LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 128, 12 March 1931, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The* secretary of the Ashburton Acclimatisation Society has received reports of the fishing .rivers in the County as follow: —Rakaia, in noou ; Raxigitata, cloudy. A further slight rise in the level of Lake Coleridge was recorded last Sunday, when the level was 1667.55 feet. Tins means that there is only another 4.45 feet to rise before the lake reaches its overflow' point at 1672 leet above sea level. The previous Sunday the lake stood at 1667.45 feet. The question of obtaining detailed information of -the various items ot import, with a view to ascertaining whether such goods could he manufactured in New Zealand and thus help to alleviate unemployment, was mentioned at a meeting of the general committee of tho Wellington Manufacturers’ Association (says the “Evening Post.”) It was decided to refer the matter to the Federation Conieioncc with a recommendation that the Unemployment Board should he approached on the subject. A remarkable variety of flower growth was brought to the “Southland limes” Office by Mr J. A. Bryson, ot Otatara, in the form of a sweet' pea. The flowers, which were seven in number, had grown in two bunches, lour on the stem ami three at the top. The close arrangement of the shaded-pink blooms gave The appearance of two beautiful large blooms. Tho stem ot the flowers was a particularly strong, healthy one. Members of the Methodist New Church Guild, the Ladies’ Parsonage Guild and the Methodist Women’s Missionary Union held a united mooting yesterday afternoon, the president (the Rev. R. B. Tinsley) presiding over an attendance of 70. A welcome was extended to Mesdames Tinker (Dunedin) and Spiller (Christclmcrh). A vote ol sympathy was passed to Mrs Neilson in the death of her mother. Final arrangements were made for a sit-down tea to 1)0 given on Good Friday, when the Young Men’s Bible Classes will be in camp at Ashburton. Social activities took up the remainder of the afternoon. An instrumental duet was given by Mrs T. Pc thick and Miss 0. Watts, and a vocal duet by Mesdames H. J. Constable and J. H. Millar. A competition was won by Mrs G. Fowlco.

The Ashburton High School Cadets’ military barracks were continued today. This morning the new boys did their shooting and other platoons were engaged in ceremonial drill exercises. This afternoon a tabloid athletic meeting was held.

It is stated that 180 signatures have been received to tne counter-petition to that forwarded to the GovernorGeneral praying for the inclusion of Allenton in the Borough. The counterpetition lias been forwarded to the Minister of Internal Affairs, who called for objections at the time the original petition was sent to Wellington.

Threshing returns are engaging the attention of offices of the Stock JDepartment in Ashburton at the present time. A considerable amount of delay in the compilation of accurate figures by the Government Statistician by the dilatoriness -of many of the owners of threshing plants, to whom repeated reqnests for returns have had no result. The Department is now considering taking action against a number of them.

The Ashburton Meccano Guild held a. successful model exhibition in St. Stephen’s schoolroom last evening, before an attendance of between 45 and 50. A model steam liner, lent by Mr G. Furby, was an outstanding attraction. Frizes were awarded as follow: — Section A: F. Coates, 92 points, 1. Section B: A. Davidson, 87 points, 1; X. Kruse, 85 points, 2; M. Kruse, 8+ points, 3. Section C: J. Loftus, 85 points, 1; IC. Moore, 80 points, 2 ; N. ‘Dhnii, 72 points, 3.

Sales on account of County clients at the Addington stock sale yesterday" were: —Fat Lambs: Wilson Brothers (Ashburton), 99 at 13s 7d to 15s lOd ; H. Maginness (Methven), 78 at 13s 4d to 14-s Id. Fat Sheep:—Ewes: ,1. 1). Stewart (Rakaia), 26 at 6s 4-d to 8s lOd; J. Fleming (Methven), 21 at 7s lOd to 8s 7d-; W. A. Sheat (Westerfield), 65 at 6s 4d to 8s 4d; C. >C. Holmes (Rakaia), 118 at 6s to 8s ld>; H. J. Harrison (Methven), 62 at os Id to Gs lOd.

An inspection of the crushing plant being operated in lower Chalmers Avenue by British Pavements (Canterbury), Limited, contractors for the reconstruction of East Street, was made by members of the Ashburton Borough Council this morning. They.also viewed the dray loading mechanism at the metal dump in William Street, later visiting the northern end of East Street, where the contractors yesterday made a start with the work in "reparation for the paving scheme which is to be completed \in, about three months. 1

Although, it is understood that the New Zealand Counties’ Association is not very enthusiastic on the subject of town planning, it is noteworthy that three North Island counties, and one South ■ Island counity, have )>ecome members of the Town Planning Institute of New Zealand. They are the Matamata, Manawatu, and Hutt Counties in the North. Island, and the Waitaki County in the South. Three City Councils (Christchurch, Invercargill, and l Wanganui), six Borough Councils (Ashburton, Devonport, 'Lyttelton, Masterton, Rotorua and Whangarci), and one Town Board (Havelock North) also are members of the Institute.

The fortnightly mooting cf H aka to re Lodge, No. 68, L0.0.F., was hold last evening, whejii the N.G. (Bro. C. Garforth) presided over a large attendance. Two brothers wore reported sick and one proposal for membership was received. One* maternity claim was passed for onymerit. The annual balance shoot of the Friendly Societies’ Dispensary was presented and was considered satisfactory. Remits fer Grand Lodge were further considered and the secretary (Bio. G. Fowke) was granted leave from next lodge meeting ns he would! he attending the Grand Lodge sessions. After the lodge had closed a social hour was spent.

