LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10685, 31 December 1925, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The "Ashburton Guardian" will not be published to-morrow (New Year's Divy).

The Ashburton Trades' picnic will be held at Timaru on March G.

The Electoral Court to hear the petition of Mr J. McCombs against the return of Mr M. E. Lyons as member of Parliament for Lyttelton will consist of Mr Justice Stringer and Mr Justice Ostler, who have also been appointed to hear the petition of Mr J. O'Brien in Wcstland.

In the Timaru bowling tournament yesterday Taieri defeated St. Clair in the pairs competition by 24 to 15. Currie (Taieri) defeated Falconer (Otago) 20-15 in the final of the singles.

A grey nurse shark, 9ft 4in long, was caught by Mr J. Oliphant, who was fishing in a dinghy a mile and a half off shore at Thames. The fish towed the boat about two miles before being despatched.

A jemmy was used by burglars who made a raid on the premises of the Richmond Working Men's Club. Stanmore Road, Christchureh, yesterday morning. They broke in a brass panel of a rear door with the tool, and turned the key in the lock. The articles taken comprised about £4 in silver and notes of small denomination, 15 bottles of whisky, three of gin, six of stout, and 1 five of port wine, and a quantity of tobacco and cigarettes, of a total value of £2O. Mr Hughes (the custodian), who lives opposite the club-room, heard a noise shortly after midnight, but did not attach any importance to it.

Another step in connection with the erection of a bridge over the Selwyn on the Main South Road was made yesterday, when a derrick was placed in a position to commence operations with a view to ascertaining whether concrete piles may be driven at this point of the road. It is considered that no part of the bed of the Selwyn is more favourable for such tests. If, however, the tests prove that concrete piles are unsuitable, it may bo necessary to use wooden piles. The tests will be completed before January 15, when tenders for the erection of the bridge will close, and the information obtained will be available to the contractors. The bridge will be built of concrete, its cost being apportioned between the Main Highways Board and the various local bodies concerned. It is expected the work will be completed before next winter.

Since the amalgamation of the Lands and Survey Department over 30 years ago (says a Wellington telegram), the chief administrative position in the various districts, that of Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor, lias with perhaps one exception been held by professional officers who had been trained principally in the survey branch of the Department. It is understood that a change in policy is being made in respect of these appointments, and that the professional position, that of Chief Surveyor, will be separated from that of Commissioner of Crown Lands, and, further, that the new policy will be carried into effect in the appointment of a successor to the present Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Survevor at Wellington, Mr T. Brook, who' takes over the duties of Valuer-General at an early date.

When tho Maori goes visiting he never dreams of going empty-handed; he would have been an ideal guest for a surprise party. Several hundred Maoris from the North and round about Auckland, says the "Star," are making for the vicinity of Wanganui to welcome home Ratana, and the hamper they are taking comprises three tons of good solid food, including potatoes, nipis, and cabbage. "It is time the Europeans woke up," said a prominent Maori to a "Star" reporter when mentioning the fact that a lot of Northern Maoris were going down to Wanganui for the festivities. Ho said that Ratana was doing good work among the Natives with his church, the Church of God the Father. God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, with All His Holy Angels, and felt that if the pakeha did not realise the meaning of the message it would be the worse for him.

An inspiring service way conducted in the Ashburfcon Mission o-n Sunday last. Mr Pratley expressed pleasure at tho increase of members and attendance during the year, also the interest taken by the young people in the Y.W. League. The Mission looks forward with great confidence and is grateful to God for His goodness throughout the closing year.—Advt.

! Why Chevrolet is better.—The new Chevrolet frame is 4r} inches deep, providing an extra strong foundation. The long underslung springs give greater comfort. The steering gear is an element of safety ensuring easier steering. The dry plate clutch requires no attention, and is fully enclosed. The gear change is wonderfully easy. The brakes i are powerful and smooth in action. The I

banjo typo rear axle easing permits easy I access to differential gears, and is much I stronger than the old style. The long wheel base provides for a longer body, J living creator lee; room in both front ind ror.r compartments. The seats are wide with high backs, and are luxuriously upholstered. Tho famous Chevrolet entrine doveloos 25 ner cent, more newer than similar-sized engines of other makes, and hence the petrol consumption is wonderfully light. The electrical pystem is the famous Remy make, ensuring quick starting and reliable operation. The new Chevrolet vies with cars of double its price. G. H. Carson is waitino; to demonstrate to you the sterb'ng value in this world famous car. Tnsist on seeing tho new Chevrolet before you decide on your new car.— Advt. J

Very heavy; rain fell in the Carew district between 12.30 and 1.30 this afternoon. The fall was so great that large stretches of water soon covered the low-lying paddocks.

Two motor cars collided, on the Ashburton Traffic Bridge about 6 o'clock Inst evening, but none of the occupants was injured. One of the cars had to be garaged for repairs.

The building activity in the four chief centres for November is shown by the Government Statistician to involve 493 new buildings, including 383 dwellings. These* with permits for alterations, bring the total expenditure to £537,805. There were 118 permits of a value of £51,627 in Christchurch and the surrounding boroughs.

Despite the fact that it has been a very poor season for oats and wheat, many farmers near the coast have their oats in stook ready for threshing, although this will not be done for some time yet. In the Greenstreet district, also, there is a fair quantity of oats in the stook.

In preparation for the construction of a pathway through the avenue of oak trees at the north-west boundary of the borough, the Advance Ashburton Association is removing a large number of tree stumps. Residents requiring firewood would be well advised ta secure their needs while they have the opportunity. No doubt they will disappear as speedily as those uprooted at Mona Square.

Next year there will occur the minimum' number of eclipses which can occur in any year, namely, two, both of the sun/ Neither of these will be visible in New Zealand. The first of these is a total eclipse of the sun, which will be visible, generally as a partial eclipse, in Eastern and South Africa, Southern Asia, North-western Australia, and the Indian Ocean, on January 14. The other is an annular eclipse of the sun, which will be visible generally as a partial eclipse over the North Pacific Ocean on July 10, at lOh 35m a.m.. New Zealand time.

The New Zealand Nomads' cricket team, which is to play the Ashburton Cricket Club to-morrow and Saturday, will arrive by the first express to-mor-row morning". The match will commence at 11.15. and stumps will be drawn at 6 o'clock. In the evening the two teams will be the guests of the management of His Majesty's Theatre. Saturday evening will be left free for private engagements and on Sunday afternoon the visitors will be taken for a motor run to the mouth of the river. The team will leave |or the south by the first express on Monday.