LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 285, 13 September 1933, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A lamb with unusual markings has been horn at Onetangi, Waiheke (Hauraki Gulf), and has attracted considerable interest among residents. I lie animal's wool is mire black on the hind less and half the rump, the remainder being the usual colour.

An Oamaru Press Association message states that Mr F. W. Furkert (formerly engineer to the Public Works Department) reported to the Oamaru Harbour Board yesterday on the proposed breakwater extension to enable the deepening of the harbour and .the provision of a better entrance. The proposal is for a wing extending 880 ft eastward from the present breakwater. ThFeost is estimated at £96,500. The board referred the report .to the standing' committee to report to a special meeting.

The white pine export trade shows no signs of improvement, as should be looked for at this period of the year (states the "Greymouth Star"). The majority of mills cutting white pine, on the Coast, are working only part time. Heavy stocks held in Australia and a late dairying season, might be accountable for the delay in orders forthcoming. There is also a possibility that experiments with resinous timbers which are being treated so that they will not taint butter, have proved successful, thereby depriving white pine producers of trade.

In addition to AT. E. Western, who oamo fourth in the Dominion junior championship speed typewriting eontost hold under the auspices of the Association of Commercial Science, the following Ashhurton candidates qualified in the senior championship: Fortyfive to 50 net words a minute: G. Bairstow 45.3. Thirty to 40 net words a minute: E. A. S. Yeoman. 39.3; M. .H Dahlberg, 32.3; M. J. Yeoman, 30.6. The following qualified in the junior championship: Thirty to 41 words a minute: N.• Rapley, 36.3; P. K. Cornish, 31.5; K. Stoddart, 30. The test consisted of 15'minutes' continuous typing for juniors, and 30 minutes for seniors, from unknown matter averaging 4.8 letters a word. The test sought to combine sp<oed with accuracy, each error or defect in the typescript being penalised by a deduction of seven words from the gross number copied in the prescribed time.

No definite trace of the two prisoners <—Harris O'Neill, aged 40 years, and George Eden Charles Hayward, aged 25 who escaped from the bakehouse of Mount Eden Prison early on Monday morning, has been found 1 (says a Press Association telegram from Auckland).

The increasing scarcity of wild duck in the Auckland district, particularly in tho lower Waikato, which authorities consider is due to the draining of swamps, closer settlement and poaching, is'engaging the attention of the. Auckland Acclimatisation Society. A proposal that the society should iniport English wild duck has giyn rise to fears that such action might result in a hybrid being developed" in time. It also has been suggested that next season should be closed, to check the decrease in the number of duck.

Godwits have started to return to New Zealand after their long annual migration to Siberia, and already numbers have been seen in the Manukau Harbour. They are apparently an advance guard for larger flocks. It is usual for the godwits to appear in large numbers in October, migration in normal years being completed by the end of November. In several weeks' time it is probable that thousands of the birds will be gathered on the mudflats of tlie West Coast harbours and other favoured spots.

The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. J. 4* Young) stated at Christchurch last evening that as soon as the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes returns the personnel of the Local Government Commission promised by Mr Forbes in February, 1931, will be announced. No official information regarding thfe Commission is available, but it is learned authoritatively that the chairman will be a magistrate with not more than four other members. The Commission will investigate the financial administration only of counties and rural districts within county areas, not touching municipalities or boroughs.

The 1.0.G.T., Star of the East, No. 62, met last evening when the C.T. presided .over a very large attendance of members. Several members from the Wakanui 1.0.G.T. were also present. District degrees were conferred upon six members. Mr G. W. Leadley, sen., presented the lodge with a framed certificate which showed his entrance into the Star of the East Lodge 53 years ago. Officers and members referred to the' great amount of work Mr Leadlej; has done for the lodge and the good influence he had had upon its members. Supi>er was handed round and a very enjoyable social hour was spent.

A message from St. Louis (United States), recording 100 deaths from sleepy sickness, stated investigators had come to the conclusion that it was disseminated through secretions in the nose or throat. Commenting on this, Dr. J. Boyd, officer of the Department of Health, at Auckland, said sleepy sickness was one of the. diseases of which the cause had not been ascertained, but this speculation was in harmony with medical knowledge here.. It is assumed to be due to an ultramicroscopic organism. The disease is always present in tho country, although it is only at odd times that it becomes epidemic. Like many other diseases, it has periods of quiescence, but occasionally becomes very virulent.

The final of the second series of social evenings promoted by the Methven subbranch of the Plunket Society was held in the Town Hall last evening, when there was a large attendance. Prizes for the evening were won by Mrs J. Wootton 1 and Mrs Ruckshaw 2 and Mr S. Hands and Mr P. McCrea. Aggregate prizes for the series were presented to Misses In a Middleton and Mary Grieve and Messrs H. Noble and S. Burt. A dainty supper provided by the ladies of the committee was enjoyed. On behalf of the committee Mr J. Wootton thanked all who had assisted with gifts and by their attendance to make the function a success.

