LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 63, 26 December 1935, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A number of paddocks' of oats have already been cut in the Lagmhor district, and are in stook. The crops look well m spite of tin heat durin" the last month, and, given a continuance of the warmth cf yesTerdav, it will net be many clnjs befoie the binder lays low many of the oat crops in the district.

\ Wanganui farmer who was unable to'obtain the services of a man vho could work a. team tackled the jou himself. In order to spell the horses during the heat of the day, he uses at davlight and starts ploughing at o o’clock, knocking off for late breakvast Pie resumes operations again m the cool of the evening, and continues working until dark. ».

The relief express from Christchurch this morning was a long one, of It carriages and one van. Special carriages were reserved for. travellers to the Workers’ Educational Association Summer School at Oamaru, and to the Presbyterian Bible Class conference at Dunedin. Several Aslibmton lepicsentntives joined the parties.

According to a recent, bnllein issued by the Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, there are only 12 paid rangers throughout the whole of New Zealand to administer the Animals Protection and Game Act ot 1921-22. “Upon these few wardens rests almost the whole responsibility, and it is, of course, absurd to expect that the work of ranging can be anything more than touched upon,” states the report.

It.was a case of coats off for many of the men who attended the trotting meeting at Ashburton to-day. The very warm conditions which prevailed made conventional attire irksome, but the majority were not prepared to defy convention and they suffered the heat as they moved about in ordinary street wear. The women were prepared for a hot day, and their sensible, flimsy clothing helped them to enjoy a good day out on the lawns. Sunshades were a favourite.

A trip round certain areas of the Ashburton County during the last few days shows that a big part of this district is ill good heart. In the cropping areas the oafs and wheat arc looking particularly well, and, all going well, Ashburton should hear of record yields from many parts. The sheep country, 100, continues to look well, anci though the' grass is “browning off,” the stock are fn fine fettle, the majority of the lambs appearing to be excellent specimens. The root crops, which were sown late owing to the wet spring, have not come away as well as usual.

In memory of the late Mr R. M • Edwards, a master at Kongotai College. from its establishment in IUZ» until this year, the authorities of the college have decided to provide a * Jc I*j which is to be a replica of the Codiord bell in the Wellington Carillon set, and has been cast by the same firm as supplied the bells in the Wellington campanile. It lias been suitably embossed and inscribed, weighs 2cwt. and will be swung oil a strong projecting beam. Underneath the bell will be placed a handsome tablet of phosphor bronze and silver lettering and inscription. At the annual prize-giving of the college the head-master, Mr F. M. Renner, stated that it was hoped that the bell would arrive in Wellington before the end of the year and would be unveiled early next year.

Several cars and lorries took members of the Ashburton Church of "Christ and their friends on their annual picnic to Peel Forest to-day. The picnic was organised by Mr E. Scott.

A large number of people arrived in special trains to-day for the Boxing Day race meeting at Ashburton. Two trains from Christchurch carried 625 and 312 peoplej and one from Timaru 240 people.

Appreciation of the strong stand taken by Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., in Wellington, in “helping to rid the country of road hogs, a type of individual we all hate,” was expressed by Mr Ji. H. Mackie, president of the Manawatu Automobile' Association, at a meeting of the committee. A suggestion sponsored by Mr M. A. Eliott was adopted, recommending members to report to the committee any outstanding cases of speeding.

The Auckland City Council will hold a special meeting on Monday night to consider whether the payment of interest on the Auckland Tramways Loan will he made in New Zealand currency or in sterling (says a Press Association message). The council is vitally interested, as the debentures are in its name, the Transport Beard making the payments to the holders through the council.

Two whirlwinds caused some interest on the racecourse at Ashburton to-day. The first, a small one, occurred in the centre of the paddock, where grass-seed and pollen were whirled to a height of about 150 feet. _ The second one was of greater dimensions, and centred in front of the stand, among patrons who had assembled on the north side of the track. ,Dilst flew high in the air, and it was a case of holding hard to hats while the elements danced in their playful way.

At a meeting of the Band Contest Committee held in New Plymouth last week it was stated that a record entry had been received for the contest to be held here 'the last -week in February as far as bagels were concerned, 13 A grade, and 14 B grade, having signified their intention of competing. Over 40 entries had been received for quartette, trombone trio, and solo events. The B flat cornet section alone having an entry of 63 and the B flat cornet championship 42. From these figures it could be seen that the uniformed bandsmen that would be in New Plymouth during contest week would be over 1000.

The profusion of bloom on cabbage trees this summer has been freely commented upon, and not a. “few people have asserted this to be a sign of a dry summer ahead. “Tnis is quite an erroneous idea,” said Mr C. S. Longuet when questioned by a “Southland Times” reporter. “It is allegedly founded on Maori lore, but “the Maoris would never be guilty of such a mistake. Cabbage trees do not bloom cvcjry year. They miss tine year in two or three. Such a wealth of bloom as is seen this year indicates that the past summer was hot. It is the same with flax and other plants.

