LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 80, 16 January 1936, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Due to a defect in the power house, power was tut off for a lew minutes shortly before neon tc-day.

y rhe rainfall in Napier during 1930 constitutes a record for many years The total fall of 51.18 iii. is almost double the average rainfall tor the zu years up to 1931, which is 29.28 m.

The desirability of establishing a N T ew Zealand Conservatorium of Music, en similar lines to the institutions in Melbourne and Sydney, was placed bafcre the Prime Minister (the Hon. M. J. Savage) by Mr Roland Foster, the well-known Sydney musician, who is giving a series of talks from broadcasting stations in the Dominion (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington).

In Central Hawke's Bay several farmers are ploughing firebreaks where their properties adjoin the railway and with the co-operation of the railwaymen, who have carefully burnt grass on the "long paddock," it is hoped (says the "Poverty Bay Herald") to prevent any serious grass fires such as were raging at this time last year. The engines are now burning harder coal and consequently there are less sparks. Although there has not been a sustained dry period there is need for great vigilance as there is more grass about this year and any outbreak, if unchecked, would do even more damage than previously.

The idiosyncracies of public clocks in the city presented an Auckland couple with a difficult problem on Thursday night of last week. To them was born a baby, but so close to midnight did the event occur and so much were the household clocks and watches at vaiianee that they were unable to determine which day should be the infant's birthday. A relative went forth to "check up" with the city clocks, but the excursion was in vain. No two timepieces agreed. Resourcefulness, however, was not lacking in this family. It solved the problem in a novel way. The baby was a girl, and what girl or woman is there who wishes to be considered older than she need he? She was given the benefit of the doubt, and of the day, for it was agreed that her birthday should be Friday, not Thursday.

Replying to the civic welcome extended to 'him at Dunedin, Colonel Sleeman, the chief commissioner overseas of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, said he would like to pay a tribute to the press of New Zealand. He had been chief of the Defence staff in New Zealand for two years, and since then he had been in practically every country in the world, and he could honestly say that, with the exception of one or two English papers, he had never read such good newspapers as he had read in the Dominion. He said this in all sincerity, In the 14 years which had elapsed since he had left New Zealand he had always missed, the papers published here. Somehow, they appealed to him as giving very clear and accurate news. Tt was fresh news, never or very seldom repeated, and there was, to his mind, no bias. As he bad said, the news was very clearly stated; it was very accurate and very, good. He would, therefore, like to give expression to that opinion and also his regard for the press of the Dominion—not because he wished to pat the press on the back, but because he desired to be honest.

Charged with having used obscene language, John Ernest .Dobbin appeared before Mr "W. H. Bundle, J.P, and Mr G. Kelly, J.P., in the Ashburtcn Magistrate's Court this morning and was fined £5, in default 14 days in gaol.

A narrow escape from electrocution which caused the death of a horse, was experienced by Mr J. McCallum, a Waikato farmer. Mr McCallum went to examine a prostrate horse near a fence. Instead of passing through the fence, Mr McCallum went round it by walking some distance to a gateway. He touched the horse's hoof and received an electric shock. Further investigation disclosed a broken power line which had come in contact with the fence and had caused the death of the horse.

Some unusual fishing experiences fell to an Ashburton resident who has been camping recently in North Canterbury. After travelling by pack-horse 'to within four miles of the Hurunui River mouth one day, the party he was with caught 36 sharks, varying from five to six feet in length. Four groper and 60 crayfish were also taken. The coast in the vicinity abounds in crayfish, 100 being taken in one afternoon in Gore Bay. It is a popular holiday resort, and visitors from many parts of the Dominion were camped there.

The following sales were made on behalf of Ashburton County clients at the Addington stock market yesterday: Fat Lambs —On account of W. Shellock (Rakaia), 14 at 22s 7d. Fat Ewes-rOn account of W. A. Sheat (Westerfield), 65 at lis 4d to 18s 4d; A. Read (Eiffelton), 15 at 13s id to 16s id; H. Hurst (Rakaia), 16 at 15s 7d; T. C. Maw (Lauriston), 60 at lis 4d to 17s 4d ; L. M. Oliver (Dorie), 9 at 15s lOd; L. Mcllraith (Rakaia), 12 at 15s 4d. Fat Cattle—On account of Mrs Doak (Rakaia), steer at £9 2s 6d, 3 heifers at £2 12s 6d to £o 12s 6d, cow at £5 17s 6d.

A few moments before the southbound express train left the Ashburtcn station this morning, a young woman passenger reported to the stationmaster that her handbag had been stolen from the carriage in which she had been travelling; She stated that she left the bag, which contained money and her ticket, under a cushion on her seat while she went to the refreshment room. On her way back to the carriage she saw two children running akng the platform, one carrying a bag similar to the one she owned. She discovered *e| v loss when she went to her place in the carriage. The incident was reported to a constable on duty at the station, and inquiries were commenced at once.

