LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 288, 16 September 1933, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Dlinedin Press Association telegram states that the estate of Mr Robert Shennun Charters, of Greenvale Station, Waikaia, and latterly of Dunedin, who died last Saturday, has been sworn for probate purposes at less than £50,000.

During the. last fortnight a shortage of water for household purposes has been experienced among Winton residents (says the correspondent of the "Southland Times"), and if the present dry spoil continues for any length of time the position may become serious.

A number of wire receptacles for rubbish have been placed m position in Baring Square East reserves and in the Domain. They have been attached to substantial posts, and it is hoped by the Council that residents will make use of them ins&ead of carelessly throwing rubbish on the ground.

Since Tuesday, when the offer of the Unemployment lioard to grant a subsidy on building jobs terminated, 30 Chiistchurch jobs have been approved, making the total approvals now 480. The applications for the subsidy number 1254, and the value of the work it is proposed to put in hand aggregates £738,651.

"It has been suggested sometimes, 1 think, that we fruitgrowers are some of God's chosen people. There may be some truth in that," remarked a delegate at the conference of the; New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation in Wellington recently. "The apple, for instance, has been prominent many times in man's history, starting, 1 believe, quite a long time back."

The Ashburton Silver Band, under the conductorship of Lieutenant H. J. T. Osborne, will play a number of selections at the Tuarangi Old Men's Home to-morrow afternoon. The usual weekly quickstep practice in preparation for tlie contest to be held at Leeston on October 7, was held n the Domain this afternoon, and members carried out the various in a satisfactory manner.

A report that there had been 1388 registrations to date was made to the meeting of the Boys' Employment Committee at Christchurch yesterday. Of that number, stated the report, 381 were working at the present time, leaving a balance of 1007 actually seeking work. The 87 placements since August 18 were as follows: —Permanent: Farm 14, commercial 6, trades and factories 10, miscellaneous 9; total, 45. Temporary: Farm 1, commercial 3, trades and factories 9, miscellaneous 29; total 42.

, The question of play on Good Friday was discussed at a mooting of the Paeroa Bowling Club. A letter signed by ministers representing five congregations were received asking that there be no play in the club on Good Friday, ilr W. 'Taylor said ho considered that any matter concerning religion should not be discussed bv the club. It' the matter were to be dealt with a secret ballot shmikl be taken. The Rev. W. G. H. AVeadon, a member of the ciub, said tbe ministers only asked that the club should not force bowlers to play by organising tournaments on Good Friday. A motion that the matter be referred to the committee for discussion was defeated.

Another clean bill of health was recorded in Ashburton Borough and Ashburton County this week.

A Dunedin telegram states that the expert of 3500 cases, or 100,000 dozen eggs, is aimed at in Otago this season, although it is considered; that the actual exports may fall slightly short of the projected total. Up to the present 12,000 dozen eggs have been shipped to the London market.

It in reported -by tho "Southland Times" that one of New Zealand's most rare and most beautiful hncls,, a white lieron, was seen on the Wainopai River, near Thomson's Bush, on Tuesday. The bird is protected, and any person who molested it would render himself liable to a heavy penalty.

A Wellington Press Association telegram states that the Registrar of the iNew Zealand University (xvlr E. T. Morris) who is also secretary of the Rhodes Scholarships Selection Committee, says there is nothing in tho correspondence with the Rhodes Trustees to support the idea that three scholarships may possibly be awarded next year. If anything the inference points in the contrary direction.

Increasing use "of Southland silver beech for furniture has been a source of gratification to those engaged in the industry (says the "Southland Times"). A striking example of how admirably suited for .the manufacture of furniture is this timber may be seen in an Invercargill shop window, where a bedroom suite of "fiddleback" Southland silver beech is on view

"It is impossible to know a country in a few months," said Sir Joseph Smith, in an address on India at an Auckland Grammar School old boys' luncheon. No one could expect to fet a first-hand knowledge of New Zealand in four months, and it would be even more difficult to learn much about a country like India in that time. "It is unfortunate that visitors after a short stav: in a country, criticise it ineomijetently," Sir Joseph said.

"Would not a shock of 6000 volts cause instant death?" was a question asked Mr L. B. Hutton (chief engineer to the Southland Electric Power Board) in his evidence before the coroner (Mr E. C. Levvey) at an inquest at Invercargill. "Not necessarily," was the reply. • "I may say that I have seen a linesman recover after sustaining 36,000 volts, and I have seen' death caused by 230 volts. So many circumstances have a bearing on ithe effect of an electric shock that no law can be laid down in general terms."'"'

Strong condemnation of the ravages among duck eggs by the pukeko was voiceci at a meeting of the Palmerston North branch of the Wellington Acclimatisation bociety last wee is. in view of what were described as "swarms" of the birds, which, it was stated., could not be characterised as beautiful, it was decided to request the council of the association jto opeii~ the first .two weeks or the shooting season to pukekos, "as they are,the worst enemy of our wild ducks to-day."

