LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 145, 1 April 1930, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

“Not for many years have I known tendering to bo so keen as it is at the present day,” said a Wanganui architect the other day. He stated further that, though prices put in by contractors last winter and the previous winter had been very keen, indications these days were that prices would be “slashed to ribbons.”

“Do you smoke?” asked counsel of a voung married woman during the hearing of a maintenance case in the Wellington Bolice Court. Witness: “No.” Counsel: “Now, let’s get to the bottom cf this.” Witness hastened to explain that she took a cigarette when it was offered to her. “Take your gloves off,” demanded the magistrate. That settled the matter—there were no tell-tale stains.

The method in the past of postponing matches owing to bad weather was discussed by the Management Committee of the Rugbv Union last evening. Mr J. C. C. McLachlan said he considered that in many cases matches were put off when there was really no need. This prevented players becoming accustomed to .playing on soft ground. It was decided that onlv in extreme circumstances should senior matches be postponed owing to wet weather.

A largely-attended meeting of Taumaninui farmers on Saturday evening, convened to discuss the menace of deer, passed the following resolution: •‘That this representative meeting of farmers of-the Taumarunui district re nuests the .Department of Internal Affairs to make strong representations to the conference of organisations in forested in the control of deer in New Zealand to be held on April 11, concerning the serious position that has arisen in this district by the destruction of turnip crops and pastures, due to the nlarming increase in the herd in the district.”

A petition in bankruptcy lias been filed by William Miller, of Mayfield, fa nner.

Point prizes in the light horse section of the recent Tenuika and Geraldine Show have been awarded to Mr P. L. Donald, who takes Mr I). . Lewis’s special and the Association s Challenge Cup.

Activities centred in the construction of the new traffic bridge over the Ashburton river provide considerably entertainment for many people. Groups of men are to be found on the old bridge above the new works at all hours of the dav.

There has been a slight demand for mill hands during the last week, but in most cases occupation has been provided for only a few days, with the possibility of a longer period if the stacks are ready. Apart from this is position of the labour market is not changed.

A member of the Ashburton Association will, in future, attend all meetings of the Management Committee Of the Rugby Union. This procedure was decided on by tile Committee last evening. The representative will act solely in an advisory capacity, and will not be permitted to take part in the discussion except at the invitation of the committee.

Top-dressing of the streets in the business area of Ashburton is being carried cut by the Borough Council works staff. Eightv-seven chains of the' principal thoroughfares will be treated, 41 chains of this being in East Street, 13 in Cass Street, 10 in Havelock Street, 13 in Victoria Street and 10 in Wills Street.

The question has been raised as to tile liabilities of soldier settlers for arrears of rent in respect of which deferment were granted nine years ago (says the “Auckland Star’’). The Lands Department has been asked for a pronouncement on whether the arrears will be collected on the basis of the valuations, which have since been revised. Lands Department officers regard it as likely that the rents will be charged at the rate before the revaluation. Some soldier settlers have applied for a further deferment of collections, and their applications in some cases have been approved. The question affects a large number throughout the Dominion.

The first batch of new railway carriages for use in the South Island will be ill commission shortly. Seven of these carriages, under construction at the Addington workshops, are rapidly nearing completion. Embodying many improvements and modern principles, tjie new carriages will introduce new features of comtort for passengers, and will also show a distinct advance in appearance over the carriages at present in use. Although, slightly behind schedule, owing to concentration on the construction, of goods trucks to meet the demand of producers, the Department is now pressing on with its programme of improving the passenger rolling stock.

To help improve the standard of Rugby in the County, the Management Committee of • the Ashburton Rugby Union instructed the secretary to ,write to all country clubs advising that members were prepared to visit each centre and give blackboard lectures to players. They would be accompanied by a referee, and football tactics; the 'constitution of the Union, its rules, and the finer points of refereeing would be explained. In addition to players, officers and supporters of the respective clubs, were invited to be present. It was decided that visits be made as follow, the dates being tentative:—April 8, Rakaia; April 10, Methven; April 15, Hinds; April 24, Mayfield.

Ten cases of scarlet fever and nine of diphtheria were reported from the country and West Coast during the week ended noon yesterday. In the previous week there were nine cases of scarlet fever and four of tuberculosis. Last week there were five deaths from tuberculosis and one from eclampsia, all in Canterbury. Following are details of infectious diseases cases reported during last week, with the figures for the previous week in parentheses : —Canterbury : Scarlet fever 8 (9), diphtheria 8 (2), pneumonia 1 (1), tuberculosis 4 (4), pneumonic influenza 1 (1), puerperal septica?mia 1 (1), erysipelas 2 (11, eclampsia 1 (0). food poisoning 2 (0). West Coast: Scarlet fever 2 (0), diphtheria 1 (0). Totals — 31 (21). !

