LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 82, 17 January 1928, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Union Company’s cargo steamer Kairanga, from Melbourne, collided with what was thought to be a giant sun fish the day after she lelt Melbourne. The fish which was 14ft. in length was impaled across the vessel s how. The engines were stopped and reversed to release the fish, states an Auckland telegram.

A Grevmouth telegram states that Mr T. E. Y. ISeddon, M.P., who has returned from a visit to the Kopara district, reports that at Mr Hinson s farm, by the Hnuniro riverbed, a buck chamois was found. Apparently it had wandered from the high country at the Hermitage snow icefields and moraines, and must have traversed along the ranges.

Eccentric chiming has become a regular thing with the Ashburton town Clock, and as many people hear it without seeing the dial, confusion often follows. At 9.30 o’clock last night the clock chimed the full hour, and as though ashamed of its action, and wished to rectify the mistake, it commenced, two minutes later, to chime a second' time. Again the full hour was struck 1

While traversing Omahu track yesterday a party of seven Thames residents came upon a female kiwi on a nest of two eggs. It was very docile, and several photographs were taken. Members of a gang of workers m the vicinity stated that the bird was led at their camp. It allowed itself to be handled. Its mate was shy, but was frequently heard calling.

A large motor-lorry, with a wliare attached, had a narrow escape from being wrecked on Sunday. It crashed into the concrete approaches to the Selwyn bridge, breaking several of the concrete posts. Only the butts of the broke a posts held the lorry, almost suspended, from a drop of fifteen to twenty feet. The outside front' wheel was completely suspended, and presented a problem for release.

An Auckland telegram states that several non-unionist waterside workers complained yesterday that they had made application for admittance as members of the Watersiders’ Union and had been told that there was no chance of their having their- requests acceded to. The secretary of the Union declined to discuss the situation. _ He said that several hundred non-unionists assembled at the -wharf each morning and frequently the union members had to go without employment.

The anniversary sub-comnuttee ot Court Ashburton, No. 6729, A.0.F., met last owning, the convener (Bro. R. W. Crowther) presiding over a good attendance. It was reported that arrangements for the smoke concert to be held next Monday, to celebrate the 38th anniversary of the founding of the Order in Ashburton, were well in hand. Members of the committee were certain that everything possible had been done to make the function a most enjoyable one.

Infectious and other notifiable diseases reported in the Canterbury and West Coast health districts for the week ended noon yesterday totalled 57, as follows: —Canterbury: Scarlet fever, 32; tuberculosis, 9; pneumonia, 3; pneumonic influenza, 1; puerperal sepsis, 2; septic abortion, 1; erysipelas, 1. West Coast: Pneumonia, 1- penumonic influenza, 6; lethargic encephalitis, 1. There were three deaths in the Canterbury district, one each from tuberculosis, hydfitids, and enteric fever.

A large motor-car, driven by a woman, shot ovir the Havelock Street crossing at about 25 miles an hour this morning, and turned into Cass Street amid a cloud of dust, the pace having apparently not been dimininshed while the corner was being negotiated. These speedings usually occur when there is no policeman about, hut perhaps if a representative of the law was on the scene there would he no speeding. Such breaches of the by-laws are too frequent in Ashburton to guarantee safety to the public for any length of time.

An extraordinary sight was witnessed bv Napier residents the other evening when a complete map of the British Isles was unmistakably presented iu the form of a cloud (says an exchange). The detail was so exact that it held observers spellbound. Cornwall had her tapering finish, the mouth of the Thames was plainly visible, running well into the mass, Wales was truly represented, and Scotland was best of all. Close by was a smaller cloud, and this represented Ireland, though it was not so clear. The vision only lasted for a second, as a strong wind was blowing, and the cloud was soon scattered over the sky.

The members of the St. Stephen’s Boy Scout troop in camp at Hakatere are thoroughly enjoying themselevs. The programme drawn up is being strictly adhered to and the Scouts’ day is a well-ordered one as may he seen by the following time-table : 6.3d —Reveille ; 7.3 o—physical exercises ; &—breakfast; 9 —salute Flag and prayers; 9.30 —good turns (the boys visit the various huts and endeavour to assist the owners by doing odd jobs); 10-12 —■ Scout work; 12.30 —luncheon; 1.30 —Bible study; afternoons free from 2 p.m.; 5.30 to 10— organised! games. Patrols of six under the guidance of Mrs Arnst take turns at cooking.

A reporter who was in Manawatu district during the week-end had a talk with a Palmerston North resident who is closely connected with primary industries. Asked regarding the progress of the Massey Agricultural College, he replied that it was very disappointing to his mind and it was the opinion of many good farmers whom he knew that the officials were carrying out the work of preparing the area in a very expensive manner. Draining operations were not being done as practical farmers would do them, and, in fact, £2O per acre too much had been paid for the land. AH the same, the College was going to mean a lot to Palmerston North.

Until quite recently, birds did not take much notice of aeroplanes, but during the last two or three years pilots in some of the great trans-Continental routes have noticed a distinct change in the attitude of their feathered rivals of the air. This is especially the case where the journey involves the passage of a considerable desert area. These airmen who make regular flights over the arid regions on the way to the western States, in the interior of Australia, and on the route from Europe to India report that the number of birds taking free rides on the ’planes is constantly augmented. Most of the species which do this are of a migratory habit, and, at certain seasons of the year, the birdpassengers are more numerous than atothers. Quite often as many as a dozen to 20 birds will be riding on one ’plane.

Four of the contracts for the improvement of Fie Main South Highway between Rolleston and Rakaia have been completed; the No. 6 contract is about half completed. On the No. 5 contract the Public Works Department had four culverts to put in: three have been completed, and the fourth will be done in a week’s time. Tenders are being called for the widening and straightening of the length between the Selwyn River to a noint a few chains beyond Dunsandel. The greater proportion of this length of road will he widened to 40ft. Tenders have been let For putting a coating of fine. maintenance gravel starting three miles and 1 a half north of Bank-side, and ending at the Rakaia River —a distance of six miles and a half. Tenders for a similar coating between Burnham and the Selwyn River will be called for shortly.

A rifle meeting for senior cadets and territorials from Waitaki to Rakaia will be held at Temuka on February 4 It is understood that the best' shots will be selected to renresent their units at the army championships at Trentham.

The Aucklanders competing at the New Zealand swimming championship meeting at Dvinedin leave by the second express to-night. Messrs Enwright and Edenborough (chairman and treasurer of the Auckland Centre) accompany the team, with Edenborough as manager, and Mrs G. Brotherton as chaperone (says a Tress Association message).

Two railway engines drawing empty cars collided at the Rattray Stieot crossing, Dunedin, this morning, and traffic to the south was delayed for half an hour. Both engines were considerably damaged, the tender of one being stove in. Two empty passenger cars were badly knocked about. _ One was derailed (says a Press Association telegram).

There passed through Ashburton this afternoon, en route for Dunedin, Messrs W. A. N. Allison, W. H. Henderson, and J. L. Ewing, who since leaving the southern city two weeks ago have cycled over 750 miles in Otago, Canterbury, and Westland. A fourth member of the party, Mr A. H. Forbes, was unfortunate enough to be stricken down by influenza in Greymouth and had to he left behind. The cyclists, who camped at Rolleston last night, intend to reach Timanfthis evening.