LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 130, 14 March 1935, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Poppv Day will be observed in Ashhurton'on Thursday, April IS, and arrangements arc* in hand on. tlic part of the Ashburton branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association.

The Ashburton County Council advises that a number of summonses is in preparation for the recovery of arrears of rates, and that they will be issued at an early date.

Nominations for a seat on the management committee of the Ashburton Raigby Union closed last night. The following have been put forward:— Messrs J. W. Ramsay, G. Cates and A. J. Rowstorn

The largest number of passengers that has ever been brought to New Zealand by one ship is booked for the P and 0. cruising liner Strathaird, which is due at Auckland to-morrow from Australia. About 1100 people were on board the vessel when she left Brisbane on Tuesday for New Zealand. She will be at Wellington next Monday morning. After remaining in Wellington for the day the Strathaird will sail for Sydney. This is her second cruise to the Dominion this summer.

Business in such a definite luxury commodity as diamonds may fairly be accepted as an accurate indication of the general prosperity of a community. It is satisfactory to learn, therefore, that the representatives of one of the great firms of diamond merchants, who are concluding a six weeks' tour throughout the Dominion, are able to record largely increased business. As compared with a similar tour they made last year, their records show an increase of 75 per cent.

Bones which are thought to be those of a moa were discovered by Mr J. Clapperton, an employee of the Havelock North Town Board, while digging a t : rench on the side of Simla Avenue, Havelock North, states a Napier correspondent. Mr Clapperton, together with two other men, had dug the trench to a depth of eight feet when the bones were discovered, and within about one foot of them were found some small pieces of eggshell. As far as is known, the ground where the discovery was made had not been disturbed before. In all there are 18 pieces of bone. Six of the pieces appear to belong to the same part, possibly the shin bone. The bones are obviously very old, and crumble very easily. It it intended to send them to Dr. Allan Berry, of Napier, who is an authority on such matters.

Playing in a friendly match on the Ashburton golf links yesterday afternoon, C. J. Bennington holed in one at "shorty." His opponent was C. A. Cuff.

The Federation of Justices of the Peace concluded its conference this morning, says a Press Association telegram from Dunedin. It was decided to hold the 1936 conference at Wellington.

No applications have been received for this year's vacancy at Flock House allotted to the Ashburton County. An eight months' course of practical farming is available but the secretary of the local committee (Mr F. A. Hickman) stated to-day that very little interest was being displayed in the scheme which is open to sons of returned! soldiers. Two boys have been sent to Flock House in previous years.

Daphne (Rebekah) Lodge, 1.0.0. F., met iast evening, the N.G. (Sister Cowan) presiding over a good attendance, all the officers being present. Four sisters were reported sick, one candidate was proposed for membership and two were initiated into the Order. The second nomination of officers was called. It was reported that arrangements were in hand for the social to be held next Thursday to welcome the G.M. Rro. A. J. Grey, of Auckland. Supper was served at the conclusion of the business.

There are many forms of official opening ceremonies for buildings, but one that is said to be entirely original was witnessed at the opening of the new swimming bath at Massey College the other day, when the pool was formally christened by the throwing of a fully clothed student into the water. The episode recalls a somewhat similar happening in Wellington some years a"-o when a prominent citizen, on being dared to take a header after making his address at the opening of new baths, took the challenger aj/his word and made a very neat dive, clothes and all!

Salmon were running well at the mouth of the Rangitata River on Tuesday mornjng, when 18 fish in good condition were landed on the South Canterbury side and a similar number were caught on the Ashburton side. The season so far has been better than was the case last year and there have been more fishing days, due to an absence of north-west winds. Mr F. W. Pellett (ranger of the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society) stated yesterday that, while fish were running well near the mouth and in the lower pools, they did not appear to be going very far up the river. Prospects for fishing for the week-end were good, however.

In a letter from Malvern, Worcester to a New Plymouth resident, the writer says: "As to our supply of apples, we much prefer yours to those from Canada. We get Delicious, Rome Beauty, Jonathans, Granny Smith and others. They vary a good deal from time to time, but I think that depends very much on how long the shops have"had the cases open. We pay usually 6d per lb, but for some kinds 7d and Bd. We grow good apples in our warden, but they do not last long, and wo can get good English eating apples at a big fruit farm near here for 2d to 3d a pound, until near Easter. Then we have to fall back on imported fruit."

"By flying part of the way from London I have reached New Zealand in 17 days; my father, in 1857, took four months to get here," sqid Sir Edward Campbell, M.P., a member of the British air delegation, who arrived at Auckland by the Mariposa from Sydney. Sir Edward said that his father came to New Zealand for the Maori Wars, hut did not subsequently remain in the Dominion, states the "New Zealand Herald." Sir Edward said he also had another link with New Zealand, which his father had told him was the most beautiful country in the world. Two years ago he had a granddaughter born in Wellington. Her father, Sir Edward's son-in-law was Lieutenant K. McN. Walter, R.N., who was now serving with the Navy at Malta.

