LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 84, 20 January 1930, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An enjoyable dance was held at Hakatore on Saturday evening. There was a good attendance, and the music was supplied by Mr R. Dabourn.

As a result of the market decline in rabbitskins, there has been a marked increase in rabbits, which are now infesting lands throughout the district, says the "Western Star" /Southland). On lands adjoining bush areas they are particularly numerous.

"The increasing proportion of urban population in recent years is plainly manifest," states the Official Year Rook of 1930. "It is notworthy that the 'urban' drift,' either non-existent or .quiescent no to 190(5. in that year commenced a swift rise, which is rapidly gaining in momentum."

"My wife, is fast becoming an habitual drunkard," said an Ashburton man sadly, this morning. His friend expressed regret that a nice g-irl like that should fall from grace. Pressed for an explanation, the husband replied: "Whv, she wants to drink every time I drink I"

"Sydney people should raise astorn) of protest about the charges of discourtesy against the Australian swimmers' visit to Ash-burton}*" said a local resident this morning. ••The Ash burton people did not hoot Griffiths and Ryan as thev hooted Dr. Peltzer in Sydney on Saturday, and the offences were the same!"

A credit of £lO3 in connection with the New Year's Day sports at Hakatere was shown in the financial statement submitted at a meeting of the Hakatere Snorts Club on Saturday evening, when Mr A. Cates presided. It was decided to vote an honorarium of £o OS to the secretary (Mr A. C Hardy) and £1 2s to the As'hburton Silver Band, it was also- decided to erect two electric floodlights at the camp, and further to build a lean-to on the front of the hall.

A reward of £50(1 is being offered by 10 nrominent men in the counties ol Rangitikei, Wanganni, Waitotara, ant; Pntea for information which will lead to the detection of sheep and cattle thieves who are reported to have been at work in the district. The thieving has been going on for some months pa«t, and the 10 signatories of the notice of reward have canvassed the district to obtain the support of the small farmers, who are in the ev.(] the greatest losers. Thefts have been widespread, and it is assumed that the robbers drive a motor-lorry and make their raids at night. When a full load has been secured it is thought that the thieves run the captures into some other district, where the earmarks will not lie recognised, and sell the stolen stock in the usual way through stock agents. The offer of reward is onlv one part of the sheen owners' plan to detect the thieves. It is the outward sign that the farmers have formed themselves into a band to stamp out the evil.

We are approaching an age when woman will outgrow man. In tlit? opinion of Dr. A. T. Scofield, she- lias a much better body. It is also asserted that girls mature from one to two years later than formerly, and that their increase in height continues in some instances until they are '2O. Each now generation is physically an improvement over the preceding, and incidentally runs the brothers close in the matter of education..

Reference to the fact that local bodies are able to raise loans at oi per cent, when the Government has to pay ."5.1 per cent, was made by a member of the Ashburton Power Board this morning. "There is a screw loose somewhere," he declared. "In fact, it's all bolt." Another member: "You mean the Government needs so much now before it is satisfied?" The first member replied that this was so.

The broad area of wheat and oat crops at the Bafcana settlement noai Wanganui looks particularly promising (states the ,'iTaranaki Daily News ) Cropping a lot off the same area two y6ars in succession may mean a hghtet yield but at "the, same time the results are expected to be particularly good The Maoris undertook the clearance ot a hig area of gorse, and a recent observer savs they can show many pake-has points in cultivating. Immediately fronting the pa is also a nig area of potatoes.

A total of 308 bookings were made at the Ashburton railway station yesterday. This is the heaviest booking sine? the commencement of the Sunday excursions. The previous highest total was a little oyer 200. Sixty-two people left by the special train for Otira, 136 for Timaru, and 112 toi Ciristohurch. A special train conveying the North Canterbury Combined Friendly Societies' picnic passed through Ashburton yesterday morning en route for Timaru.

It is often contended that the pedestrian is prone to regard every motorist as o road-hog, but the action of one driver of a motor-car on Saturday would warrant an even stronger epithet being used (says the "Wanganui Chronicle.") As an ambulance van was proceeding along Guyton Street toward the hospital with an urgent case aboard, a car shot out from St, Hill Street and, swerving dangerously to avoid a tram, dashed across in front of the ambulance, the driver of wiiicli was compelled to jam >on jus brake? to avoid a collision. The patient in the ambulance and other passengers received a severe shaking. \n amusing interlude in the Girl Guide rally in Wellington on Saturday came when the Brownie packs demonstrated nart of the Brownie secondclass test—how to lay a table, tint the table was laid in n manner rliffwent from the regular test-method. An immense white cloth was spread on the ground., and many diminutive Brownies proceeded to lay the table by going to the correct places dressed as the various implements found on the average dinner-table. Four of them formed the centre-piece, carrying flowers and dressed as vases, and the act took a pleasant turn at its conclusion when «Lndv Alice Fergussor. was presented with the bouquet winch the Brownies had used in their part of the show. i

" A Wanganui resident of good standing and unimpeachable integrity was telling an after-dinner story of how when he was a younger man he had been out with the artillery practising :savs the "Herald.") They had been hauling guns all day and travelling all night,' and the speaker was just saying how they had trained the guns on a certain position when he and his wife were so worn out that they walked tc the side of the road and immediately fell asleen. However, his slumber? were disturbed by announcing the approach of the colonel, and the head of the house said he had to "stand to." That was the baby daughter's chance, and she asked: "And did vou stand two more after that, dad?"

