LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 195, 31 May 1934, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Charged "with, stroke-hauling in the Rakaia River; Arthur James Crossley was fined £5 and costs in the Christmorning.

It was stated by the Ashburton Public Hospital authorities tins morning that Mrs Cecelia Amanda Hogearth, whose body was recovered irom a pond in the Domain yesterday morning, had not been a patient at the Public Hospital, as was reported Yesterday.

Regulations governing the taking ot opossums in New Zealand have been gazetted. The royalty, paid on skins lias been increased from 6d to 9d, and the license fee for trappers has been reduced from £2 10s to £2. Improved prices are now being received for opossum skins, and this fact has induced the Government to. increase the royalties. In 19.30 trappers received Is per skin, but in the following year the amount was reduced to 6d.

An unusual instrument was seen at the reunion of the old boys of the New Plymouth , Central School. It was a petrol tin fitted with, a neck in the form of a violin, and its two springs produced remarkably pure notes. /It was the work of Mr F. Christoffel, New Plymouth. Mr Christoffel told a "Taranaki Herald" reporter. that he had heard of violins being made from cigar boxes, and he could not see why one should not be made from a benzine tin.

Hakatere Lodge, 1.0.0. F., met last evening, the N.G. (Bro. J. Arnst) presiding over a good attendance. Five members were reported sick. A ballot on one candidate was satisfactory and two proposals for membership Were received. Bro. H. C Preston, reported on the quarterly , meeting of the United Friendly. Societies' Association. Bro. G. F. Fowke reported that final arrangements had been made for the visit to Kidgley Lodge (Christchurch) on Saturday. 'Supper was served at the conclusion of the business.

In Southland 27,385 calves were received last season by the co-operative pool, states the South Island Dairy Association in its annual report. This is a record, the nrevious best being 25,080, in 1931. The whole of the sale proceeds were pooled, and an advance payment of 6s per calf was made to suppliers for ca_lves delivered to the end of September, and os Tor calves supplied in October and November. It lias been-* to make a further bonus payment of 6d per calf for all calves on which the advance of 5s was paid, and this will bring the average pay-out over all to approximately 5s 9d, claimed as a- much better return to the producer than was made by any other organisation in the Dominion.

The Allent'on Fire Brigade and Hall Committee"mot last evening, Mr'E. C Bathurst presiding. The matter of an alarm in case of fire was discussed, and it was decided to approach the Ashburton Electric Tower Board to obtain particulars of a suitable alarm. In the meantime it was agreed to accept the offer, made by Mr J. A. Walker on behalf of the Ashburton Woollen Mills, of the use of the mill horn as an alarm between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Consideration was given to the question of a suitable section for the hall, but the decision was held over for a future meeting. In connection with the accommodation of the fire pump, it was resolved to ask Mr G. Hosken to house it on his property until such time as permanent accommodation was provided. It was decided to hold a meeting next Wednesday evening in conjunction with those who have been selected from the number offering their services as members of the brigade.

A Press Association message from Wellington says: It was stated to an "Evening Post" reporter yesterday that the Wellington, Watersiders' Union will appeal against Mr Justice Reed's decision admitting men to membership of the union and awarding damages for exclusion of them. It is expected that the appeal will come up next month.

An interesting talk on some aspects of university life was given by Mr 11. T. Clarke at the weekly meeting of the St. Stephen's Literary and Social Club last evening. The president '(Mr S. M. Cassidy) presided over a good attendance. An invitation From the Bushside Club to a ping-pong match on June 25 was accepted. Arrangements were made for members to act as layreaders and sidesmen for the youth rally in St. Stephen's Church in June. Games occupied the remainder of the evening.

The American brook trout, which was one of the first introduced fish to be liberated in New Zealand is still being caught in different parts .of the country. The distinction of liberating both them and the rainbow trout is held by Mr R. T'. Dansey, who obtained the ova of the former from a hatchery at Masterton in 1898. Specimens have been landed recently above the dam at Pareora and in Moawhango, south of Ruapehu. They were active fish, weighing about one pound,* although they have been caught up to two pounds.

