LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10365, 3 April 1925, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Maori Lakes, near Mount Somers, in tlie Heron and Tripp survey districts; have been declared sanctuaries for native and imported game. In the Palmerston North Police Court a young man, the publication of whose name was forbidden, was charged with the theft at Shannon of a mailbag and contents valued at £l3O, the property of the Government, and remanded till April 9. Accused was arrested is Australia* <

The building permits issued in Christchurch last year totalled 1195, representing a value of £837,100, compared with 1217 representing £821,605 in the previous year. The figures were as follow, 1924 totals being given in parentheses:—lnner area number 77, value £207,092 (77, £142,126); outer area 113, £65,887 (105, £80,917); suburban areas 1005, £564,221 (1035, £598,562).

Archbishop Julius, who will retire from active work at the eiid of this month, gave some advice to the congregation at St. Stephen’s Church last evening. As an old man about at the end of his days, he said, he would testify to them that following Christ in word and deed was the one thing really worth while in life. He besought them to stand up for Christ whenever opportunity presented itself, and to be living monuments to His sustaining power and love.

A meeting of the Wakanui branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society was held at the residence or Mrs Cyril Frampton. The president (Mrs F. Frampton) presided over a good attendance of collectors. A veiy satisfactory report for 1924 was given, the total amount collected being C 9 7s. It was decided to commence: the collections earlier this year. Miss Cooper, organsing secretary, gave an interesting talk on the work ot the society.

Seventeen candidates two young men and 15 young women —were confirmed in St. Stephen’s Church last evening by Archbishop Julius, who took as the basis of his address Christ s words, “Follow Me.” His Grace emphasised the fact that though there were innumerable and conflicting opinions in the world to-day, tliese words had still their old-time power. A good practical example of Christian living was far superior to mere lip service. The old generation of people was passing away, and it remained with the young to carry on the serious work of Christ and the country.

Interviewed at Wellington, the Minister for Railways, the Hon. J. G. Coates, referring to the North Island Main Trunk service, said the Department has a very awkward problem to solve in providing a daylight tram which will give good service and reach the terminal at a reasonable hour. “ It is our intention to carry out an experiment of a daylight train, but not till after Easter,” said the Minister. “ Will that involve taking off the ordinary Main Trunk express ?” he was asked. “ Well,” replied Mr Coates, “ the traffic would not warrant three trains daily each way. It is for the Department to work out sometnihg, and I am awaiting its suggestions. Whatever is tried will only be in the light of an experiment to ascertain the demand. We are out to meet the demand; that is the guiding principle.”

The monthly meeting of the South Rakaia Road Board was held yesterday. There were present: Messrs A. J. Magson (chairman), H. J. Crothers, H. A. Harrison, W. W. Carruthers, and Jas. Lambie. The clerk reported a credit balance in the bank of £.336 Is 7d. Rates collected since' last meetdng totalled £220 4s 4d, and outstanding rates amounted to £149 Os 9d. The clerk was instructed to take legal proceedings to recoA'cr unpaid rates. Mr Lambie reported that the street lights for Chertsey had not yet been erected, and this was left to the chairman to arrange. The Rakaia School Committee’s request for reconsideration of the sanitary charges was held over. The clerk reported that oipe crossings had been put in on the Hatfield and Overdale roads* and on Boag’s Road. The Cemetery Rond had been improved, and Thompson’s Track and the Acton River Road had been patched and graded. The following transfers were registered : —George Edgington to E. Fox, S. Buckett to L. E." McDonald, R. Oakley to S. Wilson.

Tho executive of the South Island Motor Union, which met at Christchurch last even ins:, received a letter from the Hon. R. F. Bollard, Minister of Internal Affairs, stating that, with a view to going into the question of identification plates and proposed amendments to the Motor Registration Act, a conference would be held at Wellington on April 29. It was decided that a preliminary conference he arranged between the itforth and South Island unions the day before the main conference, with a view to arriving at unanimity in the matter. With regard to the erection of standard signs and mile posts on highways, the Highways Board wrote stating that it did not wish any reasonable sign now existing to be pulled down. The idea was that all new signs should conform with the regulations, and that existing signs requiring renewal should also bo renewed in accordance with the new standard. It was decided to reply that the Union did not favour the new design of sign-posts before railway signals, being quite satisfied with the existing cross-arms design.

The fact that Tuesday was til©, last day on which toll-gates are to operate in Taranaki has recalled to old residents incidents connected with the early days of the gates. The first tollgate was erected in 1870 at the top of the Henui Hill where Watson Street intersects Devon Street and several years later it was moved further out from the town to Smart Road. Its presence there indirectly led to the destruction of the celebrated “Fitzroy Pole” which, if it existed to-day. would he of great historic interest. This pole, which boro carvings symbolical of the (supposed) superiority of the Maori over the Pakeha. had been erected by the natives in 1844 to mark the northern boundary of the region in which the white men were to he allowed to settle. Settlement had extended much beyond it, but the Governor (Oapt. R. Fitzroy, R.N.) had held th.'vt the purchase of the land had not been valid and the settlers had been ejected. A fire in the fern or other growth covering the surrounding ground felled the pole and the toil keeper with a distressing lack of appreciation of its historic value, cut it up for firewood. The first council, under the late Colonel Kendall, secretly removed the gate one night to a position outside the borough past Fitzroy. By this act the members ensured the receipts of the gate falling into the hands of the County Council and not the municipal authorities.