At the usual fortnightly meeting of the Star of Ashburton Lodge, No. 14, U.A.0.D., held at the Masonic Hall, Bro. S. L. Hawke, A.D., presided. The Bards (Bros. P. O’Connor and T. Miller) reported on sick brethren, and sick pay was passed for those on the funds. Correspondence was received from the Grand Lodge of Canterbury proposing to divide tlic present No. *5 district between Ashburton and j’imaru, making a new district. No. 8, for the lodges in the northern part of the old district. Bro. J. M. Fisher was nominated from the Lily of Temuka Lodge for the position of District IPresident. and the nomination .was approved. Hie medical officers’ proposals and the Friendly Societies’ Council conditions were discussed and the U.F.S. agreement endorsed. Bro. P. O’Connor (delegate at the annual meeting of tlie Dispensary Board) gave a report. Bro. F. H. Steel donated a funeral sash to the lodge, and he was thanked for his gift One candidate was initiated, and the initiation of another held over till next meeting.

As planned' originally, the three great hydro-electric schemes of * the North Island- will be connected by high-tension transmission lines, so that they can help each other in peak times or conditions of stress (says a Wellington telegam). A further instalment of this connecting system is to be provided shortly, as Cabinet has authorised calling tenders for the materials required to erect a transmission line from Arapuni to Stratford, thus linking up the Arapuni generators with the Taranaki load and enabling power, if necessary, to be fed into the' system served by Mangahao and Waikaremoana, whic-h are already connected. The new transmission line will run through Te Ivuiti, down the valley of the Ongaruhe River, and through Whangamomona to Stratford, the total distance being 120 miles. The voltage used will be 120,000. Another important connecting line between Arapuni and Waikaremoana, about 100 miles long, has been surveved through difficult and remote country, and it is not expected to have construction work complete om this route for twelve months.

When ordering a gram and seed drill, be sure you get the best, drilling being the vital operation in p'nnting ally crop. The Agricultural Department, after trying all other makes, -both local and imported, found our “Star " Drill the only make competent to fulfil all their requirements, and to give the necessary accuracy in drilling test plots. During the last ten years the Department has purchased' six seven-coulter Drills from us for that purpose. They know the best.—P. and D. Duncan, Ltd., Tuam Street, CTiristchurch. and Ashburtor.—Advt.

Four bankruptcies were recorded in Ashburton last month, compared with two in March of last year.

The big.drain cut by the Public Works Department to intercept the storm water before it reaches Te Ngae road reveals with startling clarity* the tremendous amount of material that must have been hurled from Tarawera when in eruption in 1886 (says the “Rotorua Chronicle’’). For the whole length of the cutting the blue mud from the mountain is defined varying from eight to 18 inches in depth. Before consolidation it must have been from 18 inches to three feet.

When an amateur boxer seemed to be in trouble, in a bout at Gisborne the other evening, his second adopted the course of tossing the towel into the ring, in order to save his principal unnecessary punishment. The referee pointedly ignored the signal. Later lie explained to" the spectators that he was the sole judge of whether a boxer was able to continue or not, and that the second had no right whatever to put the towel in l the ring. The referee’s objection to a recognised signal of defeat caused much discussion among the patrons of the tournament. v

Good progress is being made with the the erection of the new traffic'‘bridge over the Ashburton river. Pile-driv-ing has been under way for some weeks and the piles are alniost up to the first channel of water, little trouble having been met with so far. The making of concrete piles is being carried out in the shingle beds of the river where the necessary material is to be had in ample quantities. A start has been made with the ‘erection of the casing for the concrete portion of the bridge proper near the north approach, from which end the work is being carried out. A large crane on caterpillar tractors is used to lift the finished piles from plate to place.

The increase in wages to the lowerpaid officers in the Post and Telegraph service decided upon recently by the Postmaster-General (the Rt. ‘Hoii. Sir Joseph Ward) will come into operation to-day (s«ys a Wellington telegram) Tiie scale for the general division has been revised, and the increases are designed to provide a more reasonable payment to male officers after completing their apprenticeship period of five years It was stated by Sir Joseph Ward recently that a workman usually readied the maximum of his grade (£240) when he was 26 years of age, but under the new scale lie should MAfcll tliAt wage at approximately 23 years of ago. The amended salary schedules will be gazetted this week.