LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10457, 25 July 1925, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A sum of £20,000 is shown on the Estimates for restoration of roads and bridges damaged by floods. _ A Maori giving evidence in the Natilo Land Court at Napier recently, said that his great-grandmother had left her husband, a. chief, at Taupo, and had returned to her former home (states an exchange). The reason assigned for the matrimonial contretemps was that the chief had eijzht other wives, and she was not altogether satisfied with her position as the ninth.

"How is it that you cam© to have such a considerable amount for taxi hire?" asked the Official Assignee of a bankrupt at a meeting of creditors in the Invercargill Courthouse (reports the "Southland News"). ' ; To get work," was the rather extraordinary confession. "This man," said a solicitor for one of the creditors, "has been known to incur £6 for the hire of a taxi to collect £sl"

An Invercargill telegram states that the weather for the inter-island Rugby match is overcast, with occasional snowers. The ground is in fair order.

The Health Department has a vote of £2BOO for medical research, mcluaing £2OOO for investigation of infantile paralysis.

The semi-finals and final of the flying 50 billiards match were played at the Soldiers' Club last evening. \*< Long defeated E. Vessey in the final.

It is expected that an announcement regarding the appointment of the new Bishop of Christchurch will be made in the course of a few days.

Headed by Savage F. Curtis a party of 25' members of the Ashburto Savage Club will motor to,Chnstchuich this afternoon to "raid' the Christchurch Savages and take charge of the korero to-night. They will letum to-morrow.

An Ashburton poultry exhibitor, Mr T. Rattray, has obtained the boutn Island championship tor Plymouth Rock cockerels for the third time m succession. The championship was awarded at the Temuka show yesterday. Mr Rattray gamed also first and second in the cockerel class and fust in pullets. Mr A. F Smith, also ot | Ashburton, gained first awards in Brown Leghorn cockerels and pullets.

A soprano of some prominence Miss L. McDonald, of Temuka, will .be I heard in Ashburton next Wednesday evening. Miss McDonald recently gave a recital in Christchurch, on her return from the Conservatonum ol Music, Sydney, and was declared a sinaer of outstanding ability. one will be the chief vocalist at a concert arranged in aid of the Catholic bazaai fund, to be given in St, Stephen . Hall Miss McDonald will be supported by Ashburton talent.

The Ashburton High School Old Pupils' Association held a most successful dance in the High School Assembly Hall last evening when there was an attendance of about 40 couples. The night was ideal ioi dancing, which was kept up until a fairly 'late hour. The arrangements were carried out to satisfaction, and the good condition of the floor was the subject of much comment. Mrs A. Mitchell's orchestra supplied the music.

The announcement that an old cannon had been found washed up on the beach on Tuamotu Island caused a con-, siderable amount of interest a short while ago, and much conjecture was made as' to the identity of the weapon. Arrangements were made for the cannon to be brought to a place of saiety by the Gisborne Harbour Board launch as soon as the Weather conditions were suitable (states the Gisborne "Times ). When the final arrangements were made to salvage the weapon, it was found that it had already been removed. The Harbour Board is anxious that the relic be returned to the Board's possession, and the matter is being carefully investigated.

The Government purchased, shipped, and distributed in 1924 four million bushels of wheat' to supplement the supplies grown in the Dominion, states the Hon. W. Nosworthy in his Financial Statement. This arrangement was essential to safeguard the food of the people, and was accomplished practically without any cost to the Government. Owing to world increases in the price of wheat and its by-products during the latter part of the year and the first quarter of the current year, there wa6 a direct saving of £200,000 to consumers of flour and bread, as the prices of both these essential commodities were kept at a fixed level until the end of February, 1925.

When Miss Chalmers, of Ashburton, over two years ago, promised a donation of £3OOO to the County Hospital, the Health Department's subsidy was 24s to the pound, but a later amendment to the Act reduced this to 20s, and this was in force when Miss Chalmers actually handed over the gift, which she increased to £4OOO. The Government paid the subsidy at the rate of £ for £, hut in view of the fact that the £3OOO was promised before the amendment was effected. Dr. Valintine, Director-General of Health, recommended that the extra 4s be paid, and, to cover this, an amount of £6OO is included in this year's Estimates.

The number of new arrivals under the immigration policy during the financial year ended March 31, 1925, shows as increase of 30.7 per cent, over the figures for the previous year, stated the Minister of Finance in his Budget. During the year 208 public-school boys arrived under the nomination of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce and the New Zealand Farmers' Union, and have all been placed on farms in various parts of the Dominion. This class of juvenile migration, although only in its infancy, is proving a great success. The existing agreement between the Imperial and New Zealand Governments expired on March 31, 1925, and a new agreement has been entered into on terms even more favourable to' the. migrants and the New Zealand Government.

A pretty story was told at a meefYng of the Taranaki Education Board last week, when the question of school books was under discussion and the variation which used to exist between different districts was referred to (states an exchange). Mr Dempsey said he remembered on one occasion the teachers in the Taranaki district disapproving of a certain reader, and the Board decided to change the reader, adopting the one then in use in the Wanganui district. Almost immediately the Wanganui Education Board discarded its reader and adopted Toranaki's rejected book. The point was brought out to show that while teachers might not approve of soine books adopted in their district, they shoiild not have the'power to introduce other books of their own choice at the expense of parents. It was stated by the senior inspector that the principal books were now standardised throughout the Dominion.

The 1925 model Chevrolet Sedan is now on view at G. H. Carson's garage. The bodywork is by Fisher, whose bodies are recognized to be of the highest class. The colour is aquamarine blue with black trimmings, of the new Duco enamel. The radiator shell is non-rust-ing white metal. All windows may be lowered or raised. The seats are roomy, well-sprung, and upholstered in rich volour. An automatic windshield wiper is provided. Disc wheels and balloon tvres are standard equipment on the fieclnn. This new Chevrolet Sedan is really good value at £350 complete. You are invited to insnect the car_ or send for a catalogue which is waiting for you.—Advt.

A first offender for drunkenness was fined 10s by Mr J. B. Christian, J.P., at the Magistrate's Court this morning.

The Department of Industries and Commerce spent £69,000 on the British Empire Exhibition, and has a further vote of £20,000, part of which is recoverable. A sum of £15,000 is allocated for the expenses of all Departments exhibiting at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition. There is a separate vote of £25,000 as a subsidy to the Exhibition, in addition to £25,000 paid.

A new item in the Department of Agriculture estimates is £42,000 for agricultural education. The Department of Agriculture bears the cost of the concession of free railway carriage for lime. It requires a vote of £26,500. The export of fruit guarantee involved a payment of £7975 last season. A sum of £IOOO is provided for a dairy laboratory in Taranaki. The Land and Income tax vote includes £2O paid to an informer whose information lecTto the recovery of income tax. The cost of training and maintenance of territorials and cadets during the year involves £402,699. Owing to war stocks becoming exhausted, £26,000 will be needed for new clothing. Aviation expenditure is estimated at £19,400, comprising two Bristol fighters, engines, and engine and aircraft spares, £10,772; six Avro training . machines, aircraft spares and tools, £11,150.