LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 159, 17 April 1930, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Repairs to tbe Tinwald School will shortly be carried out on the recommendation of the Education Board, which met yesterday. At this meeting it was also reported that the Department of Education had approved of a grant toward tbe cost of erecting a dental clinic at the Rakaia School.

At the final meeting of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Obstetrical Endowment Appeal, held at Christclmrch yesterday, Mrs Chilton (lion, treasurer) announced that after all expenses were paid, 4s was in hand, and several promises of donations were still to come. The total expenses were £l3s'.

Primary and secondary schools in Ashburton broke up tor the Waster holidays this afternoon. The High and Technical Schools will re-open on Wed nosday morning, but the primary .schools will not resume until the following jyionday.

The matter of accommodation of pupils in Ashburton was discussed by the Canterbury Education Board yesterday, on receipt of a report from the Appointments Committee. The report was referred to the Buildings Committee to consider the Question oi establishing an additional school outside of the borough.

There was a good attendance at St. Stephen's Church last evening, when the sacred cantata. "Olivet to Calvary" (Maunder) was " presented by St. Stephen's full adult choir. The solos were taken by Mrs A. T. Smith (soprano), Mr W. B. Thomas (tenor), and Mr C. H. N. C'larkson (bass), each giving a highly creditable performance. The choir was ably directed by the organist and choirmaster (Mr J. C. Thompson).

An unusual accident, involving; a dog and a car, occurred in Frank ton, (Hamilton) recently. The dog, a greyhound, was running along the main street when it slipped on the wet concrete, and skidded in front of an approaching car, striking the front with great force and then falling under the body. Such was the force of the collision that the iron, support of the car's bumper was snapped off, and the bumper itself badly budded. The mudguard and bottom of the' radiator were also dented Strange to say, the dog appeared to be little the worse for the accident.

Sales on account of County clients were made at the, Addington stock market yesterday as follow: —Fat Sheep—Ewes: On account of S. Crossan (Lagmhor), 119 at 14s 4d to 20s 4d; F. Bebbingtnn (Lauriston), 69 at lis lOd to 19s lOd; R. Bebbington (Lauriston), 31 at 16s lOd to 19s Id; P. Turner (Lowcliffo), 60 at 13s Id to 18s 4d; D. McKendrv (Lvndhurst), 132 at 12s lOd to 15s 7d. The market for fat lambs was topped bv Mr W. Hood, of Chertsey. who sold 60 at 22s lOd to 27s 4d. ■'

A relic of the early days of Wellington is on view in a shop window in Willis Street. It is an old iron sewing machine. Its age is about 90 -years and it is claimed to be the first sewing machine nsed in New Zealand. Mr .1. W-. Fear informed a "Dominion" representative that the machine was imported by Mr Kebbell, who established in Coui'tenay Place the first flour mill to be, built in Wellington. That was i:i about the early 40's. The. machine was used for sewing flour bags. Lpon the mill being dismantled about forty years ago, Mr Fear rescued the machine and it has been in his possession l ever since.

The practice of putting a grader over a road where loose metal has been placed, leaving a ridge of metal in the centre of the road, was discussed at the meeting of the North Island Motor Union in Wellington. Mr H. W. Shortt said the practice was a dangerous one, as motor vehicles were very liable to skid over the ridge of the metal. It should be smoothed out again. Mr J. V. Wilson and Mr H. E. Edmunds both said that accidents from this cause were increasing, and the insurance companies were receiving many claims on that account. Mr A. J. Curtis said the authorities concerned would be liable for damages in case of an to the Public Works Department and local authorities on the subject

For some years the average weight of trout caught in Lake Taupo has declined (says the "Napier Telegraph"), but an improvement is now being shown. Experienced anglers from Scotland have stated that the department did not understand its job, nor had the vision to put a proper value on tbe fishing, as it was a very great nsset to this country. These overseas fishermen, who spend a considerable portion of their time in fishing, must be credited with knowing something of the business. Some of their remarks a year or two ago were not flattering to the department. They considered that fresh blood should be imported, and that feed beds should bo established, and that the sport could be developed into one of the most attractive in the world. Some of these ideas are now being carried out by the department. If tliis policy is continued there should be a very marked improvement in three or four years.

Luxury trains from Auckland to Rotorua will be aesumjng after the Fjaster holidays. Sixteen carriages, each of a type hitherto not seen on the New Zealand railways, have been constructed at the Otahuhu workshops, and successful trial runs have been made. The seats in the first-class cars are capable of adaptation to three positions—day, semi-lounge, and total recline. Vestibules replace the Open platforms, and the windows are franieiess, opening like those of a motor-car. Observation cars, fitted with lounge chairs, will be attached to each train. Everything is now ready for the initiation of the new luxury service, but as reservations of seats on the ordinary Rotorua expresses have.been, made weeks in advance by intending passengers, the Railway Department has decided to postpone the introduction of the new service until after the Easter rush. The new luxury service will, it is anticipated, successfully compete with growing motor traffic.

"We've had the same trouble sometimes, only our signs were washed off instead of burnt oil'," commented a member, when, at a meeting of the Southland Mjotor Association, the secretary read a letter, received in reply to a previous communication, from the secretary of the Royal East African Automobile Association at Nairobi, who wrote: "I think your colour route guide is excellent, and I tried it here about six or eight years ago. "Whilst it lasted it worked splendidly, but the trouble was that with our fierce tropical sun the colours faded, and at the end of three months were practically white, so I, therefore, had to abandon it." The letter-paper on which the letter was typed was worthy of notice, as it was adorned with imaginative pictures of the wild animals of East Africa. One group showed a, motor-car of antique date carrying a load of monkeys, a leopard slept under the shade of the vehicle, and nearby a lion, helpless with laughter, was shown leaning back against a bank. Palm trees and groups of giraffes, zebras, ostriches and rhinoceroses adorned other corners of a most entertaining note-paper.

