LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 113, 23 February 1929, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the Supreme Court, Christchurch yesterday, before Mr Justice Adams, ‘Ernest ‘ Henry Healey was granted a decree nisi on the grounds that his wife, Alice Healey, had failed to com pi v with the terms of an order for restitution of conjugal rights. Evidence showed that the marriage took place in 1910.. and that a separation order was made in 1924.

The Ruanuna Hall Trustees met last evening, there being present: Messrs F Tasker (chairman), J. Moore, jun., R W. Holland, J. D. King and J. Oakley. All apology for absence was received from Mr G. W. Rose. Two tenders were received for renovating the interior of the hall, renewing the floor, and staining the woodwork. That of Messrs Collins and Co., of Ashburton, was accepted.

Advice has been i*ecoived by the Allenton Bowling Club that four rinks from Christchurch will .visit Ashburton on Saturday, March 9, and play friendly matches with Allenton on the latter’s green.

The question of the damage done to the eastern extension mole at Timaru Harbour during the severe storm which visited the coast on January 25 last was brought up at the monthly meeting of the Harbour Board yesterday and referred to the next meeting. The engineer (Mr F. W. Clarke), estimated that £20,000 would have to be expended on repairs.

Dense smoke issuing from the vicinity of one of the plantations near Fairton yesterday caused anxious people to communicate with the County Council, but investigation showed that the lire was one that had been lighted by railway employees who were engaged in burning back the dried grass lrem the railway line.

Members of “D” Company, Ist Battalion Canterbury Regiment, held a half-day parade this atternoou under Captain E. D. Withell and Lieutenant J. Farr, assisted by Sergeant-Major W. Edmonds (W.O. 1). The Territorials were put through musketry and infantry training. This was the last half-day parade preparatory to the company going into camp at Burnham early in March.

Though weather conditions have been against the retention of good road surfaces in the County lately, and haulers in increasing numbers have been traversing the district, the roads leading to Ashburton and other centres are at present in excellent order. The County Council’s methods of road maintenance have been proved most successful.

A swagger baited on the south side of the Rangitata Bridge on Thursday afternoon, and lit a lire to boil his billy. The fire got out of liis control, and spread rapidly. Some residents in the vicinity had tlieir attention drawn by the dense volumes of smoke, and after considerable exertion on their part the fire was subdued, but not before the bridge, which is of wood, and has been tarred lately, was gravely imperilled.

Appointments and resignations of teachers in County schools were approved by the Education Board at its monthly meeting yesterday as follow: Appointments—Fairton, Miss E. M. Morrison, assistant mistress; Lynnford, Mr N. J. Hadler, sole teacher; Mayfield, Miss M. A. Laugesen, assistant mistress ; Wakanui, Miss .E. . Bell, assistant mistress. Resignations — Allenton, Miss E. H. M. McCormick, assistant mistress; Fairton, Miss A. L. Baxter, assistant mistress; Flemington, Miss A. M. Angus, sole teacher.

The Lenten services in St. Luke’s Church, Hinds, were continued last evening, when the Rev. G. L. Harold preached to a good congregation. After service the choir met in the vestry, when Rev. E'. Hanna Sjpoke of services rendered by Mrs D. T. Paterson as a member of the choir. Mrs Hanna presented her with a pair of crystal vases, and on behalf of the choir wished her a happy time in her new home. Mr J. Cook (churchwarden) spoke on behalf of the parishioners. Airs Paterson briefly responded.

The passage of drays carting shingle from the riverbed near the Ashburton Traffic Bridge cut deep tracks in the bank at the south end of the bridge. When the river was last in flood the water cut a new channel for itself along the tracks, with the result that a large quantity of the river was diverted into the low-lying paddocks to the east of the road. Flooding there has caused a good deal of inconvenience, but the County Council has now commenced the work of directing the water back to the original channel, by means of erecting a bulwark of willowlogs.

