LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 15, 28 October 1932, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Rangitata River is clear and the Rakaia River is milky but fishable, according to reports received by the secretary of the Ashburton Acclimatisation Society (Mr J. B. Nicoll) ;to-day.

In an effort to lessen the number of crows in the Hawke's Bay County (says the "Telegraph") the County Council has decided to offer Id each for crow's eggs taken from nests, the decision being made following the receipt of a request of a resident.

Four threepenny pieces nailed to the cab of a lorry) of a Stratford carrier drew the attention of a "Post" representative recently. He was informed that, according to an old Scottish custom, when the lorry .was first taken delivery of, some Scottish friends had nailed 'the threepenny pieces to it as a good luck token.

Rezrading work on the Acton mam water-race, *Mch has been carried out by relief workers for the Ashburton Sunty Council during the last lew months, has been completed horn its terminus in the Selma Estate to the Bushey Park Road, a distance of about five miles. The water has been turned on permanently and a. regular flow wd result. The annual cleaning work will be reduced to a minimum.

At a. meeting of the council of the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance held at Wellington yesterday <saysin Press Association message), the diait regulations for goods services in controlled areas under Part 111 of the Transport Licensing Act, 1931, *eie considered. Ht was deeded that the Minister of Transport should be iequested to extend the time for making representations in order to permit ot due consideration being given to the proposals by the interested parties. The council waited on the Rt Hon. J. G Coates, who replied that November 30 had been fixed 'as the final date on which representation could be made.

A serious accident was narrowly averted at the New Plymouth Aero Club's pageant on Monday afternoon, sivs the "Tavanaki Herald." A visiting pilot, when his aeroplane was entering the Bell Block aerodrome across le Arai Road, failed to notice the power lines leading along the road into .the hangar and the landing gear ot the 'olane caught the stout wires, breaking them and almost crashing the machine. The mishap occurred some time after the commencement of the pageant. The machine was a Canterbury Aero Club Moth, piloted by MrK. R. J<* Mtan, of Ashburton, and with an Ashburton lady as passenger. When the 'plane struck the wires it nose-dived to within a few feet of the ground and a crash seemed imminent. However, Johnston showed excellent control to bring his machine out of the dive. When Johnston landed his 'plane it was found that the landing gear had suffered damage while a splinter of glass from his goggles had entered the pilot's eye. The splinter was removed by a St. John imbalance man. Johnston stated that he was watching some trees and failed to notice the power line.

With a modified programme, but with some new entries in the procession and sports section, the 'Gala, postponed from Monday on account of wet weather, will beheld to-morrow afternoon and evening. The nrocessiori will leave from the corner of South and East Streets at 1.30 o'clock and the sports programme*will commence at 2 o'clock. The axemen's carnival will open at 7.15 o'clock.

A farmer in Taranaki recently advertised for a "hand," offering wages of £1 a week and "found." Much to his astonishment, in view of the existing unemployment, he did not receive a single application. However, as he wins in need of assistance, he went to an unemployment camp a few miles away. None of the men there were at all enthusiastic; they all appeared to consider that the camp lite at 10s a week was better than working on a farm for £l.

Not often do the dumb speak. One did on Thursdav in Dunedm (says the "Star"). When asked by the householder v/hvi the articles exposed when he opened his knapsack were all carrying price tickets, he motioned with his fingers that he was deaf and dumb. The householder had nothing to spare for a purchase, but, not liking to turn away such a distressed man, she gave him" a sixpence, which was acknowledged with a polite "Thank y oU ''__pu re forgetfulness.

The annual conference of the Grain and Produce Merchants' Federation of New Zealand will be held in Christchurch next week and delegates will be present from all parts of the Dominion. The delegates from the south will arrive on Tuesday evening and those from the north on *±he following morning. On Wednesday there will be separate meetings of the northern and southern groups, and the main conference will open on Thursday. Over 30 delegates will take part.

Through the generosity of the trustees of the Methodist Churches at Pitt Street (Auckland) and Taranaki Street (Wellington), Trinity Methodist College at Auckland has acquired for its library a very fine collection of between 400 and 500 volumes relating to New Zealand, built up over many years by the late Rev. William Baumber (says a Press Association telegram) Mr Baumber, Avho died in Christchurch on September 8, aged 79, was ex-president of the New Zealand Methodist Conference.

An astonishing case of lip-reading came before the Magistrate's Court in Ashburton this morning. A witness was very deaf and counsel had to shout at him to make him hear, but his efforts were highly unsatisfactory. The witness seemed to become confused and gave answers that were obviously not intended and showed that he had not grasped the questions. After some confusion, it was suggested that witness's wife should put the questions of counsel to him. This was done and the witness was able to answer all the questions. His wife spoke slowly and softly and witness watched her lips. He said he could hear- her voice, also. All the shouting of counsel had been of no avail.

A country couple desired to finish a dav's shopping in town, which included the purchase of fish and meat, with a visit to the opera (says the "Auckland Star"). The weather was decidedlv muggy, and the wjfe was sure that the meat and fish, after being tied up so long and then a twohour' journey, would be uneatable. The difficulty was solved by taking the hanging; meat safe for a trip into town in the motor car, and on enamel plates the fish was deposited on the top shelf and the meat on the lower.. The car was left in the supervision ov the A.A.A. caretaker, and the wife enjoyed the opera without any qualms as to how the meat and fish were faring.

