LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 153, 10 April 1930, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

In our leading article yesterday the unfortunate omission of a word made it appear that seh'ious complaints had been made regarding the condition of tho Alford Forest Road. The clause referred to the Alford Forest Road drain.

A Dunedin telegram states that a special committee of the City Council last evening proposed to levy a special rate of 3d in order to raise £15,000 for unemployed relief works. The proposal was rejected, and it was decided to leave it to the ratepayers to say whether a loan of £20,000 should be raised.

In the Hutt Valley the unusual sight of the crimson manuka in flower in April can be seen at the present time. Tiie normal flowering time is early summer, but this year the trees produced comparatively little blossom. Tiie long dry spell may have something to do with this abnormality, which has been noticed in Nelson also.

To see a ccw trotting along namely at the rear of a motor-lorry travelling at a speed of about 14 miles per hour was the experience of the Inspector for tiie Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to .Animals at Timaru (Mr G. Gliddon), who renorted the matter to the committee yesterday. Mr Gliddon stated that the animal was visibly distressed, and arrangements were made to have it taken home in less speedy fashion.

'T think wjc must be going to have a cold winter this year," observed a producer from the Hutt Valley who was at the Wellington markets the other day. '"Why?" he was asked. "Because" the first frosts are ajjionth in a'dvance of their usual time. As a ride we do not get frosts in the Hntt Valley until Ajoril. and even then they are generally lighL This year we had throe frosts in March. It was generally felt. It was pretty severe up at the to- end 1 of the valley. I heard of one man who bad 2000 zinnias blackened bevond recovery."

If a motor salesman who made a successful deal up the Wangaehu Valley the other day had been brought up oii the classics he would have probably thought of Stentor, a herald of the Creeks at Troy, who was able to shout as loud as 50 men together—at least, if Homer was a truthful poet. The herald's feat, however, was to shout, and be heard, across a wide river when the army was halted upon its banks on a historic occasion. This motor salesman was on the trail of a Maori prospective purchaser. He travelled over four miles of exceedingly rough country, and then, to his chagrin, found himself separated from the Maori by the swifty-flowing Wangaehu River, which is not the ouietest in the island, and at that snot is unbridged. Nothing daunted, he bawled across the turbulent waters, stressing the good points of the car, and he had the satisfaction of getting: "AH*right. I take him, from the man on the other bank. i

A Christchurch telegram states that there is 'still no word of Mr Leonard Pegler, who disappeared from his home at 8 Brett's Road last Friday. Mr Pegler was subject to loss of memory, and lie had wandered away twice previously. The police have received many messages that Mr Pegler has been seen, but on investigation these have proved to be unreliable.

Another of a series of first-aid lectures, under the auspices of the Ashburton sub-centre of the St. John Ambulance Association, was held last evening, when Dr. J. J. Crawshaw addressed members of the ladies' class. At the conclusion of the course, an examination will be held, and it is hoped a home-nursing class will be formed afterward,.

A meeting of the Kampstead Memorial Committee was held last evening, when, the chairman (Mr E. H. Childs) presided. It was reported that good work was being carried out by the Advance Ashburton Association on the section in front of the baths, and that the area, would shortly be laid out. It was also decided that the holding of socials in the ball be permitted during the winter. A sub-committee was appointed to make arrangements for the Anzac Day service to be held at the Memorial Gates.

Sales on account of County clients were made at the Addington stock market vesterdav as follow: —Fat cattle—R' B. Neill (Barrosa, Mount Somers), steer at £l3 7s 6d, heifer at £9 12s (id, 2 cows at £7 17s 6cJ to £l2 7s 6d. Pat sheep, ewes—R. Oakley (May.field), 17 at 14s lOd to 20s Id: J. G. Lilley (Lvndhurst), 62 at 12s 10:1 to 16s 7d; L. A. Oakley (Mayfield), 30 at 12s lOd to 15s lOd; D. M. Christie (Methven), 180 at 12s Id to 14s 4d ; J. Fleming (Methven), 56 at 12s 4d to 12s 7d. Wethers—R. Oakley (Mayfield). 13 at 24s 7d 10 28s lOd. Lamos —H. McLean (Rakaia), 80 at 19s.

There is a probability 'that the borough manager system of administration will be introduced in the new borough of One Tree Hill when the present town district assumes that status next month. The present road hoard has decided to recommend to the incoming borough council that the borough manager system of control be adopted and that the present clerk, Mr A. Loose, be appointed town clerk, borough treasurer and general manager with the title of general manager. Mr Leese was borough manager at Taumarunui prior to his appointment as clerk to the One Tree Hill Road Board.

The annual band contest under, the aufpices of the New Brass Bands' Association will be held in Wellington next February. The services of an adjudicator from abroad, one of the highest standing possible, will be obtained, as was the case in 1927, the last occasion when the .contest took place in Wellington. Consideration is to be given to a. proposal to alter the method of choosing the test selection. The custom in the past has been to allow publishers in England to choose the test selections and to release them to all competitors simultaneously. Dissatisfaction with this method in the ease of the quickstep march has been frequently expressed, and it may bo that the selection will be made by the North Island controlling body.