The deatli occurred on Friday afternoon at the Christchurch Hospital of Mr Rav Choat, of Office Road, who for many years unwittingly carried a revolver' bullet in "Ins head. A few months ago he underwent an operation, and had the bullet removed. Early in 1920, when he was 11 or 12 years eld, Choat was playing with another boy, who had a revolver. Through a mischance the weapon exploded, and the bullet struck him on the head. Medical advice was that he had only been grazed by the missile. Two or three years ago, however, he began to be troubled with his nerves, and as a result of an X-ray examination an object was located under his scalp. It proved to bo a revolver bullet. In the ensuing operation this was removed, but Choat had been under medical attendance ever since.

Southland is enjoying a spell of perfect summer weather which has gladdened the heart of the farmer and brought ioy to seaside visitors. Incidentally "it has been accompanied by some brilliant sunshine. Visitors to Oreti Beach en Wednesday evening witnessed a panorama to the west that no painter could depict. A long cloud bank to the north-west tapered to a tine line of fiery gold immediately above the setting sun while Mount Anglem (Stewart Island), surrounded by fleecy clouds at its base, towered up in clear lines. For three-quarters of an hour there was a kaleidoscopic change in tints. The sky was like a canvas in which every colour known to the artist was seen. The usual breakers on the extensive beach were absent, except for little more than a ripple some ten yards out f.iom the shore.

With a membership that has. grown to 700,000 *since it was founded in 1924, the Ancient Order of Froth Blowers finds that it has almost exhausted its possibilities in the British Isles. Awaiting a new generation of Blowers to come along and "shoot their links," the gentle art of froth blowing is being extended abroad. Nearly 170 countries, including even the lonely island of Tristan da Cunha, now have Froth Blowers and the later developments. Fairy Belles and Faithful Bow-Wows. Mr Bert Temple, the originator of the idea, who is known as "No. 0." spoke recently of the work the Blowers have done for children. "Approximately €IOO,OOO has been allocated to children's charities under the guidance of Sir Alfred Fripn," explained Mr Temple. "Fifty hospital cots have been endowed in Great Britain, and thousands of poor youngsters have enjoyed outings to the seaside and country, not only in organised trips, but by members in their private cars."

If you want the best tractor plough in the World there is only one place to (?et it, viz.. P. and D. Duncan's Wills Street, Ashburton. A farmer purchasing one of these will not have to sell it for half price in three, six or twelve months, as has been done in so many cases. The following fittings are to be found, in comb'nation. only on our plough: Murray lift: U. and S. skeiths and buckles; double steerage and rear lever; tailplates oil-well wheels; best hammered scrap beaint «td legs throughout.—Advt.

During 1929, in the Now Plymouth district, 37 people died who were over HO years of age, and six over 90, the oldest being 97 yeais. Of these 20 ■were women and one man. The total registration of deaths was 215. The dentils of men over SO, with three exceptions, were retired farmers.

That the Cancer Campaign Committee was functioning excellently as.an independent body, and that interest in the work was increasing steadily, was a statement made by the Ministor of Health (Mr A. J. iStallworthv) the other day. The campaign was in very good hands, and the position was being'satisfactorily consolidated. In a very" short space of time there would be a strong branch of the committee in this country.

Nearly 200 loads of shingle were required to fill in the scours on the lower approach to the Ash burton traffic bridge caused by the recent Hoods. A gang of men was engaged on.t'iis work, which was completed on Saturday afternoon. Repairs to the main approach have been deferred pending the consideration of the situation bv the County Council.. The approach to the Stour bridge, in the Ashburton Gorge, should be passable early this week. Several large willow tree's and roots became lodged against Poplar Road, Surveyor's Road and Twentyman's bridges, but these have boon removed.

.Many people are notoriously careless in addressing their correspondence. The latest available annual, post office statistics dealing with undeliverable postal packets in New Zealand are interesting, even though a comparison with the previous year's figures shows a slight improvement in the position. The returns are as follow, the previous year's being given in parentheses:— Letters and letter cards posted without address, 13,888 (17,289 V; letters imperfectly or insufficiently addressed, 23,972 (25,848}; letters intercepted on account' of libellous addresses, GG ''>oD • newspapers received without addresses, 801 G (7613); other articles received without addresses, 5099 (4485;; newspapers 'returned to publishers as undeliverable, 42.949 (41,447); articles bearing previously used stamps, 80 (65).

' A British farmer recently'found that he was having trouble with crows eating his grain. While he was in the field, even though under cover, they kept away; so he tried the experiment of going with a friend, who presently walked away. The crows, then thought the coast was clear and returned. So he reached the conclusion that crows cannot count. Farmers in other parts of the country, however, have had a different experience, and are equally positive that crows can count. According to an expert, most animals can count up to two, but no higher than that. There is a method employed in shooting baboons in those countries where they work havoc among crops that is based on this-fact. A dozen men walk openly into a cornfield and conceal themselves. The baboons, of course, retire. After a time one 'man gets up and walks' off. Still the baboons keep their distance. But when a second man goes off the baboons axe satisfied that there are no enemies left and come trooping back.