At the meeting of the Star df the East Lodge, 1.0.G.T., the C.T., (Bro. E. Tilley) presided over an attendance of Three proposals for membership were 'received. The election of officers resulted as follows:—C,T. Bro. E Tillev ■ V.T., Sister V. Ford; Chaplain., Sister Wear; F.S., Bro. E. Leadley; T., Sister H. Lithgow; M., Bro. C. Tilley; D.M., Sister Rudd; Secretary, Bro ' O. Bishop ; Sent., Bro. Padman ; Guard, Bro. C. Church; Pianist, Sister F. Ford; Lodge Trustees, Bros. G. W. Leadley, G. W- Andrews, and 1. Wakelin • Social Committee, Sisters V. Ford (convener), Osborne, Tilley, F. Banner, Luseombe, and Bros. R. Marsden, C. Bishop and O. Church. Final arrangements were made for the Centenary Temperance Demonstration.

The Ashburton East (Dental Clime Committee met last evening, Mr J.-H. Harper presiding. The secretary reported that Nurse Lemon had handed over to Nurse Williams, who had resumed duty at Tinwald, after her absence on sick leave.. It was resolved to thank Nurse Lemon for the able manner in which she had carried out her duties. Correspondence was received from the Allenton and Borough School Committee suggesting that Mr Bignell act as aibitrator in connection with ±he claim for a refund of installation expenses. It was decided to reply that there was no necessity to appoint an arbitrator as the committee could not afford to pay more than the original offer, which w.ould hold good until November 20. The nurse's reports were as follow: —September: operations 191; attendances, 86; patients re-examined, 35. October : Operations, 331; attendances, 137; new patients, 5; re-exam-ined, 9.

After spending over eleven weeks in the Auckland Hospital, Mr Thomas Joseph Grace, aged 19, of 56 OlCi Mill Road, Greyi Lynn, is now at his home, rapidly approaching full and complete recovery from a broken neck (states the '''New Zealand Herald"). MiGrace broke his neck while practising acrobatics at the house of a friend on July 24, and for four days afterward continued to so to his work in the city. However, he was suffering from partial paralysis of the left side and was finally persuaded to visit the hospital, where an X-ray examination was made and the full extent of his injuries discovered. For several weeks Mr Grace was in bed at the hospital, strapped on a frame and with a leather collar to keep his head in one position. Care had to be taken to prevent anv movement which nyght have stopped'the fractured vertebrae of the spinal column from knitting. The next stage in the treament was the fitting of a surgical appliance known as a spinal jacket. For this, a cast of the patient's back had to be made, and then a perfectly-fitting jacket constructed of steel and leather. Ihis jacket has to be worn night and day, and has the effect of keeping the head in one position. Mr Grace was discharged from hospital on October 14, and is now able to walk round m almost normal fashion. He is attending the hospital for treatment as an outpatient and will have to continue wearing the spinal jacket for some time. However, the doctors m charge of the case are confident that he will make a complete recovery. •

On account of Carnival Week being held in Christchurch from November 7 to 12, there will be no stock sale at the Tinwald Saleyards .that week. Consequently, there will be a double sale at the Ashburton Saleyards next Tuesday.

According to Mr T. J. McCosker, an architect, of Wellington, who returned by the Maunganui from Sydney after a holiday and business tour ot England and the Continent, people generally appear more optimistic in regard to the present world conditions. A business man in Sydney was contemplating spending £200,000 in extending his business premises in view of the impression he gained in England that "things were picking up."

The level of Lake Coleridge is now only 7.Bft below the height of the spillway, having been rising steadily for seme time. Yesterday morning's reading showedi that the level was 1674.2 ft, a rise of just over 10 inches since the previous Thursday. If the present rate of rise continues the lake should reach the overflow level before the end of the year, thus relieving a good ! deal of anxiety regarding- the supply of electric power next winter.

One might be tempted to think that an examiner for the Trinity College of Music (London) led a life comparatively free from excitement, but Mr C. Egerton Lowe, who arrived in Wellington from England last week, has a number of recollections of experiences in South America. He has been involved in more than one big earthquake, but his most vivid memory is of a night of revolution in Buenos Aires two years ago. He understood that the revolution was oyer and the new Government sworn in, so when he heard a number of explosions in a square near his hotel, he thought he might as well attend the fireworks display, which was evidently beingheld to celebrate the victory. He walked downstairs and found the hotel barricaded, while the explosions were discovered to be the rattle of machinegun volleys and occasional rirle fire. The fighting went on from 8 p.m. until midnight and there were a good many casualties'; The music examinations were continued on the following day without interruption. Mr Lowe was also in Rio de Janeiro when troops were fighting on the outskirts of the city. There was no fighting in the citv itself. "The people of Rio are so 'pround of their town that they say it would be suicide for any revoliitionarv force to drop a bomb and risk damaging any of the lovely buildings, he stated.