LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 204, 10 June 1933, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A visit to Tuarangi Home, where a large number of Christchurch men are inmates, was paid .this morning by the Rev. J. A. Tyrrell-Baxter and the Rev. S. Stevens, of Christchurch, before their departure for the north.

A telegram, received in Christchurch from the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, states validating legislation will be introduced next session for the Lyttelton Harbour Board’s grhnt of £SOO for the relief funds, provided it is taken from revenue.

Speaking at the farewell function tendered to him at the Church of Christ last evening, the Rev. G. D. Verco said there was one side'of Ashburton life that few people touched upon, but which was welcomed by many a resident whose business on occasion kept him out late at night. He had often addressed meetings in the country at night time and he was always consoled on a long, cold journey with the knowledge that when he readied town he could shout his friends to coffee and a hot piel

The railway loading bank near the Ashburton saleyards has been lengthened by 60ft. to facilitate the loading and handling of horses on race days. Advice to this effect was received by the committee of the Canterbury Owners’ and- Breeders’ Association from the Railway Department at its meeting on Wednesday, and general satisfaction was expressed. The work has just been completed and .the longer bank was used to-day for the * first time, when the improvement was very favourably commented upon by those in charge of the horses.

Reference to the native land development schemes in operation under the control of the Minister of Native Affairs (Sir Apirana Ngata), was made at the sitting of the Native Land Rat ing Committee at Whangarei yesterday bv the chairman (the Hon. A. D. McLeod, M.P.). “Since starting out with the present committee on the east coast I have viewed several of those development schemes, and 1 state most emphatically I am more than surprised with the splendid results obtained,” said Mr McLeod. “The work performed by the natives under their supervisors has been excellent and reflects great credit on the natives as well as upon the Minister concerned and I wish to express publicly my appreciation,”

An example of how exchange, sales tax, Customs duties, and other charges raise the price of goods in almost incredible ratio was given to a “Post’ representative by a Wellington merchant, who produced, his shipping documents to prove the figures. One line of r/oods invoiced at £6 11s, cost to land £l6 11s 9d. The goods came from a foreign country on the gold standard, and the importer had to nay sterling depreciation, Customs duty (about 25 per cent.), New Zealand exchange charges, sales tax, shipuine, and other charges. The cost of landing some goods was about 240 per cent., and the sales tax, instead_of 5 per cent., worked out at nearly 1,5 per cent, of cost. The consequence, was that the goods simply could not be sold, and in future would not be imported. The people who had helped te roll this snowball of increasing charge ss along (for their own profit throng l ' exchange or taxation) had sinu'b’ blocked the trade thoroughfares with it and stopped business.

A petition for an inquiry into the recent Mayoral election at Otaki has been filed on behalf of Mr Charles Frederick Atmore, who was defeated by Mr Timothy 'O’Rourke, in a recount by six votes.

No cases- of infectious diseases were reported to either the Borough or .tire County health authorities during the week. Except for a case of scarlet fever at Winclmiore last week, no notifications have been received by the County Inspector (Mr E. N, Johnson) for nearlv a month.

A Press Association telegram from Auckland says that after making a thorough search fif two bedrooms in a house at Mount Eden yesterday afternoon, an intruder received a rude surprise when jie encountered the occupier of the house at the door of third bedroom. He was held by the occupier, Mr W. L. Boyd, and later taken in custody.

“If the petition to the Minister of Justice, some time ago, asking for extra police protection in Ashburton had been successful, there would have been more chance of tho operations of the individual responsible for the windowscratching in the town being greatly minimised,” said a businessman to a “Guardian” reporter this morning. He holds the opinion that if the extra police surveillance asked for had been granted, the damage to. windows would not have been so extensive.

To-day is the twenty-seventh anniversary of the death of the Rt. Hon. Richard John Seddon, an outstanding figure in the political history of New Zealand. Mr beddon was first elected to Parliament in 1879. He became Minister of Public Works in the administration of Mr John Ballance, and succeeded him as leader of the Liberal Party and as Prime Minister in May, 1893. He held office until the time of his death, June 10, 1906. Mr Seddon was largely responsible for the humanitarian and industrial legislation which made the nineties such a notable period.

A Wellington Press Association message states: Councillor , Duncan has given notice to move at next meeting of the City Council: “That to enable a review of the question of the future site for the central fire station, as well as for other reasons, the council decide to take no further action with regard, to proposals previously made for the establishment of a civic centre on the block occupied by the existing fire station and other buildings.” Councillor Duncan said he did not believe the people of Wellington ever realised what a civic centre -would cost, that they ever wanted the scheme or that they wanted it now.

The Canterbury Education Board has sufficient teachers. to meet its requirements for two years and a half, according to figures that have been drawn up by the secretary of the boajid. The number of unemployed teachers is at present 316, of whom 156 are temporarily employed. During the last six months 37 permanent appointments have been made, and taking this as -the average absorption for six months it is estimated- that there would be sufficient teachers till 1935 if no more were trained. The board considers that the training of graduate students who are more fitted for secondary departments, and for whom there are comparatively few openings, is not necessary. The board would prefer that a year’s probationersliin and two years’ training will be given to ordinary students in place of the engagement of graduate teachers.

