LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 77, 11 January 1928, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The C.Y.C. regiment's camp at Easter will be at Burnliam, and there will be a trek to Kaituna, where field training will bo carried out for several days before returning to Burnliam. An Auckland telegram states that four of the seven German sailors who deserted from the steamer Kerston Miles and were arrested at Howick, were sentenced to seven days' imprisonment on the understanding that they will be returned to their ship at Wellington. The receipts of kauri gum into Auckland, after reaching the high figure of 500 tons in November, dropped back in* December to 284 tons (states an The records of the past vear show «: decline as compared with 1926, and, a«r a matter of fact, this i is merely a continuation of the devreasing te'denoj? which' has been a feature <*f an industry that' was once one of j}?s most imnoriaut in t u<? Province. j

A Christchurch telegram states that play in the Dominion Bowling Championship was continued to-day with the sixth round of the singles. The weather was threatening, with a strong southwest wind. Bowls of J. H Trayes (Mt. Eden) were challenged yesterday by 11. K Aitohison (Caledonian), but after a i test to-day the protest was dismissed. The Southern Cross Glass Company has received cable, advice from Panama that Mr H. Schnurpfeil is a passenger by the Arawa due m Auckland on 22nd instant. Mr Schnurpfeil who is an eminent engineer in the glass macliinery industry* of Europe, will spend several months in Ashburton installing the machinery supplied by him to the Company. The building of the first fin - nace will be proceeded with immediately on Mr Schnurpfeil's arrival about the end of January.

Some remarkable geographical information has been heard m Hamilton lately as the result of the visit of the Balclutha Boys' Band (remarks the "Time*"). On bright person rjuessed in tun that Balclutha was in Australia, Africa and Canada before being informed that it was in the South Island of New Zealand, while some well-grown girls heard discussing its whereabouts were equally vague. One expressed the opinion that it was in South Auckland, while another smartly volunteered the statement that it was in Scotland.

"The Ashburton Mail" of 50 years ago contained the following paragraph:—On Wednesday last no fewer that five well-known characters were arrested at Ashburton "for being drunk and disorderly. They had to be set at liberty without their cases bemg heard, as there was not a single JJP. to be found to sit on the Bench. Bail was not taken, as the men had no money between them other than a fourpenny bit. The accommodation at the lockup was not sufficient for the whole batch, therefore the police had no alternative but to set them adrift.

Among the many improvements to the Milford Track is to be the erection some time this year of a hut at the top of the McKinnon Pass at an altitude of 3400 feet (reports the "Southland News"). The tourist officer advices that the building is to be as up to date as possible, and that an oil stove will be provided. The hut should prove a boon to tourists, as it will break in two one of the day's marches. On a cold day and in wet weather the stove will prove invaluable for providing hot nourishment for weary trampere.

Speaking at Tauronga, Mr Judd, of the New Zealand Co-operative Pig Marketing Association, said it was estimated .that 230,000 pigs would be fattened in the South Auckland area this season (states an exchange). The year's surplus for export was estimated at 65,000. The association had sold pigs locally for .export to Australia and Britain, and endeavours were being made to open up new markets. Sales had been.mjide which showed a material advance on the local sale prices. The scheme had been operating for only about .fij[e weeks, and it had already handled £OOO pigs. He estimated that 50,000 pljgs would be handled this season.

A danger to motorists and to "all who on the coastal roads are\the mol*s of horses which infest the highways in the region of Te Ngae (says the Roteir.ua "Chronicle"). It is possible to cou«t a hundred of these mongrels, with' & few assorted utility t*>*pes of holidaying on the main road or tli33 banks. They gallop ahead of cars, or jvith disconcerting; suddenness decide totross in front of an oncoming vehicle. At night they are specially dangerous. It w**uld be greatly ji# the interests of motorists and also of "jandowners if a -number of these ueslefcs beasts were rounded up and destroyed They have no value, and confer no benefit on anyone. They also spread noxious weeds — if there is anywhere left '.where they can spread {%>.

Information has been received by the Department of Agriculture that further outbreaks of foot-and-*t,touth disease in live stock have> occurred in Britain, and accordingly the Department is not sparing any efforts to prevent its introduction into Now land. The officers of the Department have kept a close watch on the position for some time past, and the regulations framed last year have been, and will continue to be, strictly enforced. The outbreaks in Britain ar* 1 regarded as very serious. The position there is being watched closely by the High Commissioner's Office, which is constantly informing the Department of Agriculture on the matter. The Director-General of Agriculture (Dr. C. J. Reakes), who is now in England, has cabled to the Department as follows: —"Several further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease. Position serious. See that straw packing regulations are strictly enforced."

The committee of the Ashburton Motor-Cycle Club met last evening, those present being Messrs A. H. Haden (chairman), E. Cambridge, M. McTigue, A. Jamieson, and G. Hefford. It was decided to inform tho Christchurch Motor-Cycle Club that it was impossible to assemble a team to take part in thei gymkhana in Christchurch on Monday evening. In regard to the four Canterbury clubs' rally to Seaview on January 22 it was decided that Ashburton club members should meet visitors at the Post Office at 10.30 a.m. and escort them to the rallying ground at Seaview. Messrs A. H. Haden and J. Farr were appointed to organise events to be decided in connection with the rally. Mr H. Brown was appointed judge and Mr M. McTigue announcer. The projected trip to Rakaia Gorge and Hororata on February 19 was changed to a run to Te Moana Gorge via Geraldine.

The result of top-dressing pasture laid down some 25 years ago with superphosphate is shown on Mr D. Brace's farm, Otama (says the "Mataura Ensign"). Up till August the land had never been treated, and the growth of grass was almost negligible, bul with the application of 2cwt. of superphosphate, what was once considered land of poor quality is now covered with a fine growth. Where clover and cowgrass were believed to have died out, there is mow to he seen a phenomenally luxuriant growth. "Such has been the effect of applying superphosphate to various parts of the property that I find I am able to carrv nearly double the number of stock I carried formerly, and there is still room for improvement. Weather conditions are ideal, and if thev continue there is little doubt but that the season will be good," said Mr Bruce.

Wassail, a liquor now consisting of ale with roasted aoples, sugar, nutmeg and toast, received its name from the Anglo-Saxon rvhrase, meaning "may you be in health," which was, Jiggd in drinking a tomt in the liqmr,

On his way home late last night a member of the "Guardian" staff discovered one of the wires of the electrical system broken, and lying on the footpath. The end was hared for a considerable length. He went to the Power Station and reported the matter, being heartily thanked for doing so, as the affected wire was part of the high tension system, and had it shortcircuited would probably have plunged the district into darkness. Now that the new Arapuni Lake is gradually taking shape, it is becoming quite evident to even the casual observer that this sheet of water, which will extend for some twenty miles upstream, is destined to become one ci the greatest sporting centres in the Dominion, and therefore,, in the world (says the Auckland "Sun ). Whereas Lake Taupo is almost -as broad as it is long, and is thus affected by every wind .that .blows, ±o the hindrance and annoyance of fishermen, the new Arapuni Lake, being land-locked, will be free from all such disabilities.