LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 170, 2 May 1935, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Two electric-power line poles were blown down at Dromore last evening, and caused the power to fad in several areas of the town. Lights were off at Allenton and in the north-eastern quarter of the Borough for about 2U minutes.

Proceeds from the jumble sale held by the'St. Stephen's Anglican Ladies Guild in the parish ha 1 yesterday afternoon amounted to £l4 8s ana this sum will be added to the Parish Hall Building Fund, of which Mis 11. Stephenson is organiser The afternoon tea was in the cbarge of Mesdames 1. Leslie, W. Spedding, and T. Byrom.

"At the present rate we have one year of life left, unless we can sell one of the properties," said Mr T. K. Lear at the annual meeting ot the Wellington Hostel for Returned Soldiers and Sailors' Society. "We regret to say that our funds are rapidly shrinking in spite of the strictest economy."

Four hundred licenses were issued by the Ashburton Acclimatisation Society for the 1934-35 fishing season, which closed on Tuesday. Last seasons total was 396. There were 300 men s permits and 190 for women and boys, and the details of the previous season's total were: Men, 270; women and boys, 120.

Fire gutted an outhouse at the rear of a five-roomed dwelling in Burnett Street about 9 o'clock last evening. The house, owned by Mr A. J. Fmlayson, of North-East Belt, has been vacant for about a week. The Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade attended the fire, which was in the same block as the fire station, and the flames were extinguished after the hack of the building had been charred. The damage was not extensive.

As the large pine tree growing in the Ashburton Borough School grounds near the infant room is a very old one and there is a danger of heavy brandies being blown off by strong winds, the School Committee decided last evening to have it taken down. Members did not consider there was any danger of the tree being blown over but they thought that heavy limbs might fall on the children. It was left to Messrs W. C. J. Osman and W. K. Waters to attend to the matter.

Nurses at the Ashburton West Dental Clinic gave attention to 458 school children during the year, which ended on March 31. Altogether 3932 operations were performed.

Hakatere Lodge, 1.0.0. F., met last evening, the N.G.J (Bro. T. Thomson) presiding over a good attendance. Seven brothers were reported sick, a ballot on three candidates was successful and one proposal for membership was received. An invitation from the Druids' Lodge to a card evening next Tuesday was accepted. After Lodge, a games competition was held.

The people of Australia are' spending money freely and consequently business is booming there, said Mr E. Riddiford, who returned from Sydney by the Monowai, when interviewed at Wellington. Mr Riddiford said that he had been in Australia for fourteen days only, but during that time he had seen many indications of prosperity and he was given the impression that more circulation of money in New Zealand would improve conditions here.

One of the features of the closing of local bodv nominations at Hawera. was that Mr E. A. Death, a sitting member of the Hawera County Council and a representative of the Mokoia riding, was late by three minutes with his nomination form, which consequently had to be refused by the returning officer. Noon was fixed as the time of closure and on the stroke of 12 there were several persons present at the county office. Mr Death arrived just too late.

Easter is a popular time for weddings in Invercargill as in other places and this year the number for April was 34. Last .year, when Easter fell in March, the number for that month was 61, though the figures for April, 1934 'were 21. The afternoon express from Invercargill has been specially favoured by departing bridal couples, so much so in fact that it has become colloquially known as the "honeymoon express."

Methodist Bible Class members who attended Easter camps at Temuka, Lincoln and Waimate gaye their impressions of the gatherings at a meeting in the Baring Square Schoolroom last evening. The president of the South Canterbury Young Men's Union (Mr W. C. Bishop) presided over a small attendance. Those who spoke were Misses 0. Watts and N. Bishop, Messrs M. Graham, K. Macfarlane and K. G. Fowke.

Ornamental trees growing in the north-eastern corner, of the Ashburton Borough School grounds are too close together and the crowding is preventing their proper growth. Several will be removed and other silver birches planted and it is also suggested that the laying down of a lawn' under the trees would provide a welcome shady spot for the children in the summer months. As there are garden plots under the trees at present the children cannot sit under them.

fti the applications for the relicensing of motor vehicles for the 1935-36 motoring year the horse-power of vehicles has to be stated as well as the usual details. In conversation with a "Guardian" representative yesterday afternoon an official at the Ashburton Post Office pointed out that the horsepower was not asked for in the registration forms last year. Another alteration is the necessity to give particulars of. the extra number of. axles on motor-trucks and omnibuses.

The St. Stephen's Literary and Social Club held its opening meeting last evening, the president (Mr S. M. Cassidv) presiding over a fair attendance. It was decided to attend corporate communion at St. Stephen's Anglican Church on the third Sunday in each month. The programme was a games one, and the following evenings were arranged for the remainder of the month:—Mav 8, impromptu speeches; May 15, games; May 22, situations; May 29, lecture by Dr. G. I. Miller. The Ven. Archdeacon A. J. Petrie invited members to attend the annual meeting of parishioners to. be held .on Monday, May 13. .■•■,"■

A stamp club has been formed "by children at the ; Ashburton Borough School and, encouraged by several members of the staff who are interested in this hobby, it is providing scholars with a profitable pastime. The headmaster (Mr H. Colquhoun) stated at the meeting of the School Committee last evening that he would arrange a place for the members to meet, and the committee thanked him for his interest. It was mentioned at the meeting that the hobby was a very fine one for children and 'members desired to assist the club as much as possible.

