LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10671, 16 February 1926, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Three building permits to a total value of £B7O were issued by the Boiough authorities within the past fortnight.

A slight shock of earthquake was felt at Hanmer Springs yesterday. It was not recorded by the seismograph at the Christchurch Observatory.

On their way to the Dunedin Contest, the Port Nicholson (Wellington) Silver Band will pass through Ashburton on the second morning, express on Thursday. The band will play the A Grade Grand Selection on the railway station.

The sequel to a police raid in Haming Street, Wellington, on was heard in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, when the owner of the premises was fined £25, and 13 others who were found on the premises were fined from £5 to £3 each. The fines totalled £9O.

At the Palmerston North _ Magistrate’s Court five owners of motor lorries were fined £2 and costs each for having caused motor lorries of a greater weight than five t-ons inclusive of load to be on the main highway to Paremata, when such loads were prohibited.

At a meeting of the I\ omen’s Christian Temperance Union at Tinwald, Mrs Robinson presided over a fair attendance of members. , A vote of sympathy was passed to the relatives of the late Mrs Bowman, a member of the Ashburton Union, and also to the relatives of the late Mr Page. Mrs Hight was appointed “White Ribbon” agent, and Mrs Watson the delegate to represent Tinwald at the Christchurch Convention in March.

Infectious and other notifiable diseases reported in the Canterbury and West Coast health districts for the week ended at noon yesterday totalled 17, as follow: —Canterbury: Scarlet fever 4, diphtheria 3, tuberculosis 5, erysipelas 1, septic abortion 1, lead poisoning 1, actinomycosis 1 West Coast: Diphtheria 1. Deaths—Canterbury : Enteric fever 1, tuberculosis 1, septic abortion 1, actinomycosis 1.

Complaint was made by Mr J. W. Bowden at the Borough Council meeting last evening that while the home of a certain diphtheria patient had been disinfected by the Inspector, the place where the patient worked had been left untouched. It was futile to disinfect one place and not the other, and the matter should be brought to the inspector’s notice. It was decided to draw the inspector’s attention to the matter.,

j The lack of sufficient light at the railway crossing on Walnut Avenue was referred to by Mr R. A. Collin# at the meeting of the Borough Council last evening. It was, he said, very difficult to see a train on the crossing, and ho thought the Railway Department should be communicated with on the matter. Mr R. Ken- supported the previous speaker, and the Town Clerk was instructed to ask the District Engineer to look into the matter.

Bankruptcies in which e the assets stated exceed the liabilities are somewhat unusual, but instances in 'which the debts are only one-tenth of the assets are exceedingly rare. James Barlow, a contractor, of 30 Fitzgerald Avenue, Christchurch, who filed his petition, gave a statement setting out that while his liabilities amounted to £9O 9s, his assets (book debts) totalled £905 19s, leaving a surplus of £Bl5 10s. The meeting of creditors, which was to have been held yesterday afternoon, lapsed for want of a quorum.

There was no quorum at a meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of Thomas Carleton, formerly a farmer of Staveley, but now a casual labourer of Riccarton, which was to have been held at Christchurch yesterday. The unsecured debts totalled £774 11s. There were no secured creditors. The assets were recorded as nil. There was only on© unsecured creditor, Robert Wallace Wightman, a farmer, of Methven, to whom the whole amount was owing. The meeting was adjourned sine die.

The readiness with which the public is responding to the appeal on behalf of the Page Memorial Fund was exemplified at the New Zealand Metropolitan trotting meeting at Addington on Saturday. Mr H. F. Nicolk chairman of the fund, realised that it would be a good opportunity to bring the matter personally before some of his friends, with the result that in a short space of time he had collected the sum of £lOl. Mr Nieoll says the willingness with which the various amounts were donatted was typical of a fine spirit.

A Press Association »telegram, from Wellington says that the work of preparing new issues of postage stamps for the Dominion is now in progress. The Postmaster-General (Sir James - Parr) made a statement that the work of preparation was well in hand. He expected that an issue of stamps would lie made in a month or two; the issue would affect three denominations —the penny and two shillings and three shilling stamps. An artistic design, showing the King in military uniform, would lie portrayed on the penny stamp and the two shilling and three shilling denominations would show Has Majesty in naval uniform.

