LOCAL AND GENERAL.
During the month of July several unemployed married men have been engaged by the County Council m cutting firewood and clearing gorse and broom at IDromore and Willow by. Similar work had been given to unemployed men at Ashton. A Dunedin telegram states that three hotelkoepers—Lawrence Patrick Howard (Shamrock Hotel), John Trenorove (Excelsior), and Archibald MacDonald (Port Chalmers)—were each fined £3O for using Hennessy brandy bottles without destroying the label. The County Council to-day received notification from the District Highways Council, No. 15. that the following applications had been approved: — (1) To revoke the declaration of part of the present highway, and to declare the highway between Rakaia and Methven along the line by Mitcham; (2) the declaration of 12 miles of the River Road as a secondary highway; (3) to revoke the declaration of Mainwaring's Road, about 12 miles. The letter was received. A Dunedin telegram states that a deputation from the Chamber of Commerce and sports bodies waited-*on the Otago Trades and Labour Council this evening for the purpose of enlisting the favour of trades unions in a proposed scheme of daylight saving in Dunedin. The deputation suggested that business places should open half an hour earlier and close half an hour earlier, the system to have effect oyer a period of six months. After discussion the Council passed a resolution endorsing the scheme, and decided to solicit the support of the various unions. The spinsters of Methven entertained their benedict and bachelor friends at their annual ball in the Methven Public Hall last evening. There was a large attendance, including visitors from all surrounding districts, as well as from other parts of the province. Music was supplied by McDonald's Orchestra, while extras were played by Mrs A. Lawrence, Miss Alma M'auger, and Messrs Dabourn and G Petrie. Mr W. J. Burrows was M.C., and Misses Alma and Shona Mauger were joint secretaries. The hall was tastefully decorated with a colour scheme of gold and green, with special lighting effects. The function was one of the most enjoyable yet held.
The appointment of a Royal Commission to investigate the problem of local rating throughout the Dominion was advocated by Mr W. H. Field in a question to the Minister »f Internal Affairs given notice of in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr Field said there was an acute and growing controversy throughout New Zealand on the subject. Frequent changes in the system of rating in various districts were made, and undoubted los3 and hardship resulted to very many individuals. He suggested that the Commission the Government should set up 'should consist of independent men versed and skilled in the subject, and that the legislative adoption of the report they brought down might bring about a just system of rating for universal use throughout the country.
The Loyal Ashburton Lodge, M.TT., 1.0.0. F., held its first meeting in the new lodge-room, the old St. Andrew's Church, la6t evening, the N.G. (Bro. J. H. Stevens) presiding. A„vote of condolence with P.G. Bro. F. Pritchard jn the death of his mother was carried, members standing in silence. Sick pay amounting to £l3 6s 8d was passed in favour of 12 members. Three candidates were elected and one initiated. It was decided to notify the Loyal Timaru . Lodge that October 13 would be a suitable date for the official visit from South Canterbury lodges in return for the Ashburton district visit last year. It was resolved that the Ashburton district officers be invited to pay an official visit next lodge night and to invite County lodges to be represented. One candidate was proposed. After the lodge closed, Bro. G. Bushell provided an interesting and instructive hour with a talk on pruning and grafting, for which he received a hearty vote of thanks. Supper was served before dispersing.
If the Hon. F. J. Rolleston is to be taken seriously he does not subscribe to the belief that gas and electricity are modern necessities. Drainage is a necessity, but gas and electricity are not, he said 1 , when Mr Armstrong was criticising a provision in .the Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill by which the permission of a mortgagee has to be obtained before a property can be reticulated with gas or electricity. Mr Armstrong said that the Christchurch City Council's experience showed that there was absolutely no necessity for this clause. No mortgagees had lost money in Christchurch under tin's heading. The Hon. A. D. McLeod: The Crown, as mortgagee, has lost money. Mr Armstrong: Not in Christchurch. Many clauses of this Bill, added Mr Armstrong, were very farreaching and much more revolutionary in character than the Municipal Conference even demanded or even expected. It was a direct blow at the right of municipal self-government.
The monthly meeting of the Ashburton branch of Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union was held in St. Andrew's Hall yesterday, //hen the president (Mrs A. G. Irvine) presided over an attendance of 36. After the opening exercises a short period was devoted to the study of mission work in China. An interesting letter was received from Mrs G. H. McNeur, one of the pioneer missionaries, who, with Mr McNeur, has recently returned to Canton after furlough spent in New Zealand. Opportunity was taken to make suitable acknowledgment of the good work done by Mrs Buchanan, who has resigned from the position of secretary, after having served in that capacity for a considerable period. Mrs W. J. Moore expressed appreciation of the capable manner in which Mrs Buchanan had carried out her many duties, and asked her acceptance of a beautifully-bound volume of Mrs Heman's poems. Mrs Irvine snd Miss Cameron also spoke. Mrs Buchanan suitably acknowledged the gift. Mrs Irvine extended a welcome to Miss Corbett, a former member of the Union, who recently returned to Ashburton. The meeting closed with the Benediction, after whicli refreshments! were served'.
Where first-class work is required, in no matter what class of land, use P. and D. Duncan Implements. Their Tractor rioughs, fitted with Murray Automatic Lifts, Spring-tine Cultivators, and Seed Drills are in a class by themselves, the best on the market. P. and D. Duncan, Limited, Christchurch and Ashbui'ton.—Advt.
The County Inspector (Mr E. N. Johnson) reported to-clay that during July he had taken out informations against four motorists on the bridge. He had. issued 57 drivers' licenses and collected six heavy traffic licenses. A car driven by Mr Ben Wills, containing Mr and Miss Allen, met with an accident at "Willowby yesterday afternoon. The car was being turned round on the road, and backed over into a drain on the side of the road. Apart from a few bruises sustained by Miss Allen, none of the other passengers were hurt. The car had to be towed into Ashburton for repairs. The County Inspector (Mr E. N. Johnson) reported at the monthly meeting of the County Council to-day that he had been notified of the following cases of infectious diseases during July:—Scarlet fever, Fairfield, Methven, Beach Road and Allenton, one case each; tuberculosis, Riverside and Rakaia, one case each; diphtheria, one case at Methven.
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Bibliographic details
Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 252, 3 August 1928, Page 4
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1,185LOCAL AND GENERAL. Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 252, 3 August 1928, Page 4
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