examination, but the driving test is otherwise compulsory. Licenses will not bo iosued to persons under 18 years of age.

Illegal fishing in the Rakaia River will be the subject of a conference between representatives of the North Canterbury and Ashburton Acclimatisation Societies. The North Canterbury Society has written to Ashburton stating that as there has been a lot of stroke-hauling at the Rakaia this season, a conference to discuss the position would be advantageous. As the river mouth, where illegal fishing is mostly practised, was close to the huts on the Christchurch side, and a long way from those on the other, it was quite likely the prevalence of the practice had escaped the notice of Ashburton anglers, especially as it was seldom indulged in till after dark. The Council of the Ashburton Society has approved of the suggestion for a conference. The chairman (Mr G. H. Hefford) and the secretary were elected representatives.

Closed Car Comfort has only to be experienced to be appreciated. The demand for closed oars has grown to phenomenal proportions with certain ma.kos. For instance the Hudson Motor Co. state that their output of closed cars is 83 per cent, of the total output. It is not surprising to learn that Hudson and 1 Essex Cars are so popular because of the wonderfully ! good value ofFered. The N.Z. Agents have recently heen able to reduce the price and are now offering Hudson 7Seater Redan at £775 and Essex 5--Sentor Coach at £395, with balloon tyres and full equipment. You are invited to inspect, these hue cars by appointment with the local agent, G. | H. Carson, of Tancred Street- His 'Phone No. k 129.—Advt. J

Beach and Wakanui roads are both badly cut up just now, and require a good fall of rain to consolidate their surfaces. Grain-hauling by traction engine and motor lorry is responsible for the broken surface of these main roads.

The required number of signatures having been received, the petition praying the Borough Council to take a poll on the half-holiday question in Ashburton will be presented to the council at an early date. There are 350 signatures, most of them business men.

At the last meeting of the council of the Ashburton Acclimatisation Society there were present: Messrs G. H. Hefford (chairman), T. Wilson, F. Crum, H. P. Arnst, A. Gates, and P. Cookson. The blocks for the deer licenses had been drawn, the chairman reported, and all the successful applicants were taking them up. Four pair of Canadian geese had arrived, and were sent forward to be liberated in Maori Lake.

The Henderson Town Board (Auckland) will bring under the notice of the Royal Humane Society the bravery of Alice Marsh, a schoolgirl, aged 12, who, when two girl companions, 12 and 14 years, got out of their depth and were in danger of drowning, swam to the rescue. The other girls clutched her neck and dragged her under. A youth from a launch assisted the three girls ashore. They were in an oxhausted condition.

The North Canterbury Hospital Board decided yesterday to communicate with the Mental Hospital Department and state that it is willing to co-operate with that department in establishing a clinic in the out-patient department of the Christchurch Hospital for the treatment of what is known as the borderline case. The committee stated it wa6 hoped that if the Mental Hospital Department met the board in this respect that great benefit would accrue.

" I have not passed over a highway to compare with the main Seafield Road, which I consider is a perfect thoroughfare," said a visitor to Ashburton. He had recently been all over the North Island, as well as over a large portion of the South Island. This road is controlled by the Wakanui Road Board, and at the last meeting of that body the excellent state of the road was referred to with pardonable pride.

Steady growth is being made by the Ashburton Musical Club, which was formed some months ago. At the club's second meeting several new members were elected. The question of holding a public concert early in April was discussed, but no decision was arrived at. The works of Schubert were dealt with in a paper read at the meeting, and several vocal and instrumental items were given.

A new form of amusement is provided the children in many country districts during their prolonged holiday from school. This consists in waiting for the arrival of the daily mail car, and in the subsequent delight of counting and scrutinising the envelopes. The bird-nesting season being practically- over, and the carting out of lunches to the harvesters and other small errands not now requiring attention, the children have sought afresh avenue for their energy.

The North Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday received from the Ash burton Hospital Board a letter asking that as far as possible Ashburton cases be not accepted at the Christchurch Hospital, but sent on to the Ash burton institution. The secretary stated that great difficulty was experienced in finding out who were Ash burton patients. Many of them came to Christchurch to seek medical advice and resided temporarily in the city. As a result they were admitted as Christchurch patients.