A plea on behalf or horticulturists for tne Government's kindly eye was made by Mrs Knox Gilmer at tne opening of the flower show in the Wellington Town nail. Mew Zealand, sue said was beginning to export bulbs, the gladiloi, it being sent out among the best in ihe ..world. The export ot grass seed had already reached large proportions, and even daphne . bushes were being exported in such quantites as to leave the nurserymen witn hardly any. "Horticulturists are people to be rechoned witn," she added, "and although 1 would not place them before the sheep and dairy farmers, I do think we might be snown a little more consideration by the Government."

The best price for fat ewes at the Addington ' stock market .yesterday was 27s 10d tor a pen of seven show sheep from Mr J. H. Muirhead (Lagmhor. Sales on account of Ashburton County clients were:—Fat lambs—On account of J. H. Muirhead (Lagmhor), 18 at 21s Id to 24s 7d; S. Robinson (Methven), 84 at 21s lOd to 23s 4d; McKendry's Estate (Lyndhurst), 16 at 22s Id to 22s 7d; Stewart's Estate (Chertsey), 70 at 18s 4d to 19s 4d; SRevelry (Mount Somers), 60 at 20s 4d to 24s 10d'; J. C. Lochhead (Rakaia), 73 at 18s 7d to 21s 10d: J. Burgess (Chertsey), 23 at 20s Id to 20s lOd; Ashburton client, 140 at 17s 7d to 2ls Id; T. Wood Id Fat wethers—On account of J. H. Muirhead (Lagmhor), 1 at 34s lOd ; estate IX McKendry (Lyndhurst), 50 at 18s lOd to 26s 7d: A. Pithie (Hinds), 34 at 22s lOd to 23s lOd; Buckingham Bros. (Dorie), 74 at 16s lOd to 17s 4d. Fat ewes—On- account of J. H. Muirhead (Lagmhor), 14 at 25s 4d to 27s 10d; J. T. Mangin (Methven), 60 at 19s lOd to 23s lOd; Stewart's Estate (Chertsey), 69 at 12s 4d to 12s 7d; A. Pithie (Hinds), 24 at 14s 7d to 17s lOd ; C. R. Cresswell (Hinds), 55 at 15s 7d to 17s 7d; Buckingham Bros. (Done), 84 at 13s 4d to 14s lOd ; Ashburton client, 35 at 12s lOd to 13s Id; T. Wood (Methven), 33 at 9s lOd to 10s 4d. Fat cattle—On account of D. McSweeney (Chertsey), cow at £7 2s 6d; A. Richards (Rakaia), heifer a*t £7 17s 6d.

Bunting was hung on the Ashburton Post Office to-day as a commencement of the dec-orations for the King's jubilee. Workmen will be engaged on the building until the end of the week.

The Court Pride of Ashburton (Juvenile A.0.F.) met last evening, the C.R, (Bro. B>. Baker) presiding over a large attendance. Two brothers were reported sick and one candidate was initiated. Mr G. Terris and a party of boxers gave several exhibition bouts and musical items were contributed by Bros. R. Barnett (piano) and D. Smith (accordion).

The Jphnson quadruplets, which were born at the Dunedin Hospital on March 6, are eight weeks old to-day, and a bulletin received from the matron of the Karitane Hospital, Dunedin, where the babies are being reared, states that they are all in remarkably good health. They are vigorous, thriving infants, and are gaining weight satisfactorily. The boy is now 6£l'bs, and the girls are approximately 6ilbs •each. Bruce was £lb heavier than his sisters at birth, so he is maintaining normal growth.

A sum of £lO 2s 6d will be available for the provision of a permanent memorial of the King's jubilee at the Ashburton Borough School, and the School Committee last evening decided to procure suitable books for the library with this money. The children will be entertained at a picture screening and will each receive a commemorative button, the total cost being 6d a head. The remaining 6d of the Is provided by the Ashburton Borough Council and the Canterbury Education Board win be spent on the books.

According to reports from Bluff, following upon the return of the Kekono from the muttonbird islands with an unusually large consignment of birds, the season has been the best experienced for many years. Birds have been plentiful and are stated to be in much better condition than those taken last year. This is attributed to the fine summer during which the young birds enjoyed an uninterrupted supply of food and thrived well in their warm, dry burrows. Fewer muttonbirders made the trip this year, it being estimated that the number was fully onethird less than last season's.

"I think the South Island has been neglected in certain instances in the past, and it is entitled to the same consideration as the North. Island where tourist interests are concerned," said the Hon. S. G. Smith, Minister for Education and Employment, speaking to members of the executive of the Canterbury Progress League last night. Mr Smith's remarks were made after he had heard an outline of the progress of the publicity campaign which is being undertaken by the league to .advertise the scenic attractions of the South Island and: attract tourist liners to Lyttelton.' ' ,