LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 196, 1 June 1934, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There was no sitting of the Court in Ashburton this morning, .the police having no cases and there being no civil business.

A Press Association telegram from Invercargill states that the Prime Minister has advised Mr J> Hargest, M.P., that Invercargill will be included in the Duke of Gloucester's New Zealand tour.

Little variation in reported in _ the level of the water in Lake Coleridge, the report from the power station this week giving it as 1670.4 ft., contrasted with 1670.4‘20ft. a week ago. On June 1,-last year it was at 1670. 0 ft., or I.sft. below overflow level, 1672 ft.

The last address of of renewal month in connection with the Ashburton branch of the Mothers’ Union was given at a meeting of the branch yesterday afternoon. There was a good attendance, arid Mrs Butler (Dunedin Diocesan Secretary for the Union, who is also connected with the Mornington branch) was present. Mrs A. J. Petrie gave the address on “Vocation,” and a special devotional service was also taken. Afternoon tea; was served.

By the C. and D. Line motor-ship Port Hobart, which left Auckland on Monday night for London, 10 boxes oi ; butter ’ manufactured in the vacuum churn at the East Tamaki factory are being sent to England on behalf of the Dairy Produce Board. This consignment is to go to selected customers in Great Britain, who are to give a report as to the condition and quality of the butter on receipt there.

The Federal steamer Cambridge, which lay idle at Lyttelton on Wednesday through the railway hands refusing to work unless an extra sheet hand was engaged, was idle again yesterday, the men adhering to their demands. The ship’s labour was kept standing by, awaiting a settlement of the deadlock. It was announced at midday that, as a result of a meeting of the Disputes Committee, an agreement would probably be reached in the afternoon. The dispute, however, remained unsettled, and the services *■ of watersiders who were engaged for 1 o’clock were dispensed with an hour later.

The case of a headmaster who lives in a tin hut was brought- to the notice of the Postmaster-General (the Hon. A. Hamilton) at Thames, when a- deputation from the Waitakaruru School Committee waited on him, reports the “New Zealand Herald.” The deputation sought the Minister’s co-operation in securing a residence for the head teacher. It was explained that there were three teachers at the school, two of whom found accommodation locally, but the head teacher, who was a married man with a family, was unable to find board and had to live in a tin hut near the school. The teacher’s family was compelled to live in Auckland, thus greatly adding to liis expenses. There was a section at the school which could be built upon. Mr Hamilton expressed great sympathy with the committee and with the head teacher. He said he would make representations to the Minister of Education (the Hon. R. Masters).

A Press Association telegram states that the “Hawera Star” to-day announces a change in proprietary, the business having been sold to the Hawera Star Publishing Company, Ltd., a locally-formed private company.

When the list of transfers of teachers was being read at last week’s meeting of the Auckland Education Board, Mr Patterson asked what had been done in the house of a country teacher to enable the teacher to have a bath. Mr Patterson added, as an afterthought, “well, occasionally, at any rate.” The chairman replied that a bath was provided in the washhouse.

After accepting the resignation of Dr. H. Ewen (medical superintendent) the Wellington Hospital Board last night decided to appoint a general superintendent, who will have charge of all the board’s services, and to whom the resident medical and surgical officers, the matron, secretary and all ■other officers would be subordinate, fie will require to be a man with large administrative experience, and possessing medical qualifications (says a Press Association telegram).

A menagerie was brought to Wellington by the Monowai when she arrived on Tuesday from Sydney. Included in the “Noah’s Ark” were 15 valuable goats which were acquired from Australia by the New Zealand Government. They will be sent to Rarotonga. There were also three little pigs, a prize trio which will go on a New Zealand farm. Five pedigree Leghorn roosters, some from the Government stud poultry farm, New South Wales, also made the trip. Three large cages populated by finches and budgerigas of many varieties from the Sydney Zoo were a consignment for the Wellington Zoo. A tortoise and a number of goldfish from Japan were other exhibits which have been imported. The collection was completed with the inclusion of a valuable toy dog.

The quarterly summoned meeting of the Loyal Ashburton Lodge, M.U.1.0.0. F., was held last evening, the N.G. (Bro. A. A. Craighead) presiding over a good attendance. The Tinwald Lodge wrote in respect to the official visit by Ashburton Lodge on Monday, June 10, that it was desired that the installation of officers be carried out by members of. the .visiting lodge. An invitation to be represented at the Rakqia United Friendly Societies’ annual ball on June 14 was received with pleasure. Sick pay amounting to £27 8s 4d was passed in favour of 19 members. Three candidates were elected, four initiated and five proposed. The lodge delegates reported on the quarterly meeting of the United Friendly Societies’ Association. The election of officers resulted: N.G., Bro. R. h: Loy: V.G., Bro. A. Delknv; E.S., Bro. W. Currie.

Ninety-two years ago last Tuesday Bishop George Augustus Selwyn arrived in Auckland Harbour to begin his eventful 26 years’ ministry in New Zealand. He was consecrated in Lambeth Palacechapel on October 17, 1841, and sailed from Plymouth on December 26 in the ship Tomatin, accompanied by Mrs Selwyn, their infant son, five clergymen, three male catechists, a schoolmaster and a schoolmistress. Reaching Sydney on April 14, 1842, tile ship went aground and had to await repairs before continuing her voyage to Auckland. Selwyn, however, found a brig, the Bristolian, about to sail, and took passage in. her with some of his party. The brig anchored in the Waitemata at midnight on May 29. As soon as dawn began to break, the bishop was rowed ashore at Judge’s Bay with his chaplain, the Rev. Mr Cotton. IJis first act was to kneel m prayer upon the sand, which in later years was to be his landing place after many hazardous voyages.