Tram services were delayed, the town clock stopped, apd the electric train service to Lyttelton was put out of action when, owing to breaks in the power lines from Lake Coleridge power station, electric current was cut oif from tlie city of Christchurch from 5 o’clock to 7.30 o’clock yesterday morning. Smart work by the Locomotive Department in getting out the steam trains and the crews enabled the traffic department to maintain the ordinary train service. It was not till 8 o’clock that the electric service could be resumed. The breaks in the powerline are attributed to heavy fogs in the Ellesmere district, causing Cue insulators to switch over. There were several breaks in the line.

The Canterbury Education Board yesterday received a memorandum from the Education Department outlining proposals for the establishment of light woodwork classes at small schools which are out of reach of a manual training centre. 'lt was resolved to forward a communication to the Department signifying the board’s approval of the project, and. also indicating the necessity for an initial grant to be made, in approved cases, to cover the cost of supply of the necessary equipment for such classes. A circular memorandum was read from the Education Department respecting the teaching of sewing in country schools and suggesting that not less than 60 hours per annum should bo devoted when this subject is taken by an outside instructress. It was decided to express the hoard’s approval of this proposal.

Reserved judgment was delivered by Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., at Christchurch yesterday in a case in which Adams, Limited, were charged with exposing motor-cars for sale on a Sunday, and Vernon Clemens and Reginald Norman were each charged with working at their trade in Adams’ garage on a Sunday. The Magistrate said that lie had satisfied himself that tire amendment to the Act was passed with the intention of preventing on Sunday the carrying on of all work except that of necessity. This applied even to motor garages. While the supplying of petrol and oil in garages was necessary, the selling of cars on a Sunday could not be called necessary. It was the first case of its kind in Christchurch as far as motor garages were concerned. Adams, Limited, were fined 10s and costs, and each of the other defendants was fined 5s and costs.

Farmers having combined Grain Drills of any make with unsatisfactory Turnip, Rape, Mangold or Lucerne Sowers, should write to us. We can fit our plate or Bristow Pattern to almost any of these, when perfect sowing of the above will be obtained without the labour of mixing the seed. P. and D. Duncan, Limited, Ashburton and 196, Tuara Street, Christchurch.—Advt.

Two aeroplanes, presumably flown by pilots who are undergoing a refresher course at the Wigram Aerodrome, flew over Methven at different times yesterday. Their advent aroused much interest.

The work of constructing the long concrete culvert at Klondyke will be commenced at an early date. Arrangements have been made by the County Engineer (Mr A. A. Fooks) to send out a gang within the next few days to prepare the site.

The use of garden hose having been nrohibited except tor two hours in the morning, the water tank at the tower has regained its normal level, and the pumps are ,able to cope with the demand. The tank was almost emptied one evening last week.

In endeavouring to draw into the side of Burnett Street this morning, a motor ear driven by a commeicial traveller collided wtik a horse and cart driven by Mr J. Carlin. The cart was drawn up alongside the kcrbing, and the windscreen of the car snick a bedstead protruding from the cart, and was shattered.

The finger-print of the Public Censor has in the past scarcely been seen in Ashburton musical or picture life. However, it is understood that one song, also the record of the song, is to be withdrawn from public sale. In anticipation of the introduction, there has been a sudden “rise in the stocks” of this particular piece.

A case of diphtheria, from the east side of the Borough, has lieen notified to the Borough Health Inspector (Mr J. R. Richardson). This is the first case of diphtheria in Ashburton since June of last year. A case of scarlet fever from Winehmore, has been notified to the County Health Inspector fMr E. N. Johnson) this week.

At the West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s show held at Greymouth this week, Mrs A. J. Nicoll’s black cocker spaniel, “Penscroft Pedlar,” was awarded first prize in the black cocker spaniel class and gained a special for the best black spaniel in the show. For the second time he gained the New Zealand Kennel Club’s Challenge Certificate.