Some anxiety is being felt in the Manawatu and adjoining districts in connection with the sick and dying condition of many pinus radiata trees which are valuable for shelter and timber. According to an explanation by Mr T. C. Birch, M.A., of the State Forest Department, in the “Manawatu Evening Standard,” the losses are not due to any parasite disease, but to a combination of factors which interfere with the normal nutrition of the trees. Trees planted in shallow soil overlying pure shingle often become “sta"headed.” involving the death of the topmost branches, and die at an early age. Good drainage is also essential, as roots below the water drainage level are killed through lack of aeration. “In addition to obvious cases of nutritional interference,” states Mr Birch, “it is not generally recognised that pinus radiata reaches maturity at a comparatively early age, and tfye first symptom is the death of the topmost branches.”

The National Anthem was played m its new musical setting, as recently requested by the King, during the progress of the King’s Birthday parade at the Auckland Domain on Saturday and also during the- ceremony of consecrating the colours of the Auckland Regiment at the cenatoph on Sunday. The standard tempo approved by his Majesty was uniformly adopted by the seven bands, five of them military bands, that played during the march past in the Domain. The improved version found very general favour, the playing of the National Anthem, according to the approved style, is heralded by a roll of drums for three bars. The first eight bars of the anthem are then played pianissimo by reed instruments. W hat is known as the scale passage is then introduced by the trumpets, cornets and trombones in a cresendo of volume until the band is playing double-forte. . Then follow four bars played pianissimo, attei which the band as a whole comes m with the final chords, played doubleforte and at a slower pace, namely, 60 beats to the minute.

The annual meeting of the Ash burton branch o£ the British Sailors Society was held yesterday afternoon, the president (Mrs J. R. Wells) occupying .the chair. There was a good attendance of members. The annual leport stated that the year had been a most successful one. Funds had been raised by means of an afternoon at the residence of the president and a successful garden party which had been iield at the residence of Mrs Murdoch Bruce. A sum of £4O had been sent to the Lyttelton Institute, as well as 32 ditty bags and a Christmas cake A credit balance of £l6 was disclosed in the balance-sheet. In moving the of .the report and balancesheet, the president, said that the difficult times being experienced gave cause for renewed efforts on behalf ol the sailors rather than decreased activities and urged all members to do their utmost to assist with the work. The following officers were elected:— President, Mrs J. R. Wells; vice-presi-dents, Lady Nosworthy, Mesdames JH. Grigg, W. *H. Collins, M. Bruce, E. B. Newton, and J. Lane; honorarv secretary. Miss M. Cameron; honorary treasurer, i\Jrs TV. B- W. Bell; committee, Mesdames H. Bell, M. C. Knox, J. Connor, R. iD. Cochrane. P. A. Cornish, W. Thomas, and R. A. Collins, Misses Loy and Collins; musical conveners, Mesdames W. H. Woods, C. Bobertson and E. M. Gabites. During the afternoon a pianoforte solo was given by Miss Gwen Woods, and a vocal solo by Mrs D. A. Lawson. Mrs Robertson was the accompaniste.

Sir John Roberts, speaking at the annual meeting of the Trustees, Executors and Agency Company, at Dunedin yesterday, said they could look forward in the immediate future to having a distinct improvement in the prices of wool, dairy produce and probably frozen meat.

“It does not seem possible to arrange a tour, mainly owing to finance,” Mr S. E. Neilson, the secretary, -told the council Of the New Zealand Aero Club when the question of an invitation to a -team of Australian pilots was discussed. It was decided that the invitation should be deferred (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington).

The following paragraph from a letter by Rear-Admiral G. 0. Stephenson, general secretary in London to the New Zealand branch of the Navy League, is included in a message to members from the executive: “I do hope you will be able by your propaganda to keep in the minds of your people the need for an efficient navy. Perhaps at the moment we in England are rather concentrating our attention on Europe, which gives one much cause for thought; it is in such a disturbed state, and one feels that peace can only be maintained by force or by strength, and as the British Empire has no territorial ambitions and a strong navy can be looked on by no country as a danger, it appears that a strong navy is likely to be the most powerful instrument for the maintenance of peace as well as being an. insurance for our safety.”

Two holders of the Victoria Cross, Captain R. S. Judson and Sergeantmajor .1. Crichton, participated in the King’s Birthday parade at the Auckland Domain on Saturday and again at the consecration of the King’s Colours of the Auckland Regiment at the cenotaph on Sunday. Captain Judson, who was largely responsible for the training of the cadets, paraded with the cadet battalions, and Ser-geant-major Crichton was with the special guard of returned soldiers. A mark of special honour was paid Captain Judson by the Governor-General, Lord. Bledisloe, during the King's Birthday parade. Seeing the V.C. Iti the forefront of the cadets, his Excellency dispatched an aide-dercamp, inviting him to take a place with him at the saluting base. Upon accepting the invitation, Captain Judson was asked by Lord Bledisloe to convey his congratulations to the cadets on thensplendid marching and discipline, with which he had been much impressed.