LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10350, 14 March 1925, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

In the Irish Free State by-elections the Government held three seats and lost one, says a London cablegram.

An Auckland telegram states that D. W. Neild, solicitor, of Maungaturoto, was fined £5 J for failing to furnish an audit of his trust accounts. Defendant did not appear.

In the Gisborne Supreme Court, in the case in which John William Boniface proceeded against the Gisborne Sheep Farmers' Frozen Meat Company for £1137 for injuries sustained by plaintiff through contact with a fan in the freezing chamber, the jury returned a verdict for £403.

A fire broke out in the premises of Smith and Smith, painters and paperhangers, Dunedin, yesterday morning, but was extinguished before much damage was done, although the stock was damaged by smoke and water to the extent of about £IOOO.

The annual lawn tennis tournament between Canterbury and South Canterbury, played at Timaru, was won by Canterbury. The aggregate scores were: Rubbers —Canterbury 18, South Canterbury 6. Sets—Canterbury 34. South Canterbury 15.

Stoats and weasels in Mid-Canter-bury have not proved dangerous to lambs, as far as general opinion has it. The members of the Mid-Canterbitry executive of the Farmers' Union stated so yesterday, when the New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies' Association wrote asking for evidence, if any, of lambs having been killed by these animals.

On a recent moraine (says the "Napier Telegraph") Taradale was favoured with the amusing spectacle of a smartly-equipped spring trap proceeding: leisurely down the main street, the motive power being a burly but docile bullock, equipped with collar and bridle complete. Cameras quickly made v their appearance, and the animal stood unconcernedly chewing its cud while the amateur snapshooters were endeavouring to coax a pleasant look from the novel steed.

The Aehburton Borough School Committee has arranged for the Gay Galateers Company to give a concert ifi the Theatre Royal on March 25 in aid of the school bath funds. At a special meeting of the committee the action of the deputation which waited on the company was approved. There was a full attendance of members, and it was decided that the committee would look after the business side of the concert and print 1000 tickets. Messrs John Watson (chairman). W. B. Woods. E. Coker, and J. McElhinney were appointed a sub-commit-tep to make arrangements for the concert.

The Maori is noted for his " don't worry" habits and sublime optimism, and occasionally these traits land him in endless trouble (says the "Wanganui Chronicle"). Recently a local firm had occasion to write a Native giving him. a gentle reminder that he had owed them a considerable sum for some time. They received the following succinct and somewhat reassuring reply to their voluminous communication: —"Don't worry. Will call in month. Kia ora." The manager of the firm gives the Maori credit for writing, and points out that some of his customers don't trouble to answer his " reminders," let alone pay their debts.

The finding of some bones supposed to be those of a moa. in the recently discovered Valley of Caves, within a few miles of Waitomo, was reported to the Now Zealand Tourist League some days ago (says the "New Zealand Herald"). Unfortunately visitors to the new caves, which are on private property, destroyed the relics and disfigured somo of the walls of the caves by writing their names. It was also reported that the caves had been further explored and many new scenic wonders found. The league is now taking steps to have the property protected, and, when pi\ieticable, made available to sightseers.

New Zealand can never be a serious competitor with Argentina in chilled beef, owing to its great distance from the centres of trade, said Mr W. Gaw, F.R.M.S., of Buenos Aires, who was in Ashburton yesterday. Argentina, he said, was ever on the alert for trade, and had brought its beef and mutton exporting system to a high standard of efficiency. The ships did not go along the coast gathering the cargoes, as in New Zealand, but saved time and expense by collecting at the one. port. Lucerne growing had been the salvation of Argentina. The people specialised in this. East of the Great Andeo the rainfall and the land were both light, and lucerne had been founfl to counteract this. The" quality of Argentina beef and mutton was a testimony to the valuable properties of lucerne. It was a wonder, continued Mr Gaw, that New Zealand did not grow more of this crop.

