LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 144, 29 March 1928, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Several cases of chicken-pox have iecently been reported in the Mount Somers district.

The vacancies in the Allenton School caused through Miss I. Hoddier being on sick leave and Miss Knox on ordinary leave, have been filled by Mr Corbett and Miss F. Clark.

At the motor-cycle racing meeting to be held at New Brighton on Saturday, Mr G. Hefford, junr., of the Ashburton Motor-Cycle Club, will compete in the three laps novice handicap, and the four laps (Janterbury handicap.

In the report of the monthly meeting of the Acclimatisation Society, published yesterday, it was stated that several licenses had been issued for the Rakaia and. Alford Forest blocks. The report should have been that several culling permits had been issued for the Rakaia and Alford Forest blocks.

A mob of sheep, numbering between 200 and 300, and owned by Mr Paweey, of Dromore, was run into by an engine at the railway crossing near the Ashburton saleyards early yesterday morning, and about 20 were killed. It is stated that the dogs took fright and made no attempt to head the sheep off from the approaching engine.

While competing in the heats of a hurdle race at the High School girls' sports yesterday, a young girl, Kura Chapman, had the misfortune to trip at one of the hurdles and, as a result of the fall, broke -her wrist. Medical attention was then sought and the fracture was X-rayed. There is no fear of complications setting in, however.

A foreign invasion threatened Ashburton to-day, and the Ashburton High School Cadets, who are in barracks at the Drill Hall, were thrown into the breach. The ''enemy" advanced on the town from the west, and the Cadets held the line along the river-bed. The manoeuvres and mimic battle were entered into enthusiastically by the Cadets.

The level of Lake Coleridge is a good deal below normal. Last week it was 1662.8 feet, compared with 1663.15 feet the previous week. The average flow of water from the Harper River into the lake was 146 cusecs last week, as against 155 in the previous week. The power-house took its maximum load of 17,800 k.w. between 11.30 a.m. and noon on Tuesday, March 20.

An enjoyable concert was given at the County Hospital last evening by the Ashbjjrton Silver Band, under the baton of Lieut. H. T. J. Osborne, and was much appreciated by the patients. The programme was:—March, "The Colonel's Parade"; selection, "Rose Marie": waltz, "London" j euphonium solo, Mr Halls; selection, "In a Persian Market",- hymn; fox-trot, "Me and My Shadow." j

• An Oamaru telegram states that a new star was discovered there on Monday by Mr A. Crust, of the New Zealand Research Department, who is in North Otagcf in connection with the establishment of a meteorological observatory.' This star, which will be called Nova Lupi, is very close to another called Lupi, which is being observed. Nova Lupi is very faint and may not blaze up like Nova Aquilde in 1918 or Nova Pictoris in 1925. The new star is near the pointers of the Southern Cross.

The band of the Coldstream Guards, London, has recorded for His Master's Voice two of the stirring marches written by Mr It. A. Home, of The Bristol Piano Company, Christehurch. Both the "B.B." and the "East and West" marches, often heard in Christchurch picture theatres, are recorded with full and realistic tone. Both have all the qualities of a good march —volume, tune and rhythm —and of their class, it would be hard to find better.

An Invercargill telegram states that an extraordinary position has arisen regarding the town clerkship, which carries a salary of £750, rising to £950. Three applicants have been offered the position and all have declined, and the council has decided to re-<(dvertise for the position. A section of the council is at loggerheads with the engineer and the retiring, town clerk, and it is surmised that its fault-finding attitude is responsible for the candidates refusing the lucrative position.

The following 6ales were made at the Addington saleyards yesterday on account of County clients: —Fat Cattle — Kennedy's Estate (Ashburton), heifer at £ll 17s 6d, 7 steers at £7 17s 6d to £lO 17s 6d. Fat Ewes—On account of Dan McKendry (Lyndhurst), 58 at 25s 7d to 29s 4d; D. Inch (Te Perita), 71 at 18s 4d to 19s lOd; W. J. Inch (Te Perita), 62 at 17s lOd to 18s Id. Fat Lambs—On account of Mrs Hood (Chertsey), 3at 35s 4d; W. Hood (Chertsey), 65 at 32s 7d to 34s Id.

! Further meetings of ratepayers regarding the Ashburton Electric Power Board loan of £90,000 were held last evening. Mr F. W. Watt addressed a fair attendance at Mt". Somers, wfEh Mr J. R. Lockhard in the chair, and received a very attentive hearing. ICt the conclusion, Mr E. C. Wood moved, and Mr J. Waugh seconded a hearty vote of thanks for his clear and instructive address. This was carried! with acclamation. At Ealing, with Captain Wallace as chairman, Mr E. F. Nicoll addressed a large audience, which followed his remarks with close attention. On behalf of the meeting, Mr W. G. Gallagher proposed a cordial vote of thanks to Mr Nicoll, which was carried with acclamation.