"I would state that I am appearing for this defendant in the capacity of friend," stated a. solicitor on behali of a man who was summoned in the Police Court at Auckland on a maintenance matter. Counsel described defendant's inability to meet his obligations, and said the man's circumstances were such that he did not expect any fee for the legal service provided. Counsel suggested that such a situation might be of interest to the L'ourt in considering the defendant's financial state, "i nope it will not influence me one way or the other," commented Mr W. R. Mckean, S.M. The case was adjourned for defendant to submit to the Court further details of his circumstances.

It is a platitude that the housewife is ingenious, but none the less it is true—a tact that was borne out by a display at the show of spring tiowers of the Auckland ' Horticultural Show (says the "Star"). The particular class in which the ingenuity was displaved does not matter. Suffice _it to sav! that it was a table on which were five vases, one in the centre and one in each corner. The vase in the centre was not a vase at all. It was a pumpkin, golden yellow, with the top sawn off, and. levelled a little on the base to make it'stand, upright, The small vase at each corner was a persimmon out of which the centre had been taken, leaving only the shell, of the same colour as the centre vase.

The recent easterly gale moved large quantities of sand at Milford, Auckland, and coins and articles of value have been brought to tho surface. After a storm some months ago it was found that the action of the breakers scoured the sand and exposed articles such as coins and jewellery- Since then residents have made a habit of visiting the beach after storms to see what they can find. One searcher has found coins to the value of 255; another, more fortunate, a diamond ring; and a gold signet ring is also repoi-ted to have been discovered. pastime has become so popular that after the recent storm about 100 diligent treasure seekers were observed on the beach, equipped with rakes and shovels.

The financial result of the community singing held in His Majesty's Theatre last evening in aid of the County Belief Fund, was satisfactory. There was a good attendance of the public but those present did ; not sing with the zest that has been displayed at previous entertainments. The singing was led by Messrs A. C G. d'Auvergne and A. D. Smith and was accompanied by Messrs J. McMillan (piano) C. Leslie (cornet), and N. 'inomas (violin). Items were contributed as follow: Russian ballet, Miss G. Bushell's pupils (Misses Joyce Denley, Mona Miller, Byllie Stills and Helen Loudon); tenor solo, Mr A. Miller; song, Mi" E. Coker. It is the intention of those organising these entertainments to hold two more "sings" on Friday evenings, and the final one will take place on September 29-

From inquiries mode in official quarters in Wellington yesterday it was learned (says a (Press Association telegram) that the limitation as to the quantities of oranges sent to New Zealand from South Australia is to cease and that until the end of .the year there will be no restriction on supplies. The lifting of the embargo, which had been in force since the. previous December, was announced on August 25 last, when it was explained that the importation of oranges from South Australia was to be allowed on a quantitative restriction. The last controlled shipment, it is stated, is due to leave Australia about .to-morrow. After that, seeing that the production .season in South Australia is nearing its end, arrangements have been made under which shipments of oranges could be made without control as to times and quantities. This arrangement holds good till December 31 next, when questions relating to 1934 supplies will be gone into.

Six crates of pigeons belonging to members of tho Dunedin Homing Pigeon Club were liberated at the Ashburton railway station at 10.30 o'clock this morning -to fly back to Dunedin.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that alter being sold at Is 9d and Is 7di a gallon for 17 days, the retail price of motor spirit will return to-morrow to the former prices, Is lOd'first grade. Is 9d second, according to the decision of a meeting of Wellington retailers to-day.

A pleasant attraction of Pukekura Park [(New Plymouth) at .the present time is the large number of tuis and silver-eyes present on their annual visit to the blooming kowhai trees. To Nature lovers and students it is a very beautiful scene in native bird life. Tne amorous songs and jealous squibbling of .the males are charming and interesting to observe. Pukekura Park is one of the pleasantest places in Taranaki to observe the habits of the lovely tuis.

"We may hear a lot about the recovery schemes begun by President Roosevelt, but the methods of the United States in dealing with unemployment are the crudest of all nations," said Mr J. S. Jessep (deputy-chairman of the Unemployment Board) during a meeting ivith the members of the Taranaki County Council at New Plymouth. America's methods, he explained, were to give a certain measure of relief in 'one state, and then to hustle the unfortunate victims of the slump off into a neighbouring state. As many as 4.0,000 were ejected from one state by armed troops, he said.

An increase in the export of pumice through the port of Wanganui is reported by a Wanganui contractor. In a recent week two shipments were made to the South Island. Though many Wanganui residents are perhaps not aware of it-, pumice from the Wanganui district has in recent years been found highly satisfactory for a. variety of uses; such as the making of sanclsoap in various grades, the manufacture of copper boilers, and several fireproof building materials. Much of it is made up locally, and a good deal is shipped to various parts of New Zealand and even overseas.

A lucky number in the Police Court (Auckland) the other day was 65. in the view of two defendants in maintenance cases heard before Mr W. 11. McKean, S.M. One man who applied for a revision of the terms of his maintenance obligations informed the Court that it was his birthday, and that he v/as 65 years old. As the police said the man had fulfilled his obligations in the past, the magistrate said it would be an appropriate birthday gift if the arrears of maintenance were remitted. Curiously, the arrears amounted to £65. The next defendant was also 65 years of age> and his case v/as favourably considered by the Court. '