LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 74, 9 January 1936, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Little notice was taken of a he? i-e which bolted In West Street this ui'-rn-ing, drawing a spring cart it. The horse was content after v wuile to move along at a walking pace, and was soon overtaken and stopped by the driver.

A few early risers in Ashburton this morning saw the umbral eclipse of cue moon, which began at 4.28 a-m. the moon was completely immersed m shadow at about -5.08, after sum iso, and totality continued until 6.21. Ait*r which the moon began to move out or shadow.

The only passenger aboard the Japanese motor-ship Sydney Maru when she called at Lyttelton yesterday was a young Japanese student, Mr Y. Naksamo, who- is on his way to Massey Agricultural College, where he Will remain for two years. Mr Naksamo is a member of a big farming family, and he intends to study sheep fanning at the college.

A curious mishap befel a photographer on the banks of Lake Rotoiti, Rotorua. He was effecting some repairs to liis camera, and did not notice that the sun’s rays were beating down on the lens of the instrument. His attention, however, was forcibly drawn to the fact when the blind of the camera caught fire. Some damage was done before the fire was extinguished. In 30' years’ experience the photographer had not had a similar mishap.

A new departure for Australia and New Zealand, and probably for most countries in the world, is tiie appointment of a travel hostess, Mrs L. Prexler, who represents the Victorian Government Tourist Bureau. Mrs Drexler left Wellington for the south last night, and later she will tour the North Island. Her object is to increase transTasman travel, and while in the Dominion she will speak of the attractions of Victoria, drawing attention to Melbourne and other places of interest to visitors, and of the lure of her country as a whole. From her observations of New Zealand, where an extensive itinerary has been mapped out for her, Mrs Drexler will tell Australians something about this country.

Since becoming member of (Parliament for Palmerston, Mr P. Hcdgens has come to realise that he is entitled to many privileges denied the ordinary citizen. “I- got" the shock of my life when I received a memorandum setting them all out,” he told a reporter. Mr Hodgens ran over the list, which includes : Free pass on the railways, with sleeping berth if needed; free pass to travel by boat between Wellington and Lyttelton and Wellington and Picton. Each month official stamps to the value of £2 to cover official postages, telegrams and telephone calls; half-rates for his own private telephone; halfrates for his'own toll calls. Franking privileges in respect of Parliamentary papers during the time Parliament is in session. For the opening and closing of Parliament, travelling allowances and a refund of certain expenses; free stationery cf various kinds.

A large mushroom found in an Ashburton garden this morning measured nine inches in diameter. This was the third mushroom of this size found in the garden within a month. The season for mushrooms has not arrived, but perhaps their growth was caused by recent rains. In Wellington city and suburbs the sparrows which haunt the roadways are in far greater danger from motorcars than from their traditional enemy, the cat, states the “Dominion.” At present it is impossible to travel more than a few hundred yards along any Wellington street without coming upon the flattened remains of a small bird that looked too late before leaping. The number of sparrows killed in this fashion daily must be considerable, and is probably due to the increased speed and more silent running of the modern car. One of the marram grass fires at Oreti Beach, Southland, on Tuesday, had unfortunate consequences for a bather. The Surf Club, summoned hurriedly, promptly extinguished the flames, but among the smouldering ruins was found a charred blazer pocket, and Is 3d in cash, all that had survived. A few minutes later the luckless bather arrived on the scene to find all his clothes and even his towel and false teeth burnt to ashes. Luckily he was able to obtain other clothing at the beach, but the fire probably cost him the best paid of £lO.

The seeds-growing industry in New Zealand is beginning to have greater attention paid to it than in the past, and in Marlborough in particular there are large areas under cultivation for the purpose of seed production. The possibilities of the industry were discussed recently in Blenheim by Mr C. W. Parker, who has returned from a visit to Great Britain. He said that in his opinion there was reason for confidence in the future of New Zealand’s seeds market, but growers would have to be satisfied with somewhat lower prices owing to increased competition, notably from Continental countries.

By viewing the sun through a piece of smoked glass a particularly fine sunspot can at present be discerned with the naked, eye near the centre of the solar disc. This spot is the leader of a group some 70,000 miles in extent. Its penumbra consists of two spots in contact, each the size of the earth, the whole penumbra having a diameter of 14,000 miles, while the more lightly shaded penumbra lias a diameter of 23,000 miles. On one limb is a sunspot surrounded by numerous bright patches termed faculae, while on the other limb three small spots are the centre of a beautifully intricate patch of penumbra. These, however, can be seen only with the assistance of a telescope.

From the activities of one small boy at Day’s Bay during the past few days it would seem that there is no lack of real business acumen among the rising generation,- states the “Dominion” (Wellington). The boy, aged eight or nine years, goes to great pains in search of wealth. It is only those who are abroad at an early hour who may see him at hisuvork. Over the holiday period he has been visiting the Day’s Bay pavilion between 5 a.m. and 6 a.in. 'Hb crawls along the verandah on his hands and knees armed with two long, supple sticks. With liis eyes closely scanning the cracks between the floor boarding in a systematic manner, he is quick to see any stray coins that may have been dropped by careless picnickers, and with the aid of the sticks is able to bring them into his possession.