The whole of the contracts for the supply of boots for men on relief works have been let by the Stores Control Board, and in malTy eases the work of manufacture' has commenced (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington). As there are sufficient stocks in hand from last year to meet requirements until the new orders have been completed, there will be no delay in issuing the boots. There will again be two classes of footwear available—a heavy brown shooter for country use and a black working boot for the city. In return for the issue of boots the men will be required to do an extra day's work without receiving the usual relief pay.

Pairing a conference at Hamilton last week of Auckland, Hamilton, and jttotorua Rotary Club members, the. opinion was expressed that the general trend of our present system of education was too "bookish." The complexity of subjects and training, in ianguages and the classics inevitably had a tendency to drive the average boy's mind away from "no-collar" occupations, declared Mr M. H- Hampson, of Rotorua. Mr G. J. Park, principal of the Seddon Memorial Technical College, agreed that the education system in general was too bookish and said his type of school endeavoured to keep the balance by agricultural training and handwork. That parents anxious to see their boys in office jobs had been partly responsible for the academic syllabus in the secondary schools in the past was the view expressed by Mr T. U. Wells. Academic education, he added, was not altogether responsible for the large number of unemployed youths.

2\. statement tout an Alsatian cloy mat was anegea to ou uangeiuus iiau; i>on an award tor "wie uest-ijehaveu uog'' in a snow was made m the magistrate's (Joint at Auckland, when a charge oi owning a dangerous dog was preferred against a, youth. Evidence was given that the animal had torn a girl's frock and had bitten her leg, after it had been "sooled" on to the girl by a boy who was not the owner. "That is the kind of play that his Majesty's subjects in New Zealand do not appreciate," commented the Magistrate (Mr F. K. Hunt), in reply to a statement that in running after the girl the dog had only been playing. Holding that the youth who owned the dog—the animal was brought into Court during the hearing of the casewas not a fit person to control it, the Magistrate said that if the youth's father would not undertake to look after it he would order it to be destroyed.

The conviction that the depression is definitely over must nave been lield by many Hamilton retailers the other day, alter being visited by a Maori, ivinwi I'erene, aged 30, who later admitted a charge of being a rogue and vagabond. According to Senior-Sergeant Tower, who prosecuted in the Police Court, Perene entered several shops, ordering large quantities of clothing and other goods and promising to. return later. At one store, the police said, the accused sorted out £SO worth of clothing, and then visited a hardware shop and asked that £5 worth of tools' be set aside. He also inspected jewellery and motor-cars on the pretence that lie was a potential customer. He took no goods away. Subsequently the accused met a young man and promised him a job. The police handed a list of previous convictions to Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., who sentenced Perene to. six'months' imprisonment, with hard labour. . '. < ■.

