LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 17, 1 November 1935, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Rangitata River was reported to-day to be clear, but the Ashburton is very dirty. No reports are to han regarding the condition the Kakaia.

The late arrival of the steamer express from Wellington this morning delayed the departure of the southbound express train from Christchurch. It reached Ashburton half an hour behind schedule time.

The ornamental planting at the cemetery block at Westerfield has been completed, the planting of the pines being left over on account of a shortage of trees. This statement was made by Mr E. N. Johnson (Coun,ty Inspector) at the Ashburton County Council meeting to-day.

The building trade in England is exceptionally busy, stated Mr R. E-iaia gen to a “Wairarapa Daily Times representative on liis return irom Bn* tain recently. From one end of England to the other houses were springing up like mushrooms, engaging the labour of thousands of workmen.

The Cfounty Inspector (Mr E. N. Johnson) told the Ashburton County Council to-day that the flame-throwing method of eradicating gorse had been tried, out during the month, investigations having been made as to the cost of operating the machine. So far the consumption of fuel has been heavy.

A party from the Ashburton Colunteer Eire Brigade will take part in the provincial fire brigade competitions at Leeston to-morrow. Foreman H. Hefford, Foreman C. Solway, R. Leask, S. Preddy and S. Johnston will compete in the two-men coupling, three-men hose and hydrant events. A former foreman of the Ashburton Brigade, Mr H. Sutherland, will be one of the judges.

The Wellington Hospital Board last .niglit decided that a 7 j per cent increase on present’ salaries, as from August 1, 1935, be granted to all employees whose salaries were reduced by 10 per cent, and to all employees appointed at salary, less cuts. The salaries of the remaining members of the staff will be considered at a future meeting. It was explained that the increases would cost the board, between £SOOO and £6OOO for the whole staff for a full year, and that the Minister had concurred in the board’s following the Government’s example in granting a general salary increase.

The Success of Ashburton Lodge, U.A.0.D., met on Wednesday evening, the A.D. (Sister A. Hawkes) presiding. The bards report was received and sick pay passed for payment. An invitation to attend the Brother Lodge’s meeting on Monday when Grand Lodge officers will pay their official visit, was accepted. Owing to members visiting thi* Ternuka. Lodge on November 11, it was decided to hold the next meeting on November 13. At tlie conclusion, members were entertained by the Hiakatere and Daphne Lodges at a social evening in the Tailored Street Hall.

A warm reception was accorded to Lady Ferguson, of Dunedin (president of the Otago Women’s Club), by a large number of members of the Cavendish Club in. Ashburton yesterday afternoon. The president (Mrs E. Ruddock) presided. Lady Ferguson spoke most interestingly of club' life for women, and referred to the growth of the Otago Cliib, from a membership of 209 at its foundation during the war to one of 850 this year, the twenty-first anniversary pf its establishment. The speaker outlined the numerous activities of her club. Afternoon tea was served. A song was sung by Mrs R. Stephenson, and Miss Audrey Ruddock played a pianoforte solo.

Two cases of pulmonary tuberculosis have been reported to the County Health Inspector‘during the month, one from Allenton and the other from Lagmhor.

Forty-six driver’s licenses have been issued at the ’Asliburton County Council office during the month, while three have been issued at Rakaia and eight at Metliven, making a total of 2859 for the year. Nineteen, new drivers have been examined and 15 licenses issued, making a total of 94 since the commencement of the current motoring year.

The Ashburton branch of the Mothers’ Union met yesterday afternoon, the president (Mrs A. J; Petrie) presiding. An. invitation was accepted from the Hinds branch to attend its garden party on December 4. The secretary (Mrs F. M. Mahoney) read an interesting letter from Sister Aileen Samuels, of Torgil, Melanesia, and formerly of Ashburton. Mrs M. P. Cooke, of Tinwald, gave an address on “The Friendship of Jesus,.” and was accorded a vote of thanks.

A comprehensive insurance scheme covering pupils of Wellington College against accidents while engaged in games and sports during school hours was outlined at a meeting of the 1 College Board of Governors. A premium of 2s per pupil per annum will insure up to £lO for medical expenses and cover accidents arising within the college precincts, and 2s 6d will extend the cover to touring teams. A minimum of 200 participants will be required. It was left in the hands of Mr W. A. Armour, who favoured the extended cover, to circularise the parents who will be required to pay the premium.

“Everywhere I went in Britain I was struck by the very strong competitive efforts that w'ere being made to sell New Zealand butter and lamb,” said the Hon. J. M. Dunningham (New South Wales Minister of Labour and Industry), in an interview at Auckland on his arrival from Vancouver (states the “New Zealand Herald”). “The special window displays which one saw on every hand were excellent, and there w r as a great deal of comment upon them by overseas delegates .to the Empire Parliamentary Conference. There is no doubt that the keen competition and good publicity by New Zealand are having their effect m increased sales.”