There has been a long delay over the replacement of the extensive approach to the Hapuka River bridge, Kaikoura, which was destroyed by floods, thus causing inconvenience to through traffic from Marlborough to Canterbury. Mr G. W. Forbes, member for Hurunui, interviewed the Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister for Public Works, yevterday, with the result that the Minister approves of the council going on with the work immediately, the Minister undertaking to adjust the difference of opinion as to financial responsibility as between the county and the Government when he visits the site during April. At Addington yards yesterday the following sales of *fat stock were made on behalf of Ashburton County vendor* :—Wethers: For R. H. Thompson (Dorie). 64 at 40s 4d to 45s 4d; Jno. Studholme (Ealing), 60 at 42s 4d to 44s Id; A. T. Jessop (Methven), 39 at 425; A. C. Winn (Lyndhurst), 27 at 36s lid; L. C. Anderson (Lyndhurst), 25 at 34s 6d; C. D. Chisnall (Hinds), 28 at 28s to 33s 7d. Ewes: For Jno. Studholme (Ealing), 32 at 36s Id to 39s 7d; P. L. Dolan (Rakaia), 128 at 31s Id to 35w Id; C. Nordquist (Methven), 52 at 26s 4d to 355; John Watson (Methven), 65 at 28s lid to 33s 9d; J. Gardiner (Rakaia), 64 at 28s 4d to 32s 4d; R, Hawke (Lowchffe), 60 at 24s 9d to 30s Id; A. T. Jessop (Methven), 33 at 26s lOd. Cattle: For S. Barclay (Lyndhurst), heifer at £8 7s 6d; C. Hale (Lyndhurst), cow at £7 2s 6d; S. G. Lemon (Lauriston), heifer at £6 2s 6d, 2 cows at £3 7s 6d to £8 os; F. Cork (Lauriston), cow at £4 10s; W. Mussen (Hinds), heifer at £3 17s 6d, 2 cows at £3 2s 6d to £3 12s 6d, 3 steers at £2 17s 6d to £3 10s.

I Affected by the gall disease, otherwise known as the curmytoma blight, J hundreds of bluegums growing on the ' Selwyn Plantation Board's property at I Kirwee attracted the attention of members during the course of their I annual inspection yesterday. Many of I the trees were actually bad, while others wero in a dying state. The superintendent (Mr It. S. Robinson) remarked that it would be only a time before the entire plantation would die out. Six years ago Mr Robinson forecasted the early destruction of the gums bv the blight, and his prophesy had fully justified itself. ( Strangely enough, only ' the bluegums j have been affected, other trees in close proximity being quite free from the disease. It would not be long before all the trees were killed, stated the superintendent. He drew the attention of members of the board to the nature of the blight, which, when j

brushed with the hand, left a reel, blood-like liquid. Blowflies are .said to be capable of exterminating the | disease in a very short time, although, j of course, it would be scarcely practi- j cable to set them to the task. Put j half a dozen blowflies on that tree, j, said Mr Robinson, pointing to one of j tlie younger stricken gums, and the blight would very soon be killed off. [

The Ashburton Borough Council's application for £IOOO, additional to the £35,000 already granted, for the completion of borough drainage work, will be entertained by the State Advances Department, according to advice received by the council. The loan will be for a period of 36£ years, with interest at. 4£ per cent, per annum.

Mr A. Megson, who was found in his home on Tuesday evening in an unconscious condition, was reported this afternoon to have shown 6igns of regaining consciousness, but he is still in a serious condition. Good progress toward recovery is being made by Mr R. Benniston, of Tinwsud, who fractured his skull in a cycling accident on Saturday evening.

An elephant is a useful creature to have about (says the Taranaki "Herald"). While an. attendant was standing outside a circus at New Plymouth and conversing with a friend, he wished to light a cigarette. Taking a match from his waistcoat pocket, he casually struck it—on the trunk of the elephant, who was the third member of the little party. The elephant was not in the least affected.

At a meeting of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association at Rotorua last evening, Mr Henry Brett, one of the principal proprietors of the Auckland "Star," who yesterday celebrated his 82nd birthday, was elected a life member, and presented with a gold medal in recognition of his great services to journalism. The chairman (Mr C. W. Earle) and Sir George Fenwick paid eloquent tributes to Mr Brett's splendid work.