The scheme formulated by the Dominion Committee of the Young Women's Christian Association for work in connection with the Duneclin Exhibition is a comprehensive one. The outline submitted to the Ashburton branch of the Plunket Society covers activities under ten heads. In the first place it is proposed to* assist women and girls visiting or employed at the Exhibition to obtain suitable accommodation, one of the means being to establish at the railway station an information stall where information as to housing will be given to visitors. 4t the Exhibition there will be an information bureau where information j may be obtained as to the sights of I the citv and surrounding district and as to the exhibits and buildings of the Exhibition itself. There will also be a rest room and creche, in addition to n- cafeteria. For the girl employees a I will be provided, and games and sports organised for leisure hours. I It is also intended to organise recreational sports on a general scale, and there will be a lecture hall in which lectures' and demonstrations will be given on matters pertaining to women. Not the least of the proposed work is that of patrol work, women being on duty at night to look after the welfare of girls.

You can now cut your car upkeep cost by availing yourself of the new system adopted by G. H. Carson. By this system oar owners are protected against overcharges, and more prompt delivery of their car obtained. Electrical equipment repairs are especially catered for, and spare parts for all standard makes supplied promptly at competitive j price*.—Advt, ' j

A resolution in favour of the halfholiday in Ashhurton being changed to Thursday was carried by the MidCanterbury executive of the Farmers' Union yesterday. There was only one dissentient.

Matches between bowlers from the Linwood and Ashburton clubs, and between croquet players from the same districts, are in progress in the Domain to-day.

At the meeting of the Main Highways District Council in Timaru yesday the valuations of the several counties in Group 15 were given approximately as follow: —Waitaki County, £5,000,000; Levels, £3,000,000; Waimate, £7,500,000; Ashburton, £12,000,UU0; Geraldine, £4,300,00; Mackenzie, £3,000 J 000.

A patient in the Auckland Hospital, Frederick Hamilton, single, aged 29, was missed from the institution on Thursday night, and has not been seen since. A letter was found stating that life was a misery, and he intended to do away with himself. He was suffering from tuberculosis.

The main road between the Rangitata Bridge and Hinds is not in good order for motoring, and appears to require grading. On the other hand, the road between Hinds and Tinwald is in good condition, and a great improvement on what it was some months ago. Potholes abound between Ashburton and Tinwald, and this stretch of road needs attention before winter sets in.

The system of lessons at home for children attending the Borough School is proving satisfactory. The parents are co-operating whole-heartedly with the teachers, who have attended the school at stated times during the past week to hand out lessons. As the system has been in operation only a week, and the first exercises have not yet been corrected, it is impossible to say how the children have done their part. Good progress is being made with the system of home lessons conducted at the East Ashburton School. The headmaster (Mr W. W. Garton) intends to issue lessons next week to take in the Standards I. and 11. piipils. Up to the present, Standard 111. has been the lowest to be given home lessons.

In the interview with the Hon. A. D. MeLeod (Minister of Lands) yesterday, Mr J. Brown was reported to have said that a man who took his diploma, at Lincoln College should be allowed to go on to the University.Mr Brown points out that this summary of his remarks does not convey his meaning. What he did say was that ho saw no reason why a young man who had passed through a primary school and had had some instruction at a high school, and then took a diploma at Lincoln, should not be eligible for a University degree even though he had not passed the matriculation examination.

An increased subsidy for roads in the Waimate County was urged in a motion moved by Mr H. B. S. Johnstone at the meeting of Group 15 of the Council of the Highway Board at Timaru. Mr W. T. Lill (Ashhurton) opposed the motion on the ground that it would • simply mean getting more money for North Island roads. The South Island got nothing now compared with what the North Island received. The upkeep of roads in the North Island was double and treble what it was in the South Island. The money for the two Islands should be separated, and each County Council here should get its own motor taxes. The motion was carried nem. con.

" Parliament has? limited me to an expenditure of about a million a year for the next three years to enable me to carry out a definite programme. I am determined that programme shall be carried out. If I add any other works to this programme out of their order the whole scheme will suffer." So announced the Hon. J. G. Coatee at Auckland yesterday when requested by the Northern Suburban Railway League to expedite the MorningsmeAuckland tunnel scheme, so that its completion would synchronise with the Westfield deviation. The Minister

added that the alternative to adding to the programme was to get a further appropriation from Parliament. The report of the experts who had investigated the advisability of electrifying certain suburban lines had still to be received. He expected it in May, and the Morningside deviation would be controlled quite a lot by it.