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, Christphurtth. and Aahburtor. — Advt.

Trade seems to be brisk „in at least one class of business in Asliburton. Tenders for the painting of buildings r.t the Technical School closed yesterday, but no tenders were received.

The Education Board yesterday decided to ask the assistant architect to prepare alternative estimates of the cost of removing the Winchmore or Elgin schools to Asliburton East to relieve the overcrowding at the latter school.

The "Asliburton Mail'' of 50 years ago contained the following paragraph : Out of a. large number of applicants for .master and mistress for the Ashburton Hospital, the County Council h'ave appointed Mr and Mrs Maddern to fill those situations.

In the opinion of the members of the Timvald Town Board, there are a: number of motorcar drivers in the Town District who have not taken out licenses, and at the meeting of the Board last evening the clerk was instructed to supply to the next meeting a complete list of persons to whom driver's licenses have been issued.

The maximum load at the Lake Coleridge power-house during the week ended last Sunday was 24,840 k.w. (pievious week 23.740 k.w.), recorded between 11.30 a.m. and noon on Thursday, April 9. The lake level was at 1096.95 ft (previous week 1670.1 ft), and the average inflow from the Harper River was 310 cusecs (previous week 200 cusecs).

A Press Association message from Wellington says that the building per mils for the year show a value of £2,033,137, the* highest on record. For the last five years the value has slightly exceeded or nearly approached £2,000,000. The city itself is responsible for £895.544, and the suburbs for the rest. All show increase except Miramar and "Wadestown.

The fortnightly meeting of Daphne Lodge, Xo. 34, was held in the Tancred Street Hall last evening,, the N.G. (Sister B. Ellis) presiding over a fair attendance. A motion of sympathy was passed with the relatives of the late Sister Ina Freeman. One proposal for membership was received, and a ballot on two candidates was satisfactory.

Requesting that the , boundaries ol the Longbeach School district should remain as at present, Mr C. G. Tansey, a member of the school committee, waited on the Canterbury Education Board yesterday. He stated the question of consolidation was involved in the proposal to alter the boundaries.' It was decided to ask each of the Longbeach and Ashton committees for reports on the question after the householders' elections.

•'lt is most iniquitous this sort of thing going on," said Mr William Wallace (chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board) when explaining to members the vagaries of a family substantially helped by the relief committee. The' head of the family complained about not getting enough help. On stating*that he did not know how much lie had received from the Board, Mr Wallace informed him that in 6i years the family had drawn £B9O.

An Auckland telegram states that at a meeting of the Education Board yesterday further consideration was given to the protest by a country school committee against the appointment of a woman teacher in preference to a married man, an applicant with lower grading marks. Despite a warning by the chairman of the Board that she would probably meet with (V nosition from the committee, the woman insisted upon the appointment, whirl! was then confirmed.

The Tinwald Domain Board met lasT evening, Mr A. J. Millichamp presiding. A letter was received from the Ashburton Plunket Society asking for a grant toward its building funds. As the Hoard has no power to make grants of anv kind, it was decided to advise the Society to this effect. The Tinwald Ladies' Hockey Club was granted nermission to us? the same ground in the Domain as was granted to it last year. The financial statement for the past year, presented bv the secretary (Mr J. B. Nicoll), disclosed a credit balance at March 31 of £153 Ss lid.

The Tinwald Town Board met last evening, the chairman (Mr H. B. Millichamp) presiding. The Tinwald sub-branch of the Plunket Society wrote asking for a grant toward its funds, and it was decided to donate the usual £2 2s. Advice was received from the Treasury to the effect that it had granted permission to the Board to borrow £'3oo from the Main Highways Board for a term of three years, this amount being borrowed in connection with the payment for the new traffic bridge. The financial statement showed a credit balance of £474 9s lOd.

Criticism of the recent Public Service classification list, on the ground that salaries had not been adjusted proportionate to the standard of living eujoyed in 1914, was voiced by the chairman (Mr B. 11. Wakelin) at the annual meeting of the Wellington section of the New Zealand Public Service Association (says a Press Association message). Mr Wakelin said that during the year a determined effort was made to" improve salary conditions. Many benefited as a result of the recent classification, but a large number was disappointed. The Association did not get what it was striving for, namely, the raising of salaries to the pre-war standard of living.

Not many Members of Parliament

have resigned their seats to re-contest them again in New Zealand. The most famous case was that of Mr Alfred Jerome Cadman, Minister of Justice in MV Seddon's first Ministry, and William Lee Rees, Chairman of Committees of the House. There was a libel action between these men, but it was inconclusive, and Mr Cadman suggested that the only way out was to allow the electors to' decide tbe merits of the case. He therefore offered to resign his seat (Thames) if Mr Rees would resign' his Citv of Auckland seat, and they would both contest the vacancy in the Auckland seat. Thevi did so, and Mr Rees went out of politics for all time.

A scheme for supplying posters to schools for the purpose of educating (children on tbe subject of "safety first" was brought before tbe North Island Motor Union in Wellington. The scheme was intended to cover ISOJ schools ill the North Island and 1097 in the South Island. The cost was estimated at £SOO a year for the two islands. A sub-committee urged that the strongest argiiment in favour of the scheme was that if principles of sale road usa"o were to be incalculated into adults thev must start by educating tbe child. ' The proposal recommended was to supplv posters once to each school, together with a leaflet tor the teacher explaining the lesson each poster is to convey. It was agreed to proceed with the scheme and obtain signs to be submitted to the next meeting , of the executive.