LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 23, 8 November 1935, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

With a total of 1701 names on the supplementary roll, and making allowances for transfers and rcmovels since the main roll closed in July, there are 10,913 electors eligible to vote in MidCanterbury at the general election on November 27. In 1931, there were 10,247 names on the main roll and 888 on the supplementary roll.

“God gave you a wonderful country your people must best of it,” adjoined Mr P. A. fctarsch, a prominent Christian science loctuiei, of Boston, discussing his New Zealand tour with a. “Waikato Times” representative last week. “I have been tremendously impressed with the beauty and charm of New Zealand, its unflagging hospitality, and its many delights for the tourist.

There was only a small amount of business to. come before Mr C. R. Oi l Walker, S.M., in the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court this morning, and it was disposed of in 40 minutes. Judgment for plaintiff by default, was given in each of the following cases. John Hardie, v W. Harvey, 14s Gd, with 9s costs; Same v T. Henderson, 12s Gd, with 8s costs; W. B. Lundv, v W. Stewart. £1 Bs, with 9s costs. Pleading guilty to charges of having ridden bicycles at night without lights, James Burrows and L. J. S. Bushell were each, fined Bs, with 12s costs.

Arriving a month ago, large flocks of godwits have been interesting visitors to .Hokitika and are now nesting in the Hokitika riverbed. These birds usually migrate from New Zealand to Siberia each March, and this is believed to be the first occasion on which they have nested in the Hokitika district. Their nests are shallow depressions in the sand, lined neatly with twigs, small chips of wood and sawdust, and each contains three eggs. When disturbed, the birds entice the intruder away from the nests by running away with one wing dragging on the ground as if broken.

“Foot-fault !” called a line umpire at the Stanley Street lawn tennis courts in Auckland on Saturday when F. J. Perry ha deserved a ball. It requires some courage to loot-fault a world’s champion player, hut there could be no doubt- (says the “Auckland Star”) that the penalty was deserved. Perry’s reaction was to laugh and toss a spare ball at the umpire. Later the same umpire foot-faulted the champion on two successive services. After the second, Perry, whose face always betrays his feelings, looked annoyed, and growled out: “You ought to be given a medal!” An instant later he was laughing again.

Reports on the condition of the Ralcaia and Rangitata rivers indicate that they are clear. The Ashburton is dirty.

A novel intcr-sehool gardening competition has been suggested by an Ashburton nurseryman in view of the flower shew to be held by the Ashburton Borough School at the end 'of the year. The nurseryman has offered to give dahlia plants to chosen pupils from the J3orough and Ashburton East schools and let them grow the flowers at their own homes. The blooms'will then be exhibited at the flower show, and the growers of the winning specie men will receive a. prize for his or her school.

Ashburton winners of trophies and special awards at the Timaru Agricultural and . Pastoral Association’s show are:—Sheep—Ryeland Society’s prize: H. C. B. Withell. C. N. Orbell Memorial Cup, for Corrieclales, and Tripp Bros.’ miniature cup: Cordon Johnston. Cattle —William Hay Challenge Cup: A,. O'. Silcock;. “Herald”, Chaljenge Cup and William Mcßride miniature for ’ registered Jersey : A. 0. Silcock. New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association’s special: A. 0. Silcock. Horses —Thomas Tescbemaker special, in light horse section: M. Farrell.

A Wanganui man received a letter in this week’s mail from the head of a large commercial enterprise in the United States. “Things are improving gradually in this country,” he writes. “Our economists tell us that we can expect business to improve until 11)37, when we will have the first year of 1 real ’ prosperity since 1929. There will be four years of good business, we are told, until 1941, when there will be a temporary decline. Many of our business men are planning ahead along these lines.”

A pretty little scene was enacted in connection with Guy Fawkes celebrations in one of the suburbs of Wellington. As the secretary of the Red Cross Society was wending his way to the office he was accosted by a party of children and handed an envelope which contained 7s, _the proceeds ol a Guy Fawkes collection made before breakfast. For a number of years past the children of the same family have made a similar sacrifice., the total of their contributions being over £3. On each occasion the society has utilised the proceeds for the relief of children in sickness and distress. Within the last fortnight three applications have been made by parents in meagre circum-, stances for surgical boots for a crippled child in the family. These the society has given orders lor, and it must be a satisfaction to the participants in the foregoing to have been the means of bringing comfort and happiness to a little sufferer. The society has warmly acknowledged the gift.

■ The inquisitiveness of a little boy sitting alone in a four-ton lorry which was parked on the King Street Hill. New Plymouth, the other morning nearly led to disaster. Apparently fascinated: -by. the mysteries of the lorry, the boy unwittingly releasd the brake, with the result that the lorry started to move slowly down the hill. Before it had time to gain much impetus the lorry ran into the rear of a five-seater car owned by Mr B. A. Woods. . Beyond a- dented rear mudguard no further damage was done to the lighter car, while the lorry escaped unscathed. After a severe talking to by the lorry driver, the boy lost all further interest in the workings of motor-cars.

