LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 154, 11 April 1930, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A reference to the value of re-unions of ex-soldiers was made last night by Major-General Sir Andrew Russell. “It is a time when we can get together and talk of old times. We can tell of all the hair-breadth escapes we had at the front.” He paused for a moment and added: “And all those we did not have!”

Late night next week will bo observed on Thursday, the following day being Good Friday, and retailers will remain open until 9 o’clock. Business premises will he closed until Wednesday morning, and a whole holiday will be observed Anzac Day, Friday, April 25. The late night in that week will also be held on Thursday.

That the disease from which 26 Mexican parrots died in Christchurch was not psittacosis was the statement made by the Medical Officer for Health at Christchurch (Dr. T. Fletcher Telford) yesterday.' If he had believed that the parrots had contracted this disease, ho said, he would immediately have advised his head office and the local authorities concerned. This he had not done.

An elderly member of one of the principal Auckland local bodies was maintaining to some of his fellow members recently that hoys to-da.v were no worse than the youths of a former decade. “The young beggars,” he said, “used to come into my line orchard at Deep Creek and steal my fruit wholesale over 10 years ago. Many a time f tried to catch the ringleader of the gang, hut I could never lay hands on the young scamp! He was too smart for me. I often wonder what became of him, because he would either rise to a high position in life, or come to no good.” A prominent official, who had been listening to the conversation, caused a roar of laughter when he outspokenly confessed that he was the “smart, kid” who led on the other hovs to steal the fruit, hut he added: “Many a time since I’ve been paid out in my own coin bv hoys stealing my fruit." Bov? are not worse to-day than we were.”

For destroying weeds and grass along the railway line the Palmerston North Borough Council is experimenting with a type of blow-lamp which burns the surface and roots. A similar device is used 1 in some Tarawaki towns for keeping grass and weeds back from water channels along the footpaths.

“Time makes many changes, ’ said Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, speaking at the Ashburton soldiers' re-union in His Majesty’s Theatre last night. “'Six years ago when 1 was here last, .you met in am extremely draughty tent, ’ but now you have a much more comfortable dug-out.”

The response of the land at Kiwitalii (Waikato) to advanced methods of treatment is demonstrated in the success achieved by Mr R. R- Heaton, whose dairy herd is now averaging well over 30011). of butter-lat a year. His farm of 95.)- acres is now carrying 6/ cows and heifers, 15 calves, two hulls, lour horses, and 288 sheep.

A meeting of the Ashburton Presbyterian Association was held in fßt. Andrew’s Hall, when the . various Presbyterian Women's- Mission Union branches wore well represented. The president (Mrs R. Morgan) presided. Reports of the recent conference held at Dunedin were given by Mesdames Irvine, Morgan, Marshall and Miss Murray. The meeting closed with the Benediction, after which afternoon tea was dispensed by the ladies of St. Andrew’s Church. /

The live births registered for urban areas throughout the Dominion in April amounted to 1030, as against 987 in February, an increase of 43 (says a Wellington Press Association sage). Deaths in March were 467, an increase of 10 compared with the previous month. Of the total deaths, males contributed 247 and females 220. Forty of the deaths were of children under five years of age, being 8.57 per cent, of the whole number. Twentysix of these were under one year of age.

At the annual meeting of the Ash-/ burton Soldiers’ • Club last evening brief mention was made of the proposal to cut down the Senior Cadet and Territorial systems, and on the motion of Messrs A. Simpson and H. Smallbone the following resolution was carried:—“That this meeting expi'esses itself as being entirely in sympathy with the training of youth in the interests of disciuline and physique, without any reference to war, and should do everything in its power to encourage the youth of to-day to train.”

The Loyal Ashburton Lodge, M.U., r.0.0.F., held its fortnightly meeting last evening, the N.G. (Bro. D. Moodie) presiding. Sick pay amounting to £l7 8s 4d in favour of 10 members, and one funeral allowance in respect to a member’s deceased wife, were passed for payment. On behalf of the committee appointed to consider the doctors’ proposals for an agreement with the lodges, it was reported that the matter had been carefully but the report was not yet drafted. 'The committee was allowed an extension.of time. The N.G. reported on the recent official visit to the Lcsal Tinwald Lodge, which had been most enjoyable. Three candidates were initiated. A donation of £4 4s to the Cancer Research Fund was authorised. A scarlet degree lecture was given by the lecture master.

The placid serenity of Lowry Bay ( Wellington) was violently disturbed one afternoon last week by the intrusion of a wild boar. Apparently the animal had come down from the hushclad hills on a foraging expedition into the orchard -oii Sir Francis Bell and on being disturbed rushed wildly through the settlement. Family parties were scattered, picnickers upset and in a very short space of time there was a hue and cry after the boar which shattered the peaceful calm of the select seaside resort and provided an exciting interlude for the residents. People of all ages and of both sexes joined in the chase, a prominent figure being an ex-chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, armed with a scythe. Ultimately the boar, which had crashed its way through gardens and fences to the hills, was bailed up by dogs and duly received its coup cle grace.

