LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 155, 12 April 1928, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The case of suspected infantile paralysis in the County Hospital has been diagnosed as positive. Tbepatient is an eight-year-old boy, residing on the cast side of the Borough. Harvest thanksgiving services were recently held at Tinwnld, Lagmhor, and Flemington. The Revs. W. Marshall and G. Verco conducted the services, at each of which there were large congregations and the churches were tastefully decorated. A large amount of produce and presei-ves was font to the Orphanages, and the thank, 'offerings amounted to over £52.

As a result of the exhibition Rugby match at Wellington yesterday the Olympic Games Fund will benefit by nearly £3OO (says a Press Association message).

At a special meeting of the Motorcycle Club Committee last evening it was decided to postpone the reliability trial from April 22 to May' 20,

For some time some of the lower branches of the trees in the railway reserve have been obstructing the engine-drivers' view of the semaphore signal opposite Baring Square. Abe Railway Department wrote asking tne Borough Council to have the protruding branches cut back, which the Council decided to do. The removal of the protruding branches was carried out this morning.

A Christchurch telegram states that with a view to trying out the possibilities of road transport in Canterbury, the Railway Department has taken over the motor-bus services running between Kowai Bush and Christchurch, Springfield and Christchurch, and Coalgate and Christchurch, as from next Monday. The existing timetables will be maintained.

The question has been asked whether a person paving rates to the County Council and also to the Borough Council is entitled to two votes at the polling on the Power Board loan proposal next Thursday. The position is that a ratepayer in such' circumstances is entitled to one vote only, cast under whichever roll the ratepayer may prefer. The voting lists of the two franchises are compared after the polling, so that cases of dual voting will be detected.

Replying to a complaint in Christchurch that three different telephones had to be used and 20 .minutes wasted* before the exchange. could be raised yesterday to put through a fire call by a ■ city resident, the 'District Telegraph Engineer says the delay is much regretted, but was due to the extraordinary rush of business at about 10 a.m., owing to people making inquiries bv* telephone as to the postponement of the-day's races. The operators had more traffic than they could handle (says a Press Association telegram). A telegram from Christchurch states that the Dominion draughts championship tournament concluded last night, Mr G. A. Brown (Christchurch) being the winner, defeating J. A- Boreham (Dunedin). The final points were: G. A. Brown (Christchurch) 20*. J. A. Boreham (Dunedin) 19 J, R. Bottmg (Dunedin) 19, F. Hutchins (Invercargill) 15*, J. R. Clark (Christchurch) 14*, R. Davis (Stratford) 12*, H. Morris (Southland) 11*, W. B. Rendall (Dunedin) 11*, J. O'Neill (Waitati) 11*, J. Hadbolt (Wakawi) 11*, L. R. Morris-(Christchurch) 9*, R. H. Carey (Marton) 7, W. H. Templeton (Otago) 6, A. Lyon (Marton) 5. Strong support of the jury system was expressed by the Mayor (Rev. J. K. Archer) at a civic reception to delegates to the Legal Conference at Christchurch yesterday. The Mayor said he noticed that a, paper was to be read dealing with the jury question, and the powers of juries amongst those who were mere laymen. He added that there was a good deal of concern at the gradual lessening of the work of juries in connection with courts. (Applause.) "We don't believe that juries never make mistakes," said Mr Archer, "but we do think that m a democratic country like New Zealand it is, a mistake to have too much of Judge-made laws and too much of judge-administered laws. (Hear, # hear.) A 6 far as I'm concerned, I will use what influence I have in the opposite direction. The jury system has come to be regarded as the. historic right of British people, and we don't want to have it whittled away." (Appaluse.)

Meetings in connection with the Ashburton Power Board's loan proposals were held at Lismore and Barrhill last evening. At the former Mr F. W. Watt (chairman of the Board) addressed a fair attendance, presided over by Mr T. Mulligan. After Mr Watt's address, Mr Mulligan expressed his confidence that ratepayers in the district would have complete faith in the Power Board's proposals. In reply to Mr J. R. Simpson, who enquired whether the carrying of the loan would have the effect of increasing or decreasing the annual charges on consumers, Mr Watt said the charges would not bo increased, and that additional profitable business obtained as a result of being able to develop further the system should have the effect of decreasing them. On the motion of Mr Mulligan, a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Watt was carried by acclamation. At Barrhill, Mr E. F. Nicoll addressed 30 people, presided over by Mr Hayward. A number of questions were asked by Messrs Hayward, Bishop and O'Connell. A vote of thanks to Mr Nicoll was carried unanimously, on the motion of MiHay ward, and seconded by Mr Bishop.