The week-end at Alford Forest gave promise of better weather conditions. Monday was a fine, hot day, and saw another start made with harvest operations, which had been stopped bv wet weather. The first Presbyterian Sunday School picnic held in Alford Forest took place on Saturday on the banks 1 of Taylor’s Stream, a few miles above the White Bridge. There was a good gathering of children, parents, and friends, who assembled before mid-day and had lunch together, and, before dispersing, afternoon tea. In the afternoon children’s races were run. Prior to the picnic, subscriptions amounting to over £3 were received and spent on prizes, which were distributed during the afternoon. Each scholar of the Sunday School received a book, and wall-cards were distributed among the younger children.

California’s Response.—California is a wonderful motoring country. The people there know a good car as well as anyone. Recent sales prove the popularity of Hudson. Essex, and Chevrolet Cars. During September last, HudsonEssox sales numbered 3158 and Chevrolet sales 2718. If you intend purchasing a new car, you should insist on a trial spin in a Hudson, Essex or Chevrolet.—G. H. Carson, the local agent will gladly arrange for a demonstration. Make arrangements today—

During the holidays several of the sclioolhouses in the Hinds district were entered by some unknown person. Various i articles of clothing were taken. In some eases the marauder showed a liking for the potatoes growing in the school gardens.

East Street, from Tanered Street to Burnett Street, has been roped off this afternoon to allow the street to be thoroughly cleaned preparatory to the laying down of bitumen to-morrow morning.

An Auckland Press Association message states that Mr George Robinson is in hospital in a very serious condition, having fractured his skull, right arm and right leg. These injuries were caused by the bicycle he was riding colliding with a motor van.

The Main South Road is again undergoing repairs, and is very bad for traffic (says the Hinds correspondent of the “ Guardian”). Motorists should cross the railway at Windermere and take the upper road, which is fairly good, and cross back to the main road at the next crossing.

At the Ashburton stock sale to-day a fat wether donated by Mr C. Glossop to the Page Memorial Fund realised the sum of £l3 2s. No sooner had the sheep been purchased than it was offered again, this occurring 17 times before it was finally sold back to Mr C. Glossop.

Fire at the residence of Mi' R. EWilkins at Mount Eden resulted ip the back part being gutted and the other rooms damaged by smoke and water, says an Auckland wire. The- house' was insured for £IOOO in the South British Office. The furniture had been insured for £SOO in the Standard Office, but the policy had lapsed.

The Hakatere Sports Club held a meeting last evening, Mr M. Knox presiding over a fair attendance. It was decided to leave the matter of erecting a public hall in abeyance. A donation of £5 os was made to the Page Memorial Fund, and accounts amounting to £SO 14s were passed for payment.

The “ Guardian” has received from Mr H. T. B. Drew, Publicity Officer at the High Commissioner for New Office, London, a copy of the “Northern Ensign,” a paper published at Wick, Caithness, containing an account of the life of the late Mr Charles Reid, who was born at Bower, near Wick. The account, which includes a description of the funeral and mention of public bodies’ expressions of sympathy and regret, is taken largely from the “ Guardian,” and occupies nearly two columns of space. The paper has been handed to Mrs Reid.

The annual conference of the' New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association commenced in Nelson today, and will continue until Saturday (says a. Press Association message). About 50 delegates are present. Papers on various' subjects will be given, followed by discussion. Dr. S. A. Gibbs (of Nelson) is president-elect. A civic reception was accorded to the delegates this afternoon, and this evening the delegates will be the guests of Dr. and Mrs Gibbs at an “At Home” at Velma Hall.

The New Zealand Shipping Company, agents of the steamer City of Norwich, which arrived at Auckland from New York last Friday, announce that an outbreak of fire occurred in No. 6 poop batch at sea on February 4. The fire was quicklv subdued, and it is thought very little damage was done. To cover any damage by fire and water it will be necessary in the meantime for the consignees to ' sign Lloyd’s “General Average” agreement. The ship is loaded with case oil, motorcars, and general merchandise for discharge at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Timaru, Dunedin, and Newcastle.