The committee of the Ashburton Fanciers' Society met last evening, Mr W. H. Robinson presiding. The action cf the executive in appointing Mr T. Rattray as the society's delegate to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Kennel Club was approved'. The Ashburton branch of the Womens' Division of the Farmers' Union forwarded suggestions for judges and staging of exhibits for the* needlework and handicrafts sections at the Winter Show. The recommendations were noted on behalf of the schedule committee. The New Zealand (South Island) Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Association notified that the annual meeting would be held at Inyercargill in November. The committee decided to hold the annual meeting of the society on Wednesday, September 27.

An interesting address on old Maori customs relating to betrothal and marriage was given by Mrs R. Bennett- before the anthropology and Maori race section of thy Auckland Institute and Museum last week. Upon the birth of the first male child it was an old custom to betroth the infant to a female child, said Mrs Bennett, the arrangement being that the two children should marry when they grew up. This custom of puhi was seldom infringed or anm lied, but when it was atonement had to be made by the handing over of goods and possessions. Failing that, bloodshed or plunder, or both, might occur. The custom of asking for the hand of a maiden in marriage was called tomowahine. The youno- man usually dispatched an envoy with a garment for the girl; of his choice, alter which an elaborate ceremony was arranged, with much feasting, singing, weeping, wailing, and speech-making. The guests would not depart until all the food had been eaten —a matter of several days.

An officer of the Australian squadron, now in New Zealand waters has good reason to remember his visit to the Dominion. On Wednesday last he was a passenger on the southbound Limited express for AVellintrton. At Palmerston North, where the train is due about 7 a.m., he slipped his overcoat over his pyjamas and left his compartment in the sleeping carriage to procure a morning cup Of tea at the railway refreshment rooms. After consuming his refreshments he went on to the station platform, and the presence there of a considerable number ol people apparently gave him the impression that his train was not due to start for some time. Without his realising it, however, the express had left Palmerston North on the last Stage of its journey to Wellington. Railway officials did what they could to assist him in his plight. The guard of the express train was communicated with at a, stop further down the line and with the attendant of the sleepino- carriage recovered the officer's clothes and a sum of monev he had left under his pillow. Exactly what steps were taken to equip the unfortunate individual left on the Palmerston North railway station in nothing more than a suit of pyjamas, an overcoat, and a nair of shoes on a brisk spring morning has not been related.

The boatswain's shrill pipe is seldom heard aboard the Australian cruiser Canberra, now visiting Lyttelton. Every part of the ship is equipped with loud-speakers" and orders given from a central transmitter are clearly heard in all quarters.

The Ashburton Catholic Club met on Monday evening, when the president (Mr It. G. Ross) presided. After some minor business had been transacted a handicap knock-out ping-pong tournament was played and a prize given by an anonymous donor was won by Mr V. O'Donoghue. During an interval the chairman presented the prize and congratulated Mr O'Donoghue on winning from scratch.

was the description English motorists were given yesterday by Mr Edward Armstrong, of Christciiurch, who has just returned from a tour abroad. He had been astounded by the number of road accidents lie had seen in the 4000 miles he had travelled on English roads. Motor traffic of all kinds went at much higher speeds than in New Zealand, and many of the cars were really not under control. Motorists in England did not seem to realise, as Lord Trenchard ha 3 recently reminded them, that a man driving a motor-car was controlling a machine that was as dangerous as a quick-firing gun.

A junior branch of the AVellington Kennel Club has been formed with a view to interesting and instructing young people in all branches of the canine fancy, and to encouraging and stimulating their natural interest in dogs (says the "Dominion"). The objects of this npw movement include many enjoyable outings for members, and, when accompanied by a dog, a talk on the particular breed will be given. All those under, and including the age of 14 years are eligible for membership. A small silver cut> has been donated by Mr D. H. Edgar for the child enrolling the most members during the year. Mrs Murphy is giving a silver medal for the runner-un. The first ramble will take place on September 30.

Unusual fertility among sheep has been recorded on a stud farm at Maxwell, reports the "Wanganui Chronicle." No fewer than 23 ewes have triplets, and all the 69 lambs are alive and doing well. It is reported that docking and marking: of lambs Jir.s commenced in some districts and th»it good percentages are expected. Quite a lot of twins have arrived this season, but there are complaints of a usual number of late lambing ewes. The remarkably fine weather has had the effect of improving percentages, as very few lambs have been killed bv the weather, while it has also brought lambs and ewes through in particularly good condition.

A trend in farming particularly noticeable since the recent rise in wool prices was remarked on by a Wanganui stock authority, reports the "Chronicle." He stated that the-sheep farmers had gone in fox' milking for factory supply when the price of wool dropped from its former dizzy heights, and many of them had got together dairv herds of from thirty to as many as a hundred head. With the price of butter-fat at a record low level and with wool rising, these farmers had come to the- conclusion that it would pay them to use their home paddocks, now in demand for dairy purposes, as "hospital" paddocks for the sheep.. who would repay such attention and provide better returns. Throwing most of their milking cows Mid' heifers on the market, these vendors had accentuated the move away from dairy stock, and prices had suffered accordingly.