LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 75, 9 January 1928, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Beatrix Anderson, of the Newland School, who was indisposed during the profieiency -examination, was later examined and has been notified that she has Qualified for her proficiency certificate.

A case of scarlet fever was notified and the patient admitted to the County Hospital yesterday morning. Six members of the Ashburton Motor Cycle Club ‘left yesterday for a run to Sharplin’s Falls. Unfortunately they encountered heavy rain at Sprmgburn. and, abandoning the rest of their trip, returned home via Methven. The secretary of the Ashburton County Hospital Board in his report to the Board to-day stated that duxang j December there were three cases of notifiable diseases in the County* There was one case of tuberculosis in Tinwald and one in Allen ton, and one case of pneumonic influenza in the County. At the meeting of the Ashburton Hospital Board' this morning, mention was made of a pair of twins that had been born at the Rakala Home between Christmas and New Year, weighing lTlbs, which was believed to be a record for the County, if not for the Dominion. Fishing generally during the weekend was poor, particularly at Hakatere, where a slight fresh in the river made conditions unsuitable. Several parties were out last evening but none reports any success. The Rangitata was fair, though there were no really good hauls. The heaviest fish landed weighed eight pounds. For the information of those interested, it may be stated that the results of the matriculation examinations are not likely to be ready for issue until toward the end of this month (states the Wellington “Post.”), and it is learned on enquiry from the Education Department that it is too early yet to state definitely when the Public Service Entrance examination results will be available for publication.

Seven members of the crew of the German steamer Kersten Miles were left behind in Auckland when their ship sailed for Wellington on Saturday. The deserters, who are all Germans were missed yesterday, but a search of the city by the ship’s officers and police failed to find them, and it is believed they have made out into the country. The Kersten Miles will remain for some days discharging at Wellington, and] it is hoped that the runaways will he caught in time to be put aboard the vessel before she leaves for Newcastle, her next port.

A party which included Sir Alexander and Lady Spence, of Dundee, Scotland, paid a visit of inspection to the Lake Coleridge power station on Friday, Sir Alexander is an ex-Mayor of Dundee, and he and Lady Spence are visiting relatives in Canterbury. Other members of the party were Sir H. Holland, M.P., Mr and Mrs H. Candy and family, and the Misses Sharp and Messrs J. and A. Sharp, of Ladfbrooks. Th© visitors were shown over the station by Mr Hart, officer in charge, and an assistant.

The Salvation Army community of Ashburton held a farewell service last evening for Ensign 0. E. Ransom and Mrs Ransom, who are leaving for Linwood on Wednesday after having been 12 months in charge of the Ashburton Corps. The service was led bv Corps Sergeant-Major A. Frew. Bandmaster G. Argyle and Mrs Watson also spoke in eulogistic terms of the retiring officer. A public farewell social will be tendered to Mr and Mrs Ransom this evening, and their successors Ensign Moore and Mrs Moore, of Svdenham, who arrive on Wednesday, will be publicly welcomed on Thursday evening.

A Wellingtonian searching Newbsyn tip for things worth while discovered no fewer than eleven apparently, genuine sovereigns, which evidently had been through fire, states a Press Association telegram. Fortunately he had sufficient wisdom to take them to the police station, where to-his disappointment it was found that they were counterfeit, the principal ingredient being lead. They were true to type, however, and any shopkeeper might Jmve been excused for accepting them. The theory offered by the police is that the coins were used at one time in conjunction with an advertisement and. were never actually placed in circulation. Anyone found in possession of three or. more counterfeit coins is liable to three years’ imprisonment.

A ford parent’s Christmas gift of a bicvcle to a boy living in one of the suburbs of Dunedin has revealed in the latter a vein of commercialism which, if developed along the right lines, should assure him financial independence and a life of ease before he reaches middle-age. The lad possessed the machine only two days, when his father, returning’ home one evening, met at his front gate a round dozen eager and clamouring youngsters, one of whom had just returned from a ride on his son’s brand-new bike. The father s mild rebuke to his hopeful and an expression of doubt as to the wisdom of allowing all and sundry to ride the blew machine, was met by the explanation that the nominal sum of one penny (collected in advance) was being charged for a ride round two blocks. One of the youthful hirer’s chums (probably for a consideration) was standing guard at the street intersection to minimise the possibility of any of the clients taking more than his pennyworth, and a comfortable jingling in the managing director’s pockets told of a good day’s business. Unfortunately for the lad, however his enterprise was looked on unsympathetically] by the parent, and the firm, after declaring a dividend, disbanded forthwith.