Native bird life in the area of the earthquake which last year created much damage on the West Coast suffered a gre'at deal, according to a report received by the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. P. A. de la Perrellei from the ranger of the State reserves at Goulands Downs, Nelson. The ranger states: "The earthquake that occurred here last June was the means of clearing hundreds of acres of bush from the mountains by way of slips, and the sad part is that the toll of native bird life must have been terrific. However, very little has happened in the sanctuary, and the birds have increased wonderfully, thanks to the season." There was a large attendance at the meeting of the Hakatere Lodge, No. 68, 1.0.0. F., last evening, when, the Js'.G. (Bro. J. Wilkinson) presided. Seven brothers were reported sick. It was decided that a letter of appreciation be sent to WMashington Lodge, No. 28. for the hospitality extended to the Hakatere Lodge. The following officers were installed: —P.G., Bro. J. Wilkinson; N.G., Bro. J. Nish; V.G., Bro. C. Garforth; R.S., Bro. H. C. Preston; F.S.. Bro. G. Fowke; treasurer, Bro. J. B. Osborne; R.S.N.G., Bro. S. Fowke; L.S.N.G., Bro. T. Wakelin; 8.5.V.G., Bro. H. Nish; L.S.V.G., Bro. G. Adams; Conductor, Bro W. Gordon,; Warden, Bro. J. Shaw; 1.G., Bro. J. McQuarters; 0.G., Bro. D. Hunter; R.S.S., Bro. E. Fussell; L.S.S., Bro. R. Shaw. The installing officers were D.D.G.M. Bro. M. McDowell, assisted by Bros. J. Sinclair, C. Crawford, R. Leadley, G. Brown, A. Amos and J. M. Moore. On the motion of Bros. J. Nish and C. Garforth, a vote of thanks was passed to the installing officers for the manner in which tho installation was carried out. The D.D.G.M. suitably replied. Supper was then served and a social hour spent.

What several Auckland jewellers j state is a remarkably large and wellshaped black pearl was found in a mussel on the St. Hcliers Bay wharf last week by Mr L. Duncan, a resident of St. Heliers (states the ''New Zealand Herald"). Mr Duncan secured it from a medium-sized mussel, which lie intended to use as bait. The pearl is larger than a pea, and weighs 18 grains. It is not perfectly spherical, but it is regular. Its value is estimated to be well oyer £SO. Mr Duncan has boon advised to send it to Sydney or Melbourne for sale. Mr James Pascoe stated that small pearls, both black and white, are found quite frequently in mussels, and he had been offered a fairly large number of specimens found in Auckland waters. Few were of value, as they were marred by defects in the shape or colouring, and were usually small. The pearl found by Mr Duncan was exceptionally large. and of good colour. ' It should realise a fairly high price on the Australian market, but in New Zealand there was not the demand to justify local dealers buying pearls of any type. No differentiation was made by dealers between pearls coming from pearl oysters and those coming from mussels, except that mussel pearls were seldom of good lustre or shape. Pearls were judged on their qualities as they existed, not on their origin, said Mr Pascoe. He recalled a previous case, nearly 20 years ago, when a European had bought a line black pearl from a Maori boy for 6d. A few months later he sold it for £l2O.

When ordering a grain and seed drill, be sure you get the best, drilling being the vital operation in p'anting any 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 ourpose. Thev know the best.—P. and D. Duncan, Ltd., Tuam Street, Christchurch, and Ashburtor.— \dvt.

The name of Mona Millar was omitted from t»ie report of the Busy Bees' concert on Saturday. Her item, a Chinese dance, received an encore.

A total sum of. £l7lO is now in hand toward tjie Ashburton quota of the Empire Cancer Campaign Society's appeal. A large number of unredeemed promises have yet to come in, and the collections from one country district have yet to be sent in, difficulty having arisen because of the scattered l nature of the residences in that area.

The maximum load at the Lake Coleridge power-house during the week ended last Sunday was 23,740 k.w. (previous week 23,280 k.w.), and was recorded between 11 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. on Sunday. The lake level was at 1670.1 ft. (previous week 1070.6 ft), and the average inflow from the Harper River was 260 cusecs (previous week 295 cusecs).

One of the things that the travelloving New Zealander cannot understand is that thousands of people live and die in the English provinces and never see London. Ngaio, a suburb of Wellington, may not be a Mecca for tourists, but a middle-aged witness in the Police >Court last week startled counsel by stating, that although he had lived in Wellington for 26 years he had nevei been to Ngaio, nor was he quite sure where it was.

Sleight-of-hand and juggling items were performed in the wards of the Ashburton Public Hospital last evening by Mr Norman Tate, who is known as "The Fun Doctor." His performances were much appreciated by the patients. Mr Tate "visited the ' High and Technical Schools to-day. He makes a practice of visiting hospitals, and similar institutions and schools throughout New Zealand. His mission is the fusion of happiness among the suffering and the young.

An example of the care with which the Forestry Department officials resident at the Waipoua State Forest guard their charge was apparent to a party of visitors to the forest on Sunday last (says the "North Auckland Times")- On the run through the forest a tyre of the vehicle "blew out" with a loud report. Later, when the 1 visitors stopped further on in the forest, a Forestry official overtook them in a car and inquired whether any of them had been shooting. The cause of the loud report was explained and the ranger went on his way.

A resident of a Wellington suburb had a curious experience lately. About 11. o'clock one night he was sitting by the kitchen fire when he heard his front door open. He thought at first that it was his wife from town, but a moment later was surprised to see a man walk into the kitchen with \vhat appeared to be a hypodermic syringe in his hand. Having recently undergone an operation, the householder was in a rather nervous state. He wdndered if the intruder was a burglar, and viewed the syringe with some alarm. The .visitor showed no signs of becoming aggressive, however, but, looking round, said, "I've' come to the wrong house." "You have, old man," said the owner, and taking the intruder by the arm, led him to the front door. "I'm Dr. , but I've come to the wrong house," said the visitor. It then dawned on the householder what had happened. He remembered that the lady next door was ill, and that the two houses were practically a pair. The doctor had attended her during the day, but in the dark he had mistaken thai house when calling to 'leave a throat syringe. He was most profuse in his apologies.