Such is the faith of an old Aucklander in ironsand as a cure for rheumatism (says the “Star,”) that he has some, sent all the way up from Taranaki lor the purpose. He puts it in a big basin, lets the sun warm it up, and then “bathes” his feet in it. He says that when iig puts his bare feet in ho can fool his rheumatism disappearing. He admits that it may be imagination, but still sticks to his faith in “Taranaki ironsand,” and goes on curing his rheumatism with it. There are tons of the same sort of sand on the Waitakere beaches, hut he prefers the imported article. A rein a rkablo case of a cure is recorded from Auckland with the local product. A woman who was a martyr to rheumatism used to be taken down to the beach and “buried” in the ironsand, heated by the sun to such a degree that it was painful to the hare feet. Whether it was the iron in the sand or merely the heat that effected the cure is not clear, hut the cure was certain.

That superstition still affects the Maoris, especially the elders of the tribes, was demonstrated at Urenui last week) during thy tangi procodings held alter tho death of Kapinga Mct luthie. a chief. The presentation by a few Maoris of the Tokomaru anchor stone to the New Plymouth museum was resented by a large number of tho Atiawa tribe. It was predicted upon that occasion that ill events would follow that transaction, and that those prominently concerned in the acceptance and presentation of the historic stone would die. With the. death of Kapinga, the prophecy lias been fulfilled, according to the Maoris, for he was the last remaining. Feeling of still greater uneasiness followed the burning of the hearse vehicle on the road when proceeding from Waitara to Urenui to convey the. body to the burial ground. A loiry had to be used. Most of the tribesmen had believed that the burial should take place at Urenui, hut the conflicting desires of the. girls and women prevailed. The older Natives consider that the burning of the hc-arse is the sign of an impending judgment to be passed upon them.

“It docs not seem that a careful driver of a motor vehicle is exposed to an appreciably greater hazard from stock on tho road, whether by night or day, under such control as is usually and reasonably exorcised by a drover,” remarked Dr. C. J. Henkes, DirectorGeneral of tho Department of Agriculture, when replying to a letter sent by the North Island Motor Union on the subject of wandering stock. “Rvory motorist,” continued the letter, necessarily exposes himself to certain risks of the highway which produce a class of casualties regarded as pure accident and nobody’s fault. From this point of view tho proposed change in the Stock Act would not tend to an increase of safety on tho roads for motorists commensurate with the liability it would impose on stock drovers. A person using a road must always be prepared to find it occupied by driven, stock, it does not seem that, his position is appreciably affected by having to lie prepared also for wandering stock; preparation for the one risk necessarily includes, without preparation for tho other risk.”

A Nelson telegram states that at the Fire Brigades’ Conference, AdvisorySuperintendent Watt, of Newmarket (Auckland), said the fire service was steadily advancing. The public’s lack of knowledge of prevention was lamentable. Too much reliance was placed on lay members of local bodies. He urged the formation of a. Dominion Fire Board of representatives.

It has been decided by the Government to demolish the Government Life Insurance Building in Customhouse Quay, Wellington, with a view to embarking on a rebuilding scheme in the near future, it is understood the work of demolition will not be -ut in hand until about six months’ time, as it will be necessary to find other accommodation for members of the staff (says a Wellington Press Association message). i . ,

That tl).c pioneering spirit is not yet extinct, but that settlers are still prepared to help themselves, was made evident at a meeting of the Taranaki County Council the other day. A settler of the Okatc district, Mrs W. F. Goodwin, being desirous of expediting the metalling of a portion of the Carrington Road, which work has been delayed OIL account of difficulty in raising loan money, offered to advance the necessary £845 to enable the work to proceed. It was hard, she said, to have to pay rates, and in, addition, to find the money to metal what was practically a main read, not in the backblocks, hut only four miles and a-half from Okato. She had alreadki metalled one road at a cost, of £9l, and then tourists used it and erected their tents.

The annual meeting of St. Stephen's Ladies’ Guild was held yesterday afternoon, when the Rev. A. J. Petrie presided over a large attendance. On account of the absence of the secretary (Mrs E. Ruddock), the balance-sheet, which was not completed, could hot be passed and the meeting discussed and arranged the year’s programme. Satisfaction was expressed with the progress of the Guild last year and it was decided to follow a similar programme this year. Officers were elected as follow:—President, Airs A. J. Petrie; secretary, Mrs. E. Ruddock; treasurer, Mrs H. N. Armstrong; committee, Mesdames W.. H. Amos, C. Moore, F. 1 Curtis, E. Parkin, H. Stephenson, R. Stephenson, V. P. Root, E. B. Newton, Mahoney, Meredith, J. T. Byrom, Moore, W. Truman and Miss E. Gates. Musical items were given by Mesdames R. Stephenson and A. T. Smith, wßw> were accompanied by Miss M. Watt. After nearly two years of disuse the old No. 4 bath-house on the Domain hillside at Te Aroha is to be demolished. This decision has been reached since the wafers of the mineral spring feeding it have been diverted to the tepid baths. Workmen who were approaching the building a few days ago were repulsed by a vicious swarm of wild bees which had settled in the interior, using the ventilator and fanlights as places of exit. Smoking proved to he of little avail so sulphur was burnt hi a fairly large quantity and the place locked up. Many of the bees were dead on the following morning. The whole of the back wall was found to be lined with comb, but comparatively little honey was extracted The work of demolition is now proceeding. No. . 4 bath was erected over a tepid mineral spring in 1885, in common with the other six bath-houses of varying types and temperature. In its early days it enjoyed much popularity, having a strong; flow and a concrete bed. More recently the spring weakened and ifs waters were accordingly diverted.