Yon can now cut your car upkeep cost by availing ymirself of the new system adopted by G. ‘H. Carson. By this svstem car owners are protected aeainst overcharges, and more prompt delivery of their car obtained. Electrical equipment repairs are especially catered for, and snare parts for all standard makes 'supplied promptly at competitive prices.—Advt.

Over £IOOO has been handed over by the liangitata lload Board to the County Ooftmcil upon its merging into the latter body. This amount stood to the credit of the board, and will be used by the council in the maintenance of road's in that district during the coming year.

At a meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council the town clerk, Mr E’. J. Davey, was suspended until next meeting, when the position, will be fully discussed. An investigation committee reported on borough affairs, and recommended the appointment of a comptroller to take supreme control. Thereupon, it is alleged, the town cWk sent a circular letter bo councillors making certain allegations against members of the commit Lee.

The birth-rate for the Dominion last year was 21.57 per 1000, the second lowest ever recorded. On the other hand, the death-rate, 8.29, was actually a record as compared with other countries. South Africa comes nest with 8.77, and Australia third with 8.89. England is 11.6, and the figures range up to Japan 224. The infant mortality rate has declined from 50.77 per 1000 births in 1920 to 40.16 per 1000 births in 1925.

Little response lias been made to the County Council’s request that waterraces in the County be cleaned. The engineer (Mr A. A. Fooks) stated at the meeting to-day that the rangers reported that many farmers would not clean the races. The seriousness of this breach was stressed by several members, who said farms toward the sea were left almost entirely without water during the present dry spell. Landholders should be compelled to clean the races. Failure to do so was a most unneighbourly action. The Works Committee was given power to take action, in the matter.

The fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Ashburton Lodge, M.U., 1.0.0. F., was held in the Lodge Room last evening, the N.G. Bro. G. Ede presiding. Thi'ee new members were initiated, and one proposed. Nine members wore reported on the sick funds, and sick pay, £7 10s, was passed for payment. Accounts amounting to £lB, wore also passed for payment. The syllabus for the social evenings to be held during the; winter, was approved, and) it was decided to held the first social on May 9th. The recent visit to Addington was reported on, and it was resolved to issue an invitation to these brethren to pay a return visit in the near future.

Responsibility for tbe upkeep of tlie warning signs at railway crossings was discussed by the County Council today. The subject arose through the District Railway Engineer requesting that the level crossing sigh inimediately north of Cliertsey be repaired by the council. The Department contended that as the signs were on roads over which it had ho control, the body in charge of the road should nay for their upkeep. The County Engineer (Mr A. "A. Foots') said the Works Committee, which had considered the matter some time ago, had decided that as the railways created the risk of accidents, the Denartment should keep tbe signs in order. The cost to the council of painting periodically all the warning signs in the County would be considerable. Members remarked that an accident never smashed a train. It was the traveller on the roads who suffered. The signs should lie erected further from the lines. It being considered that the matter was a Dominion one, the council referred it to the Counties’ Conference.

The programme of sports arranged for to-morrow is a diversified one. The cricket fixtures include a match at Timaru for the Bristol Cup, between the premier teams of the Ashburton County and South Canterbury, Ashburton and Zingari respectively. The second grade County competition games "commenced on March 14 will be concluded. 'These matches compriseHigh School v. Tinwald, at Tinwald; St. Stephen’s v. Methven, on Ashburton Domain; Ashburton v. Lauriston, on Ashburton Domain. The concluding games in the County Lawn Tennis Association’s B grade competition will take plane on the Ashburton Club s courts. The match between Te Marne and Mount Somers will decide the competition. Two sets left unplayed in, the Tinwald-Mount Somers match will be decided. Tinwald will play a match against Scofield. Most of the Rugby football clubs will commence their seasons. A senior match has been arranged between Old Boys and Hinds, at' Hinds. The Ashburton Bowling Club will hold a drawing competition, and the Croquet Club a progressive tournament.

Applications for space at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition are coming to hand freely, says a Dunedin telegram, and already several intending exhibitors are anxious to obtain definite allocations, in order to proceed with preparation of their displays. The position with regard to the provincial courts is very encouraging. There w every prospect that Auckland, Wellington. Canterbury, and Otago will tnl--> 500 ft sonar© feet each for provincial displays, and Southland has applied for a reservation of 2500 square feet. Marlborough intends to take 1000 square feet, and the Nelson Progress League has reported a movement with the object of providing a. court for that nrovince. Applications for 1800 sguare feet have been received from Fiji and Bristol. The Government’s exhibit will take up 28,000 feet, and there will be a similar amount of space available for a commercial exhibit. In the British court practically all the space has been disposed of. Numerous applications from New Zealand agents of British firms have been received, and applications for space in the New Zealand secondary industries pavilion are coming in very rapidly. The Pudding Hill dam, which supplies water from the. north branch of the Ashburton River to races in the Highbank, Rakaia, and more coastal districts, will be put in order immediately. The wall of the dam burst in the flood last December, and temporary measures which did not prove altogether successful for any length of time were taken to keep up the supply of water to the intake. When the matter came up at to-day’s meeting of the County Council, Mr A. J. Magson said the council should have put the work in hand soon after the washout. The Rakaia people had been without water for some months. The chairman (Mr W. G. Gallagher) said the estimated cost of a new wall for the dam (£800) would have to bo found from the water revenue, which at present could not stand it. The work would have to bo done in any case, said Mr W. T. Lill, and the money could be found somehow. The supply of water to the County races was' essential. It was decided to carry out the work as outlined by the engineer in his report.