Tli best cricket story of the season comes from the Far North, and is vouched for by a If attain informant. It appears that an important local match was in progress, and that a smartly-dressed young woman . was among the visiting supporters. Every time one of the umpires signalled, she jumped to her feet and waved her handkerchief. The onlookers were somewhat mystified, for she was not keeping the score, and her answering signals were obviously not intended to correspond with those of the umpire. When finally he signalled a wide, opening both arms, the lady responded in similar fashion and ended up by throwing him a kiss! The explanation was that they were newly married and were still honeymooning. The bride knew nothing about cricket and thought her husband was sending her signals of affection.

An unsuccessful attempt to hold up a petrol station proprietor at Horaliora, Mr Stephen Shelton, was made by two. young men early on the morning of December 28. Mr Shelton (states a Hamilton correspondent) was aroused from bed by a loud knocking at his door. He was met by a young man, and was asked, to supply a gallon of petrol. Another young man was seated in a stationary car outside. The engine was kept running. Money was tendered for the petrel, and when Mr Shelton turned to get change the young man at the door followed him, and, presenting what looked like a revolver, ordered him to put up his hands. Instead cf obeying, Mr Shelton reached for a rifle and ordered the man off the premises. The intruder ran away, and a shot was fired oyer his head. The car and its occupants then disappeared. A sawed-off shotgun was later found on the ground near where the car had been standing. Mr Shelton did not report the matter to the police until some days later. There was a considerable sum c>f money on the premises at the time of the intruders’ visit.

Sales made at Addington yesterday on behalf of Ashburton County clients arc as follow: —Fat Lambs —On account of O. Chamberlain (Methven), 0 at 19s 4d to 22s 4d; It. J. Moore (Hinds), 80 at 23s 4d to 25s 4d; A. G. Webb (Rakaia), 74 at 20s lOd to 22s lOd; Gardiner Bros. (Dorie), 30 at 2ls 7d to-22s 7d; Stubbs Estate (Rnkaia), 79 at 21s 7d to 24s 4d; W. Shellock (Rakaia), 18 at 23s lOd. Fat Sheep—Ewes: On account of W. W. Carruthers (Dorie), 47 at 12s Id to 19s 4d; J. Muckle (Doric), 90 at 11s 7d to 15s Id ; Mrs Ben bow (Dorie), 50 at 11s 4d to 13s 7d; E. W. Webster (Rakaia), 20‘ at 11s Id to 13s lOd ; Eiffelton client, 34 at 12s Id; C. Chamberlain (Methven), 51 at 10s lOd to 11s 7d; F. C. Mangin (Methven), 30 at 11s 7d to 18s lOd ; R. Molloy (Lyndhurst), 26 at 11s lOd; R. Hampton, jun. (Pendarves), 26 at T4s 4d to 17s 4d; T. M. Wells (Rakaia), 6at 16s lOd; Mrs D. M. Watson (Methven), 41 at 11s lOd to 15s 7d ; J. W. Watson (Pendarves), 30 at 12s 7d to 14s Id; Gardiner Bros. (Dorie), 34 at 11s 4d to 12s 4d ; E. Shirlaw (Rakaia), sat 11s lOd; L. Mcllraith (Rakaia), 23 at 11s 4d to 11s lOd; L. M. Oliver (D'orie), 16 at 11s 4d. Wethers: On account of W. W. Carruthers (Dorie), 13 at 24s Id; D. McLeod (Methven), 42 at 17s 6d to 20s lOd; J. H. Stone (Methven), 41 at 19s 7d to 20s lOd • IL Hampton, jun. (Pendarves), 36 at 22s 4d to 24s lOd.

There is an unusual amount of broken glass on Borough streets, but particularly in East Street. As the glass is mostly uncoloured, cyclists have to be careful in. avoiding it when riding round town.

Bathers who have enjoyed night swimming at Westshore, Napier, during recent evenings have been astonished by the large amount of phosphorus in the sea, extending right up to the beach, states the “Hawke’s Bay Herald.” On entering the surf one appears to create a wave of submarine illumination, which increases in intensity as the water is disturbed. When swimming, one’s path through the water is illuminated by thousands of tiny points of light.

Members of the directorates of the Patna, Okato, Waron, Oxford, Newall, Capo Egmont, Baliotu, Oaonui and Opunake factories attended a meeting at Pungarehu, Taranaki, lust week, when the group marketing system proposed by the Dairy Board was discussed and criticised. The following resolution was passed:—“That this meeting emphatically protests against the Dairy Board’s proposed compulsory marketing scheme, and calls upon the Government to give full protection and security to the business and property of dairy farmers.”

An Auckland business executive who desired to get into immediate contact with a business man at Twickenham, in England, made a “person-to-person” call to the man by radio-phone early last Sunday morning. The man was located on the grandstand at the Rugby test ground, and was allowed to carry on a conversation with his Auckland caller over the football ground telephone, the conversation lasting about three minutes. The match had not started at the time, but the Englishman remarked that the ground appeared to be filled to capacity.

Those comparatively young members of the community who greet a suggested trip to Cape Kidnappers with a shrug of the shoulders and a remark, “too far,” “too tiring,” or “I’m getting too old for that sort of thing,” were put to shame a few days ago when a Napier couple, each. 74 years of age, made the trip, and enjoyed it, states the Napier “Daily Telegraph.” Leaving Napier early: in the morning the couple, resident on Bluff Hill, did not in any way delay the rest of the party undertaking the trip and reached the final peak in good time. Here the old lady a_dopted the advice of her escorts and did not go further, ..but her companion continued to the end and saw all that was to he seen at the breeding ground of the gannets. Neither feels any the worse for the experience ; in fact they declare that they feel all the better for it.