LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 134, 19 March 1931, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The secretary of the Ashburton Acclimatisation Society, lias received reports of the fishing rivers m the County as follow: —Rakaia, clear; Rangitata, clear.

Argument in the case concerning the decision of Sir Walter Stringer as umpire ip the sale of the property of Sun Newspapers, Ltd., at Auckland tci New Zealand Newspapers, Ltd., was continued in the Court of Appeal at "Wellington yesterday. Decision was reserved.

Work on the laying of the concrete foundations of the new pavilion in the Technical School playground lias commenced. The pavilion will comprise three rooms, one for hoys and one for girls and one common room, and will have a verandah on three sides. It will complete the conveniences already in the playground.

In. the Wellington Magistrate’s Court a man who threw a packet of cigarettes along the floor of the Court to a. prisoner”who was awaiting trial was fined £4 The prosecution was described as a very rare one. The passing of articles to prisoners is illegal under such circumstances, as weapons might easily be thus given to prisoners.

• Sales on account of County clients at the Addington stock market yesterday were:—Fat Sheep—'Ewes: On account of A. Stewart (Rakaia), 12 at 8s i d; Somerton Estate (Rakaia), 48 at os Id to 7s 7d ; estate late John Stubbs (Rakaia), 61 os 10cl to 7s 4d; O. 0. Holmes (Rakaia), 120 at os Id to 7s Id; G. W • Ross (Ruapniia), 62 at os 4d to 6s lOd; W. Hood (Rakaia), 36 at 4s lOd to bs 7d• J. G. McLachlan (Rakaia), 51 at 6s Id •J. R. ■Dal top (Methven), 04 at 4s Gd’to os lOd. Fat Lambs—On account of J. Stewart (Rakaia), 80 at 14s Id to 15s; W. M. Hood (Chertsey), 30 at 14s 7d to 14s lOd.

A report from the Department of Scientific and industrial Research indicates that the insect, Tyria lacobaea, lias been successfully established m a number of areas in both Islands, and at present it attacking ragwort over an extensive area. The Noxious Meeds Research Committee has recommended the liberation of, Apion ulicis, a gorscattacking weevil, in specified localities in order to more speedily overcome the difficulties of acclimatisation, and in this season, its capacity, to multiply under New Zealand conditions should 1)., known. Some success has attended the acclimatisation of one consignment which has hied through two generations. Regular and abundant supplies of parasites to deal with ragwort, gorse, and blackberry are still being received ifroip. Earn ha in Royal, and l a similar arrangement made in respect of Piri Piri parasites from Chile is functioning well.

A delay of about 20 minutes was caused in the running of the southern express this morning, through a hotbox developing on one of the' waggons near Rakaia.

Car and motor-cycle number plates for 1931- will have orange figures on a background of black. In place of: the two dots to separate the groups of figures, there will be an orange triangle. Tiiis is designed to prevent last year’s plates being painted over and used afresh.

The drought continues throughout Central Hawke’s Ray with no immediate signs of breaking (says the “Napier Telegraph.”) All through the Waipukurau district can be seen willow trees that have been chopped down to give fodder for cattle. Old settlers predict that the drought will not break before the Easter full moon.

Owing to Miss Nellie Scanlan having recently suffered an attack of influenza, there will be a break in the series of articles she is writing for “The Ashburton Guardian.” Miss Scanlan’s new 'book, “The Top Step,” is to be published in March by Jarrold’s. This firm has an option ,oni her next two books, the second of which is nearing completion. Miss Scanlan’s other book was published anonymously whilst she was in America. It was entitled “The Eoudoir Mirror of Washington.”

♦Daphne (Rebokah) Lodge, T.0.0.F., held its fortnightly mooting last evening, when P.N.G. Sister J. Turnbull presided. One member was reported sick; Officers for the ensuing term were elected as follow: —N.G., Sister M. White; V.C., Sister O. Samuels; Financial Secretary, Sister C. Fowkc; Recording Secretary, Sister T. Harper; Treasurer, Sister E. Hopkins. It was decided to commence meetings at 7.30 p.m. during the winter months. After lodge had closed a social hour was spent.

The world-wide sympathy that- has been aroused by the great earthquake in the Napier district is demonstrated by the following letter received by the Mayor of Napier (Mr J. Vigor Brown) from Tokio, Japan:—“Dear Mr Mayor and all citizens, —I have boon very surprised to hear that there were severe earthquakes in your province apd your city lias been ruined. I deeply sympathise with all boys.and girls who have no school and all people who have lost their houses and their dear children or parents. lam a railway telegraph boy. —Yours truly, Hacliiro Saruwatari.” The Mayor intends to reply to the sympathiser, enclosing a copy of the “Daily Telegraph” in which this message appears.

Orchards of all kinds are looking well in Otntral Otago at the present time and l the crops of stone fruit and of apples and pears should compare favourably with those of previous years. In the country about Roxburgh, apples and pears should be ripe in a week •or so, while around Queenstown the crops are mostly somewhat earlier. Orehardists appear, for the most part, to have enjoyed freedom from blight and insect pests of any serious extent. In common with the rest of New Zealand, the Central Otago countryside has experienced a heavier rainfall than usual and on many flats and hillsides usually parched and bare by. the autumn, there is still a fair covering of grass.

On March 19, 1878, Sir George Grey, then Premier, delivered the first policy speech delivered in Ashburton by a leader of the Government of New Zealand. Sir George Grey arrived in Ashburton on the previous Tuesday, March 16, and was welcomed by Mr W. C. Walker (chairman of the County Council), and Messrs Alfred Saundfers and T. Bullock, after which he visited points of interest in the town and was later entertained at a luncheon in the Somerset Hotel. It was at the Library Hall, in Tancred Street that Sir George delivered bis memorable policy speech, of over 6,009 words—a speech eagerly awaited, and which has since been referred to as one of the most forcible and statesmanlike ever delivered in the colonv. Mr Alfred Saunders, was chairman, ‘ and the attendance was an overflow one for the hall.