“Success has not attended the council’s endeavour to establish Chukor in oiu- district,” says the annual report of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. “The North. Canterbury Society generously gave a sitting of eggs. Mr Trask had no success with his attempt to rear birds from these eggs. The possibility of a measure of success m rearing a few Chukor, however, is not entirely absent. It was thought that our venture in connection with the importation of Chukor from India was an utter failure. It is not an absolute failure, however, insofar as a few birds still survived at the W allaceville Laboratory. One of the birds, together with one 'presented by the Nelson Society, were 1 placed in the hands of the curator of the Wellington Zoo by the council This pair of birds hatched out a small clutch, four of which are still alive They are strong and healthy young birds, and Mr Langridge has hopes of rearing from these.

A meeting of the Ashburton sub-cen-tre of the St. John Association was held last evening Mr Hr. C. Mcßlrea presiding. It was agreed to endeavour to form hrst am and home nursing classes during the winter. The matter of arranging for the annual meeting and the presentation of first aid certificates gamed during last year was left to the chanman and secretary (Mr W. C. J. Osman). The secretary reported that the centre was anxious to form a cadet division in Ashburton so that members might be trained for the purpose _of strengthening the brigade and nursing division later. It was agreed that this was most necessary and it was hoped that it would be found possible to make some move later. The secretary also reported that he had undertaken the task of enrolling people for blood transfusion purposes in connection with the Ashburton Public Hospital. A fail number <rf persons had volunteered but a few more could be accepted, particularly for country districts. Tire question of securing rooms to accommodate the association’s equipment and m which to hold classes was left to the chairman and secretary.

“The lamb fattening season is almost at an end. and is one of the worst in the history of the County. Owing to incessant rain, with very little sunshine. lambs have not established the constitution of past years, and have been more susceptible to internal disorders.” said Mr A. P- Bruce in his address to the Farmers’ Union Conference in Ashburton this morning. ‘The assistance provided by Lincoln College and the Government Veterinary .Department has been invaluable to farmers. The export price for lamb lias risen steadily during the season. Our Dominion killings for lambs and sheep up to April 30 were lambs 303,174 and sheep 37-5,911 less than last year. The export of sheep shows an increase of 152.800. After the successful efforts New Zealand has made to improve the quality of its lamb, it is disappointing to the producers to learn that in many cases the inferior quality lambs bring a higher premium than the best, in spite of the fact that the former are light and the latter heavy. ‘ The sheepfarmers’ outlook has been more hopeful during the last year, although those growers of the coarse wool still need considerable improvement in prices to make their occupation a payable one.”

One carriage in the south-bound express train this morning was reserved for the use of a party of members of the Christchurch branch of the Worker's’ Educational Association travelling to Timaru.

Lambs that are so early that it is difficult to decide whether they are last season’s or next season’s have already put in an appearance on Mr E. W. Rose’s farm, Kai Iwi, St. Leonard s crossroad. Mr Rose usually breeds some of the earliest lambs ill the district (savs the “Marlborough Express”). These are about three days later than last year’s.

An inquiry whether any fireman had seen a casket of jewellery, valued at £SOO, missing since a fire m a house in Ponsonby, was received from an insurance company at a meeting of the Auckland Metropolitan Eire Boaid. 1 was stated that the casket contained diamonds, a. 20-dollar gold. P ie ce, and various articles of jewellery. IS one of the firemen had seen the casket.

The Ashburton Salvation Army Band will visit Waimate during the weekend, a party of 25 members leaving by ear for the‘south to-morrow afternoon and returning on Monday evening. An extensive programme has been arranged by the Waimate corps and 'will include a field day on MondayAwhen the 'Oamaru Salvation Army Band will combine with the Ashburton Band in a programme of, massed band items.

Up to last night over 1200 motor vehicles in Ashburton had been registered for 1934-35, and applications came in fast this morning. The Ashburton Post Office staff in the office in the Baring Square Schoolroom have had difficulty in coping with the rush, and were keyt at work until a ffito hour last night. Most of the vehicles in the streets to-ifay had the new jilates affixed, but some ‘ still carried last year’s plates.

The Canterbury Infantry Regimental Association met in Ashburton, when Captain H. K. Kippenberger (Rangiora), in command of the company,/ or which Ashbprton is part, and Captain W. Murphy were present. Captain Kippenberger addressed the meeting on the objects of the association. It was decided to call a further meeting in about two weeks’ time, when the matter of enlisting members and) adopting ways and means of assisting local platoons will be considered.

“Owing to continued failures with turnips on the lighter lands through the ravages of the diamond-back moth and- dry rot, farmers on"'this class of land would be well advised to turn their attention,to a trial of. the blue lupin, not only as a soil builder, but also as a sheep fodder in, the winter, declared Mr A. P. Bruce in his address to the Farmers’ puniori Conference this morning. Sheep do not take kindly to it to start with, but once accustomed to it they prefer the lupin to almost any other class of feed, ana always carry a nice healthy bloom on the wool. It is a very catchy crop to harvest and does best in warm weather with occasional showers. For the improvement of pasture, farmers . are realising the necessity for certified seed. Dry feeding was carried out to a large extent in Mid-Canterbury last winter. With a limited supply of green feed the two combined very well, aria many farmers were able to bring sheep through the winter in good condition; otherwise many would have been starved. Success does not come easily in farming; and it is only by good management and hard work that success is attained. Many farmers whose farms were mortgaged put all their surplus into improving the land instead of paying off the mortgage, consequently when the slump came they lost their life savings.”