At the Addington stock market yesterday top price lor wetners was 2i)s 4ct secured lor lour of a pen sold on account of Jd. McNeill (Metnven). Ewes orougnt to 23s id, winch figure was obtained for nine or a line or 66 sold for J. Withell (baling). Asiiburton County sales were as follow :—Fat ewes—Un account of B. Frisby (Ashburton), 13d at 15s lOd to 18s Id; T. Wells (Hinds) 62 at 15s lOd to 16s lOd; W. H. (Jcrbett (Dromore), 60 at 16s 7d to 19s 4d ; 1. id. Aicken (Methven), 13 at 15s 7d to 17s lOdj Mrs S. Campbell (Methven), 21 at 16s Id to 16s lOd; McDonald Bros. (Methven), 59 at 15s 7d to 16s 4d • P. Beaton (Methven), 21 at 16s Id; C. 'Chamberlain (Methven), 63 at 16s 4d to 18s 4d; C. Nordquist (Methven), 30 at 16s Id to 17s 4d;'J. It. Swam (Chertsey), 30 afc 16s Id to 16s lOd; J. C. Lochiiead (Rakaia), 70 at 15s 7cl to 16s 7d; W. H. Swain (Chertsey), 30 at 16s Id to 16s 7d; R. E, Cairns (Barrhill), €6 at 145.7 dto 16s Id; Petrio Bros. (Methven), 69 at 10s 6d to 15s 10d- F W. Ruddenklau (Winchmore), 59 at 16s 7d to 19s Id ; J. Withell (Ealing) 56 at 16s lOd to 23s Id; Langley Bros. (Ashourton), 35 at 15s lOd to 21s 7d- A. H. Sandrey (Mount Hutt), 59 at- 163 4d to 19s Yd; J, C. Lochhead (Rakaia) 64 at 15s 4d to 16s Id; E. and F. Chapman (Windermere), 63 at 15s lOd Fat Wethers—On account of H. McNeill (Methven), 11 at 25s 4d; S G. Holmes (Methven), 100 at 21s 4d to 23s 4d; Mrs I. Thompson (Mount Hutt), 31 at 25s 4d to 25s lOd ; Langley Bros. (Ashburton), 15 at 23s 7d to 25s Id • E and F. Chapman (Windermere), 23 'at 15s lOd to 20s 4d. Fat Cattle— On account of C. G. Frampton (Wakanui), 4 heifers at £2 2s 6d. Fat Lambs —On account of MaDonald Bros. (Methven), S at 7d to 26s 7d; P. Beaton at 24s Id to 26s Id; I. S. AickehTMethven), 30 at 22s Id to 2os 7d- J. H. Muirhead (Lagmhor) 96 at 22s 7d to 25s 7d; F. L. Sutton (Wakauui), 18 at 26s lOd; J. F. and E. Langfey 25 at 23s 4d to 25s 7d; A. H. Sandrey (Ra- 1 kaia), 13 at 2is lOd.

A Press Association telegram from Timaru states that the annual meeting of the South Canterbury Returned Soldiers' Association last night unanimously decided to oppose any endeavour to alter the day on which Anzac Day should be observed. ,

Sittings of the Arbitration Court will commence in Wellington on June 11 under'the presidency of Mr Justica Blair (says a Press Association telegram). /The present arrangements are for the court to sit a week, and thereafter in the following Aveek on such dajs as may be convenient to his Honor,.who will also sit on the Court of Appeal from June 18 onwards.

At the meeting of the Allenton Fire Brigade and Hall Committee last evening it was felt that, as a poll would be taken in the near future on the question of raising money for the purpose of erecting a hall and providing fire brigade accommodation, the time was opportune for making still further improvements at comparatively little cost to the ratepayers by asking the Ashburton County Council to consider providing footpaths in the most thickly populated parts of the district. AVith that object in view, it was decided that Mr W. Acton should interview the County Clerk (Mr G. Kelly) asking for information regarding raising a loan to include having this work carried out.

The question whether the society should (or could) build its own theatre was discussed at length at the annual meeting of the Wellington Repertory Theatre Society last week (says the "Post"). The president (Mr W. M. Page) and Mr' 0. N. Gillespie, one of the. vice-presidents, spoke strongly in favour of the project, and a motion was passed to the effect that the newlyelected committee should look into the matter. Tlie opinion was generally expressed that the time was ripe for the society to have its own theatre in which to stage its productions, and close attention will certainly be given in the near future to the possibilities of building the theatre.

The shooting season for chukor in the Ashlvurton Acclimatisation Society's district, the first open season for this game in New Zealand, closes today. Several sportsmen took out licenses, and there were a few birds obtained. Rough weather during the month deterred parties of sportsmen from other districts participating. Those who did go out found the birds particularly hard to shoot, and were given good sport. Most of the shooting was done on the Lake Heron and Clent Hills stations, and it is stated that there are sufficient coveys about to warrant the declaration of open seasons and good sport in the future. The birds are doing very well,; and those taken were in splendid condition. Other societies are endeavouring' to establish the birds in their districts before they grant open seasons.