The noise of traffic is at times dis-’ tracting even to the normal healthy individual, but to sick people it often constitutes a definite obstacle in their progress (says the “Otago Daily Times”). In an endeavour to lessen this nuisance the Automobile Association (Otago) has procured a quantity of flags which will be officially recognised as a sign of sickness. These flags may be obtained on application to the association and erected on either side of a house where there is sickness. The flag, which is blue in colour and bears the initials of the association, A.A.0., is a fairly conspicuous object which should 'easily be seen, and a request is made that drivers of vehicles will, as far as possible, lessen the noise of their passing where these flags are displayed. The flags are already in use in North-East Valley, and it. is expected that the travelling public will co-operate with the association, in observing the warning signals issued.

A valuable farm horse was killed and a farmer had a narrow escape from serious injury when a fence on the property of Mr J. E. Meuli, at Okaiawa, in Taranaki, became “alive” owing to a defect in the electrical supply to the farm shed which the fence touches. Mr Meuli was informed in the morning that' one of the horses which he used for taking milk to the factory had died, apparently from heart failure. He found the animal against a fence. Observing the horse’s mane tangled in the barbed wire, he started to ent it loose. He felt a slight tingling in liis hands, but attributed it to the animal electricity in the hair. It was not until he touched the fence and received a severe shock, the reaction from which threw him several feet, that he realised what had caused the animal’s death. The shed was also “alive.” Although membevs of Mr Meuli’s family had been in it, none of them had touched the building. Burns were found on the horse.

At the monthly meeting of the St. Andrew’s branch of the Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union, the president (Mrs It. S. Watson) presided. A letter was read from Sister Annie (Ituatahuna) telling of her work among the Maori people. In connection with the annual Union 'conference now being held in Wellington, ifc was reported that Mrs D. B. Ashford (a delegate from the Ttakaia branch) would address a meeting of the Ashburton Presbytcrial Association, on Tuesday, December 10, when all members were urged to attend. Members were reminded that the mission boxes would be opened at the December meeting. The president introduced Mrs Nicol (of the Rakaia. branch), Oriental goods secretary for the Ashburton Presbyterinl Association, who bad brought for sale a beautful collection of Oriental goods. These found a ready sale at the close of the meeting. Mrs Nicol explained that the surplus profits from the sale of these goods would be devoted to the women workers’ superannuation fund. An interesting address was given by the president on “How we got our Bible,” with special reference to the work of John Wycliffe qnd William Tyndale. At the close of the meeting afternoon tea was handed round. A large collection of Christmas gifts was handed in by members to be forwarded to the Maori school at Maungapohatu •

In its anmial self-denial appeal in the. County, the Ashburton Salvation Army Corps raised £3BO. This represents an increase of £4O on last year’s figure.

Because there was no proof that they had been written by the persons concerned in the summonses, the Magistrate (Mr C. R, Orr Walker, S.M.) in the Ashburton Court this morning declined to accept four letters sent in by defendants in by-law cases, and the cases were adjourned. One defendant wrote that he was “very busy and could not attend court, but would call in next week, and pay the fine.”

A Press Association telegram from Oamaru states that the second of the Harbour Board’s shot, fired at the Board’s quarry yesterday morning, was completely successful, fully 40,000 tons being obtained, only a quarter being spoil and the rest all good breakwater stone. The total cost was £3OO, compared with £IO3O for the first shot, when out of 65,000 tons two-thirds was spoil. The material will he used for the extension of the breakwater.

A deputation of Nelson fruitgrowers headed by Mr J. Stewart waited on the Fruit Export Control Board at Wellington, urging the board to return to. a marketing policy employing a full panel bf brokers. A petition presented was signed by 185 growers in the Nelson district, representing threefifths of the export crop of 1935. The board promised full consideration to the wishes of the growers, and indicated that a written reply would be given.

On remand, on bail, from last Monday on a charge of having stolen £7 12s in money from an Ashburton resident, a young woman, who resides in Christchurch failed to appear when her name was called in the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court this morning. Sergeant J. a F. Cleary stated that accused had given assurances that she would appear to-day, and had inquired regarding train timetables. After waiting for half an hour the Magistrate issued a warrant for the arrest of accused.

That the new New Zealand coins are a good advertisement overseas was the opinion expressed by Mr Allan Sutherland when speaking to the New Zealand Numismatic Society about his recent trip abroad. “The New Zealand coins encountered on the ship attracted much favourable comment because oi the distinctive designs, and many tourists expressed the intention of taking away with them sets of our coins as mementoes of ,their visit to New Zealand,” he said. “I could not help thinking of the profit that accrues to the Government by reason of the attractive designs resulting in such coins being withdrawn from circulation, and the permanent advertising media created in all parts of the world.”

Two glorious days of crowded life have been spent- in Auckland by 24 hoys and girls of the Whangape Native School. Their school is situated about 17 miles south of the Ninety-mile Beach, and is sc distant that to reach Auckland at 5.30 p.m. on Wednesday last they had to start at 3.30 a.m. As the children had never before seen a train or a tramcar, their interest in the wonders of city life may (the “New Zealand Herald” says) easily be imagined. Time was found in the two days at their disposal to visit the zoo, the warships at Devonport, the Wai Memorial Museum, the Civic Theatre, the Supreme Court, and other institutions. They were entertained at luncheon by' the Farmers’ Trading Company, and tasted the thrills of shopping in Queen Street. During the children’s session they sang at the IYA studio. The party left by the north express, and a final 80-mile bus journey took them to. their destination, richer for having made direct contact with a world which before they could only dimly imagine.