On a recent morning the noise .of .violent flutterings in the kitchen chimney of a Masterton house suggested that a starling had commenced nest-buliding within a, forbidden area (says the “Wairarapa Daily Times”), but when the opening above the stove was operated out fell a dazed and dishevelled mopoke, whose troubles were immediately added to owing to the presence of an out-size cat. All ended well, however, and the unusual visitor, having performed a good deed bv removing vast quantities of soot from the chimney, departed through an open doorway for more congenial surroundings,

A suggestion has been made that the subscription for the Petono Library should be reduced for old age pensioners, and reporting on this at the meeting of the Petone Borough Council, the chairman of the library committee said that the library cost subscribers 2d a week, this giving old age pensioners and others good value for their money. However, as a, concession to old age the committee recommended that they be allowed to pay their subscription in three instalments of 2s ,6d each. Mr W. JBQ. Edwards moved, and Mr D. M. Dickson seconded, that the subscriptions for old age pensioners be' reduced to ss, but this was defeated, and the committee’s recommendation adopted.

A meeting of the* Ash burton branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society was held yesterday afternoon in the Baptist School Hall. The president (the Rev. G. R. Hinton) occupied the chair and conducted the devotional exercises. A welcome was extended to Mrs Hopwood, of Tinwald, who is a collector for that district. It was decided that the annual meeting be held in June, 1936. It was decided that next year the collecting be commenced in July instead of August as formerly. The treasurer announced that £3O had been collected, with, several amounts still to be handed in. A cup of tea was served the hostesses being Mesdames Thomas, Baigent and Money.

Fifteen sharks were caught in the Manukau Harbour on Sunday by a party from the launch Redwing, owned by Mr C. Slack, of Papakura (states the “New Zealand Herald”). The fish ranged in length from 6ft. to 10ft., the largest being a tiger shark, which was landed after a great struggle. The party, which comprised Mr Slack, Mr R. Lnnigan, of Papakura, Mr T. N. Hyde, of Clevedoh, and three youths, set out from "Weymouth about 8 o’clock on Sunday morning. They dropped anchor about half a. mile off the wharf at Graham’s Beach, and in less than an hour they landed four fish, including the tiger shark. "Within three hours 15 sharks had been secured and were piled in the launch and dinghy.

The typewriter has become a necessary adjunct to modern business, and on a recent visit to England Mr J. H. Miller, of Wanganui, saw something of the growth there of typewriter manufacturing. The industry, he said, had advanced rapidly in recent years. One of the leading firms manufacturing typewriters and other office appliances employed 1000 to 1200 people in their works and had advanced rapidly during the past three years. Their plant and machinery was as modern as that of any factory in the United States of America. One could hardly believe that the company, which seven years ago had employed only 250 hands, had made such strides.

Stating that the present high price of cricket gear was causing a great deal of hardship among young, players, Mr W. R. Fee asked the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce to support a request to the Government for a reduction of the sales tax and duties payable on such articles in the list of cricketers’ requirements as were not manufactured in New Zealand, The president, Mr Gainor Jackson, said that he did not think the chamber could justly support such a request while the duty and sales tax on essentials remained at its present level. Furthermore, followers of other sports would make the same request. He pointed out that whereas the duty on such articles prior to the Ottawa Conference was £33 13s 9d per cent, it had since been reduced to £22 per cent. Sales tax and the exchange rate were, he thought, more responsible for the price than was the duty. This view was supported by Mr G. j. Browne, who said that he hoped that it would not be thought that the retailer was making an excessive profit on sports goods'. The price was due solely to sales tax and exchange. The council decided to take no action.

His success in poisoning rabbits with strychnine pollard was described by Mr J. Bland at the Ashburton County Council’s meeting to-day. The method was to feed pollard , mixed with cold water into a firm consistency for three days, and then add the poison to the mixture the next day. Members stated that many farmers were still a little nervous about using tile poison. •

Postponed last Thursday on account of a bereavement suffered by a member of the staff, the annual athletic sports of the Ashburton Technical High School were to have been held yesterday afternoon. The weather was unsuitable both yesterday and to-day and it is now intended to conduct the sports on Monday afternoon if the day is fine.

“Good progress lias been made with the removal of the trees along the new highway from Hinds to Ealing, the line of roadway being marked cut from the line pegs put in by the Public Works Department,” said the County Inspector (Mr E. N. Johnson) in his? report to the Ashburton County Council to-day.

Praise for the beauty of the trees ip the Ashburton Domain and of the plots and reserves in the town area was voiced by Lady of Dunedin, in an address to members of the Cavendish Club yesterday afternoon. She expressed her delight at the beautiful approaches to the town, and said this, her first stay here, had been greatly enjoyed. Speaking of tlm. activities of the gardening circle of the Otago Women’s Club, Lady Ferguson said that it donated prizes for railway garden competitions in Otago. “Von do not need to consider this for for the Canterbury Horticultural Society present the trophies for Canterbury and there is no doubt that the work is bearing fruit,” concluded the speaker.

A Gazette issued last night states that advice lias been received from the Secretary of State for the Dominions that the King has approved the arrangements for the observance in Britain of Armistice Day, November 11, on the same lines as last year—namely, a short service at the Cenotaph and two minutes’ silence and suspension of all vehicular traffic for that period, from 11 a.m. Citizens and traffic control authorities throughout New land are requested to observe the practice adopted in the Dominion on former similar occasions, of two minutes’ silence from 11 a.m., and suspension of all vehicular traffic during that period. Where a service is held, it is suggested that it should be at the local cenotaph or war memorial.