The desirability of opening the Moki Block for settlement in the country near the Tangarakau Gorge has engaged the attention of the Minister of Lands (Mr E. A. Ransom) for some time, and it is reported that arrangements have been made by the Department for Messrs Fazackerle.v Bros, and Harrison to carry on milling operations with that object (savs the “Stratford Post.”) As the result of surveys, it is estimated that there is sufficient timber, such as rimu, white pine, and others, for 10 years’ milling. The firm has erected' a plant to cut out 410 acres, which might produce as much as 2,500.000 feet of timber. The effect of these' operations in reducing the price of timber to the public, and also as additional freight for the StratfordMain Trunk railway, is of no small importance in these times, and the venture will he watched with interest.

The annual meeting of the Ashburton Musical: Club was held last evening, when Mr E. Buchanan presided. The report stated that the various meetings held during the year had been weTl attended, and a successful year’s work had been recorded. The balance-sheet showed that the club had commenced the year with a credit balance of £ls 15s 7d, and had' ended with a credit of £27 13s 7d. The following officers were elected-.—President, Mr E. Buchanan; vice-presidents, Mesdames W. Birnie, E. Ruddock, and M. C. Knox.; secretary, Miss L. Lewis; treasurer. Miss H l . Brown; committee, Mesdames M r . Thomas, A. T. Smith, A. C. "Williams, Misses L. Watt, A. Madden, E. Thompson, and A. Brunton ; Hostesses’ Committee, Mesdames E. Buchanan, M. Knox and G. Bundy. Eight new members were elected. It was agreed to open the season' with an own choice programme in April.

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Sheepbreedors’, Association at Christchurch last evening the chairman (Mr John Deans) said that a deputation of Romney breeders had waited on the Council asking that the Association close its book to the Romney breed so as to force all of them into their own %ook. If this was applied to every breed the Association might as well close its book for good. Mr _.\\\ J. Jenkins said the matter might be deferred until after the proposed conference;l of all breeders’ associations. Criticism of the attitude of the Romney breeders was voiced by some of the members. All* Deans said it was the inspection of their flocks by members of an oilier association which they regarded as objectionable. Air J. Campbell said they should endeavour to maintain the standard of all flocks. Mr Deans said that the Association was not an inspection society; it simply made a record. No two men agreed as to the right type of sheep. A member said this was the very reason w’iv the Romney breeders were dissatisfied. They considered the Association should endeavour to improve the flocks. Mr T. S. Little said there was no need for inspection. Every man should lcok after his own flock.

Petitions in bankruptcy have been filed by,Thomas Crawford, carpenter, of Timvaid; Edwin A. ltrown, fruiterer, of Ashburton; and William Proctor, farmer, of Lowclifte. A meeting of creditors of the first-named will be held in the Courthouse at 11 a.m. on March 24, and of the two latter at 11 a.m. on March 25 and 26 respectively.

A recent visitor to Tolcaanu states that the surrounding land there is now infested with ragwort, and yellow flowers of this noxious weed are a prominent feature of the landscape (states the “Taranaki Herald.”) He expressed the opinion that unless the matter is taken in hand at once by the Government the ragwort will spread far and wide, and become an expensive menace over a much wider area.

People had told him, said an American, tourist who arrived by the Mamma in Wellington last week, that one of the main causes of the present world economic situation was the fact that America was hoarding her gold. To this he would say that America had nothing which she had not come by honestly. “If you people like to waste your patrimony and sell your birthright for a mess of pottage, it’s none of our business,” h e said.

“It is the usual thing among breeders when times are pot good to neglect their stock and let things slide,” said Mr John Deans (vine-chairman) at the annual meeting of the Now Zealand Sheepbreeders’ Union last evening. “In times like these there is a good opportunity to cull out flocks pretty heavily. It does net cost so much as when times are good. It is advisable to cull on the heavy, rather than op the light, side ”

Some excellent yields of wheat liaye been experienced in South Canterbury this season. One farmer ip the Kingsdown district secured 80 bushels to the acre from aAairly large area, and from a smaller field lie secured 104 bushels to the acre. Another farmer on the Main South Road had a wonderful yield of oats, working out at 115 bushels to the acre. Crops such as those mentioned would show a good return on the capital outlay.

The contention that, even in a time of depression, it is wise to cater for the tourist traffic to New Zealand is well supported by! what a visitor to Queensland learns at the present time. The number of visitors, it is stated there, is not so large as it was last year, but a very big proportion of them are tourists from overseas. At one well known hotel, for instance during a recent week three-quarters of the guests were people from England and America who were touring the Dominion.

An extraordinary mistake' that was made in the supplementary University examination results for Latin 111. was cleared up yesterday. Whpn the, results were published recently it was thought that something was wrong. Yesterday the Rector of C nterbury College received a telegram from Wellington stating that the only failures at Canterbury College were two candidates whose names bad previously been cabled as having passed (says a Press Association message from Christchurch).

Tiie twenty-first conference of the New Zealand Poultry Association was opened at Auckland yesterday. The executive stated that that I there was a probability that egg grading laws would soon bo in operation on a voluntary (basis. As the association had not-re-ceived a Government guarantee, export was impossible this year. Payment had not been received from the Government for pulp sent to England, owing to one selling firm going into liquidation. The president, referring tu wheat, prices, said that growers still had no- reasonable offer to make to poultrymen.