There are some fine plantations of pi mis insigmis in the Ashburton County, and that the stock appi-eciate these shelter belts was evidenced yesterday, when sheep were seen resting under the shade of the trees throughout the heat of the day. The number of fallen plantations and those that have come under the axe of the sawmiller is legion, and a visitor remarked that the County Council’s re-planting operations were “hardly visible to the naked eye.” There certainly appears to he need for speeding up of replanting right throughout this district, as many of the fine plantations of today are reaching maturity and will eventually have to go.

News from abroad that a Bible, printed on parchment, and dated as far back as 1611, had brought a sum of £I3OO odd lias prompted an Aramoho resident to try to estimate the value of a Bible he has in his possession which was printed in 1587. He brought this book, an heirloom, from Australia. It is printed! on ordinary paper, much of it in very small type, and contains some 600 to 700 pages. Ho was told at the time lie brought it to New Zealand that it was worth at least £3O. Now* that a much larger sum has been received for a Bible less old, but .printed on parchment, there is reasonable ground for assuming that the book at Aromcho is worth three figures at least.

Practically the whole country in the South Island, except the Kurow district, is in good' order, reported a member of the staff of the Department of Agriculture in Dunedin. Kurow is still suffering from the effect of rain. Feed for grazing is plentiful, and some very heavy grass crops have recently been cut for hay. “On the whole, n he said, “the wheat and oat crops are looking well, except that in North Otago some patchy crops may be observed. Turnip and rage crops have struck veil in the districts. Potatoes are looking exceptionally well, and, provided they pass through the blight period safely, some good: yields should be obtained. The present dull, humid weather unfortunately favours a late attack of blight, which might have a serious effect on the yields. The harvesting of the ryegrass crops will begin in earnest in the next fortnight, and as the , growth during the last few weeks has been most satisfactory, it is thought that the harvest of seed will be greater than was at first anticipated. The tone among the farming community is optimistic.”

New Zealand as an important economic unit in the British Empire family should receive a good advertisement, in Great Britain through the visit to the Dominion of Captain W. C. Price. He has just arrived in Wellington as a special commissioner of tlic London “Daily Telegraph,” making plans for the publication of a 20-page illustrated supplement for distribution in June or July next. The object of this supplement will bo to impress British readers with the vital part played by New Zealanders in meeting their everyday needs and to promote closer understanding between the peoples of the two countries. In the preparation of the material for the supplement Captain Price hopes to secure the cooperation of the members of the present Government, though plans were discussed in London last summer with the lit. Hon. J. G. Coates and Sir James Parr. Articles will be written by acknowledged authorities on New Zealand trade policy, financial situation, and economic development, on the many phases of New Zealand cultural, commercial and pastoral activities. Great attention will be paid to the attractions of tourists, sport, transport and communications, and the social conditions of the New Zealanders.

A first offending inebriate who was arrested on Christmas Eve was brought before tbe Police Court at a sitting held at the Ashburton Police Station this morning. He was convicted and discharged, and was ordered to pay 2s Gdjtaxi hire.

The New Zealand University Rugby team was given a civic farewell at Auckland on Tuesday afternoon on the ove of its departure for Japan by the Aorangi in the evening (says a (Press Association message). The DeputyMayor (Mr B. Martin) presided. Replying for the team, Mr P. Martin Smith expressed thanks for the farewell.

There are some excellent crops of oats and wheat lining the TinwaldWesterfield highway, and judging by present appearances the Lagmlior-Wes-terfield district should again this year worthily uphold its reputation in the Ashburton County for producing some bumper yields. The wheat in some paddocks stands shoulder-high, is even in growth, and, though still green, the heads appear to he filling well.

A striking example of the effective use of publicity by the British Milk Marketing Board was commented: upon in New Plymouth by Mr C. N. Vickridge, who recently returned home after a visit to England. At _ the Charing Cross underground railway station, he said, the board has erected on the platform an up-to-date cowshed where live Jersey cows are stabled and milked twice a, day. The milk obtained is sold at 2d per glass at an attractive milk bar near at hand.

The Ashburton County Council has sent a letter to the Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. C. Sullivan) requesting him 'to instruct enginedrivers toi prevent the escape of sparks from engines, as it has been found that this has been one of the chief causes of grass fires. The council’s works staff has been prepared for any outbreak in the district. Drastic measures will be taken by the council against any persons lighting fires by the roadsides.

Although the sky was clear at the usual hour of getting up this morning, no one has yet made the claim that he saw the partial eclipse of the sun Jbhat was visible in Ashburton. The eclipse was an annular one, visible in all parts of the Dominion except in the extreme north, as a partial eclipse. At sunrise at 4.46 a.m. almost half of the sun’s face was obscured by the moon. The sun, according to astronomical calculations, was finally free from obscuration by the moon at 5.20 a.m. The eclipse was observable as an annular one only in the Antarctic.

Rabbits often create a diversion during a race meeting at Ashburton, but they seldom remain in sight as long as one which found its way on to the course during the second race to-day. After running up and down in front of the stand two or three times and failing to find an opening in the wire fence, it made a fast break when the clerk of the course endeavoured to ride it down. “Crossing into the birdcage, it ran round in circles for a minute or two before making its way through the paling fence and thence to freedom.