Please do net treat this as a begging letter,” is the postscript added to an unusual request made to the Otago Motor Club by a writer from a little town in England. Tile letter states: '“lf, as reported in the issue of the IMldtor Oycle of February 13, your club has more money thaul you know what to do with, perhaps a little suggestion from me would not be out of place. lam a married man with four of a family, and £3 10s a week. My family and myself have not had a holiday lor three years, and it is the dearest wish of ours to own a motor-cycle combination—a wish that does not appear to be liklev to be ever realised. Unless von consider my suggestion to help you out of an apparent difficulty—that is, send us a combination, please, aijd receive the grateful thanks of Mr and Mrs and family.” Evidently the statement made by Mr H. Halliday at the annual meeting of the club that it had more money than it knew what to do with, has reached England. The letter, on being read at the meeting of the club was merely greeted with laughter.

Perhaps the most laborious and tedious task in the work of completing the new Auckland Railway Station has been the cutting and shaping of the Coromandel granite that is being used to adorn and strengthen the building (states the “New Zealand Herald.”) Wrought steel would lie more easily cut. The great saws that are tirelessly grinding their way through massive blocks of it were set going two years ago, and although they have never ceased day and night since, their work is not finished yet. For several months, the stonemasons stopped their work owiifg to dissatisfaction wjth their conditions, but all the time the saws ground on. It is curious to learn that modern science has been unable to improve on the ancient Roman method of cutting granite, except that electricity is now used in place of waterpower. The saw is simply a long hand of steel with a plain edge, drawn ceaselessly backward and forward across the slab'of granite, gradually wearing a narrow slit through it. To aid the work of friction water is continually spraved on the cut, and the wet powder of the granite is poured over it again to assist the steel in its grinding. After the main cuts have been made in this fashion the smaller blocks of granite are shaped and polished by a variety of hand tools driven under power.

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. They know the best.—P. and D. Duncan, Ltd., Tuam Street, Christchurch, and AshburtoP..—Advt.

Eulogistic reference to the work done by Mr F. Z. J>. Ferriman for tlie returned soldiers of Ashburton was made by Mr J. T. Thomas at the soldiers’ re-union last night. “He helped the boys before they went away,” said Mr Thomas. “He sent parcels to them at the front, and he stood by them when they came back. He has done more for returned men than any other man I know.” Mr Ferriman was cheered and his health was honoured. His only response was to draw the attention of the gathering to the fact that midnight was only seven minutes away.

A member of the Gore troop of the Boy Scouts (George Middleditch) lived up to his undertaking to perform one good deed each day in a manner which earned for him the sincere gratitude of members of the Gore Fire Brigade last Saturday (says an exchange). While the firemen were having a strenuous tiijne in coping with a serious outbreak in Main. Street, this Boy Scout was at the Fire Station heating the water so that a hot shower would be available for the men on their return. Needless to say, his action was appreciated, and the slower was all the more pleasant because of his thoughtfulness.

Yet another ,instance of the use of wireless in saying life was recorded during the last homeward voyage of the lonic (says a Press Association message from Wellington). The vessel’s surgeon (Dr. Harries) boarded the Dunkirk steamer Germanic in a rough sea and attended a member of the crew who was in a weak condition from the loss of blood. When the lonic received the radio call a course was set for the Germanic, and the odetor was transferred in a boat. One of the crew of the French boat had had his hand almost blown off in an explosion, and an artery was severed. Fatal consequences had been feared, but Dr. Harries soon made the sufferer comfortable. This timely aid was promptly recognised by the Paris office of the shipping company, which sent SDr. Harries a set of sleeve-links set in platinum.

Charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a horse, a man was fined £lO, in default 21 days’ imprisonment, by Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the Wanganui Magistrate’s Court last week. The horse was loaned to the defendant and was later found in a shocking condition. One hoof had come off and the bone was showing through. The general condition of the horse was such that it should have been destroyed. The defendant attributed the cause of the trouble to the fact that the horse had been trampled on by another horse while it was at a blacksmith’s.' The Magistrate said that it was a disgraceful case of/neglect, and were it not for the fact that defendant was suffering from an infirmity a heavier penalty would have been imposed.

With a full cargo of stores for the 150 stations scattered through the diocese of Melanesia, the mission steamer Southern Cross left Auckland on Tuesday. Her first port of call will be Vela, in the New Hebrides group, and from there the vessel wall cruise through the South Pacific, visiting the islands until the Solomons are reached. The voyage of the Southern Cross on the round trip, which is made twice a year, extends for 2000 miles from New Britain and New Ireland, off New Guinea, in the north, through the Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz, Banks, Torres and other groups, to the New Hebrides in the south-east. The ship will carry food supplies and other stores from New Zealand, transfer mission scholars from one port to another, and generally provide the necessary means of communication between the various stations of the mission.

In some compensation cases that come before the Arbitration Court, particularly in neurasthenic cases, the Court takes into account the effect that an award of a lump sum will have in accelerating recovery. A medical witness was asked in the Court the other day how long, in his opinion, it would take for the plaintiff to recover. It was-a difficult case, and the doctor said it might he two weeks or two years. “We have to estimate the result of a payment in some of these cases in trying to arrive at a settlement,’' re marked the president (Air Justice Frazer). “If we give a man £5 when he thinks he is entitled to £SO, we should only he adding insult to injury.”