The monthly meeting of the Ashburton Methodist Women's Missionary Auxiliary was held in Baring Square Schoolroom yesterday afternoon, when there was a fair attendance. The president (Sister Mildred) occupied the chair and conducted the devotional exercises. Extracts from letters were read describii>T the work carried on by the missionaries in the Solomons, and final arrangements for the "silver tree" effort were made. It was decided to ask Mrs H. Money to open the proceedings on the afternoon of February 11. A cake and miscellaneous stall will be in charge of members. Mrs Tinker was re-elected representative of the Auxiliary to the quarterly meeting. A motion of sympathy was passed with the relatives of the late Mrs E. McEwen. Afternoon tea was served.

New Zealanders will be interested in a lotter received by Mr George Munro, a business man of Auckland, from a business acquaintance in Bannockburn, Scotland. The letter refers to the New Zealand Rugby football team's match against Scotland. "With regard to Ktew Zealand and Scotland," states the writer, ,r \ve were beaten by a better team. It was a delightful game, and we all came away feeling we had seen one of the best. There was only one thing that beat us and that was speed. Certainly we could have played the old Scottish traditional game of 'feet, feet!' but New Zealand is not used to that, and they were our guests. This team is miles ahead of the last from a Rugby point of view, and will depart with a knowledge that they played the game and won, and left a very friendly feeling."

An experience which a number of Auckland householders bad a couple of years ago with a fainting woman at the front door and an emergency call for brandy was recalled (states the "Auckland Star") when a city household was interrupted at the breakfast table one morning recently by a call for spirits to revive a well-dressed but swooning woman who appeared on their doorstep in apparent physical distress. Discussing the subject with friends from the same district, the good Samaritans found that the friends had also succoured a fainting woman in distress. The discussion occurred on the tram, and the coincidence decided both parties to return to their flats, remove their spare jewellery and cash, and take another look at the door and window locks.

Information that he has been awarded a prize at the fifteenth Annual Competition of American Photography has been received by Mr H. J. Schmidt, of Auckland. The competition attracted 5000 entries, of which only 350 were accepted and hung. The picture accepted was a fine figure study entitled "Power and Poise." During recent months Mr Schmidt has been successful at international salons of art photography in India, Ireland, South Africa, and the United States. One notable exhibition at which his work was included was the Invitational Salon or the Photographic Society of America. For this a list of leading camera artists of the world was compiled, and each was invited to submit one example of his work for exhibition through the United States and Canada. Altogether. 162 artists responded, the excellence of their work creating a marked impression on the critics.

Concern at the increase in accident cases attended by the ambulance service during the last 12 months, compared with the figures for 1934 ; was expressed by members at a meeting of the Wellington Free Ambulance Board (says a Press Association telegram). A suggestion was made that all members of the board should he appointed honorary traffic inspectors. During 1935 the free ambulance attended a total of 10,852 cases. Of this number 1275 were accidents, compared with 1069 in 1934, and 9423 transports, compared with 7378 the previous year. Mr O. H. Chapman, M.P., said that as there were 206 more accidents last year it would appear that greater care should be exercised in traffic control. Adequate traffic control, even if it meant decreasing speed through city areas, would probably result in fewer accidents.

At Lytteltcn yesterday a little more than a dozen of the 310 passengers who arrived at the port 52 years before, en January 15, 1884, met at a reunion luncheon. Among those present were Mrs T. Dunlea, of Chertsey, and Messrs J. Rumsey and A. E. Small, of Ashburtoii.

To-day was the last day for payment of Ashburton Borough rates without the penalty of 10 per cent, being added, and there was a steady stream of ratepaj'ers in attendance at the office. Unless large payments were made late in the day. the general position will be about the same as at this date a year age.

A plea that he had been unable to clear his property of ragwort owing to the difficulty of obtaining labour was made in the Putaruru (Auckland) Magistrate's Court by a farmer who was charged with neglecting to clear the weed from his farm. The defendant said he could not attend to the clearance of the ragwort and carry out the usual farm work as well. It was only because of his inability to secure labour that the weed had not been checked. The defendant had applied without result to agencies in Auckland and Hamilton for labour, and even Maori workers were not available. The defendant was convicted, the Magistrating stating he would suspend the fixation of a penalty until March.

A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that the economic possibility of the establishment of steel works in New Zealand as proposed by the Minister for Employment (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong), who stated recently that early consideration would be given to the matter by the Government, was questioned by several Auckland business men this morning. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce has written to the Associated Chambers pointing out that there is a very strong feeling among commercial men that such a scheme could not possibly be established as an economic industry owing to New Zealand's small population and the wide diversity of the sizes and shapes of articles that would be necessary if such, works were to cater for the whole steel requirements of New Zealand.

As a' result of the insistence by the Maori King, Koroki, upon the observance of the older traditional form . of carving, a new doorway is being carved for the Raukawa meeting-house at Otaki. The original doorway, which was recently completed at the Maori School of Arts and Crafts, Ohinemutu, included in its carved design several figures of women. According to the older forms of the craft the figures of women were never allowed to appear in Maori carvings as it was considered that this should be the prerogative of the dominant male. Possibly as a sign of the modern tendency toward femininist equality, this tradition has to some extent lapsed in the modern carving forms. The king, however, has insisted that he will not participate in the opening ceremony of the house unless the feminine figures are removed from the carving and the doorway is accordingly being redecorated in conformity with his requirements. The house was to have .been opened next month, but the ceremony will now be delayed unfil March 12.