Sales on account of- Ashburton County clients at the Addington stock market yesterday were as follow: —Fat cattle —On account of Ashburton client, 5 cows at £3 17s 6d to £6 12s 6d • R. E. Adair (Anama) 2 cows at £7 2s 6d to £7 17s 6d. Fat ewes—On account of J. C. Lochliead (Rakaia), 91 at lis 7d to 16s Id; R. D. Robmson (Tinwald), 55 at Is 7d to 16s 4d; D. and W E. Hampson (Methven), 94 at 9s 4d to 13s 7d; P. Quinn (Methven), 122 at 12s 4d to 13s 7d ; G. Vaughan (Methven) 41 at 14s Id to 18s 4d. Wethers— On account of M. Macale (Rakaia), 20 at lis lOd to 15s 4d. Fat lambs—On account of D. and W. E. Hampton (Methven), 31 at 16s lOd to 18s 4d.

The Longbeach Road Board met on Tuesday afternoon when there were present: Messrs J. P. McQmlkin (chairman), W. J. Anderson, H. Watts, and A. Moore. The Tinwald Town Board acknowledged the Board's grant of £lO toward the cost of paving and maintaining the main highway through the Tinwald Town District. The clerk (Mr A. Bushel!) reported that the subsidy on rates of £6B lis 5d as claimed from the treasury had been received. It was decided"to impose a 10 per cent, penalty eh rates unpaid after March 25. The clerk submitted an estimate of the funds in sight to the end of the financial year on March 31 and the position disclosed was considered satisfactory. It was stated that the amount of outstanding rates for the current year was £122 19s lid. The clerk reported that the chief work during the month had been carried out on the Windermere Road and on the Willowby roads. The bank pass book showed a credit of £691 19s sd.

Unusual audacity was shown by an intruder of the "cat" burglar type, who succeeded in entering the premises of Kempthorne, Frosser and Company, Limited, Albert Street, Auckland, states the "New Zealand Herald." The offence was reported to the detectives on Saturday. During the previous night the intruder climbed over a high gate, the top of which is protected with iron spikes, dividing Federal /Street and! the yard at the back of the premises. He obtained a ladder which was left in the yard, and after climbing on to the roof of a shed, he reached a highway leading to the premises proper. The man made his way for 25' feet along a sloping abutment on the wall, clinging to the top, which was covered with broken bottles. Reaching th actual wall of the premises, he climbed up two storm-water pipes for a height of eight feet, and managed to prise open a window leading to an office on the second floor. The methods employed were daring, as the intruder stood a siderable risk of suffering serious injury. Inside the office he forced open several drawers, but nothing was stolen. The man was evidently intent on obtaining money, as other articles were not touched.

On account of the Methven ewe fair to-morrow, the monthly meeting of the Mid-Canterbury Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union has been postponed for a week. It will be held next Friday.

Apt analogy to his haying to interrupt counsel several times in the course of his address to the jury was made by Mr Justice Blair in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth. Counsel had been placing, so his Honor considered, constructions on the evidence that were not in accord with the facts. "You see, gentlemen," said his Honor, "if counsel jumps over th wrong fence it is myl duty to jump after him and drag him back. And if he gets scratched on the top strand of the barbed wire on the way back, I'm afraid I can't help that."

Open hours at the Methven telephone exchartge hitherto have been from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. Very shortly the hours will be extended until midnight. Recently the Asfrburton County Council approached the postal authorities, seeking the extension and yesterday a telegram was received from Mr J. Connolly, M.P., stating that his representations on the council's behalf had been successful. The hours at Methven will new l>e from 6 a.m. until midnight and subscribers will be abTe to take advantage of the reduced rates ruling after 11 p.m.

There has been hung in the Palmerston North Library a frame'd photograph of a remarkable formation ; of pine cones, in which 120 have grown in a bunch on one branch. The growth occurred on the farm of Mr F. E. Nottage, Tasman, Nelson, and the photograph was brought to Palmerston North by Mr N. Duncan, a visitor to the city, who was employed on Mir Nottage's property. The cones, it is stated, grew on a Pinus Insignis tree, and were at a fair distance from the ground. The area in which the tree was growing is not high above sea level, and the growth of such a curiosity has not been known there before.

In connection with the seventieth anniversary celebrations of the Presbytery of. Clutha which commenced yesterday, it is interesting to recall that several ministers who have had charges in the Ashburton County were associated with stations in Clutha in the early days. The Rev. A. B. Todd, formerly of Rakaia, was minister at Tokomarriro and the Rev. James Skinner, one time minister at Tinwald, was stationed at Waitahuna. The Rev. G. B. Inglis, well-known in Ashburton for his association with St. Andrew's Church, laboured at Warepa and the Rev. G. H. McNeur, a former home missionary at Wakanui, held the position of moderator of the Clutha Presbytery.

Twelve of the sixteen Adelie penguins brought by the Byrd Expedition for transport to America have died since their arrival in Dunedin in spite of the careful attention of Mr Pau Siple, their curator, and the remainder do not impress one as being amenable to captivity, their bedraggled plumage and the slowness of their movements evidencing their distaste of the warmer climate. These birds are a race apart from their larger prototypes, the Emperors, and huddle together in a corner of their improvised coop. While most of the penguins are quite friendly toward their captors and appear to enjoy being stroked and to relish pieces of fish handed to them, four of the birds have to be forced to eat and have no desire for amiable overtures. The Emperor penguins have lost none of their jaunty airs or hearty appetite and are in the best of health.